The ‘high-level, diligent, hard-working, and available’ team at ALTIUS represents lucrative clients in the media and entertainment field, with particular expertise in sports law. The team often assists sports associations and professional footballers. For one client, Sven Demeulemeester and Grégory Ernes are ’by far the best lawyers within the industry’, both having extensive experience in representing athletes, investors, and sports governing bodies. Olivier Vrins also leads the team, with extensive knowledge of IP-related matters. Willem-Alexander Devlies is noted for representing Belgian and international clients in the sports sector on regulatory matters and employment-related disputes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Great, experienced, high-level, diligent, hard-working and available team of lawyers, on top of the sports industry.’
‘Willem-Alexander Devlies. My lawyer for 9 years now. I saw him rising to the top of the sports law field, year after year. I trust him blindly to deal with my business. He is always available and always finds a solution. He is pragmatic, works fast and his advice and drafting work is always high-level. ’
‘Sven Demeulemeester and Gregory Ernes: by far the best lawyers within the industry.’
‘Quality of the advice and precision of the work.'
‘Excellent knowledge of the contracting aspects in sports world.’
Key clients
- PACE Rights Management LLP
- Mediahuis NV
- VRT
- Pipe Entertainment
- Club Bruges FC
- Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht
- Royal Antwerp Football Club
- KRC Genk
- Standard de Liège
- Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Work highlights
Advised Kevin De Bruyne, the famous Belgian professional football player of Manchester City and the Belgian Red Devils, on the use of deep fakes of his name, voice, image and likeness for advertising.
Advised a major European media company focusing on politics, government, and public policy in screening and clearing articles before publication and in disputes against Members of the EU Parliament on freedom of speech and of information and the exercise of the right of reply.
Assisted reigning Belgian football champions Club Bruges with the dismissal for just cause of a professional football player and ensuing employment court litigation.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Alexander De Bleeckere
Practice head
Sven Demeulemeester; Grégory Ernes; Olivier Vrins
Other key lawyers
Willem-Alexander Devlies; Alexander De Bleeckere