ALTIUS houses an arts, media, entertainment and leisure group that is renowned for its broad offering, assisting clients with matters ranging from regulatory compliance and data protection issues to advertising mandates and publicity rights disputes. Its esteemed clientbase includes publishers, tech corporations, betting companies and creative professionals. The firm is also nationally and internationally recognised in sports law. Co-heads Sven Demeulemeester, Grégory Ernes and Olivier Vrins bring expertise in sports arbitration, EU law and IP, respectively, while Willem-Alexander Devlies advises on sports regulatory, disciplinary and employment disputes.
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Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The Altius sports law team is a world-class team of experienced lawyers, standing alone at the top of the Belgian sports law and sports tax world. The team has deep expertise in all different sports-related matters on both a national and international level and is well-connected and known worldwide within its field. As a football agent, I do not want to go up against them!.’
- ‘Willem-Alexander Devlies is my go-to lawyer since the start. He is always available, he knows what to do, he is a problem solver, and he is very pragmatic. He is clearly a star in the field, whom I trust one hundred per cent.'
- 'Sven Demeulemeester has a bright mind and is a leader in the field.’
Key clients
- PACE Rights Management LLP
- Mediahuis NV
- VRT – Flemish Radio/TV Broadcaster
- Pipe Entertainment
- Club Bruges FC
- Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht
- Royal Antwerp Football Club
- KRC Genk
- Standard de Liège
- Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
- Lommel SK
- KV Kortrijk
Work highlights
Represented a former television personality in a court case against a production company responsible for a highly successful Flemish TV series which has been distributed to numerous countries globally. The lawsuit revolves around the assertion of co-authorship of the series and the subsequent entitlement to royalties.
Represented a transgender athlete in proceedings against the Belgian cycling federation and the UCI and safeguarded this cyclist’s right to compete.
Advised Kevin De Bruyne on the tax and legal aspects of his record-breaking player contract with Italian reigning champions SSC Napoli. The 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.
Willem-Alexander Devlies
Practice head
Sven Demeulemeester; Grégory Ernes; Olivier Vrins
Other key lawyers
Willem-Alexander Devlies; Sheena Belmans