Lydian > Brussels, Belgium > Firm Profile
Lydian Offices
TOUR & TAXIS
HAVENLAAN, AVENUE DU PORT 86C, B113
1000 BRUSSELS
Belgium
Lydian > The Legal 500 Rankings
Belgium > Insurance Tier 1
Major domestic and international clients flock to Lydian‘s sizeable insurance and reinsurance team for the full range of work, including strategic advice and support on the most complex and critical disputes. Lawyers have expertise in matters ranging from corporate insurance to product distribution and claims work, and the practice is a key referral partner for top international firms. The team is led jointly by the ‘highly experienced and astute‘ Hugo Keulers and the ‘practical and down-to-earth‘ Sandra Lodewijckx, who are both highly competent across regulatory and contentious work. Jo Willems was promoted to partner in January 2022, and is particularly well regarded in liability disputes, while counsels Marijn De Ruysscher and Héloïse Fostier are also recommended.Practice head(s):
Hugo Keulers; Sandra Lodewijckx
Other key lawyers:
Jo Willems; Marjin De Russchyer; Héloïse Fostier
Testimonials
‘Lydian remains the reference on the Belgian market when it comes to insurance law and insurance regulatory law. Experts in their field and able to assist in bigger projects. Good understanding of the needs of the client and a very practical, solution-driven approach.’
‘They are agile, have the relevant expertise on board, and, despite their greatness, are able to adapt themselves to deal with the real day-to-day issues of their clients. A firm I trust. Not only a practice but a partner.’
‘A first-class firm in the Belgian liability (casualty) arena. Excellent track record in coverage, products liability, and excess casualty. Responsive and customer-focussed.’
‘Specialised high-level insurance and liability knowledge. Always looking for the most valuable solution, if possible out of court. Good network of international specialists. They do everything to understand the problem in a broader way.’
‘The stand-out partner is Hugo Keulers, whose availability, communications skills, overall knowledge, and quick understanding of a case is unmatched in the market.’
‘Sandra Lodewijckx combines an in-depth knowledge of insurance law with a practical and down-to-earth approach to the files. This is obviously always much appreciated by clients.’
‘Hugo Keulers is the best lawyer I have worked with in Belgium. Highly experienced and astute.’
‘Sandra Lodewijckx definitely stands out. She is hands-on, practical, she understands the clients’ needs, and is a true expert in the field with an excellent network in the sector. Always well aware and ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest developments in products, distribution practices and regulatory trends.’
Key clients
AIG Europe Ltd
Lloyd’s Insurance Company NV
Probitas 1492
Arc Europe
Bpost Bank
Furness Professional Risks Europe
International Professional Risks Europe
AXA SA
Canopius
Corona Direct
United Kingdom Freight Demurrage and Defence Assocation (UKFD)
London Steam-Ship Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association Limited (LSSO)
International Transport Intermediaries Club Limited (ITIC)
Great Lakes Insurance SE, (Munich Re Group)
TT Club Mutual Insurance Limited
Hilton Food Group BV
HDI Global SE
Arval Belgium NV
Cardif NV
Monument Insurance Belgium
XL Catlin / XL Catlin Insurance Company SE / XL Catlin Services SE (now Financial Insurance Company td. c/o AXA)
Amlin Insurance SE
Zurich Insurance Plc
Can Insurance Company Ltd
Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance (Global)
Aon Belgium BVBA /Aon Consulting Belgium NV
Ergo Insurance NV
Ethias SA
Belfius Insurance NV
Belfius Bank
Lithuanian Motor Insurance Guarantee Fund
Baloise Belgium NV
AEGON NV
Qover NV
Allianz Global Corporate
P&V Verzekeringen CVBA
SEB Life International Assurance Company
Dual Corporate Risks Ltd.
ARAG SE – Branch Belgium
DAS Belgische Rechtsbijstandsverzekering
Hiscox Europe Underwriting Limited
STIB-MIVB
Liberty Mutual Group
Beluga Insurance Solutions NV
Alta Signa Group
Immoweb Financial Services SA
Arval
DKV
Euler Hermes
Nationale Nederlanden
Alpha Insurance
Mitsui
Beazley Furlonge Ltd
KBC Verzekeringen
AXA XL
AG Insurance
Gallagher
Airbnb
Work highlights
- Acting for Vandamme Hungaria, a supplier of chocolate ingredients to Barry Callebaut, in the highly publicised case of salmonella contamination in the Belgian chocolate industry in July 2022.
- Assisting different insurers with claims under their contractors’ all risks (CAR)/operational all risks (OAR) policies for three of the seven offshore wind farms operational in the Belgian North Sea.
- Assisting AIG in a coverage dispute before the Brussels Enterprise Court under a business interruption endorsement of an environmental all risks insurance policy taken out by TCR International NV, as policyholder, following the closure of airport terminals and buildings at international airports in Australia, Iberia, the UK, Malaysia and the Netherlands.
Belgium > Real estate and construction Tier 1
Lydian‘s real estate, environment and regulatory team operates from the firm’s offices in Brussels, Antwerp, and Hasselt, with a strong reputation across transactional and construction and development work, advising major national developers and investors alongside smaller and mid-sized clients. Jens Debièvre is a key contact, while ‘very innovative‘ counsel Bruno Stroobants has broad experience in transactional, development, and contentious matters. The ‘talented, assertive‘ Anne-Victoire Vandekerckhove and the ‘simply brilliant‘ Dario Petosa, both promoted to counsel in September 2022, are also recommended. Iris Hemelaer returned to the firm from PwC Legal in October 2022.Practice head(s):
Bruno Stroobants; Anne-Victoire Vandekerckhove; Dario Petosa; Jens Debièvre
Other key lawyers:
Iris Hemelaer; Kyoto Van Herreweghe
Testimonials
‘Experts in their domain and good knowledge of the industry.’
‘The expertise of the lawyers is very extensive. Moreover, they deliver work extremely quickly.’
‘Knowledgeable, pragmatic, and responsive. Always available and hands-on.’
‘Working with Lydian is always a pleasure. They handle projects with the most professional focus. What makes them stand out is that they know the client’s projects inside-out and anticipate issues, rather than waiting for any new developments or problems. They are always well prepared, briefed and thorough in their research, communication and reporting. ‘
‘Bruno Stroobants is very innovative in trying to find solutions.’
‘Dario Petosa is simply brilliant. He is responsive, creative and goes the extra mile. He understands business logic, can focus on key points, analyses legal risks and solutions, and puts forward practical suggestions. He has a very client-friendly, pragmatic approach. A highly dedicated lawyer and highly skilled in his field. He is also very responsive and available. He has good commercial sense and is ready at hand with advice whenever approached.’
‘Bruno Stroobants is an excellent professional team leader.’
‘Anne-Victoire Vandekerckhove is talented, assertive and quickly understands the deep aspects of the case. She has substantial experience assisting clients in a very broad array of real estate matters. She is great to work with, because she applies her in-depth knowledge of real estate law to provide objective and swift answers, and she is always available.’
Key clients
2B2 Immo BV
5N Plus Belgium / 5N Plus Inc.
Accor Hotels Belgium
Advanced Power Solutions Belgium NV
AIG Europe S.A.
Alto.Biz BV
Arcadis Belgium NV
Astridplaza NV
Aveve BV
AVK Belgium NV
AXA Belgium NV
AZ St-Jan Brugge-Oostende A.V
Baloise Belgium NV
Baltissimmo
Baron en Barones de Gruben
Belgian Real Estate Finance (Brefin NV)
BNP Paribas Fortis NV
Boouw NV
BouWatch België
Buro II & Archi + I bvba
Bruvaco NV
Bruvinvest NV
Building Group Jansen NV
BV Assurinvestment
Candor NV
Carglass NV
Ceprim
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ciner Glass Belgium NV
Commonwealth War Graves -Berkshire
Coordinatie Organisatie Constructie NV
Cordeel Group NV
Cycle Concepts Den Haag BV
DCA NV
De Molen SA
Déhora Consultancy Group BVBA
Dematic GmbH / NV
Den Trap Construct BV
Divani NV
Dornan Engineering Ltd.
DUAL Asset Underwriting Limited
EDF Luminus
Edunao SAS
Eldorado NV
Elecnor Servicios Y Proyectos S A U SucursalColombiana
Elia Transmission Belgium NV
Equans SA (Previously: Axima SA – part of Engie Group)
ETEX NV
Euro Heat Pipes SA
EuroParcs Belgium Holding BV
EWS Consultancy
Fabricom NV
Fanuc Benelux BVBA
Fashion Line NV
Federale Real Estate
Fidelidade – Companhia De Seguros
Fitorja SH.P.K.
