Bird & Bird > Brussels, Belgium > Firm Profile

Bird & Bird > The Legal 500 Rankings

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

Counting many of the largest pharma and biotech companies worldwide as regular clients, Bird & Bird is equally comfortable handling cutting-edge work for innovators and generics alike. Marc Martens, who co-heads the firm's global life sciences and healthcare group, has specific expertise in biobanking, advanced therapies, clinical trials and data exclusivity disputes. More broadly, the practice has recently been particularly active in the digital health space, and has also assisted with a number of matters related to the Covid-19 pandemic. In team news, Nicolas Carbonnelle was promoted to partner in May 2022.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Privacy and data protection Tier 1

The Brussels outpost of Bird & Bird‘s international data protection group regularly collaborates on cross-border mandates. Practice head Benoit Van Asbroeck is noted for his broad-ranging expertise, which spans issues relating to e-commerce, digital marketing, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, AI, 3D printing, cookies, electronic signatures, intermediary liability and automated objects. Hein Hobbelen has extensive experience representing clients before the European Commission and other sector regulatory authorities. The firm also offers a bespoke privacy consultancy arm through Bird & Bird Privacy Solutions.

Belgium > Fintech Tier 1

Bird & Bird‘s fintech practice stands out for its wide-ranging expertise across financial regulatory, IT, transactional and data protection matters, which enables the team to maintain a standout client base of banks and financial institutions, fintech and IT services, retailers, and payment providers. Regularly advising on the regulatory and licensing aspects of new product launches and Belgian market entries, the team is particularly noted for its ability to handle matters in the e-commerce and e-banking spaces, with digital authentication and cybersecurity representing growing areas of focus. Practice head Scott McInnes is noted for his ability to handle cross-border work for payment providers, while Cathie-Rosalie Joly is well-versed in financial and tech regulatory matters. Payments and insurance expert Cedric Berckmans was promoted to partner in May 2023. Julien Sad, who also handles contentious and non-contentious matters in the payments space, is another name to note.

Belgium > Industry focus: Food Tier 1

Clients ranging from start-ups to conglomerates turn to Bird & Bird for all issues relating to the food and beverage sector, where the firm pools its cross-practice capabilities to advise on regulatory matters, as well as on contentious and non-contentious IP. The practice is also embedded in the firm’s wider network, making it a popular choice for multinational companies in multijurisdictional work. Nicolas Carbonnelle, who also heads up the firm’s s international food and beverage sector group, leads the team jointly with national head of IP Jean-Christophe Troussel.

Belgium > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences Tier 1

Bird & Bird houses a deep bench which handles the full spectrum of issues for its lucrative client base of pharma, medical device, and biotech companies. The group regularly advises on marketing authorisations and EU regulations concerning the use of human tissue and allocation of biological material, with the practice experiencing growth on the digital health front. Practice head Marc Martens is known for his expansive regulatory expertise, with particular emphasis on clinical trials and biobanking; Martens regularly appears before the European Court of Justice in disputes concerning data exclusivity, in addition to advising on the lifecycle of biotech products and advanced therapies. Jean-Christophe Troussel has vast knowledge of both contentious and non-contentious IP and technology related matters, with a strong focus on the monetisation of innovation, research and development (R&D) deals, and enforcement strategies. Paul Hermant exhibits broad experience in handling venture capital financings, securities offerings, and M&A within the life sciences space.

Belgium > Industry focus: IT and telecoms Tier 1

Drawing upon its extensive knowledge of IT contracts, IP protection clauses and regulatory initiatives and changes, Bird & Bird provides comprehensive support to a diverse client base, including media players, international corporations and technology suppliers. The team is also well positioned to support its clients’ outreach to EU institutions. Benoit Van Asbroeck co-heads the practice and is equipped to advise on projects involving big data, blockchain infrastructure and the implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code. Co-head Hein Hobbelen frequently advises major telecoms clients on an array of competition law issues, including state aid matters.

Belgium > Intellectual property Tier 1

From trade secrets and patent disputes, to geographical indications and brand protection work, Bird & Bird covers the full spectrum of intellectual property matters. Transactional and tax IP matters are additional areas of strength with the unit winning plaudits for its R&D and innovation tax work, notably in the life sciences sector. Jean-Christophe Troussel heads up the practice and has a wide-ranging IP practice that encompasses cross-border disputes and patent and trade mark expertise. Expert member of the Belgian Council of Intellectual Property Benoit Van Asbroeck frequently operates at the nexus of technology and IP, and Domien Op De Beeck‘s practice straddles contentious mandates and advice on trade secret protection agreements and policies. Auriane Shockaert excels in drafting complex IP agreements, while Guillaume De Villegas De Clercamp is adept at managing complex litigation in trade mark and copyright law.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Financial services Tier 2

Bird & Bird leverages its notable strength at the intersection of technology and financial services to inform its fintech expertise across innovative payment services, blockchain technology, open banking, and new lending platforms. Niche areas of focus include apps, data analytics and alternative methods of fundraising. Scott McInnes leads the financial regulatory team, and is particularly noted for his expertise in assisting with competition law issues in the payments sector. The group’s clients range from established global players to innovative start-ups.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Food Tier 2

Bird & Bird's client base comprises food and beverage producers, distributors and retailers, biotech companies and other innovative operators. The team's proficiencies span the entire lifecycle of food and beverage production and marketing, from research and development to processing, brewing, packaging, labelling, advertising, and distribution issues. The key contact is Nicolas Carbonnelle, who was promoted to partner in May 2022.

