Mr Olivier Clevenbergh > Strelia > Brussels, Belgium > Lawyer Profile
Strelia Offices
RUE ROYALE/KONINGSSTRAAT 145
1000 BRUSSELS
Belgium
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Mr Olivier Clevenbergh
Work Department
Corporate M&A and Dispute Resolution
Position
Olivier Clevenbergh is partner in the corporate & finance practice. He also handles dispute resolution matters and is currently the firm’s managing partner.
Olivier is an expert in national and international acquisitions, dispositions of shares and assets, private equity and venture capital transactions, mergers, and joint ventures. He has specific expertise in commercial contracts. Moreover, he is a renowned legal specialist in franchising.
Olivier combines his transactional practice with a contentious practice covering the same types of matters. He therefore also represents clients in commercial and corporate litigation before Belgian courts and arbitration tribunals.
Career
Before becoming a founding partner of Strelia in January 2013, Olivier Clevenbergh was a partner at Stibbe from 2000, heading the Corporate & Finance team. In addition to his client activities, Olivier was Managing Partner of Stibbe Brussels from 1 January 2005 until 30 June 2011. He was the Secretary General of the Alliance between Herbert Smith, Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe until 31 December 2011.
Languages
French / English / Dutch
Memberships
Brussels Bar (1989), Solicitor to the Supreme Court of England and Wales (1995).
Education
Main secondary school attended: Collège Don Bosco Universities and colleges attended: Université Libre de Bruxelles (degrees and qualifications with years attained): Law degree (magna cum laude each year); Special degree in economic law (magna cum laude each year)
Leisure
running
Lawyer Rankings
Belgium > Industry focus: Retail
Regarded by some clients as ‘one of the best teams I have ever met in this practice‘ Strelia often advises major retailers in distribution, franchise and commercial matters, including corporate takeovers and tenancy issues. Practice chair Gaetano Jannone is a ‘determined, proactive‘ commercial arbitrator and litigator whose clientele spans the worlds of consumer food and beverages, fashion, and restaurant franchises. Olivier Clevenbergh assists franchisors with their growth in Belgium and abroad, while Jean-Pierre Fierens is noted for his proficiency in distribution law and corporate litigation.
Belgium > Commercial, corporate and M&A
Strelia advises on M&A, private equity investments, and associated regulatory and contentious work, with particular strength in regulated industry transactions, including TMT, energy, and life sciences deals. The firm’s boutique setup sees it regularly handling inbound and outbound work for cross-border clients and law firms, with a successful record in multi-jurisdictional deals. The team is led by Olivier Clevenbergh, who advises on domestic and international M&A and corporate governance issues. Katrien Vorlat advises on M&A and joint ventures, and Gisèle Rosselle handles private company transactions and private equity deals, while Laurent Verhavert specialises in private equity work.
Belgium > Dispute resolution
Strelia‘s ‘reactivity, sharp analysis, and strategic advice‘ makes it a strong choice for an array of blue-chip corporates, who turn to the team for its wide-ranging capabilities in litigation and arbitration, including major class action proceedings. Practice head Jean-Pierre Fierens is regarded as an ‘outstanding‘ contract lawyer and corporate litigator, particularly in matters concerning directors’ liability. Olivier Clevenbergh‘s contentious expertise is concentrated in post-M&A and shareholder disputes, while Bart De Moor‘s recent engagements include multi-jurisdictional proceedings taken before the European Court of Justice. Other key names to note include Sébastien Ryelandt, a specialist in large-scale damages actions; experienced arbitrator Joanna Kolber; and the ‘stand out‘ insurance dispute specialist Gaetano Jannone, whose workload also comprises a number of construction and infrastructure proceedings. France Vlassembrouck joined the team from Monard law, joined by Buyle in September 2021. All named lawyers are based in Brussels.