FIVAC NV
Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
FPE (BE) Holding BV
Fraktion
Gemeente Wemmel
Gemimo NV
Ghent Transport & Storage NV
Goodman Belgium NV
Grammel Ralf
Happily Ever After BV
HDI Global SE – Brussel
Hof BVBA
Hoome Group NV
Houthoff – Amsterdam / München
Huis van het GO!
IMI Hydronic Engineering NV
Immo Arenberg NV
IBP Water-Link OFP
Immo Arenberg NV
Immo B.S.2M. NV
Immobiliën De Swaef NV
Immogra
Immopro NV
Infrabel NV
Institute for Business Development NV
IBM (International Business Machines Corporation)
Immogra NV
I-SEC International Security BV
Jupiter Logistic Holding NV
KBC Bank NV
KBC Global Services NV
KBC Groep NV
KBC Verzekeringen NV
Keyence International (Belgium) NV/SA
Kolmont Woonprojecten NV
KWS Infra BV
L&L Financial Management BV
LCL NV
LCP BE DC2 NV
LCP BELGIUM NV
Living Stone BV
LOM Vlaanderen
M.M.P.R. SA
M² Architecten BVBA
Mana SA
Marbreries G. Allard et fils NV
Martal NV
McCain Foods Belgium NV
Media Markt – Saturn Belgium NV
Metro AG
MIPS NV
Mobix Engetec NV
Mojsdis Chaside Belze VZW
Moyersoen NV
Nationaal Intermutualistisch College VVZ
Natra Malle
Ninovimmo BV
Nippon Express (Belgium) NV
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP – Amsterdam
Oklogi Hotels, S.L.
Openbare Vlaamse Afvalstoffenmaatschappij
Osar Architects NV
Oud Gasthuis Hasselt BVBA
P&V Verzekeringen CVBA
PegaCosmos BV
Pegaland BV
Pegamo I BV
Pegamo III BV
Pegamo V BV
Pegapark BV
Pegare BV
Pegason BV
Pegatrim BV
Poltronesofà Belgium NV
Provincie Limburg
Pulderbos VZW
Quares Residential Investment BV
RA-Business Park BV
R.E. Investments bvba
Real Estate and Leasing Company NV (RESLEA)
Real Estate Belgium NV
Regionale Maatschappij van Onderlinge Bijstand (RMOB)
Renotec NV
Retailors-FL NK Belgium B.V
Retailors-FL NK Ventures B.V.
Reynders Louis Bouwbedrijf NV
Robbrecht en Daem Architecten BV
Service & Development Group Belgium NV
Scholengroep impact
Socotec Belgium SRL / ASBL
Somati Systems NV
SPV Lange Velden NV
Stadsbader Contractors BV
STIB – MIVB
Stora Enso Langerbrugge NV
Studio Disc NV
SVR-Architects NV
Swarovski Belgium N.V
Tans Group
Tereos Starch & Sweeteners Belgium nv
The Law Society (Brussel)
Trading Places NV
UAB MT Group
VAC De Meander NV
Van Benthem & Keulen
Van Wezel Autoparts NV
Vereecke NV
Visser & Smit Hanab NV
Vivalto Home Belgium SA / Vivalto Immo SA
VK Engineering NV
Vlaams Gewest – Afdeling Technische Ondersteuning
Vlaamse Overheid – Dept. Kans. & BZ
Vlaamse Overheid – MOW – Juridisch / LHB / Maritiem
Vlinvesta NV
VME Strijdersstraat Tienen
Volker Wessels Telecom Belgium NV
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
VZW het Domein Bokrijk
VZW Toerisme Limburg
Water-link ov
Waterzande BV
Wellene BVBA
Wetenschapspark Limburg NV
Willy Tans NV
Woenst BVBA
Wouter Witzel Eurovalve B.V.
WOW Belgium SRL
Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg
Work highlights
- Advising Baloise Group on its real estate activities in Belgium, including the construction of the Herman Teirlinck building on the Tour & Taxis site, five office buildings in Namur, and mixed-use buildings consisting of student housing and hotel facilities, as well as handling litigation.
- Advising Visser & Smith Hanab in the negotiations and contract review relating to all aspects of construction contracts and subcontracts for several large and innovative projects, such as the expansion and partial replacement of the military strategic Central Europe Pipeline System (CEPS).
- Advising Dornan Engineering on all aspects of the construction of a complex data centre for Google, including the liabilities of Google and Mace, their contractual position with different assigned subcontractors, and the negotiation with Google of the main construction agreement.
Belgium > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2
Lydian focuses on upper mid-market M&A, and is also regularly involved in high-value, cross-border deals as Belgian counsel, enjoying productive referral relationships with international firms. The firm acts for major domestic and international corporates and private equity funds on the buy and sell-side, and also offers integrated tax, finance, and regulatory expertise. Peter De Ryck, who has a strong focus on private equity and real estate deals, leads the team alongside Maxime Colle, who combines transactional, regulatory, and corporate governance experience, and Tom Geudens. Counsel Florence Colpaert plays a key role in complex M&A and private equity-backed transactions.Practice head(s):
Peter De Ryck; Maxime Colle; Tom Geudens
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very responsive, pragmatic and internationally orientated. They understand how large international corporations work with many different departments, interests and requests and they are not quickly discouraged or overwhelmed by that.’
‘Maxime Colle is a very involved lawyer with good overall responsibility and involvement with his clients.’
‘The best Legal M&A team I have been working with in the last 10 years. They have shown high level of professionalism, knowledge, providing right advice at the right time and speed!’
‘Florence Colpaert, bright lawyer, huge experience, it was a pleasure to work with her. Stress resistant, perfect oral and body language even when discussions were very hot. Normally working with law firms is always a challenge, specially for people with strong technical background, however this time it was a unique, positive experience!’
‘I like the personal approach from the Lydian team, they are not just robots writing emails, but they are real people, providing real support.’
‘Maxime Colle and team are really approachable, knowledgeable and quick.’
‘True commercial advice and legally excellent.’
‘Florence Colpaert: no-nonsense, hands on, brings solutions.’
Key clients
Naxicap Partners
House of HR
Dana
Coil
European Dental Group
Vivalto Home
IBM
McDonald’s
Visma
Scandinavian Tobacco Group
RiskPoint Group
Tikehau Ace Capital
Andera Partners
White Bridge Investments
Kyndryl
Vado Beheer
StoneCalibre
Saviola Group
Level Equity
Northleaf Capital Partners
Carl Zeiss
IQGeo Group plc
Yes
KUKA AG
Bose
Leggett & Platt
Mitsubishi
Schaefer Group
Topp Holdings GmbH
TopCold
Mindgap
LFPI
Ghent Transport and Storage NV
Eurovia
Ciner Group
Arthur J. Gallager & Co
Worthen Industries
Work highlights
- Acted as lead counsel to the sellers in the sale of House of HR NV to Bain Capital.
- Assisted the Norwegian software giant Visma with the acquisition of the Belgian software development company Teamleader NV from investors Fortino Capital, Keen Venture Partners and PMV.
- Assisted Vivalto Home Belgium in a series of acquisitions following the restructuring that took place in January 2022.
Belgium > Dispute resolution Tier 2
‘Client-oriented and technically excellent’, Lydian works across its sites in Brussels, Antwerp, and Hasselt on an array of contentious engagements, acting for a host of domestic and international corporations. The team is chaired from Brussels by Hugo Keulers, an experienced insurance litigator who draws glowing praise from a number of clients. Yves Lenders‘ wide-ranging contentious practice encompasses insolvency litigation, rail transport disputes, and post-acquisition issues, while Jo Willems – who was promoted to partner in January 2022 – is regarded for his ‘amazing level of expertise‘ in a range of commercial litigation work, including product liability and distribution disputes. Counsel Marijn De Ruysscher is also recommended for professional and general liability matters, particularly in the engineering and industrial sectors. All named lawyers are based in Brussels.Practice head(s):
Hugo Keulers
Other key lawyers:
Yves Lenders; Jo Willems; Marijn De Ruysscher; Karen Janssens
Testimonials
‘Hugo Keulers is very experienced and an expert in his field. The same goes for Jo Willems, Pieter-Jan Van Mierlo and Marijn De Ruysscher.’
‘Available, responsive even on short notice, give clear answers, and excellent case handling.’
