Bird & Bird > Brussels, Belgium > Firm Profile

Bird & Bird > The Legal 500 Rankings

Belgium > EU regulatory: Pharma, medical devices and biotech Tier 1

Bird & Bird leverages its global intellectual property strength to act for major global names in pharma, life sciences, and biotech, handling patent protection and enforcement alongside the full range of regulatory issues, including R&D, product development and licensing, and authorisations, as well as advising on cross-border transactions. Marc Martens heads up the team, and has a notable specialism in the biotech and advanced therapies spaces, advising on the development of innovative products, while Jean-Christophe Troussel  takes the lead on contentious IP and Paul Hermant provides broad tech and data regulatory support. Nicolas Carbonnelle was promoted to partner in May 2022 and is a specialist in life sciences regulatory issues, including standout expertise in biobanking and the use of biological materials in medical products.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Privacy and data protection Tier 1

Bird & Bird advises global clients in key fields such as tech, media, and life sciences on GDPR compliance, data projects, and data and privacy issues relating to the creation and launch of disruptive technologies, with a standout focus on the fintech space. The firm is also active in regulatory developments at the legislative level, advising the European Commission on a framework for the transfer of data from member states to third countries. Benoit Van Asbroeck heads up the practice, handling contentious and non-contentious data and privacy issues for corporate and public sector clients, with particular expertise in co-ordinating projects that intersect data and intellectual property issues. Counsel Simon Mortier is also a key member of the team, advising on compliance and legislative frameworks as well as representing clients in litigation.

Belgium > Fintech Tier 1

Bird & Bird has specialist fintech expertise, handling transactional, regulatory, and commercial issues for financial services institutions, payment providers, and a range of tech companies launching new products in the market. In particular, the firm advises on e-commerce and e-banking, mobile payments, and crowdfunding issues, alongside innovative blockchain and API issues. The team is led by Scott McInnes, a specialist in payment services work, including electronic payments and card schemes, while Paul Hermant is also a key name for regulatory work, and senior associate Julien Sad has strength in cross-border payments sector work, including anti-money-laundering considerations.

Belgium > Industry focus: Food Tier 1

Underpinned by the firm’s wider IP expertise, the cross-practice team at Bird & Bird is praised for the breadth of its food sector capabilities, routinely working with a sterling mix of multinational conglomerates, producers, industry associations, and food tech startups. Regulatory analyses, trademark protection, and cross-border disputes are all core competencies for the ‘knowledgeable‘ group. The team is jointly steered by veteran IP head Jean-Christophe Troussel and the firm’s international food and beverage sector group head Nicolas Carbonnelle, who was promoted to partner in May 2022. All named lawyers are based in Brussels.

Belgium > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 1

Bird & Bird‘s Belgian team leverages the firm's international outreach to offer a market-leading healthcare and life sciences offering. The team’s multidisciplinary expertise runs the gamut of life sciences-related issues, advising leading biopharmaceutical companies and regional, national, and European associations on both contentious and non-contentious issues. Core focus areas include high-value pharmaceutical patent litigation, digital health, and novel technologies including biobanking, gene therapy, and biosimilars. Practice head Marc Martens has deep expertise in the regulatory aspects of medicinal devices and advanced therapies. Jean-Christophe Troussel and Paul Hermant focus on cross-border IP and transactional matters, respectively, and Nicolas Carbonnelle advises on medical biotechnology and medicinal products.

Belgium > Industry focus: IT and telecoms Tier 1

With extensive knowledge of IP protection clauses applicable to IT and employment contracts, Bird & Bird acts for a host of blue-chip companies, both domestic and international. Benoit Van Asbroeck is a particularly reputed figure who often appears before the Court of Justice of the European Union. Benoit is well-versed in the drafting and negotiation of complex TMT contracts, including energy digitalisation, distribution, and procurement. Elsewhere within the practice, Hein Hobbelen advises various significant telecoms clients on the full spectrum of competition law matters.

Belgium > Intellectual property Tier 1

Bird & Bird‘s intellectual property practice is renowned for its ability to provide full-spectrum support to major national and multinational clients. Team lead Jean-Christophe Troussel has broad experience, while Benoit Van Asbroeck is particularly strong in litigation, with several victories before the CJEU. Domien Op De Beeck is similarly well regarded in litigation, and counsel Guillaume de Villegas is noted for his experience in complex trade mark and copyright cases. Associate Auriane Shockaert, meanwhile, is developing a strong reputation for handling complex IP agreements and patent and distribution disputes.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Financial services Tier 2

Bird & Bird has a strong focus on innovation and emerging technologies within the financial services space, advising established banks, corporates, and disruptors on open banking, AI, payment services, and blockchain-related matters globally, including product development and launch, Belgian market entry, and cross-border consumer protection issues. The team is led by Scott McInnes, a specialist in payments regulation, working with card providers and banks as well as emerging payments clients, handling innovative issues relating to e-wallets and tokenisation, supported by senior associate Julien Sad. Paul Hermant focuses on traditional banking regulation, including governance and issues connected to financing transactions.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Food Tier 2

Bird & Bird advises a wide range of food and beverage clients alongside agribusinesses and biotech operators on a range of matters, including product labelling and distribution, European market entry, and the development of new products, such as the use of insects in food and feed. The team combines food regulatory expertise with relevant life sciences and pharma knowledge, allowing it to handle R&D and product development issues. Nicolas Carbonnelle, promoted to partner in May 2022, heads up the team, and is focused on regulatory and distribution work within the industry, advising clients across the food supply chain.

