DLA Piper > Brussels, Belgium > Firm Profile

‘DLA Piper has a deep expertise in the relevant law and the practice. This means their advice is immediately implementable. This is all the more true since within the office there is also good knowledge of government procurement legislation, which allows the advice to be tailored to our company.’

‘We have had excellent experiences with Birgit Creemers. She is readily available and can advise quickly due to her experience. Meetings are always well prepared with a thorough knowledge of the case and critical questions as well as notion for sensitivities.’

‘The team is a unique collection of individuals who work together to strive for the best possible solution for a client. The team manages to deliver excellent work within very short deadlines, without losing sight of the bigger picture. They can guide you through a procedure or a difficult case with their eyes closed.’

‘Personally, I have worked closely with Birgit Creemers. Time and again, she manages to smoothly guide a case from start to finish. She thinks along with us and never loses sight of our vision along the way. We also appreciate that she blends seamlessly with our team. She is one of ‘us’ and truly one of a kind in that regard. She quickly processes new information, and her knowledge of environmental law is, in our opinion, top-notch.’

‘The DLA team has deep expertise in the Environment field, providing tailored advice and effective representation, an excellent client-centric approach and a diverse team. ’

‘Currently, the team has a deep understanding of the broad waste legislation. Applied to PFAS, which covers many aspects like (lack of) emission limit values, guidance, BREFs, the precautionary principle, measurement methodologies, … should normally be covered by clear legislation, but it isn’t. Therefore translation of such ‘technical’ arguments into a juridical robust reasoning is key, and this is clearly a competence that the team is demonstrating.’

‘We had the pleasure of working with DLA Piper on a rather complex legal matter, and their expertise and dedication truly set them apart from other firms. From the outset, it was clear that the team not only possessed exceptional legal knowledge but also a deep understanding of the nuances of our financial industry. Their pragmatic approach to client service ensures efficient communication, streamlined processes, and timely results.’

What truly distinguishes DLA Piper is their collaborative approach. Their team operates cohesively across practice areas, ensuring that we receive comprehensive advice covering all potential legal aspects.’

‘Marie Goossens was the individual that stood out for us. She was in charge of our file, explained everything clearly and tried her best to problem-solve. She allowed for a variety of perspectives and creative problem-solving approaches that we didn’t get when working with other lawyers.’

‘The Belgium team of DLA Piper is highly experienced and innovative.’

‘Marie Goossens is one of the true rising stars in the financial regulatory segment. Pierre Berger is very experienced and has insight into the financial regulatory practice across the European Union. ’

‘Strong team on the ground. ‘Yes, we can’ mentality, able to cover all aspects of a transactions in an integrated and flexible manner.’

‘Kristof De Vulder and Raf Schoefs are highly skilled, flexible, and result oriented.’

‘What makes this place unique is the warm touch of an extremely knowledgeable, yet very humble group of people. The quality of outcomes, combined with the tech innovation they have developed internally makes the team incredibly interesting to work with. ’

‘This practice is uniquely business-minded and always finds a workable solution. Their expertise in technology matters is outstanding. They are professional, straightforward, and very easy to work with. They always understand your business needs. ’

‘Kristof De Vulder: expert knowledge in technology matters, excellent negotiator, strong focus on finding solutions and getting the deal done. Never ‘lawyering for the sake of lawyering’.

‘Raf Schoefs has outstanding expert knowledge and is very approachable.’

‘Kristof De Vulder and Raf Schoefs are highly skilled, flexible, and result oriented.’

‘Their major qualities are their expertise, the quality of communications, their timely delivery, and strong relationship development.’

‘Excellent combination of legal and non-legal skills.’

‘The regulatory team has deep expertise in in the field and provides us with excellent tailored advice: a diverse team and an excellent client relationship.’

‘The team excels in cross-border collaboration between different disciplines to deliver tailored advice. The team is flexible and responds quickly to questions and developments.’