‘Hugo Keulers is a very experienced litigation lawyer and one of the best in his league in Belgium. Great business acumen, technically very strong, strategic and a tactical thinker.’
‘Karen Janssens is technically very strong and with a lot of potential.’
‘Very reactive, professional, client-oriented and technically excellent. It is always a great pleasure to work with them, especially Jo Willems.’
‘Jo Willems is both one of the best lawyers in Belgium. Always available and client focused, with an amazing level of expertise.’
‘Hugo Keulers is an excellent litigator with a good business mind.’
‘Hugo Keulers is an expert in insurance and litigation matters. He examines files quickly and thoroughly and has a very strong legal analysis; he is focused on reaching the best outcome, looking at the issue from all possible angles – strong strategy and tactics. Proactive. What more could you ask of an outside counsel?’
Key clients
5N Plus
AIG Europe Ltd, now AIG Europe SA
Alfasigma Belgium BV / Cophana NV
Allianz Global Corporate
AMC NV
Arte NV
AXA SA
AXA Seguros
AXA XL
Axima NV
Axis
BB Government Services GmbH
Belfius Bank
Brown Forman
Canopius
Carglass / Belron
CNA Insurance
CooperSurgical
Datwyler Pharma Packaging Belgium NV
Energyst B.V.
Epam
Ethias SA
Ethos Energy
Exyte AG
Fagerhult BV
Gcube
Gilles Hennessy / Sinels
Gunvor Petroleum Antwerp
GVFI Europe B.V.
HDI Global SE
HDI Global Specialty SE
Henkel Global Supply Chain BV
Henkel Belgium
Hilton Food Group
Hiscox Europe Underwriting Limited
House of HR NV
Honeywell NV
HTI Toys UK Limited
Immopro and Mathieu Gijbels
IPS Belgium NV
Keyence International (Belgium) NV/SA
Tremec
McDonald’s Belgium
Manchett Group Limited
Mediamarkt
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
MS Amlin and AG Insurance
Nationale Nederlanden
Pizza Hut Europe
Salvator Welzijnscentrum
Suntrade / Bunge
RSA Nederland / Unica
Smits and Luckey Establishment
STIB-MIVB
Sweco Belgium NV
Transmisiones y Equipos (Tremec)
Tractebel Engineering
TÜV Rheiland AG
XL Catlin / XL Catlin Insurance|Company SE / XL Catlin Services|SE, now: Financial Insurance|Company td. c/o AXA
Banijay Belgium (formerly known as Zodiak Belgium)
Zurich Insurance Plc
Work highlights
- Acting for Oliefabriek Vandamme NV and its insurers HDI Global in a product recall and liability case against Barry Callebaut NV for the alleged delivery of a food ingredient contaminated with salmonella which stopped production in the largest chocolate factory in the world.
- Assisting Manchett Group Limited, who provided facilities services to the Google datacenter in St. Ghislain (Belgium) to recover damages from Google due to a unilateral termination of the contract.
- Assisting Belfius Bank in the recovery of losses paid to its clients/investors in tax shelter investment products in the Belgian theatre industry from the provider of the theatre performances on the one hand and the insurers/reinsurers insuring said losses (approximately €10m).
Belgium > Employment Tier 2
Working across Antwerp and Brussels, Lydian‘s ‘proactive and responsive‘ employment, pensions and benefits team counts among its clients major multinationals in a diverse spread of sectors. Founding partners and practice co-heads Jan Hofkens and Alexander Vandenbergen are acclaimed for their work in restructurings and pensions, respectively. The ‘exceptional‘ Jurgen De Vreese has broad pensions experience, while the ‘dynamic‘ Kato Aerts leads the international mobility and immigration practice. Both were raised to the partnership in January 2023. Counsel Eveline Ankaert leads on workplace health and wellbeing matters, while of counsel Isabel Plets is a key figure in data protection and employee privacy.Practice head(s):
Alexander Vandenbergen; Jan Hofkens
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The firm has a unique position in the Belgium market as a national champion serving a huge range of international clients. We appreciate their pragmatism, their wide experience with typical issues our international clients have and the professionalism with which they proceed, from the first approach to invoicing.’
‘A well balanced and experienced team. Look at innovative ways of working together and like thinking outside the box.’
‘In the field of employment law, it is very difficult to strike a balance between being sympathetic and objective – a balance Lydian easily strikes. The team is also very proactive and responsive, and well-prepared for each conversation.’
‘Jan Hofkens, Alexander Vandenbergern, and Kato Aerts are all excellent, and provide sensible, commercial advice.’
‘Alexander Vandenbergen and Jurgen De Vreese have been great. Delivered work which was of very high quality quickly. Advice was very user-friendly and easy to deploy, despite being highly complex.’
‘Jan Hofkens is extremely experienced, very easy to work with, and can simplify complex issues to make it understandable for the client. Kato Aerts is very dynamic and visible.’
‘Jurgen De Vreese is an exceptional, pragmatic lawyer.’
‘Eveline Ankaert is excellent. Her understanding of employment matters is outstanding and she is very commercial.’
Key clients
Altran
Bekaert
AG Insurance
The Antwerp University Hospital
Unilever
Essenscia
Flanders Investment & Trade
Visit Flanders
Water-link
Scandinavian Tobacco Group
Landewyck Group
Nike
Walt Disney
UPS
ForgeRock
Tereos Group
Henkel
AIG
Yokohama
McAfee
Royal & Sun Alliance
Nippon Express (Belgium) NV
Bloomberg
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Blackberry
DKV (Munich re)
Blackberry
British American Tobacco
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
Baloise
Société Wallonne des Eaux
Sabam
Booking.com
Flemish Radio & Television Broadcasting Company
Generali Belgium
Airbus
Banijay Group
Centerparcs
Plukon Industries
Radisson Blu Hotel Group
Barry Callebaut
VF Europe
Ebury
Uniqlo
Stater
Keyence
LKQ
Wunderman Thompson
Solvay
Novelis
Carrefour
Cargill
Hilton Foods Belgium
Puratos
Worldwide Flight Services
The Belgian Federal Ministry of Pensions
Citribel
Britvic
Retailors
Imperial
5NPlus
Saab
Euro Heat Pipes
Dejbox (Carrefour Group)
Smurfit Kappa van Mierlo
Asiana Airlines
Goed Farma
Work highlights
- Assists Nike in all labour and employment matters on a daily basis, including litigation, dismissal due to performance or breach of policies, drafting contracts and policies, litigation, and engagement with works councils for global projects.
- Assisting the Belgian Federal Ministry of Pensions in the selection and appointment of the pension fund that will manage the supplementary pensions of the employees of local authorities.
- Assisting Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) in the full range of employment law issues on a regular basis, including specifically in the context of the decrease in activity and economic unemployment at the fast-growing Liège Airport as a result of European sanctions imposed on Russia and Russian companies following its invasion of Ukraine.
Belgium > Environment Tier 2
Counsel since January 2022, Lydian‘s environmental practice head Kyoto Van Herreweghe receives high praise from clients as an ‘expert in her field‘ and an ‘incredibly bright and articulate lawyer‘ with broad expertise across a range of environmental and planning issues. Under her leadership, the team advises on issues including permitting, waste management, and contamination, in addition to providing support on real estate transactions and projects, including in the growing area of heating grid development. Referral work from international firms is another key source of mandates for the practice.Practice head(s):
Kyoto Van Herreweghe
Other key lawyers:
Karlien Meert; Jan Maertens
Testimonials
‘Lydian is outstanding because of its pragmatic and straight to the point approach. Lydian is also goal-orientated and is able to give you out-of-the-box advice in order to reach your goal.’
‘Very knowledgeable and experienced, giving good proactive advice. Strategic and timely.’
‘Strong team with good knowledge of environmental legislation in Flanders and legal procedures. Very good strategic advice.’
‘Combines solid legal know-how with youthful enthusiasm and senior experience.’
‘Hands-on replies, given within very short timeframes. Truly collaborative mindset.’
‘Kyoto Van Herreweghe is an incredibly bright and articulate lawyer. She has in-depth knowledge of complex environmental matters and provides practical advice within a short timeframe, which is very comforting. She manages to be very available and quickly delivers very good strategic advice. She has a good client manner and a diligent tactical mind.’
‘Responsive, knowledgeable, and pragmatic approach.’
‘Kyoto Van Herreweghe is an expert in her field.’
Key clients
5N Plus Inc.
