Stibbe > Brussels, Belgium > Firm Profile

Stibbe > The Legal 500 Rankings

Belgium > Competition: Belgian law Tier 1

The integrated antitrust litigation group at Stibbe is widely known for successfully representing a roster of notable clients before the Belgian Competition Authority, as well as regularly handling follow-on damages claims, and cases relating to illegal state aid. As well as its contentious excellence, the team is also noted for advising on merger control issues and joint ventures. Peter Wytinck and Sophie Van Besien are the key partner-level names to note. Counsel Quentin Declève joined from Van Bael & Bellis in January 2023, further boosting the team’s significant litigious strength.

Belgium > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Stibbe is the ‘go-to firm for international arbitration in Brussels‘, acting on the full range of disputes in civil and criminal courts. The full-service expertise of the department, along with its collaboration with the IP, TMT, finance, and competition practices at the firm, allows it to represent a number of high-profile clients in complex cases. The white-collar crime practice is also a key element of the team, with money laundering, fraud, sanctions, and extradition all areas of expertise. Hans Van Bavel sits at the helm of the practice, specialising in company-related criminal law. Also of note are ‘very tough litigator‘ Oliver Stevens, Nicolas Résimont, whose advocacy is ‘both persuasive and instils confidence in clients and tribunals alike’, and Sophie Bourgois, who is ‘meticulous‘ with expertise across international disputes, insurance claims, and private and public international law.

Belgium > Environment Tier 1

The environment and planning practice at Stibbe advises clients in Dutch, French and English on transactional matters as well as on the drafting of new legislation and on contentious issues. Practice head Jan Bouckaert recently represented The Farmers Union together with Guan Schaiko in a claim against the Flemish Region regarding the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 strategic plan. Also key to the practice is senior real estate development lawyer France Maussion as well as a strong bench that includes the ‘very helpful, competent and experienced‘ Bastiaan Schelstraete as well as Stefanie Francois and Olivier Di Giacomo.

Belgium > Fraud and white-collar crime Tier 1

Known for its strength across the whole gamut of fraud and white-collar criminal matters, Stibbe represents clients in high-profile disputes with particular expertise pertaining to anti-money laundering as well as cybercrime. The practice also works closely with the firm’s other groups such as tax and employment on complex multidisciplinary matters and acts for a number of multinational corporates and their executives. Hailed as ‘one of the best white-collar crime lawyers in Belgium’, Hans Van Bavel leads the team which also comprises anti-money laundering specialist David Verwaerde.

Belgium > Industry focus: IT and telecoms Tier 1

Described as the ‘leading tech law team in Belgium’, Stibbe is equipped to handle a wide range of IT and telecoms work with matters related to digital platforms, social media, data centres and telecoms all areas of strength. The team is additionally well placed to assist major clients with capex to opex transitions. Practice head Erik Valgaeren is praised for his ‘extensive practice and experience in IT, AI and data protection’. Carolien Michielsen is singled out for her IT contract drafting skills and her expertise pertaining to new technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain. Both lawyers are praised for their ‘willingness and ability to engage in the understanding of complex technical and commercial issues’.

Belgium > Intellectual property Tier 1

Stibbe complements its focus on national and multi-jurisdictional IP litigation with advice on matters such as IP structurings and technology transfers. Patent, trade secret, and copyright mandates are notable areas of strength for the team. Team co-head Ignace Vernimme‘s broad IP expertise is prized by clients from a varied spectrum of sectors ranging from the pharmaceuticals space to the fashion industry. Fellow co-head Philippe Campolini frequently handles patent and trade mark litigation for clients in the life sciences and medical devices industries. Drafting IP clauses in contracts is a staple of Louis Bidaine‘s practice.

Belgium > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Stibbe is ‘unique in its depth of expertise, responsiveness and creativity in handling complex high-stake real estate transactions‘. It remains a key player in the market’s biggest deals. Practice head and ‘trusted adviser‘ Matthias Maselis handles commercial real estate transactions and developments in Belgium and Luxembourg. Partners Rudy Nauwelaerts, who frequently acts for insurers, project developers, retailers, public bodies and REITs, and senior associate Anneleen Quirynen ‘combining all skills for a pragmatic and business-oriented result‘. Rony Vermeersch is the standout partner for construction and energy matters, including PPP projects.