‘One of the best teams for energy matters. Vast experience cutting across different energy industries and national legal orders. Within the energy legal market, the team has robust experience in regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters.’

‘The members of the team always have in mind the broad economic, technical, political and geopolitical context which is not common among legal teams and they are thus able to offer the best tailored solution and advice for each client. ’

‘The team has great experience in the energy sector. That team is a powerhouse of knowledge and expertise. They have the ability to get the job done in the most effective and efficient way possible.’

‘Orestis Omran’s vast expertise in the sector, coupled with his experience in different jurisdictions makes him the obvious choice for any matter relating to energy. He knows the market extremely well and really understands the energy fields, current developments, future trends, and the complex regulatory framework at national and EU levels.’

‘Alec Van Vaerenbergh combines expertise in energy regulation and public law.’

‘The team is very hands-on and practical.’

‘Alexis Fierens and Pauline Hellemans have very good expertise, can think practically, and provide useful information.’

‘Alexis Fierens provides outstanding legal services. What distinguishes him from other lawyers is his ability to deliver precise and comprehensive analyses. His insights are well-structured and concise, allowing us to easily apply his recommendations to our work.’

‘Alexis Fierens consistently provides all the necessary answers, enabling us to move forward with confidence.’

‘Very flexible team, if necessary one member can easily be replaced by another skilled member who has the necessary knowledge of the file. That way, the team remains flexible for meetings in order to keep the pace high.’

‘Kristof De Vulder and Raf Schoefs, highly skilled, flexible and result oriented.’

‘The team is composed of exceptional individuals with the unique ability to bring relatively new legislation into practice effectively. They are not just legal advisors; they stand by their clients in a very proactive and conviction-driven manner, advocating for their interests with determination. Their bright minds have a keen understanding of the legal landscape, knowing precisely which path to follow to best serve their clients’ needs.’

‘As a client, you truly feel comfortable working with them, confident that they are on top of every detail and making the right decisions at every turn. Their expertise and proactive approach ensure that clients are always well-supported and strategically positioned for success.’

‘The individuals within this team are remarkable for their ability to translate new legislation into actionable strategies, ensuring that clients are always compliant and ahead of the curve. They have a talent for making the right decisions swiftly and effectively, cutting through complexities to achieve tangible results. These qualities make them invaluable to their clients, as they not only provide sound legal advice but also get things done with precision and efficiency.’

‘Ilse Van de Mierop and her team, including Charlotte Sas, have built up a strong reputation in insolvency and restructuring matters. Their knowledge and expertise make them trustworthy advisors and legal practitioners in this domain.’

‘Ilse Van de Mierop is hands- on, efficient with a thorough legal knowledge in insolvency matters. A reliable and appreciated partner when working together. A tough opponent when being adversaries.’

‘Strong sectorial knowledge, and the ability to build long term relationships. Creativity and flexibility.’

‘Charles Dumont de Chassart co-builds innovative and creative solutions.’

‘Caroline Hoste has very broad expertise. She is always available and listens to the wishes and needs of the client. She clearly states what is possible and what is not and clearly indicates the risks involved in a certain topic.’

‘During negotiations, Caroline Hoste sharply translates her client’s requirements. She is a good negotiator, to the point and determined.’

‘The team’s in depth understanding of the legal and financial aspects of banking, finance and capital markets questions in unrivalled. I had the chance to experience first hand the tremendous added value that this team can bring to complex international transactions and legal questions.’

‘It is very hard to find a team who works with such ruthless efficiency adopting a modern, commercial, and practical approach. The experience in different jurisdictions and cross-border transactions is substantial and allows the team to navigate even the most complex issues.’

‘We work with Orestis Omran. The service level he provides is incomparably high. His legal expertise provides business solution and helps to mitigate risk.’

‘Orestis Omran has the ability to support us in many different areas of business as well as being excellent sparing partner within the European territory. His bright and forward thinking has delivered us success.’