Accor Hotels Belgium
AIG Europe S.A. (France)
Alto.Biz BV
Arcadis Belgium NV
Baloise Belgium NV
Baltissimmo NV
Belgian Real Estate Finance (Brefin NV)
Belnima NV
Bentam Société d’avocats SLRL
BNP Paribas Fortis
Bruvinvest NV
Building Group Jansen NV
Buro II & Archi + I bvba
Bruvaco NV
Bruvinvest NV
Building Group Jansen NV
BV Assurinvestment
Carglass NV
Ceprim NV
Cercle Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ciner Glass Belgium
Commonwealth War Graves -Berkshire
Contimac GMT International BV
Coordinatie Organisatie Constructie NV
Cordeel Group NV
DCA NV
DEMOCO NV
Dentco BV
Douglas Terminals BV
DUAL Asset Underwriting Limited
E.on Power Plants Belgium BVBA
EDF Luminus NV
Eldorado NV
Elecnor S.A.
Elia Transmission Belgium NV
Equans NV (part of the Engie Group)
EuroParcs Belgium Holding BV
European Projects Investment Company NV
Fanuc Benelux BVBA
Federale Real Estate
FIVAC NV
Full Moon Events sprl
Gemeente Wemmel
Ghent Transport & Storage NV
Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I
Goodman Belgium NV
Govaerts Tom BV
Groep Van Roey NV
Gromabel NV
Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Hoome Group NV
Houthoff
Huis van het GO!
IBP Water-Link OFP
Ice Miller LLP
Immobiliën De Swaef NV
Immogra
Infrabel NV
KBC Bank NV
KBC Global Services NV
KBC Groep NV
KBC Verzekeringen NV
Kolmont Woonprojecten NV
KUKA Deutschland GmbH
LCL NV
LOM Vlaanderen
M² Architecten BVBA
Marbreries G. Allard et fils NV
Martal NV
MC Capital NV
Media Markt – Saturn Belgium NV
Mensura Gemeenschappelijke Verzekeringskas
Metro AG
Mobix Engetec NV
Naxicap Partners
NEAG Norddeutsche Energie Development GmbH
Nippon Express (Belgium) NV
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Nutkao S.r.l.
Oleon NV
Openbare Vlaamse Afvalstoffenmaatschappij
Pegaland BV
Pegatrim BV
Pekago Kunststoffen B.V.
Plukon Food Group B.V.
Provincie Limburg
Pulderbos VZW
RA-Business Park BV
Real Estate and Leasing Company NV (RESLEA)
RebelValley BV
Reed Smith LLP
RiskPoint A/S
Service & Development Group Belgium NV
Sterhoek NV
STIB-MIVB
Stora Enso Langerbrugge NV
SVR-Architects NV
Tans Group
Tereos Starch & Sweeteners Belgium NV
The Cube BVBA
THV Jansen Finishings – Aannemingen Jansen
Trading Places NV
VAC De Meander NV
Van Benthem & Keulen
Van Campen & Partners N.V.
Van Goethem Philippe
Venneshop BVBA
Visser & Smit Hanab
Vivalto Home Belgium SA
VK Engineering NV
Vlaamse Overheid – MOW – Juridisch / LHB / Maritiem
Vlaamse Vervoersmaatschappij – De Lijn
Vlinvesta NV
VZW het Domein Bokrijk
Water-link ov
Willy Tans NV
Zurich Insurance Plc Netherlands branch
Work highlights
- Defending Stora Enso NV’s interests in environmental litigation claims regarding legionella infections in Ghent, Belgium.
- Advising Visser & Smit Hanab BV on the development and construction of a water pipeline between two major industrial players in the Antwerp harbour, with a disconnection point with the city of Antwerp in order to dispose of a local large-scale heating network.
- Advising Real Estate and Leasing Company NV on the development of a maritime campus (including all permitting aspects) in the south of Antwerp, including defending the company’s rights in proceedings brought before the Flemish Council for Permit Disputes against its single permit granted in appeal.
Belgium > EU regulatory: Information technology Tier 2
Lydian advises high-profile Belgian businesses, SMEs, and subsidiaries of global companies on the regulatory aspects of complex IT projects, including outsourcing and software development, as well as innovative matters in fields such as e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and electronic communications. The firm works with clients in retail, financial services, technology, and telecoms, among others, and has expertise in EU and domestic Belgian regulatory issues. Bastiaan Bruyndonckx, an expert in tech, IT, and data regulatory work, heads up the team.Practice head(s):
Bastiaan Bruyndonckx
Testimonials
‘For me the strength of Lydian is the knowledge of the company about IT technology, IT governance and IT regulations. Besides IT – I also appreciate their knowledge around privacy and GDPR.’
‘Bastiaan Bruyndonckx is our partner for all topics concerning IT Infrastructure and GDPR. His technical knowledge and creativity has helped us a lot in the past to construct agreements between different parties in a complex environment, where we have to deliver shared service to unaffiliated companies.’
Key clients
Ethias
CTAC
QBE
Allianz Technology
Arag
KBC
House of HR
MIVB
E.ON Power Plants Belgium BV
Work highlights
- Advised McDonald’s Belgium on a range of IT projects, including a project with Meta for implementation of Workplace, a project with ATOS for IT support for all McDonald’s restaurants in Belgium and a project with Cosmos 21 on the implementation of a new digital food safety platform.
- Advised DKV and ERGO in Belgium on the review of a cloud outsourcing agreement with Microsoft (Azure) in the light of prudential outsourcing legislation and regulations applicable to (re)insurers.
- Advised Amazon Web Services (AWS) on the Belgian legal aspects of an agreement with financial technology provider SWIFT, headquartered in Belgium.
Belgium > Fraud and white-collar crime Tier 2
Lydian‘s fraud and white-collar crime practice is well regarded for its work in employee, insurance, and contractual fraud. Made up of lawyers experienced in employment, criminal, and insurance law, as well as dispute resolution, the team is co-led by Hugo Keulers, Yves Lenders, and Jan Hofkens. Keulers specialises in insurance and reinsurance, and Lenders focuses on directors’ liability and contractual fraud. Hofkens, meanwhile, is particularly recommended in employment fraud, whistleblowing, and dismissal for cause.Practice head(s):
Hugo Keulers; Jan Hofkens; Yves Lenders
Belgium > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3
The ‘responsive‘ and ‘knowledgeable‘ team at Lydian focuses on asset-based lending and acquisition finance transactions, working primarily with domestic borrowers on Belgian-based mandates, and international lenders on international arrangements, The firm also regularly receives referrals from major US and global law firms as Belgian law counsel for complex multi-jurisdictional arrangements. The ‘exceptional‘ Tom Geudens heads up the team, combining corporate lending experience with work on project financing, loan restructuring, and financial services regulatory issues.Practice head(s):
Tom Geudens
Testimonials
‘The team led by Tom Geudens has assisted us in a complex acquisition finance transaction concerning both Dutch and Belgian entities and several layers of financing. Lydian expertly advised on and assisted with structuring the financing in relation to the Belgian entities, while negotiating the documentation with opposing counsel, and navigating the local governmental requirements. Tom’s team is practical, efficient and very pleasant to work with.’
‘A great team delivering timely and client-friendly advice. Always a pleasure to work with and always my preferred choice in relation to any banking/ finance matters in Belgium.’
‘Tom Geudens is exceptional. His knowledge of the area is first-rate – and his responsiveness and availability are always appreciated. A brilliant ability to communicate complex ideas in a manner which is easy to understand.’
‘Tom Geudens and his team are excellent.’
‘Very reactive, very professional, available when needed, excellent quality of expertise in financing.’
‘Tom Geudens knows his market very well, his advice is always deal oriented but highly technical.’
‘Tom Guedens went above and beyond to advise and deliver.’
‘The team were responsive and clearly knowledgeable about their practice area.’
Key clients
AIG Europe Ltd
Allianz Global Corporate
Deutsche Bank Capital Markets
Société Générale
Crédit Agricole
HDI-Gerling Verzekeringen NV
XL Catlin / XL Catlin Insurance Company SE / XL Catlin Services SE, now: Financial Insurance Company td. c/o AXA
Amlin Insurance SE
Zurich Insurance Plc
CNA Insurance Company Ltd
Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance (Global)
Aon Belgium BVBA / Aon Consulting Belgium NV
Ergo Insurance NV
Ethias SA
Belfius Bank NV
Baloise Belgium NV
AEGON NV
Qover NV
P&V Verzekeringen CVBA
SEB Life International Assurance Company
Dual Corporate Risks Ltd.
ARAG SE – Branch Belgium
DAS Belgische Rechtsbijstandsverzekering
FWU Life Insurance Luxembourg S.A.
