Stibbe

Compliance and Sanctions, EU law, Competition and Regulation, Unfair Competition and Consumer Protection

Partner

Sophie Van Besien advises public bodies and private companies on the entire spectrum of national and EU competition law and regulatory compliance.

Sophie has a wealth of knowledge and experience in EU and national competition law. She advises on complex international and multi-jurisdictional merger control proceedings, as well as investigations into cartel and abuse of dominant positions. She also focuses on state aid and damage claims.Sophie has built up extensive international experience and industry knowledge in technology, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, postal and telecommunications, metals and mining, consumer products and retail, as well as financial services. With this valuable set of skills and knowhow, she advises clients on the application of EU directives and general regulatory compliance issues.In addition, she represents clients before national competition authorities, the European Commission, national courts, and the European Courts in Luxembourg.

Dutch, English, French

Master of Laws from Ghent University (2007) Admitted to the Brussels Bar in 2007 Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Columbia University School of Law, New York, United States (2009) Admitted to the New York Bar in 2010 Associate in the Brussels and Washington D.C. offices of a leading American law firm (2007–2016) Senior Legal Counsel in EU competition and regulatory (2016–2018 and Director Regulatory & Competition (2018–2019) at a major state-owned, listed Belgian company With the Brussels office of Stibbe since 2019 (Partner since 2019)