Belgium > Industry focus: Media and entertainment Tier 2

Bird & Bird pulls together a strong offering in media and entertainment with standout expertise in matters relating to broadcasting, advertising and content licensing and distribution. Benoit Van Asbroeck and competition and trade expert Hein Hobbelen oversee the team; Van Asbroeck is well versed in matters concerning digital technologies and the European Electronic Communications Code. José Rivas is notably active in mandates concerning sports sector clients.

Belgium > Industry focus: Retail Tier 2

The three core pillars of Bird & Bird‘s retail offering span food and beverage issues, fashion and luxury goods work, and hotel and leisure mandates. The team advises on a wide range of issues with consumer law, IP mandates and competition issues standing out as notable areas of activity. Jean-Christophe Troussel oversees matters and excels in contentious and transactional intellectual property and technology-related mandates. Benoit Van Asbroeck is known for representing retail clients before the European Court of Justice.

Belgium > Not-for-profit Tier 2

Geared to advise Belgium-based trade & industry associations, Bird & Bird is also frequently sought out by European scientific institutions for assistance with the structuring and rolling out of Pan-European collaborative research projects. Paul Hermant spearheads the team’s offering alongside Brent Springael. The former has in-depth expertise concerning the structure, membership and governance of international associations and federations, while the latter leverages his tax expertise to advise non-profit clients on matters directly and indirectly related to tax. Anne Federle‘s competition law expertise is valued highly by industry association clients.

Belgium > Competition: Belgian law Tier 3

Bird & Bird offers clients from a range of heavily-regulated industries expertise in both competition and trade law, and is consquently increasingly instructed to advise on foreign subsidies and foreign direct investment control mechanisms. Cartel investigations are another rapidly growing area, while advice on distribution, online sale and geo-blocking issues also continues to keep the group busy. José Rivas and Hein Hobbelen are the key senior names to note.

Belgium > Competition: EU and global Tier 3

At Bird & Bird, the combination of strong competition and trade law expertise ensures that the team is particularly well placed to advise on control mechanisms for foreign subsidies and foreign direct investment. Other key pillars of the practice include abuse of dominance investigations, merger control work, and state aid issues. José Rivas and Hein Hobbelen co-head the Brussels competition practice; the former has in-depth knowledge of the sports and aviation sectors, while the latter ‘stands out as a terrific competition and telecoms lawyer‘.

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

Bird & Bird assists industrial manufacturers as well as large multinationals in the TMT sector with a wide range of trade compliance matters, with a particular focus on providing due diligence advice in the context of EU customs and sanctions regimes. Guided by the expertise of competition expert Hein Hobbelen, the team also regularly acts for trade associations as complainants in anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations before the European Commission. Hobbelen co-heads the practice with Hague-based lawyer Brian Mulier, a trade and tax compliance expert who is noted for his advice on export controls.

Belgium > Employment Tier 4

In addition to leveraging its global network to advise multinational clients on cross-border restructurings and mobility issues, the team at Bird & Bird also advises Benelux-based companies on union negotiations, employee fraud issues, and the employment aspects of corporate policy roll-outs. Employment litigation expert Pieter De Koster co-leads the team with Anton Aerts, who is noted for his immigration expertise as well as for his ability to advise on corporate reorganisations and collective dismissals.

Belgium > Tax Tier 4

Maintaining a finger on the pulse of IP and R&D tax issues, the practice at Bird & Bird is valued by clients from the life sciences and non-profit sectors. Practice head Brent Springael coordinates the firm’s international centre of intelligence for tax structuring in this regard, while the addition of DALDEWOLF‘s  Olivier Bertin in November 2022 strengthens the team’s tax disputes offering.

Belgium > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 5

Netherlands > Fintech

At Bird & Bird‘s office in The Hague, the fintech practice is jointly led by Brussels-based payments regulation specialist Scott McInnes and Germany-based financial markets regulation expert Michael Jünemann. Marjolein Geus is a key practitioner in the group, with a solid track record in advising clients on blockchain and distributed ledger technology matters. In February 2024 associate Daniëlle van de Vijver left the firm.

Germany > Antitrust

Bird & Bird‘s team is well versed in antitrust proceedings, including abuse and cartel damages, and also assists with merger and investment control as well as distribution antitrust law. The practice routinely cooperates with other locations on cross-border matters. The industry expertise in the technology sector is frequently demonstrated at the interface with IP law, where the team advises on FRAND isssues. Other interface capacities include corporate, EU state aid law and public procurement law. Practice head Jörg Witting and Stephan Waldheim cover the IP interface, while Anne Federle is experienced in antitrust and abuse proceedings.