‘Highly motivated and focused on detail. A team that always promote balance between contracting parties.’

‘Achille Lemey is a young lawyer of very high potential. He listens very well to the client and can process the wishes well legally. Works in close consultation with Caroline Hoste and they are well matched.’

‘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.’

‘The team provides high-quality legal services that are efficient. They take time to carefully listen to our organisation’s needs and challenges, and work diligently to provide practical solutions to complex situations. We appreciate their pragmatic approach and look forward to continuing our partnership with them.’

‘Pierre Dion is concise, clear, and efficient. He has a talent for getting to the heart of the matter quickly and effectively, without wasting time on unnecessary details.’

‘Heidi Waem has provided us with great support and advice regarding GDPR matters. She is very responsive and provides practical responses to our questions, which is really helpful.’

‘Simon is an outstanding associate. His advice is to the point and is extremely smart.’

‘Heidi Waem and her team offer pragmatic, high-quality solutions, focusing on what matters and ensuring the final advice will meet the client’s needs. Heidi makes sure to be available and to help. I specifically appreciate her way of working in a team and proactively showcasing her employees.’

‘Heidi Waem has a pragmatic and efficient approach that helps clients. Simon Veschaeve has a very good approach and good client relationships. ’

‘Simon Verschaeve in particular has impressed me to no end. He combines academic-level expertise with hands-on, pragmatic advice. His attention to detail, availability and communication skills are excellent. ’

‘We work mostly with Heidi Waemand Simon Verschaeve who are an excellent team.’

‘The team is quite available and provides excellent legal advice’

‘They also have experience in cases before the Belgian data protection authority which is a key requirement for us.’

‘Strengths: direct communication line, business know-how, pragmatic approach.’

‘A pragmatic and efficient approach.’

‘The key lawyer in this practice is Ilse Van de Mierop. She is a very experienced, razor-sharp lawyer who is a very strong and inexhaustible litigator. To have this combination of tons of experience and such an enormous drive is quite unique.’

‘We enjoy working together because of the excellent expertise and background information, and because the cooperation is very efficient. The information we obtain is very clear, hands-on and immediately usable. They can think along with the business.’

‘Both very good expertise and background information, good accessibility, available to think practically, provide useful information.’

‘Team has a solid client database within retail + equal retail support. We appreciate the quick turn-around and guidance in a wide area of retail topics including Omnibus, pricing in outlets and marketing and communication. We work with Alexis Fierens + his associate Pauline Hellemans.’

‘Alexis Fierens – Good in making connection + knowledgeable Pauline Hellemans.’

‘To the point and fast advice, well-written clear language, taking into consideration the activities of the client.’

‘Alexis Fierens and Heidi Waem show, as partners, a big interest in the needs of the client. Honest advice, not risk averse but realistic risk assessment, with pragmatic replies.’

‘Pierre and Alexander are very knowledgeable, and have great experience and connections in the insurance sector which allows them to always assist quickly and in an efficient manner.’

‘Alexander Hamels is always quick to respond and assist. He is well aware of the latest insights and practice developments. It is great to have him on the team.’

‘Go to firm for to the point but detailed and well-researched advice on topics related to market and (supervisory) practice, in particular topics that have not been the subject of doctrine or case law.’

‘Alexander Hamel combines in-depth knowledge of insurance law and regulation with an excellent understanding of the market and (supervisory) practices in Belgium and surrounding jurisdictions.’

‘Alexander Hamels is a remarkable specialist in insurance legislation, and he has in-depth knowledge of the insurance and financial regulations practice areas generally. He has also proven to have a good perspective on developments and trends in the regulation of open banking and open finance on the EU market.’

‘It’s my pleasure to emphasize the work of Alexander Hamels, which possess a rare professionalism shaped by his talent and dedication. Alexander always delivers the best results and he is the first person I would reach out to when needing assistance on an insurance matter.’

