Simmons & Simmons > Brussels, Belgium > Firm Profile
Simmons & Simmons Offices
AVENUE LOUISE 149, B 16
1050 BRUXELLES
Belgium
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Simmons & Simmons > The Legal 500 Rankings
Belgium > EU regulatory: Pharma, medical devices and biotech Tier 2
Advising an international array of pharma and life sciences companies, alongside medical devices producers, Simmons & Simmons advises on regulatory issues relating to digital health technologies, medicines, biopharma products, and cosmetics, alongside other products, handling sector-specific considerations such as product approvals and trials alongside tech and data regulatory concerns. The team, which is noted for its cross-border expertise, is led by Olivier Mignolet, who regularly litigates before European courts on behalf of pharma and medical devices companies in cases relating to product liability and market access, alongside life sciences regulatory expert Annabelle Bruyndonckx, who has played a key role in vaccine approval matters, alongside public procurement issues.Practice head(s):
Olivier Mignolet; Annabelle Bruyndonckx
Key clients
Align Technology Inc.
beMedTech asbl/vzw
Sanofi Belux SA/NV
GlaxoSmithKline PLC (US)
Belgium > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2
Simmons & Simmons stands out for its emphasis in all things tech, offering a healthcare and life sciences practice with a focus on digital health technologies, medical devices, and e-health. Working closely with life sciences manufacturers, distributors, and industry associations, the team advises on health tech regulations, multijurisdictional matters, and public procurement. The firm also represents major pharmaceutical companies in compliance, patent, and competition disputes. Experienced litigator and arbitrator Olivier Mignolet and medtech, digital healthcare, and compliance specialist Annabelle Bruyndonckx jointly head the practice. Vladimit Murovec left the firm in 2022.Practice head(s):
Olivier Mignolet; Annabelle Bruyndonckx
Testimonials
‘Friendly team with strong knowledge and expertise in the field of healthcare compliance.’
‘Annabelle Bruyndonckx has great knowledge of healthcare compliance and is very patient and reassuring to work with.’
‘Particular focus on healthcare and life sciences’
Key clients
beMedTech asbl/vzw
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals SA/NV
Belgium > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 4
Simmons & Simmons hired Eric Blomme, a specialist in the full range of cross-border lending and loan restructuring matters, as practice head from Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL in May 2022, establishing a new offering encompassing acquisition, leveraged, and syndicated lending and export finance work for borrowers and lenders, including major global banks and corporate clients. Managing associate Martin Carlier has standout expertise in securitisation alongside Belgian and EU regulatory issues.Practice head(s):
Eric Blomme
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team has a deep understanding of the market. Its versatility makes it a great choice for working in several jurisdictions while ensuring communication and cohesion remain tight. Even if the team is small, it is very fast and resourceful and can adapt quickly to support the customer as if it were a much larger organization.’
‘Martin Carlier is a superb attorney who is well skilled in his industry, as well as being highly considerate, accessible, professional, and able to simplify complex ideas.’
‘I have had the pleasure to work with Simmons & Simmons Brussels team on several occasions. Their responsiveness and the quality of their advice is extremely appreciated. Furthermore, the various offices of Simmons & Simmons truly work as a single firm which definitely facilitate the management of cross-border projects and the efficient handling of transactions generally.’
‘I particularly recommend Managing Associate Martin Carlier who’s been extremely helpful on complex funds queries. Martin has a very good knowledge of the Belgian legal framework. He is pragmatic and open to alternative solutions while not losing sight of the economics underlying the project. I highly recommend Martin Carlier and the Simmons & Simmons team in general.’
‘The team is incredibly helpful and has vast expertise in regulatory (particularly funds) and transactional matters.’
‘Managing Associate Martin Carlier is particularly proactive and always available when needed. His underlying economic background and his commercial awareness enable him to understand client’s needs and to approach projects from a more commercial and practical perspective. Furthermore, Mr. Carlier is very well connected to the Belgian supervising authorities which definitely helps for the management of complex matters.’
Key clients
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Barclays PLC
Blackrock, Inc.
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc.
Monument Assurance Belgium
Schroders plc
Eni Finance International
Man Group plc
UBS AG, London Branch
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
Allianz SE
Deutsche Bank AG
Invesco Ltd
The Bank of New York Mellon
Janus Henderson Group plc
Citigroup Inc.
Work highlights
- Acting as lead regulatory counsel in relation to the acquisition by Monument Assurance SA/NV of Integrale SA (under provisional supervision by the National Bank of Belgium).
- Acting as lead counsel in relation to the project financing for Bridgestone Europe NV/SA.
- Acting as lead counsel for ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Belgian Branch as arranger in relation to Care Property Invest’s issue of EUR 32,500,000 2.05 per cent. fixed rate senior unsecured sustainability bonds.
Belgium > Employment
Belgium > EU regulatory: Privacy and data protection
Simmons & Simmons > Firm Profile
The smartest business solutions come when we work together – international, but operating as one integrated team.
Collaborative, agile and partner-led: that’s Simmons & Simmons. A law firm that challenges, creates new possibilities and offers opinion not just option. A law firm that acts as your business partner and works with you, not for you.
We focus on four highly regulated sectors (asset management and investment funds, financial institutions, healthcare and life sciences and technology, media and telecommunications) – using our specialist skills to understand your business, and the forces at play around it. All grounded in exceptional knowledge of the legal detail.
This is how we consistently deliver smarter, more efficient ways to tackle our clients’ most complex challenges.
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Eric Blomme | Banking & Finance Partner at Simmons & Simmons, based in Brussels. Head… | View Profile | |
Annabelle Bruyndonckx | With over 20 years of experience in advising clients in the Healthcare… | View Profile | |
Alejandro Guerrero | Alejandro is a partner in our EU Competition Law and Tech Regulation… | View Profile | |
Carl Meyntjens | Carl’s practice focuses on corporate and financial law. He has nearly 30… | View Profile | |
Olivier Mignolet | Olivier specialises in commercial law and commercial litigation/arbitration, with a particular emphasis… | View Profile | |
Koen Platteau | Koen advises clients on EU and Belgian competition law matters and has… | View Profile | |
Dimitri Van Uytvanck | Dimitri heads the employment & benefits department for Belgium. He specializes in… | View Profile |