Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL‘s real estate and construction team has a transactional focus and often advises leading international investors, institutions and developers in the sector. Its fully integrated approach with the firm’s environmental, administrative, tax, banking and corporate teams allows it to provide clients with advice across all aspects of the real estate market. Jean-François Vandenberghe heads the team and has over 25 years of experience advising national and international clients on real estate transactions and their environmental aspects. Benjamin Pirlet, who recently joined the team, primarily assists Belgian and foreign clients on real estate and related tax matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘People are always easy to communicate with and very professional. They always try to adapt to the needs of their clients.’

  • ‘Benjamin Pirlet and Sebastian Tytgat are very good lawyers to work with. Very reliable and always try to be available on short notice. They always find a way to explain things, so non lawyers can understand them as well. Jean-Francois Vandenberghe is a very good partner and key contact as he feels very responsible for the team and us as a client.’

  • ‘All-round team with excellent market knowledge.’

  • ‘I worked with this firm on a transaction, specifically regarding tax aspects. The quality of their work was excellent. What I particularly appreciated was the high level of precision and care they delivered, even under very tight deadlines.'

  • ‘They fully met our expectations, both in drafting the documentation and in reaching an agreement.’

Key clients

  • Aberdeen
  • HansaInvest
  • Re-Vive
  • Nextensa
  • Koramic Real Estate
  • BentallGreenOak
  • Baltissimmo
  • Cellares
  • Electrabel
  • European Commission
  • Al Zayani Investments
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Orpea (Medeis)
  • Patrizia
  • Wallonie Entreprendre
  • Sambrinvest
  • Idelux
  • AG Real Estate
  • Montea

Work highlights

  • Provided legal and tax assistance in the sale by the European Commission to the Belgian sovereign wealth fund (SFPI-FPIM) of 23 buildings owned by the European Commission in Brussels.
  • Assisted Tailormade Logistics in the contribution of a large warehouse site into Montea and the re-letting of the site to Tailormade Logistics.
  • Advised a client on the closing of a forward purchase agreement on an assistance residence project in Bruges.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Jean-François Vandenberghe

Other key lawyers

Benjamin Pirlet, Anne-Sophie Corne, Arthur Peltzer, Sebastian Tytgat