Belgium > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2

Stibbe remains highly active across the full spectrum of debt finance matters, with a team that is capable of handling leveraged private equity financings and real estate finance while maintaining a particularly strong focus on assisting both lenders and borrowers with financings for projects and joint ventures in the energy and infrastructure space. Debt capital markets and securitisation expert Pieter Nobels further extends the practice's offering by enabling it to advise private and institutional lenders on cross-border bond issuances and uptierings. Wouter Ghijsels leads the team and is a key contacted for both syndicated and direct lending, especially in the context of acquisition and project finance. Pieter-Jan Leemen is also highly recommended for syndicated lending matters.

Belgium > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

In addition to its ability to advise on high-value private equity transactions, the ‘experienced, pragmatic and solution-driven‘ team at Stibbe stands out for providing public and privately held companies in the industrials, energy, and life sciences sectors with complex transactional advice. The team handles both traditional M&A as well as a range of complex public takeovers, joint ventures, and multinational deals. Practice head Stefan Odeurs is noted for his ability to assist private equity funds with a wide range of transactions, an area that capital markets and corporate finance experts Dries Hommez and Jan Peeters also excel in. Pascal Vanden Borre is very experienced with public M&A, takeover bids, and cross-border investments, while Jan Bogaert is noted for handling transactions in regulated sectors.

Belgium > Employment Tier 2

Leading multinationals and Belgian corporate and public clients rely on Stibbe‘s comprehensive employment and pensions expertise, which encompasses restructuring projects, harassment and discrimination claims, and payment disputes and is particularly concentrated in the area of collective dismissals. The team handles contentious and non-contentious dismissals in the context of corporate reorganisations and internal investigations and also assists with dismissal-related trade union negotiations. Elisabeth Matthys, who is a key contact for this line of work, maintains close relations with clients in the sports sector and co-leads the team with Jérôme Aubertin, who has ‘exceptional knowledge’ of employment and social security litigation. Pensions and insurance expert Jan Proesmans is also recommended. Dieter Demuynck left the team in December 2022.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Information technology Tier 2

Stibbe‘s TMT practice is well placed to advise on any national and European regulatory changes which may affect the digital, IT, data and telecoms sectors. Erik Valgaeren is the key senior contact; his regular workload spans such diverse projects as web services, outsourcings, cloud services, system integrations, software implementation issues, data management and privacy work, artificial intelligence matters and innovation partnerships. At senior associate level, Carolien Michielsen is noted.

Belgium > Industry focus: Food Tier 2

Belgium > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

The team at Stibbe handles the full gamut of regulatory issues relating to hospitals, EU co-promotion agreements, and cases concerning public procurement contracts. Practice co-head Ignace Vernimme is known for his longstanding experience of representing clients before regulatory authorities, including the Belgian Medicine Agency and the Belgian Pharmaceutical Association, while co-head Philippe Campolini primarily focuses on patent litigation and joint research agreements. Louis Bidaine has a great deal of experience in handling multinational patent disputes, in addition to a wide array of non-contentious matters, including rebates, marketing strategies, and promotional practices.

Belgium > Industry focus: Media and entertainment Tier 2

Stibbe advises players in the industry spanning sports associations, media platforms, record labels and broadcasters on an array of contentious and advisory matters. The firm has also developed a strategic focus on the fast-growing gamification sector. TMT specialist Erik Valgaeren heads up the practice; his varied portfolio of work incorporates advice on pre-employment background checks and compliance with the Electronic Communications Act. Sports law expert Elisabeth Matthys frequently handles litigation involving discrimination issues and anti-doping rules. Publishers rely on Ignace Vernimme for informed counsel on diverse trade mark and copyright issues.

