Belgium
2

Commercial, corporate and M&A

Van Bael & Bellis

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Van Bael & Bellis‘ ’broad' corporate and M&A practice ‘includes all disciplines required to serve you in M&A’, often handling high-value matters in highly regulated sectors, such as life sciences, agriculture, and finance. Team head Michel Bonne is praised as ’very hands-on’, with experience handling cross-border matters, while Hannelore Matthys has a transactional focus on regulated industries. Caroline Daout is a go-to for public and private M&A, offering expertise in private equity and equity capital markets.
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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Very hands-on team that goes the extra mile. Very available to the client. Clear communication and solution driven.'

  • ‘Michel Bonne is very hands-on, very eloquent, available, thinks together with the client and understands the business.'

  • 'Hannelore Matthys provides clear communication, available, knowledgeable, hard worker.'

  • ‘VBB has a broad, deep practice that includes all disciplines required to serve you in M&A. They are practical and don't get lost in unnecessary detail.'

  • ‘What I appreciated most about the VBB team was their active guidance throughout this complicated process. They effectively took the lead in coordinating the entire team, ensuring smooth and efficient cooperation across all parties involved.’

  • ‘Michel Bonne's expertise is exceptional. He approached the entire process with a strategic mindset, aiming to understand the driving forces and objectives of the various stakeholders on the sell-side.'

  • ‘Very integrated team, works really together with a very good involvement of every member, and a full alignment.'

  • ‘Van Bael stands out among Belgian law firms in that it combines a remarkably strong EU regulatory practice with a very strong and sophisticated Corporate/M&A practice.'

Key clients

  • Gedeon Richter
  • Sopra Steria
  • Indigo Group
  • Jan De Nul
  • Exact Group
  • Bidfood
  • GETEC
  • Waterland Private Equity
  • Lakeland Diaries
  • Aera Payment & Identification

Work highlights

  • Assisted Hungarian pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter with an auction process on the EUR175m distressed acquisition of Estetra and Neuralis, companies focusing on contraception and menopause drugs for women, from distressed Belgian listed pharmaceutical company Mithra through the first pre-pack bankruptcy procedure for a listed entity in Belgium.
  • Assisting global car park operator Indigo Group with the acquisition of APCOA’s Belgian subsidiary, which operates 36 contracts across four regions in Belgium (Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, Limburg, and East Flanders).
  • Assisted Lakeland Dairies, an Irish global exporter of dairy products, with the acquisition of the European butterfat business from De Brandt through an asset deal.

Lawyers

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Caroline Daout

Leading associates

Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Practice head

Michel Bonne

Other key lawyers

Caroline Daout; Hannelore Matthys; Virginie Lescot