‘Alexander Hamels serves as our liaison with other law firms either in the network of DLA Piper or outside of the network. He really pays attention to the quality of work, particularly when working with a law firm in a jurisdiction where DLA Piper does not have a branch. We are very pleased to be working with him.’

‘They understand our needs in terms of quality and deadlines, they have a large number of experts in different matters and are part of an international network. We can call on them for national and international matters. They are very efficient, the advice is high quality and reliable.’

‘Precise support covering Belgian, Luxembourg and French law aspects.’

‘Ability to work under various laws (Belgium, Netherlands) and explain local specificities to foreign parties.’

‘Agile, highly available, great coordination of a high number of parties, effective problem solver.’

‘Friendly and responsive.’

‘Personable, strong communication, approachable, reachable, deliver on time.’

‘Joseph Spink’s team is very well organised, ensuring that proper high-quality specialists are available in due time.’

‘Joseph Spinks is a very experienced professional who gives high-quality understandable legal advice. Always available on short notice, gives the client the feeling of being in very good hands.’

‘We are very satisfied with DLA Piper. They are always available in case of questions or urgent matters and they always deliver the requested outputs on time. The team has no problem to help discuss contracts in Dutch, French and English which is very helpful for us.’

‘We can always rely on the team with all kind of matters, from leasing to leasehold and vat cases; we have the feeling that DLA is capable of providing us with advice and guidance.’

‘Strong legal skills, combined with commercial acumen.’

‘DLA has specific knowledge of DBFM-agreements in combination with construction projects and litigation. This makes them an ideal partner for our case.’

‘Although we are working in a complex technical case where it is difficult to make progress, DLA is capable of staying on top of things and is readily available when an intervention on their behalf is required. They are aware of the context we are working in and give strategic advice to navigate through the complexities.’

‘The M&A practice has a good reputation, always available and responsive.’

‘Aubry Daerden is outstanding. He quickly understand the client’s needs and is able to handle highly complex corporate issues.’

‘The corporate and M&A team provides high-quality legal services that are efficient. The pragmatism with which the team handles complex topics is also very appreciated by our organization.’

‘Erwin Simons always has a way to defend the legal interests of our organization both internally and externally with a keen sense of humor, which makes it possible to convince people of the best possible legal manner in a very diplomatic way.’

‘I work with Aubry Daerden who is really outstanding, reliable, efficient, precise, creative and helpful.’

‘Michaël Heene is very approachable, knowledgeable about the industry and has a pragmatic approach.’

‘DLA Piper’s corporate M&A practice is unique because of its extensive global footprint and ability to handle complex cross-border transactions seamlessly.’

‘DLA Piper’s corporate M&A team stands out because of the exceptional expertise and dedication of its individuals. They differentiate themselves from competitors through deep industry knowledge, international experience, and the ability to navigate complex transactions efficiently.’

‘One of the best teams in Competition Law. The capabilities of the team in relation to Competition and in particular State Aid are really impressive.’

‘The team’s encyclopaedic knowledge of EU law and competition law combined with in-depth understanding of different sectors from both an economic and policy perspective sets it apart from other competition law departments.’

‘For every competition law cases, Orestis Orman is able to put together and lead the best team, tailored to the needs of the case. He can discriminate between major and strategic issues and questions of secondary importance, going to the heart of the matter.’

‘Very pragmatic, to the point advice. Very good understanding of the industry.’

‘Joost Haans is very pleasant to work with, very accessible and he has great knowledge of the industry and most recent legal developments. He has excellent communication skills.’

‘In-depth knowledge of both laws and regulations but also very dedicated to fully grasp the files, pro-active, outstanding availability, etc.’

‘DLA’s dispute resolution practice is highly client-oriented and exceptionally commercial. They boast a team of both experienced senior and junior practitioners, a crucial element in delivering quality service. Their associates are of notably high caliber, often playing vital roles in the success of cases.’

