Transport regulatory, aviation, and railways work form a large part of the practice at DLA Piper, representing a clients in complex mandates, both in Belgium and internationally. Public procurement matters in the sector are another strength of the practice, which works closely with other teams in the firm. Leading the practice are Bob Martens, Ilse Van de Mierop, and Nicolas Engelmann, with extensive experience in restructuring and tax work.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘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.’
Key clients
- skeyes
- Sabena (in bankruptcy)
- Sabena Aerospace Engineering SA / SABCA
- Consortia TM COTU & TM ROCO
- Scania Belgium NV/SA
- Tesla
- Katoen Natie
- Exmar
- Royal Belgian Shipowners Association
- Boskalis Offshore Transport Services
Work highlights
- Assisting the Royal Belgian Shipowners Association with the preparation of a legislative proposal introducing a withholding tax exemption on payments made in respect of bareboat charters in order to render Belgium as an attractive jurisdiction for bareboat chartering and for investing in new vessels. The firm's work also involves the strategic positioning of foresaid proposal towards the political stakeholders as well as assessing the possible application of the state aid rules to the proposed measure.
- Acting for the largest consortia of contractors in Belgium (consortium TM COTU and consortium TM ROCO) to guide their tender towards the Oosterweel Link, the important European transport link in the Antwerp region and the largest road transport project in the European Transport Network ETN.
- Representing Sabena SA / NV as trustees in bankruptcy and managing high-stakes litigations against SairGroup and SairLines (Swissair) based on contractual liability and directors’ liability, as well as criminal charges.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Bob Martens, Ilse Van de Mierop, Nicolas Engelmann