McDermott Will & Emery Belgium LLP is well known for successfully obtaining merger clearances, as well as defending clients in cartel investigations. State aid work is another stalwart for the team. The key contact for domestic competition work at the firm is Hendrik Viaene, who has particularly strength in the financial services, chemicals, construction, technology, pharmaceutical, and healthcare industries.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Profound knowledge on competition matters.’

  • ‘Specific appreciation for Hendrik Viaene who has profound insights in competition matters.’

Key clients

  • Ardian
  • Soudal
  • Esko Graphics (part of Danaher Corporation)
  • Akzo Nobel
  • PMV (Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen)
  • University Hospital Gent
  • CHEP (Brambles Group)
  • Eurofiber
  • Belgian State
  • Finance & Invest Brussels
  • Invest-NL

Work highlights

  • Representing Ghent University Hospital in a cartel and abuse of dominance investigation by the Belgian Competition Authority in relation to certain pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of particular types of cancer.
  • Representing Soudal in a state aid investigation.
  • Assisting Ardian with obtaining merger control clearance from the Belgian Competition Authority for the acquisition of Belgian PPE distributor Vandeputte Group by its portfolio company RG Safety.

Lawyers

Leading partners
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McDermott Will & Emery Belgium LLP
Hendrik Viaene focuses his practice on competition law, regulated markets and regulatory law. He advises clients across a wide range of related issues including state aid, cartels, licensing agreements, merger filings, M&A negotiations, abuse of dominance cases, and distribution agreements. Hendrik assists governments as well as privately and publicly owned companies. He has a wealth of experience in a range of sector such as energy, chemicals, paints, automotive, financial data, recycling and waste management, telecom, construction, renewables, media, private equity and the financial industry. Hendrik represents companies before national competition authorities and before the European Commission in state aid, cartel, merger, and abuse of dominance investigations. He also assists governments and companies on defence strategies as well as compliance programmes to avoid fines or having to refund or recover state aid.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Hendrik Viaene