Belgium > Industry focus: Media and entertainment Tier 2

Retained by a number of domestic and international entities - particularly from the worlds of TV and radio broadcasting, film, and sport - the media and entertainment department at Bird & Bird is often engaged on content licensing and distribution matters, including disputes relating to statutory levies, contractual tariffs and licences. IT specialist Benoit Van Asbroeck - a member of the Belgian council of IP - frequently advises public bodies on a host of issues. Hein Hobbelen is noted for his experience representing clients before the European Commission, as well as various domestic regulatory authorities.

Belgium > Industry focus: Retail Tier 2

The retail team at Bird & Bird is a strong choice for a range of blue-chip clients operating across the worlds of food and beverage, luxury goods, and fashion, to name a few. The group is often engaged in business-to-consumer contract matters, including refund policies, terms of sales, social media influencer agreements and subscription terms. The team is also noted for its expertise in technology, with a number of retailers seeking them out for assistance with transformative e-commerce rollouts. With over 25 years' experience in the sector, practice head Jean-Christophe Troussel is recommended for his wide-ranging abilities, handling a mix of tech and IP-intensive mandates, both contentious and transactional in nature. One of the 12 expert members of the Belgian Council of Intellectual Property, Benoit Van Asbroeck is reputed for his capabilities in both IP and IT matters.

Belgium > Not-for-profit Tier 2

A strong line-up of industry associations and scientific institutions turn to Bird & Bird for the breadth of its capabilities in regulatory, compliance, and other technical advisory issues – often with a distinct cross-border aspect. Jointly steered by Paul Hermant and Brent Springael, the team frequently assists clients with articles of association filings, as well as corporate structuring and IP issues. Other key names to note include industry association specialist Anne Federle and counsel Cedric Berckmans, recommended for his expertise in organisational and structural concerns facing NFPs.

Belgium > Customs, trade, WTO and anti-dumping Tier 3

Bird & Bird has expertise in EU customs compliance, including economic sanctions and export control matters where it acts for international clients. The group is active for clients in a diversity of sectors including the energy and chemical industries. Hein Hobbelen acts for clients in anti-subsidy and EU anti-dumping proceedings, and is particularly active in EU trade defence matters. Brian Mulier supports companies and businesses with his understanding of WTO rules and the resulting implications.

Belgium > Competition: EU and global Tier 4

The team at Bird & Bird has continued to expand its profile in Brussels, handling complex merger control, cartel, state aid, and abuse of dominance cases, both advising global clients on investigations as well as representing them before the European Commission and EU courts in litigation. The practice is led by José Rivas, an experienced antitrust litigator with a strong record in securing major victories for clients against the Commission in precedent-setting cases, and Hein Hobbelen, who combines multi-jurisdictional cartel expertise with regular involvement in trade disputes, particularly relating to foreign subsidies. Anne Federle specialises in cross-border merger control cases within the automotive sector. Other key areas of focus include pharma, TMT, energy, and chemicals.

Belgium > Employment Tier 4

Bird & Bird draws on support from the firm’s global network to advise on the full range of employment issues. Practice head Pieter De Koster has broad expertise in contentious and non-contentious matters, including compliance and industrial relations issues, with counsel Anton Aerts also noted.

Belgium > Tax Tier 4

Headed by Brent Springael, Bird & Bird‘s tax practice provides strategic advice, with a particular focus on clients in the R&D and IP sectors. Structuring is a key strength for the firm, which also assists clients facing audits. The team was strengthened in November 2022 with the hire of Olivier Bertin from DALDEWOLF.

Belgium > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 5

Bird & Bird advises on M&A, joint ventures, and commercial transactions, alongside corporate governance and operational issues, with broad expertise across the tech, financial services, and life science sectors, among others. Clients include domestic and international businesses, alongside research organisations. Paul Hermant leads the team, combining transactional and regulatory experience, while senior associates Pieter-Jan Van Houdenhove and Cedric Berckmans are also key members of the team, noted for their work on M&A, corporate finance, and commercial agreements.

Germany > Antitrust

Embedded within its global firm network, Bird & Bird LLP's antitrust team is extensively active in German and European antitrust law. The practice focuses on merger controls, including the interface to FDI, antitrust compliance, internal investigations and contentious antitrust proceedings; the group has additional particularly strong expertise in related IP issues such as license agreements, R&D and FRAND. IP-related antitrust law is also the focus of practice head Jörg Witting in Düsseldorf, who is further well versed in antitrust and merger control proceedings. Anne Federle, who divides her time between Düsseldorf and Brussels, also specialises in merger control.