Hiscox Europe Underwriting Limited
STIB-MIVB
TVM België N.V.
Liberty Mutual Group
Beluga Insurance Solutions NV
Alta Signa Group
Immoweb Financial Services SA
Arval
DKV
CME
Merian
SNS Bank
Federale Pensions
PMV (Flemish Investment Fund)
BTMU
Adams Street Partners
N26 Bank
TD Securities
White Rock Insurance
ANZ Bank
Mercedes
Royal Bank of Canada
Argenta Bank
Lufthansa Airplus
KBC Bank NV
Bank of America
Deutsche Bank
Commerzbank
Wells Fargo
National Westminster Bank
Equistone
United Rentals
Burgo Ardennes SA
Hitachi Capital
TMF Group
ABN Amro Bank N.V.
Andera Partners
Work highlights
- Assisted Andera Partners relating to the EUR 24,144,000 acquisition financing of the Elan Group, the leading technology platform for translation services in the Benelux, arranged by KBC Bank NV.
- Advised the TSG Group in connection with a EUR 390,000,000 senior facilities agreement, arranged by J.P. Morgan SE, ING Bank NV (acting through its French Branch) and Société Générale.
- Advised the lenders in connection with the EUR 200,000,000 financing arrangement made available to X-Fab Silicon Foundries SE and certain of its subsidiaries.
Belgium > EU regulatory: Financial services Tier 3
Lydian advises financial institutions and insurers on the full range of regulatory compliance issues, including the MiFID, AIMFD, and Solvency II regimes, among others, as well as handling complex product launch issues such as international MGAs. The team also advises regulatory authorities on new regulations, as well as representing clients in litigation. The team is led by Tom Geudens, who focuses on international banking and financial regulatory issues, insurance specialist Sandra Lodewijckx, who ‘stands out for her market knowledge and regulatory expertise‘ and Hugo Keulers, who takes the lead on commercial disputes. Senior associate Héloïse Fostier is also a key name for insurance work.Practice head(s):
Tom Geudens; Sandra Lodewijckx; Hugo Keulers
Other key lawyers:
Héloïse Fostier
Testimonials
‘I like working with Hugo Keulers because he understands our business. Apart from his thorough knowledge, vast experience and great competence, he is also very accessible and always open to discussion.’
‘Hugo Keulers is our go to lawyer for Belgian insurance regulatory questions.’
‘It seems that everyone within the firm (even only on copy) feels responsible to advise and respond to clients promptly and it feels that they are very well organized and work closely together. It also feels as if you may ask any questions; they are always very client-orientated.’
‘Very responsive and pragmatic. Each of my contact persons understand how large international firms work with many different departments, interests and requests and they are not quickly discouraged or overwhelmed by that.’
‘We always refer our clients to Lydian first for regulatory advice in Belgium and specifically to Sandra Lodewijck’s team. We know of no other firm in Belgium that focusses on insurance regulatory in the way that Sandra does, combining regulatory and substantive insurance law advice in advice that is always practical.’
‘Sandra Lodewijck stands out for her market knowledge and regulatory expertise.’
‘Tom Geudens is our go to person for issues around credit risk mitigation in Belgium. The team is providing exactly the advice we require and takes a very pragmatic approach.’
Key clients
AIG Europe Ltd
Lloyd’s Insurance Company NV
Allianz Global Corporate
Hiscox
Deutsche Bank Capital Markets
Société Générale
Crédit Agricole
HDI-Gerling Verzekeringen NV
XL Catlin / XL Catlin Insurance Company SE / XL Catlin Services SE, now: Financial Insurance Company td. c/o AXA
Amlin Insurance SE
Zurich Insurance Plc
CNA Insurance Company Ltd
Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance (Global)
Aon Belgium BVBA
Aon Consulting Belgium NV
Ergo Insurance NV
Ethias SA
Belfius Insurance NV
Baloise Belgium NV
AEGON NV
Qover NV
P&V Verzekeringen CVBA
SEB Life International Assurance Company
Dual Corporate Risks Ltd.
ARAG SE – Branch Belgium
DAS Belgische Rechtsbijstandsverzekering
FWU Life Insurance Luxembourg S.A.
Hiscox Europe Underwriting Limited
STIB-MIVB
TVM België N.V.
Liberty Mutual Group
Beluga Insurance Solutions NV
Alta Signa Group
Immoweb Financial Services SA
Arval
DKV
CME
Merian
SNS Bank
Federale Pensions
PMV (Flemish Investment Fund)
BTMU
Adams Street Partners
N26 Bank
TD Securities
White Rock Insurance
ANZ Bank
Mercedes
Royal Bank of Canada
Argenta Bank
Lufthansa Airplus
Zurich
AXA XL
HDI Specialty
Google Ireland Limited
Automobili Lamborghini S.P.A.
Monument Assurance Belgium
Foyer
BNP Paribas Cardif
Euler Hermes (part of Allianz Group)
Atradius
Nationale Nederlanden (NN)
Alpha Insurance
Enstar Limited
Aspen Insurance
Darta Savings Life Assurance DAC (part of Allianz Group)
Homeserve
Europ Assistance
Mitsui
Beazley Furlonge Ltd
ING Bank
Rabobank
Aplazame S.L.
Chancen eG
Formuepleje A/S
Privium Fund Management
LFPI
Zonneberg CV
Infra Internationaal NV
LevelTen Energy
Russel Investments
De Beers Group
ExxonMobil
FreedomPay
CACIB
MSTS
BAML
Citibank
Marktlink Investment Partners Fund Coöperatief U.A.
Darby Overseas Partners, L.P.
CAL&F SA
Bank of New York Mellon NV
Anterra Capital BV
Hans Anders Retail Group Holding BV
Piraeus Bank SA
MUFG
Commerzbank
Alpha Credit
World Fuel
PayPal
NIBC Bank
Black Sea Trade Development Bank
Nordex
LabCorp
Brink’s
Morgan Stanley
Landesbank Baden-Württemberg
Truncus
Greenmile Sustainable Housing
TMF
ImmoTokens
Deliveroo
Hitachi
Capital One
CCV
Clarksons
Dasym
EDF Trading
FIBI
Fidelity Digital Assets
Five Arrows
Fondsdepot Bank
Fraktion
JP Morgan Asset Management
Kraken
Luno
ManageRe
Parow Partners
Nedbank
P&V
PayPal
L1 Capital
Royal Bank of Canada
River Oak Capital
Scalapay
Trafigura
Unzer
VÖB-Service GmbH
Westcon
Axa Bank
Work highlights
- Advised and assisted several foreign providers of consumer and mortgage credit and of leasing agreements on the possibility to exercise their activities in Belgium and under what conditions, especially regarding the need of obtaining a license or registration in Belgium.
- Advising Belgian and foreign FinTech players on the regulatory framework applicable to their platforms.
- Assisting CannGen Insurance Europe (CannGen EU) with setting up an MGA in Brussels, Belgium.
Belgium > EU regulatory: Privacy and data protection Tier 3
Lydian advises domestic and international companies, including major names in financial services and telecoms, on GDPR compliance, risk management, employee data issues, and contentious issues relating to data management, cybersecurity, and surveillance. The team is led by Bastiaan Bruyndonckx, an experienced tech and regulatory lawyer, and draws upon expertise from the firm’s IT, European regulatory, and employment teams, as well as regularly receiving referrals from international law firms for cross-border matters. Counsel Olivia Santantonio is also a key contributor, specialising in the intersection of data and intellectual property.Practice head(s):
Bastiaan Bruyndonckx
Other key lawyers:
Olivia Santantonio; Liese Kuyken
Testimonials
‘Lydian has very knowledgeable lawyers for the field of cyber security, that respond fast, are proactive and communicate clearly.’
‘Liese Kuyken and Olivia Santantonio have provided excellent support for incident response for cyber security. They respond quickly, have good availability and provide clear and practical advice, thinking along with the client.’
Key clients
DKV/Ergo
Orange
ENGIE Electrabel
Vaillant
Ethias
Keyence
Essent Belgium
Nitto
BNPP Fortis
SSI Schäfer Shop
Solidaris
Baloise
QBE
Febelco
Cardif
Work highlights
- Advising Febelco CVBA, a cooperative wholesaler distributing pharmaceuticals to pharmacies, on the further steps to achieve full compliance with the GDPR, including preparation of HR, customer and supplier facing privacy notices and review of the Register of Processing Activities (RoPA).
- Acting as DPO for the IORP United Pensions, Aon’s multi-employer cross-border pension solution.