‘Laurent Geelhand is an exceptional partner, known for his expertise in handling complex multi-jurisdictional disputes. His deep understanding of intricate legal frameworks across borders makes him a true legal mastermind. Laurent’s meticulous attention to detail ensures that every aspect of a case is thoroughly analyzed, and his legal advice is both strategic and precise.’

‘The combination of expertise in the public sector, postal sector and retail/logistic sector makes this firm unique. They have all the experience, expertise combined in 1 and respond to the specific needs of our company. They are very pragmatic and able to think out of the box. In addition they also have the international network which is handy for cross border files.’

‘Bob Martens is a very experienced and hands on lawyer who thinks out of the box and will go the extra mile. He can tackle any challenging and complex case and is very committed to his clients.’

‘Andi Zrza is an exceptional lawyer – highly responsive, approachable, and a true pleasure to work with. Despite his young age, he is quick in identifying client needs and delivering pragmatic, out-of-the-box solutions. His relentless drive and commitment to his clients truly set him apart; he pushes tirelessly in court to secure the best possible outcomes, leaving no stone unturned, even in the most challenging cases.’

‘The regulatory team has deep expertise in the field and provides us with excellent tailored advice, a diverse team, and an excellent client-relation.’

‘Alex Van Vaerenbergh builds a stronghold focusing on sustainability. Not just a fluffy concept, but offering in fact real and actionable advice.’

‘The DLA team is responsive and pragmatic. Because of their global reach, they are able to act as a trusted partner for a wide range of matters in various jurisdictions. ’

‘Kristof De Vulder is very approachable, able to place himself in the client’s position and provide valuable and actionable advice.’

‘Exceptional collaboration, strong competencies in various domains, availability of the teams, cooperative thinking, very good symbiosis between the client and legal team, but also between partners/associates of the legal team and their employees.’

‘Enormous commitment, people with an appropriate dose of empathy, high level of knowledge. A unique group of employees who continually exchange ideas to achieve the best results for the customer. Team members and partners who stay with both feet on the ground.’

‘The team is strongly led by, amongst others, Alexis Fierens, who is both very on top of things and very permissive of his associates learning and performing in an independent yet team-player manner, always with a view to strengthening the team, its cohesion and their growing experience and always with the business and legal needs of the client as a primary guiding North Star.’

‘Alexis Fierens is both a terrific lawyer and an excellent businessman. He flawlessly meets the highest industry standards in terms of legal skills, knowledge and experience, yet he also maintains a deep understanding of the commercial and business needs of the client and will always strive to achieve the ideal mix and balance between the two, ever in a manner tailor-made for that particular client and case. Alexis is one of the best IP lawyers in the city of Brussels and the country of Belgium.’

‘This team’s unique level of responsiveness, deep knowledge of IP and creative strategic thinking is guaranteed to surpass your expectations.’

‘Alexis Fierens is simply amazing as to his responsiveness and immediate to the point answers.’

‘Alexis is great guy to work with. Fast, friendly and extremely hands-on. A true delight and one of the top guys in the industry. With Alexis you know have the safest pair of hands available.’

‘I think the presence in several jurisdictions is the stronghold for DLA.’

‘Alexis Fierens is an outstanding lawyer, with a commercial mind.’

‘The Belgian DLA Piper tax team is unique in its capability to provide a holistic picture of a certain tax situation given its deep and wide expertise.’

‘Their ability to support us with a complex international and transactional tax situation within the private equity industry is unique in the Belgian market.’

‘I can definitely highlight Nicolas Engelmann – he is exceptional. He is creative, solution focused, has a strong international network and has strong tax capabilities, including a strong understanding of complex international private equity carry structures.’

‘The team is well organised. Everyone in the team is willing to contribute from the perspective of their speciality and expertise.’

‘Nicolas Engelmann is very responsive and attentive. He listens carefully and gives insightful feedback. In trying to understand the situation, he points out other aspects that we cannot pay attention to, which is important to us and very much appreciated.’

‘Chris Thompson is highly knowledgeable and result driven.’