Linklaters‘ corporate and finance practice is regularly entrusted on high-value, cross-border M&A processes. Practice head Arnaud Coibion counts leading listed companies among his clients and advises on major public and private M&A within regulated sectors. Filip Lecoutre acts for major corporate clients on strategic investments and public and private transactions. Acclaimed for her ’solution-driven mindset’, An-Sofie Van Hootegem assists financial sponsors and funds in notable private equity transactions. Further key contacts include Thierry L’Homme and Evita Bassot, who regularly support the team in public M&A and equity capital markets transactions.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘What sets this team apart is the ability to truly understand our business and offer clear, practical advice—qualities that are rare and incredibly valuable in legal counsel.'
- ‘What I really like about the team is that they are connecting to us and investing in the relationship. They take time to understand our views and business. It is therefore always very pleasant to work with them.’
- ‘The team is extremely knowledgeable and is highly effective on all files (including the very complex ones). The strength of the team is its capacity to think outside of the box.'
- ‘An-Sofie Van Hootegem - excellent relationship building, humble, high technical skills and solution minded.'
- 'Eric Pottier and Thierry L'Homme are very good lawyers, very specialised in their field.'
- 'Jérémy Filbiche is a star, he is always responsive, always has a solution and always makes sure the file can go ahead. His capacity to steer the team and the file forward is amazing.’
- 'An-Sofie Van Hootegem stands out for her deep knowledge of both our industry and the details of our file. She excels at translating complex legal issues into accessible, actionable guidance, and her solution-driven mindset ensures we always feel supported and empowered to make informed decisions.'
- ‘This firm stands out for its deep understanding of our business and industry, consistently providing advice that is both practical and relevant.'
Key clients
- Elia Group
- Bpostgroup
- UCB
- Hg Capital
- Aperam
- Virya Energy Group (incl. Eurowatt)
- SD Worx
- Proximus
- Ontex
- Isabel Group
- Ardian
- Waterland Private Equity
- Cobepa
- Sofina
- Nayarit Participations (D’Ieteren Group)
- Gimv
- AG Real Estate
Work highlights
Advised bpostgroup, Belgium's State owned postal and logistics company, on its acquisition of Augusta Progress, the top holding company of the French logistics group Staci from Ardian and other owners.
Assisted CA Indosuez, a subsidiary of French international banking group Crédit Agricole Group, in the context of the private acquisition of majority stake in Banque Degroof Petercam.
Advised Proximus on its acquisition of Route Mobile, reshaping global operations involving 62 jurisdictions.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
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
Arnaud Coibion
Other key lawyers
Filip Lecoutre; Eric Pottier; An-Sofie Van Hootegem; Thierry L’Homme; Evita Bassot; Jérémy Filbiche