- Advising Daikin Europe NV on the need for obtaining consent in Belgium for such cookies.
Belgium > Industry focus: IT and telecoms Tier 3
A popular referral partner for foreign firms requiring telecoms expertise, Lydian regularly assists a range of corporate clients on all manner of telecom mandates. The team has latterly strengthened its capabilities in the IT sector by some margin, working on international software and equipment procurement matters. The practice is led by Bastiaan Bruyndonckx, a highly knowledgeable practitioner who is particularly proficient in cybersecurity, IT and telecoms. Bastiaan’s experience in the data sector encompasses AI and big data projects, and he demonstrates particular prowess in data protection work.Practice head(s):
Bastiaan Bruyndonckx
Testimonials
‘A flexible team with detailed knowledge of the legal domain of IT and telecoms.’
‘Pragmatic approach.’
‘We regularly work with Bastiaan Bruyndonckx on account of his in-depth knowledge.’
Key clients
Orange
Deutsche Telekom
Ctac
Temasek
IBM
Proximus
Ride Mobile
Nuwave
Typeform
Webtoon
Quorum Analytics
Work highlights
- Assisted Dense Air regarding new legislative developments in Belgium on spectrum and advised on the impact this may have on the current 4G licenses of Dense Air.
- Advised Typeform SL with the acquisition of the technology of Journy.io, a Belgian start-up, through an asset deal.
- Advised Nuwave Communications Limited, a UK telecom operator which offers dial in products to several companies, on Belgian telecom regulatory matters.
Belgium > Industry focus: Transport Tier 3
Lydian is well-equipped to assist clients with the domestic aspects of shipping and transport matters, and is particularly reputed for its expertise in port projects, including logistics outsourcing and brand-new developments. The practice is commonly engaged for the drafting of logistics contracts and warehouse agreements, and regularly advises clients on multimodal transport agreements. Dispute resolution and arbitration are further areas of expertise for the team. Yves Lenders routinely acts as a trusted advisor on contentious and non-contentious matters, including shareholder disputes, construction disputes, and post-acquisition litigation. Pieter-Jan Van Mierlo regularly acts for clients in complex damages claims.Practice head(s):
Yves Lenders
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Lineas
De Lijn
STIB-MIVB
Water-link OV
Kerry Logistics Network Limited – TCI Freight Forwarding Co. LTD
Belgium Rail Solutions SA
Cardo Construct Railwaylogistics BVBA
Combinant NV
Puratos NV
Work highlights
- Assisted Lineas NV in a variety of cases such as the derailment of a freight train at Sinaai, the damaging of a high-speed train and the damages suffered by Infrabel.
- Assisted Water-link OV to recuperate important damages suffered as a result of two inland vessels colliding on the “Albertkanaal” at the location of the train bridge in Herentals-Lier.
- Assisted Combinant NV following a derailment of Hupac NV owned wagon operated by Railtraxx NV on its private railway infrastructure hub in the Antwerp port, before the link with the public railway system of Infrabel.
Belgium > Insolvency and restructuring Tier 3
Lydian is well regarded for its work across corporate restructurings and reorganisations, workforce restructurings, and the recovery of distressed assets. Experienced corporate and commercial partner Yves Lenders heads the practice, with notable support from Kim van Zummeren, a senior associate focused on commercial litigation and insurance.Practice head(s):
Yves Lenders
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Availability, clarity, transparency, and responsiveness.’
‘A hands-on approach and fast reactions.’
Key clients
CASA International
Mathieu Gijbels NV
Berlitz School of Languages
Work highlights
- Assisting Casa International NV, the Belgian coordinating entity of the Casa group, in its restructuring process necessitated by the economic impact of Covid-19, including financing and representation in judicial reorganisation proceedings.
- Advising management on the bankruptcy of Berlitz Belgium, the Belgian franchise of the school for languages.
Belgium > Intellectual property Tier 3
Lydian‘s IP practice handles contentious and non-contentious work for clients in a range of sectors, including luxury goods and life sciences. Commercial and litigation partner Bastiaan Bruyndonckx leads the team, and is particularly well regarded in the field of IT and data. Counsel Olivia Santantonio, meanwhile, has expertise in patent and trade mark portfolio management, as well as ‘in-depth knowledge and experience of IP court cases‘.Practice head(s):
Bastiaan Bruyndonckx
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very calm, thorough, and collaborative.’
‘Great expertise in trade mark law.’
‘The team members have an in-depth knowledge of a variety of areas of specialisation.’
‘Professional high-end service.’
‘The team has the necessary knowledge and the know-how to transfer it well. Files are always followed up closely and timings are respected.’
‘Bastiaan Bruyndonckx is an exceptional professional and a pleasure to work with.’
‘Olivia Santantonio has in-depth knowledge and experience of IP court cases.’
‘Bastiaan Bruyndonckx has extensive experience in IP-related subjects.’
Key clients
Gucci – Balenciaga
Valneva
Phoenix e-mobility
Mc Donald’s
Quorum Analytics
Ferrari
Prada
Chanel
Swatch
Visit Limburg
VBO – FEB
Belfius Insurance
Work highlights
- Assisting Guccio Gucci and Balenciaga in the filing of their commonly owned Benelux trade mark, incorporating the GG trade mark and the Balenciaga initials.
- Assisting Valneva in the review and negotiation of the advance purchase agreement for the sale of COVID-19 vaccines with the EU Commission.
- Assisted McDonald’s in the development of booklets offered in all the McDonald’s restaurants in Belgium, retracing the career of four members of the national football team, the Red Devils.
Belgium > Private equity Tier 3
Lydian has productive relationships with domestic and international investment funds, advising on the mid-market buy-side, as well as acting for sellers and management in high-value, often cross-border deals. The firm regularly partners with international law firms on multi-jurisdictional transactions of significant value, and provides in-house tax and regulatory expertise, as well as experience of corporate governance issues. The team is headed up by Peter De Ryck and Maxime Colle; together with Tom Geudens, they advise a wide range of funds and corporates on buyouts and private equity-backed transactions. Florence Colpaert also plays a key role on transactions and financing matters.Practice head(s):
Peter De Ryck; Maxime Colle; Tom Geudens
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Approachable, pragmatic and legally excellent.’
‘Maxime Colle is an excellent PE lawyer.’
Key clients
Naxicap Partners
House of HR
White Bridge Investments
Andera Partners
Tikehau Ace Capital
Carl Zeiss
La Financière Patrimoniale d’Investissement (LFPI)
European Dental Group (backed by Nordic)
Northleaf Capital Partners
Waterland Private Equity
Hartree Partners
Alantra
IU Group (formerly Career Partner Group) (backed by Oakley Capital)
Work highlights
- Acted as lead counsel to the sellers in the sale of House of HR NV to Bain Capital.
- Advised White Bridge Investments in two major acquisitions, being the acquisition of the Belgian chocolate spread manufacturer Boerinneke (for its portfolio company Nutkao) and the acquisition of the food supplement distributor GDI Martera (for its portfolio company named Natural Medicine).
- Advised the French private equity Andera Partners on its investment in the Elan group, the largest translation company in the Benelux, generating an annual turnover of around EUR 20 million over four branches in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Poland.
Belgium > Industry focus: Energy
Lydian > Firm Profile
The firm: Lydian is a full-service Belgian business law firm with an Anglo-Saxon approach to practising law. Through a fine blend of transactional law expertise and litigation skills, we deliver straight to-the-point solutions that add true value.
We listen to what is important and provide practical and personalised advice in a constantly changing world. That requires fresh thinking and tech savviness combined with proven experience. We believe that when knowledge travels, opportunities arise. We think client-focused, act fast and speak frankly in a language that you understand. We make sense, not nonsense. Expect accessible personalities, open minds and a pragmatic bullet point approach.
From our offices in Brussels, Antwerp and Hasselt, we work as an extension of your team. Our lawyers cherish a close client-lawyer relationship, while their sophisticated approach outperforms the service of many competitors. Lydian believes in integrity, authenticity and consistency.
Our mission is to find solutions through excellent legal insight and strong business instinct. That is how we exceed expectations, deliver consistent results and forge long-term relationships with industry leaders.
Areas of practice: Lydian advises on a broad range of Belgian business law matters, including corporate matters, commercial matters, intellectual property (IP) law, information and communication technology (ICT), information governance and data protection (privacy) law, dispute resolution, employment, real estate, regulatory matters and tax.
