The ‘highly capable and solutions-oriented’ team at Loyens & Loeff stands out for the breadth of its debt finance and capital markets expertise, which covers domestic and cross-border transactions in a wide array of sectors and is particularly pronounced in project finance, debt and securities issuances, leveraged lending, and real estate financing work. The practice is especially noted for its ability to handle a significant number of financings in connection with renewable energy and infrastructure PPPs. Clients include Belgian-based and multinational institutional lenders as well as private credit funds, corporate borrowers, and state actors. Practice head Marc Vermylen is noted for his project finance expertise, while Vanessa Marquette and Eveline Hellebuyck primarily handle financial regulatory matters. Koen Panis is a key contact for PPP work. Asset-based lending and green bond issuance expert Sarah Libregts is a further name to note.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Apart from high level legal competence, the team also offers very good market knowledge. Tailor made legal advice and solutions.’
‘Short response times. Well-structured legal advice that is understandable even for non-lawyers. Pragmatic solutions and solutions in line with market and business needs.’
‘Excellent level of deliverables in terms of quality and time. The team was involved in an innovative project that required quite a lot of re-thinking of existing models. They were able to combine innovative thinking with solid legal bases and very good knowledge of market practice. Always available and able to meet on short notice when asked.’
‘Vanessa Marquette has excellent knowledge of debt capital markets and in particular of the Belgian legal environment. Always available when asked and eager to find flexible solutions.’
‘Reactiveness, sound knowledge, and experience in the Belgian project finance sector and beyond. ’
‘The Loyens & Loeff team is highly capable and solutions-oriented. We worked with Loyens & Loeff on a complex, cross-border debt and equity financing. The team was able to come up with answers to a number of complexities that arose and explain everything to us in a simple manner based on their local expertise and knowledge. We felt confident we were in good hands throughout the process.’
‘Great team for seamless and full-service advice across jurisdictions Belgium and Netherlands as a one-stop-shop.’
‘Marc Vermylen is extremely commercial, practical and straightforward in providing advice. Sarah Libregts is also extremely commercial and has extremely high technical ability in providing documentation and workable 'real world' solutions for clients.’

Key clients

Parkwind
Virya
Norther
European Investment Bank
EURATOM
Société Générale
PBB Deutsche Plandbrieffbank
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
Deutsche Bank
ING Bank
JP Morgan
Morgan Stanley
Goldman Sachs
Barclays Bank PLC
Tristan Capital Partners
WhiteHorse Capital Management
Volvo Financial Services
Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen NV
International Swaps and Derivatives Association
Bundesverband Deutscher banken
Aluminium Duffel
Sedimmo SA
Godiva Chocolatier, Inc.
GBA Group
Wingspire Capital LLC
Infopro Digital Group

Work highlights

Advised Aluminium Duffel on the refinancing of its existing indebtedness in connection with its acquisition by AIP.
Advised Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG on the refinancing of the office property Arcadia.
Assisted the Walloon Region with the renewal of the issuance of €1bn of 2.875% fixed-rate sovereign notes, admitted to trading on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.