Van Bael & Bellis offers a comprehensive healthcare and life sciences practice, backed by deep industry and regulatory expertise. The team advises on regulatory, marketing, IP, and competition law, representing clients before judicial and administrative bodies. Co-heads Catherine Longeval and Peter L’Ecluse advise on issues related to medicine, biotech, access, and transparency. Michael Clancy provides competition law guidance throughout the product lifecycle, while Koen T’Syen specialises in regulatory, clinical trial, and pricing matters, frequently acting in contentious matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Very knowledgeable, real experts in the domain they consult.’
- ‘Strong experience in EU regulation of drugs and medical devices. Outstanding knowledge of EU data privacy law and regulation.’
- ‘Catherine Longeval and Koen T'Syen are great individuals! They are good, focused, to the point, and they have a lot of business acumen and know how to handle and approach matters.’
- ‘Catherine Longeval is outstanding. She is quick, bright, pragmatic and always available for her clients. She organises the teams to make sure that the project is well handled.’
- ‘The best local life sciences law firm in Belgium.’
- ‘Subject matter experts, Catherine Longeval and Tanguy Van Overstraeten, are both very responsive and understand the business concerns of the client.'
Key clients
- AbbVie
- Acurx
- Amgen
- AstraZeneca
- Baxter
- Bayer
- Belgian Association of Consumer Healthcare Industry VZW
- Belgian Federal Government
- Besins
- CSL Behring
- Dr. Willmar Schwabe
- Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (D.O.R.C.)
Work highlights
Acting for Belgian Association of Consumer Healthcare Industry and Kenvue (formerly the Consumer Healthcare division of Johnson & Johnson) in ongoing legal proceedings before the Belgian Council of State seeking annulment of a Belgian Royal Decree amending the Belgian rules on the storage and sale of poisonous and toxic substances.
Successfully represented Schwabe in cease-and-desist proceedings before the President of the Dutch-language Brussels Enterprise Court against Orifarm, which is one of the main parallel traders in Europe.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Catherine Longeval; Peter L’Ecluse
Other key lawyers
Michael Clancy; Koen T’Syen