Belgium > Insolvency and restructuring Tier 2

Stibbe is home to experienced insolvency litigators who are regularly appointed to act as administrators and liquidators in the context of voluntary post-bankruptcy dissolutions, though the team is also capable of representing creditors as well as debtors in asset recovery proceedings and criminal liability claims. Distressed bond and asset transactions are a further area of of focus for the team, which is led by cross-border insolvency litigation specialist Oliver Stevens. Further key contacts include Paul Van der Putten and Pieter Wouters, who are both experienced liquidators and act across a wide range of insolvency proceedings.

Belgium > Insurance Tier 2

The far-reaching practice at Stibbe incorporates expertise in insurance litigation and arbitration, employee benefits and corporate and M&A work. Other areas of strength for the unit include advising of the financial regulatory aspects of the insurance sector, tax mandates, and insurance issues arising from major infrastructure projects and public contracts. Oliver Stevens heads up the ‘very knowledgeable’ team; his longstanding experience in the space includes dealing with financial lines insurance, property insurance and litigation concerning the mis-selling of life insurance schemes. Corporate and capital markets expert Jan Peeters frequently advises on transactional work in the sector, and Marc Fyon has amassed considerable experience in corporate finance work. Complementary pensions expert Jan Proesmans and accredited mediator Sophie Bourgois are further recommended.

Belgium > Private equity Tier 2

Noted for its prolific advice in connection with sell-side private equity deals, the team at Stibbe also advises funds on distressed acquisitions, buy-and-build strategies, and investments in innovative companies in sectors such as IT and life sciences. Belgian private equity funds and their portfolio companies routinely instruct the team, which benefits from integrated tax, regulatory, and financing expertise, to advise on the Belgian aspects of global high-value sales to multinational funds. Key contacts in the team include practice head Stefan Odeurs, who is noted for his expertise on leveraged acquisitions, divestments, and turnarounds, as well as Dries Hommez, who is particularly active on cross-border M&A, and Jan Peeters, an expert on capital markets and financing matters.

Belgium > Tax Tier 2

Integrated full-service Benelux firm Stibbe values close collaboration with its teams in Amsterdam and Luxembourg in bolstering its Belgian tax practice, which is particularly strong in tax litigation, transfer pricing, and transactions, as well as tax legislative work. Indirect taxation expert Wim Panis heads the practice, with transactions and litigation specialist Henk Verstraete, corporate restructuring and financing-focused Giovanni Smet and procedural and litigation-experienced Lizelotte De Maeyer rounding out the team.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Financial services Tier 3

The offering at Stibbe spans core regulatory, compliance, supervision and enforcement issues, with the team also regularly handling regulatory-driven transactions, including fund structuring. Corporate finance experts Jan Peeters and Marc Fyon work alongside banking and finance specialist Pieter Nobels to oversee the work. The group’s client base spans payment service and credit providers, insurance companies and intermediaries, and investment firms.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Pharma, medical devices and biotech Tier 3

The IP and life sciences team at Stibbe works closely with the firm's public law department to advise on regulatory issues affecting pharma companies and other key players in the healthcare sector. Recent highlights have ranged from representing clients in disputes with the Belgian pricing authorities, to assisting with the development of clinical trials. Ignace Vernimme and Philippe Campolini are the key senior names to note.

Belgium > Industry focus: Energy Tier 3

Belgium > EU regulatory: Privacy and data protection Tier 4

Stibbe‘s TMT team is well versed in the full gamut of data protection work, from compliance advice, to negotiation of data processing agreements, to representation in relevant proceedings. Recently, the group has also been increasingly instructed to handle issues stemming from cybersecurity incidents. Senior contact Erik Valgaeren is ‘particularly noted for his ability to advise on the risk based on his understanding of the approach of the Belgian regulators and courts‘.

Belgium > Competition: EU and global Tier 6

For the team at Stibbe, advising both companies and public authorities on the structuring of projects from a state aid perspective, representations before national courts and the European Commission, and assisting with merger control work all form part of the regular workload. Peter Wytinck and Sophie Van Besien are the key senior contacts.