DLA Piper fields an employment team which is lauded for ‘the commerciality of their advice’, with notable strength in matters regarding corporate investigations and contingent workforce. The team has wide-ranging sector expertise, with particular experience in the logistics, life sciences, and financial services segments. Eddy Lievens and Laurent De Surgeloose co-head the team, Lievens is highlighted for his work in restructurings and corporate integration, along with the implementation of whistleblowing policies, while De Surgeloose regularly handles sensitive corporate investigations. Pierre Dion was promoted to partner in May 2024, ’an exceptional lawyer’ primarily assisting clients with HR management matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘We rely on Pierre Dion to provide unparalleled technical depth and pragmatic solutions to our issues in Belgium. The key driver for us utilising DLA Piper is the commerciality of their advice .
‘Pierre Dion is an exceptional lawyer. Pierre is down to earth, super-friendly, and super-pragmatic, making him a pleasure to deal with. Pierre is always laser-focused on providing practical and pragmatic solutions, helping us navigate a notoriously difficult legal environment.'
‘The reactivity and agility of the team for urgent cases are of the highest standard.’
‘The communication is convivial, constructive, and to the point. When working on cases, it feels like teamwork.’
‘Great lawyers, able to articulate complex legal scenarios well and always provide a recommendation.'
‘Laurent De Surgeloose is particularly worth noting. He knows how to explain complex legal topics to our HR stakeholders and he often feels like an extension of our in-house legal team as he knows our business and challenges so well.’
Key clients
- Anixter
- Asbest Partners
- Baxter
- BD Media (previously BD myShopi)
- Cepa
- Dentsu Aegis
- Compusoft / Cyncly
- Dr Martens Airwair
- Element Materials
- Emirates
- European Petrochemical Association (EPCA)
- Extreme Networks
Work highlights
Advising Pfizer on the implementation and the handling of a collective dismissal process within its Anderlecht and Ixelles site.
Advised Perrigo on a collective dismissal involving around 25 % of its workforce, including strategic advice on the interaction of this restructuring with other pending projects, the information and consultation procedure, the negotiations with the trade unions on the social plan, and the drafting of the documents necessary for the implementation of the collective dismissal.
Advised Hard Rock Café on the closure of their Antwerp site and the collective dismissal of all their staff members in Antwerp.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Eddy Lievens; Laurent De Surgeloose
Other key lawyers
Pierre Dion; Toon Smelts; Frederic Brasseur