Clifford Chance > Brussels, Belgium > Firm Profile

Clifford Chance > The Legal 500 Rankings

Belgium > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Praised for its ‘excellent experience in M&A transactions’, the commercial, corporate, and M&A team at Clifford Chance boasts particular strength in energy sector work, both domestic and international. Team head Xavier Remy is a go-to for large M&A and joint venture transactions, while Niek De Pauw is noted for his ‘excellent business acumen, negotiation skills and creative mindset’, combining corporate, private equity, and equity capital markets expertise. Along with the energy sector, technology and infrastructure sector work are a mainstay of Patrice Viaene‘s practice; Celine Feys is also experienced in matters regarding the technology sector.

Belgium > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Clifford Chance’s dispute resolution practice represents multinational corporations, leading banks, and public authorities in complex disputes. The firm has expertise across corporate, real estate, and financial litigation, along with competition litigation and ESG disputes. Euroclear, BNP Paribas, Standard Chartered, and JP Morgan are all clients relying on the team. Dorothée Vermeiren ‘excels at turning complex legal issues into practical, straightforward advice’, and is a talented litigator and arbitrator. Nathan Tulkens is ‘highly motivated and client oriented’, and integral to the team, as is Ysaline Le Paige.

Belgium > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Clifford Chance’s real estate team integrates tax, financing, fund, regulatory, environmental and planning law expertise to provide a broad service to its clients. Its work ranges from development projects, leasing, construction, zoning, permitting or contaminated land questions to real estate financing and litigation. Key contact Henri d’Ursel leads the practice, and stands out for his expertise in acquisitions, sales, reorganisations and developments, focusing on significant real estate transactions in both the domestic and international markets. Pieter De Bock specialises in the ESG, environmental, planning and regulatory aspects of real estate transactions.

Belgium > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2

The global financial markets practice at Clifford Chance handles the gamut of banking transactions, with experience in acquisition, asset, structured, and trade finance mandates and expertise regarding the energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and life sciences sectors. Its capital markets practice equally covers the full range of equity, debt, and securitisation work, acting for issuers, arrangers, underwriters, and sponsors. Lounia Czupper, team head, offers particular experience in real estate finance and bank lending, working closely with corporate partner Niek De Pauw. For infrastructure and projects, real assets and industrials, Wim Aerts is a go-to.

Belgium > Competition: EU and global Tier 2

The global antitrust team at Clifford Chance offers ‘a remarkably high standard of services’, advising on high complexity mergers and strategic behavioural cases in a range of sectors, including technology, life sciences, and consumer goods. Richard Blewett heads up the team, with longstanding experience internationally. Clients in the information technology sector often instruct Dieter Paemen, while work in the energy sector is a key area of strength for Milena Robotham. Anastasios Tomtsis provides both advice and representation before the European Commission and the CJEU for major corporations in State aid and foreign subsidies matters, and contentious antitrust matters are the focus for ‘excellent adviser and advocate’ Ashwin Van Rooijen.

Belgium > EU regulatory: Financial services Tier 2

Belgium > Industry focus: Energy Tier 2

The energy practice at Clifford Chance is well versed in assisting prominent domestic and multinational energy companies with construction, transactional, and project development work. Corporate expert Xavier Remy co-heads the team, and has an excellent track record in handling commercial and regulatory matters, as well as transactional cases and agreements in the energy and electricity arenas. Practice co-head Patrice Viaene is very experienced in advising on green energy transition projects, often assisting with construction, development and M&A-related matters pertaining to renewable energy assets and clean electricity matters.

Belgium > Private equity Tier 2

The private equity offering at Clifford Chance brings together team members from its corporate, tax and finance practices to advise local and international market players both sell- and buy-side in their complex, multi-faceted matters. The team has a notable focus on venture capital work in the tech sector, an area of expertise of Patrice Viaene. Team head Niek De Pauw often advises on high-profile transactions, including M&A, buy-side acquisitions, sell-side disposals, and public to private transactions. The energy sector continues to be an area of strength for the team, with Xavier Remy a key name here.

Belgium > Employment Tier 3

Lauded for its ‘extremely innovative and client-focused thinking’, the employment team at Clifford Chance specialises in strategic and business-critical matters for both domestic and international clients, often in highly regulated sectors. Its areas of expertise include large-scale restructurings and downsizings, industrial relations, and cross-border matters. Collective downsizings and outsourcing transactions are key elements of team head Gert Cuppens‘ practice, which also covers the hiring and dismissal of senior executives, pensions, and employee benefits.

Belgium > Insolvency and restructuring Tier 3

The restructuring and insolvency group at Clifford Chance concentrates on multi-jurisdictional proceedings, litigation and dispute resolution, and cross-border recovery. Dorothée Vermeiren heads the team, with a particular emphasis on disputes. Financial markets lawyer Wim Aerts is also a key name in the team, with sector expertise spanning infrastructure, real assets, and industrials.

Belgium > Tax Tier 3

Clifford Chance‘s tax team stands out for its in-depth knowledge in real estate tax work, acting for institutional investors and developers in fund structuring, transactional work, and disputes. In addition, it regularly assists in the tax restructuring of M&A deals for international corporates. Alexandre Ooms heads the team, a ‘star’ with particular experience advising private equity clients and managing cross-border tax litigation. The team’s growing tax disputes practice has experience before the Supreme Court.