Marleen Denef > Impact lawyers > LEUVEN, Belgium > Lawyer Profile
Impact lawyers Offices
MC-Square Leuven Philipssite 5, bus 1
3000 Leuven
3000
Belgium
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Marleen Denef
Work Department
- not-for-profit, social profit and impact economy
Position
- founding partner
- strategic advisor and change-architect
- for all types of collaborations, change projects (mergers, splits, organizational networks, impact scaling…) and hybrid business models (profit & purpose)
- involving (international) associations, foundations, social enterprises, cooperatives,…
- as well as governance projects based on social governance standards and alignment between SDG’s and IDG’s
- including transformation and transition-guidance.
Career
- author of specialized books and articles
- keynote speaker
- impact lawyers (founding partner, 2019 – present)
- BE-impact (2018 – present)
- Esela, legal network for social impact (director, 2016 – 2022)
- GAIL (director, 2022-2023)
- board member VERSO (federation social profit) (2007 – 2011)
- board member VOSEC (federation social economy) (2006 – 2007)
- Curia (founding partner, 2006 – 2019)
- Prof. Dr. KU Leuven – campus Brussels (2004 – present)
- Dewallens & partners (partner 2003 – 2006)
- Ph.D. researcher Center for Company Law KU Leuven (1996 – 2002)
Languages
- Dutch (mothertongue)
- English (fluent)
- French (fluent)
- Spanish (basic)
Memberships
- ETION
- The Shift – member of the board
- GAIL (Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers)
- BE-impact
Education
- future fit embodied changemaker (ECI, 2021)
- certified expert stakeholder and participation management (2019)
- Ph.D. in law KU Leuven (1996 – 2002)
- Licence en Droit International et Européen (U.C.L., 1992 – 1993)
- Master in law (KU Leuven, 1989 – 1992)
- Bachelor in law (F.N.D.P. Namen, 1987 – 1989)
Leisure
- co-creator unplug & recharge-events for hybrid professionals
- SUP
- yoga & meditation
- biking & hiking
- reading & learning
Lawyer Rankings
Belgium > Not-for-profit
(Hall of Fame)Impact lawyers is a niche law firm for not-for-profits and social enterprises. The specialised team stands out for representing clients in mediation and litigation, providing practical advice across the sector, often acting for clients in the healthcare space. Notably, Marleen Denef
co-founded the firm and has almost 30 years of experience in the sector, focusing on advising clients on organisational questions, as well as representing clients in precedent-setting litigation. Fellow co-founder Coralie Mattelaer specialises in all types of technical transactional and advisory work relating to non-profit matters, and stands out for her conflict management skills. Benoit Spitaels, the firm’s third co-founder, is widely recognised for his expertise in transactional work, organisational issues and tax matters relating to the charity sector.