The firm’s lawyers have specialised expertise in the fields of finance, insolvency and restructuring, energy, public sector, insurance and reinsurance, life sciences and healthcare, outsourcing, ports and logistics, pensions, real estate development, investments and telecommunications, media and technology (TMT).
For more information, visit www.lydian.be
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Commercial and litigation | Hugo Keulers | hugo.keulers@lydian.be | |
Commercial and litigation | Yves Lenders | yves.lenders@lydian.be | |
Commercial and litigation | Sandra Lodewijckx | sandra.lodewijckx@lydian.be | |
Commercial and litigation | Bastiaan Bruyndonckx | bastiaan.bruyndonckx@lydian.be | |
Commercial and litigation | Jo Willems | jo.willems@lydian.be | |
Corporate | Peter De Ryck | peter.deryck@lydian.be | |
Dispute resolution | Hugo Keulers | hugo.keulers@lydian.be | |
Dispute resolution | Yves Lenders | yves.lenders@lydian.be | |
Dispute resolution | Jo Willems | jo.willems@lydian.be | |
Employment, pensions and benefits | Jan Hofkens | jan.hofkens@lydian.be | |
Employment, pensions and benefits | Alexander Vandenbergen | alexander.vandenbergen@lydian.be | |
Employment, pensions and benefits | Isabel Plets | isabel.plets@lydian.be | |
Employment, pensions and benefits | Jurgen De Vreese | jurgen.devreese@lydian.be | |
Finance | Tom Geudens | tom.geudens@lydian.be | |
Intellectual property (IP) | Olivia Santantonio | olivia.santantonio@lydian.be | |
Information and communication technology (ICT) | Bastiaan Bruyndonckx | bastiaan.bruyndonckx@lydian.be | |
Information governance and data protection | Bastiaan Bruyndonckx | bastiaan.bruyndonckx@lydian.be | |
Information governance and data protection | Isabel Plets | isabel.plets@lydian.be | |
Insurance | Hugo Keulers | hugo.keulers@lydian.be | |
Fraud and White Collar crimes | Stijn Lamberigts | stijn.lamberigts@lydian.be | |
Insurance | Sandra Lodewijckx | sandra.lodewijckx@lydian.be | |
Employment, pensions and benefits | Kato Aerts | kato.aerts@lydian.be | |
Transport | Pieter-Jan Van Mierlo | pieter-jan.vanmierlo@lydian.be | |
Ports and logistics | Yves Lenders | yves.lenders@lydian.be | |
Real estate, environment and regulatory | Jens Debièvre | jens.debievre@lydian.be | |
Real estate, environment and regulatory | Dario Petosa | dario.petosa@lydian.be | |
Environment | Kyoto Van Herreweghe | kyoto.vanherreweghe@lydian.be | |
Energy | Kyoto Van Herreweghe | kyoto.vanherreweghe@lydian.be | |
Real estate, environment and regulatory | Bruno Stroobants | bruno.stroobants@lydian.be | |
Corporate | Florence Colpaert | florence.colpaert@lydian.be | |
Tax | Geert De Neef | geert.deneef@lydian.be |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mrs Kato Aerts | Kato Aerts is a ¨Partner in our Employment, Pensions and Benefits practice. | View Profile | |
Mrs Eveline Ankaert | Dr. Eveline Ankaert is a counsel in our Employment, Pensions & Benefits practice and… | View Profile | |
Mr Bastiaan Bruyndonckx | Bastiaan has a particular focus on: information governance data protection and privacy… | View Profile | |
Mr Maxime Colle | Maxime has a particular focus on: corporate M&A corporate law … | View Profile | |
Mrs Florence Colpaert | Florence is a Partner in the Corporate and M&A practice. | View Profile | |
Mr Geert De Neef | Geert has a particular focus on all tax aspects of: M&A and … | View Profile | |
Mr Marijn De Ruysscher | Marijn De Ruysscher is a counsel in our Commercial and Dispute Resolution practices and our Insurance &… | View Profile | |
Mr Marijn De Ruysscher | Marijn De Ruysscher is a Counsel in our Commercial & Litigation department. | View Profile | |
Mr Peter De Ryck | Peter has a particular focus on: corporate law mergers and acquisitions private… | View Profile | |
Mr Jurgen De Vreese | Jurgen is a counsel in the Employment, Pensions & Benefits practice. | View Profile | |
Mr Jens Debièvre | Jens has a particular focus on economic public law. Jens advises government… | View Profile | |
Mrs Lore Derdeyn | Lore Derdeyn is a Counsel in our Regulatory practice and our Public Sector industry department. | View Profile | |
Mrs Héloïse Fostier | Héloïse is a counsel in our Commercial and Dispute Resolution practice and our Insurance &… | View Profile | |
Mr Tom Geudens | Tom has a particular focus on: Asset based lending Asset finance Acquisition… | View Profile | |
Mrs Iris Hemelaer | Iris is a counsel in the Real Estate, Environment & Regulatory practice | View Profile | |
Mr Jan Hofkens | Jan is a Partner in Lydian’s Employment, Pensions & Benefits practice. He… | View Profile | |
Mr Hugo Keulers | Hugo Keulers is a Partner is our Commercial and Litigation practice. He… | View Profile | |
Mr Yves Lenders | Yves is a partner in the Commercial & Litigation practice, where he… | View Profile | |
Mrs Sandra Lodewijckx | Sandra is a partner in the Commercial and Dispute Resolution practices and… | View Profile | |
Mrs Annick Mottet Haugaard | Annick is a partner in the Commercial & Litigation practice and heads… | View Profile | |
Mr Wouter Neven | Wouter is a partner in the Real Estate, Environment & Regulatory practice,… | View Profile | |
Mr Dario Petosa | Dario Petosa is a Partner in our Real Estate, Environment and Regulatory… | View Profile | |
Mrs Isabel Plets | Isabel Plets is Of Counsel in the Employment, Pensions & Benefits practice. | View Profile | |
Mrs Olivia Santantonio | Olivia Santantonio is a counsel in Lydian’s IP practice and our Data… | View Profile | |
Mr Bruno Stroobants | Bruno is a Partner in the Real Estate, Environment & Regulatory practice. | View Profile | |
Kyoto Van Herreweghe | Kyoto Van Herreweghe is a Counsel in our Real Estate, Environment and… | View Profile | |
Mr Pieter-Jan Van Mierlo | Pieter-Jan Van Mierlo is a Counsel in our Commercial & Litigation department. | View Profile | |
Mr Alexander Vandenbergen | Alexander is a partner in the Employment, Pensions & Benefits practice and… | View Profile | |
Mr Jo Willems | Jo is a Partner in the Commercial & Litigation practice. | View Profile | |
Mrs Kim van Zummeren | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 94Languages
Dutch English French German SpanishMemberships
Other
Other offices : Antwerp Other offices : HasseltInterviews
Jan Hofkens, Managing Partner
The Legal 500 Hall of Fame highlights individuals who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence.What has been your greatest achievement, in a professional and personal capability?
In a law firm, it is all about teamwork and people. You can only deliver high quality services to your clients when you have a strong team of experienced and talented lawyers around you. I am very proud of the team of 18 employment lawyers that we have created over the years, which is known for its hard and qualitative work, but where we also have a lot of fun. This team allows us to tackle the most complex employment issues and handle very demanding projects within tight timeframes. I consider this as one of the greatest achievements in my career.
What do you do differently from your peers in the industry?
We consider ourselves as business partners to our clients. We are not only there to give the correct legal input (this is the Olympic minimum), but we go the extra mile and always try to translate the complex legal framework into practical and useful solutions. We take into account the clients specific needs, the company culture, the industrial relations and the client’s business goals. Straight and to-the-point advice is the hallmark of Lydian, and we try to prove this every day.
I am often more a sounding board for my clients, discussing the tactical approach in a file and the way forward. We invest a lot in long-term relationships with clients, which allows us to put the client’s questions always in a broader perspective.
Moreover, we consider employment law not as a niche on its own, but embedded in the broader legal landscape. There are always connections with other areas, such as corporate law, commercial contracts, criminal law, etc. Being part of a full service law firm allows our team of employment lawyers to include these aspects in the advice to our clients, which ultimately results in better and more complete advice.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. The legal profession is challenging and not always easy, but you can learn fast if you are open to new challenges. As employment lawyers, you are dealing with one of the most (if not the most) important assets of a company, and involved in the core business of the client. It allows you to get involved in various types of companies in different industries, which broadens your experience and views. Be open for these experiences, and, last but not least, enjoy!
Can you give me a practical example of how helped a client add value to the business?
