Insurance

Stibbe

For one client, ‘the combination of very good collaboration, expertise, pragmatism and quick responses’ sets the practice at Stibbe apart from its competitors, with extensive knowledge of insurance litigation and arbitration. High-value M&A transactions in the insurance sector are another strength of the team, along with providing advice on the regulatory aspects of the sector. Team head Oliver Stevens is ’smart, thoughtful and pragmatic’, with years of experience representing financial institutions and insurance companies in complex litigation. Sophie Bourgois focuses on insurance litigation, and is ‘very knowledgeable and a very efficient advocate’.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘For very complex insurance and liability questions, we were always able to quickly turn to Stibbe. They always manage to capture the complexity of such questions in the context of a public company and collaborations with various private parties. Their advice is clear, to the point, pragmatic and exactly what we need to get started.’
‘Oliver Stevens is the ideal partner to defend our interests in difficult negotiations as well as to obtain constructive solutions, taking into account the sensitivities and interests of all parties. His vast experience and knowledge of the practice is a huge asset.’
‘I recommend Sophie Bourgois. She is very knowledgeable and a very efficient advocate.’
‘The team -- Oliver Stephens and Sophie Bourgois -- work well together and do excellent work. Stibbe is knowledgeable about the international insurance market, with an emphasis on the European market.’
‘Oliver Stevens, in particular, is a very knowledgeable policyholder-side law practitioner. He is smart, thoughtful and pragmatic. He speaks excellent English and has a good understanding of the differences in U.S. and Belgian law and legal procedures. He is hard-working and always available. He writes well and collaborates well with foreign counsel.’
‘A combination of very good collaboration, expertise, pragmatism and quick responses.’
‘Expertise, proactivity, knowing and thinking along the same lines as the client, solutions oriented, very good collaboration, quick responses.’

Key clients

Brussels Airport Company
MS Amlin
Aldi
AG Vespa
Federale Verzekeringen

Work highlights

Successfully represented the operator of a major international transport hub in an ad hoc arbitration and obtained compensation for its Covid-19 business interruption losses.
Representing a chemicals company in a 9-digit coverage claim before the Brussels Business Court, based on a pollution liability policy and concerning PFAS-like pollution found on one of the company's overseas plants.
Assisted Goed (the care services branch of the Christian Mutuality comprising several legal entities and ca. 200 branches in Flanders and Brussels employing a total of ca. 1,300 employees) in transferring its employee-related insurance policies within the framework of multiple restructurings.