Good social relations are crucial for a company to deliver better business results. I dare to say that we contribute to these social relations in our daily advisory, especially when we are involved in difficult restructuring projects. Getting the project done within a tight timeframe, at the budgeted cost and without (too much) industrial nuisance, is of great value to our clients.
For some international clients, we set up a customized alliance of law firms to service their international needs in various countries. This is always done with the help of our good friends, and our strong relations with law firms in other countries which are crucial to make this a success. We have developed IT tools and platforms to facilitate such alliances, which streamlines the work for the client, making our services more transparent and contributes to knowledge sharing and quality improvement. Ultimately this results in more efficiency and lower legal spend. Being able to propose and implement such an approach to international needs, strengthens the long-term relation with the client, and results in better performance of legal services.
Within your sector, what do you think will be the biggest challenge for clients over the next 12 months?
The covid-19 pandemic had of course a tremendous impact on our clients and their business. For heavily impacted industry sectors, we expect a wave of restructurings and downsizings. The large and expensive social plans will often be replaced by recovery plans for companies in distress.
In addition, covid-19 has made us reflects about the workplace of the future and HR 2.0. New forms of organization will be a hot topic, such as telework and remote working. New legislation has been introduced to cope with challenges on wellbeing at the workplace. Another new development is the implementation of the Whistleblowers’ Directive in Belgium in the course of the year.
Finally, the #metoo end #ustoo movements, and its impact on the legal landscape, will remain a hot topic. We already see more focus on company’s policies and risk assessments in the context of due diligence and transactions. A safe work environment, with respect of the employer’s duty of care, will be an important topic. It also triggers issues such as investing in life-long training and education, wellbeing at the workplace, diversity in the workforce, new forms of employment beyond the traditional borders of employer subordination, etc. New concepts will have to be developed to structure the more flexible employment relation for a younger generation with different expectations, approach, attitude and work ethics. We help our clients to think out of the box and design the workforce of the future.
Interviews
Wouter Neven, Partner
The Legal 500 Hall of Fame highlights individuals who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence.What has been your greatest achievement, in a professional and personal capability?
In the fast-paced and competitive world of real estate in which our clients have to do business, they need confidence, pragmatism and speed. We succeed in delivering this with high-quality services to our clients thanks to a strong, motivated and well-oiled team of experienced and talented lawyers. I am very proud of the great team of more than 20 highly motivated real estate lawyers that we have built up over the years. The team hangs together tremendously and is known in the market for its hard work and high-quality work, but we also enjoy it a lot. The client feels this fantastic atmosphere and can appreciate it enormously. This team enables us to tackle the most complex real estate issues and handle very demanding projects within tight deadlines. I consider this to be one of the greatest achievements of my career.
What do you do differently from your peers in the industry?
We consider ourselves business partners for our customers. Not only are we there to provide the right legal input (this is the Olympic minimum), but we always go the extra mile and try to translate the complex legal framework into practical and usable solutions. We take into account the specific needs of the client, the corporate culture, the market and the client’s business objectives. Direct and to-the-point advice is Lydian’s trademark, and we try to prove it every day.
I am also very often a sounding board for my clients, discussing the tactical approach in a case and the way forward. We invest a lot in long-term relationships with clients, so we can always put the client’s questions in a broader perspective.
We also often offer our clients business opportunities. When we see these, we contact our clients and bring them into contact with other players. They appreciate this enormously.
We will put the interests of our clients first in every advice and also take a position. Clients don’t expect long advice where they don’t know how to proceed at the end of it. We really help them choose and always dare to take a position, which customers greatly appreciate.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. The legal profession is challenging and not always easy, but you can learn quickly if you are open to new challenges. The real estate world is a hard world where everything goes very fast. At the same time, you can live and work at 200km/hour together with your clients. Be open to these experiences and, last but not least, enjoy them!
But do make room and certainly time for the friendships that also exist in this world. The real estate world consists of many fascinating people and you can work with them and/or be friends in a fantastic experience.
Can you give me a practical example of how helped a client add value to the business?
In the real estate world, being able to respond quickly to opportunities is crucial. Anticipating (preferably before competitors do) is also crucial for a real estate company to achieve better operating results. I dare to say that in our daily advice we contribute to the quick discovery and/or secureness of these opportunities.
For some international clients, we set up a customized alliance of law firms to service their international needs in various countries. This is always done with the help of our good friends, and our strong relations with law firms in other countries which are crucial to make this a success. We have developed IT tools and platforms to facilitate such alliances, which streamlines the work for the client, making our services more transparent and contributing to knowledge sharing and quality improvement. Ultimately this results in more efficiency and lower legal spend. Being able to propose and implement such an approach to international needs, strengthens the long-term relation with the client, and results in better performance of legal services.
Within your sector, what do you think will be the biggest challenge for clients over the next 12 months?
The increase in the cost of energy and raw materials is making the realization of real estate projects more expensive. This is primarily a problem for projects under construction and it is expected that contractors will be less eager to work against a lump sum fee for new projects. Due to the high inflation the residential rental market will come under pressure which may cause problems for some investors and property owners.
Interviews
Alexander Vandenbergen, Partner
The Legal 500 Hall of Fame highlights individuals who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence.What has been your greatest achievement, in a professional and personal capability?
In 2001 I started a new law firm, called Lydian. The aim was to create a full-service Belgian independent law firm operating in an international context. Today, 20 years later, we have realized our dream and more than that: Lydian has become one of the leading Belgian independent full service law firms.
Moreover, the employment pensions & benefits team is recognized as a top player in the market. I am very proud of the team of 18 employment and pensions & benefits lawyers that we have created over the years, which is known for is hard and qualitative work, but where we also have a lot of fun. This team allows us to tackle the most complex employment and pensions & benefits issues and handle very demanding projects within tight timeframes. I consider this as one of the greatest achievements in my career.
What do you do differently from your peers in the industry?
We consider ourselves as business partners to our clients. We are not only there to give the correct legal input (this is the Olympic minimum), but we go the extra mile and always try to translate the complex legal framework into practical and useful solutions. We take into account the clients specific needs, the company culture, the industrial relations and the client’s business goals. Straight and to-the-point advice is the hallmark of Lydian, and we try to prove this every day.
I am often more a sounding board for my clients, discussing the tactical approach in a file and the way forward. We invest a lot in long-term relationships with clients, which allows us to put the client’s questions always in a broader perspective.
Moreover, we consider employment and pensions & benefits law not as a niche on its own, but embedded in the broader legal landscape. There are always connections with other areas, such as corporate law, tax law, insurance law, commercial contracts, criminal law, etc. Being part of a full service law firm with a specific focus on the financial services industry allows our team of employment and pensions & benefits lawyers to include these aspects in the advice to our clients, which ultimately results in better and more complete advice.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t wait until you’re 50 before thinking about realizing your dreams.
The legal profession is challenging and not always easy, but you can learn fast if you take matters in your own hands and are open to new challenges.
Can you give me a practical example of how helped a client add value to the business?
Good social relations are crucial for a company to deliver better business results. I dare to say that we contribute to these social relations in our daily advisory, especially when we are involved in difficult restructuring projects. Getting the project done within a tight timeframe, at the budgeted cost and without (too much) industrial nuisance, is of great value to our clients.
For some international clients, we set up a customized alliance of law firms to service their international needs in various countries. This is always done with the help of our good friends, and our strong relations with law firms in other countries which are crucial to make this a success. We have developed IT tools and platforms to facilitate such alliances, which streamlines the work for the client, making our services more transparent and contributes to knowledge sharing and quality improvement. Ultimately this results in more efficiency and lower legal spend. Being able to propose and implement such an approach to international needs, strengthens the long-term relation with the client, and results in better performance of legal services.
Within your sector, what do you think will be the biggest challenge for clients over the next 12 months?
The war for talent is back: there is a shortage on the labour market, especially for a large number of so-called bottleneck positions. This is a growing challenge for many employers, and will inevitably have an impact on recruitment and the way employers deal with their workforce. It triggers issues such as hiring employees from other countries to get the job done, investing in life-long training and education, wellbeing at the workplace, diversity in the workforce, new forms of employment beyond the traditional borders of employer subordination, etc. New concepts will have to be developed to structure the more flexible employment relation for a younger generation with different expectations, approach, attitude and work ethics. The Corona pandemic has, most certainly accelerated a number of these new ways of working
We help our clients to think out of the box and design the workforce of the future.
- Insurance
- Real estate and construction
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- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution
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- EU regulatory: Information technology
- Fraud and white-collar crime