Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Competition: EU - Belgium
What the Team is Known For
Van Bael & Bellis has a strong EU and domestic Belgian competition law offering, with a deep bench of partners based in Brussels. It handles behavioural and merger control matters that necessitate interaction with the EC or the BCA. The law firm has notable experience in the appeal of EC decisions, having acted on significant cases for third-party interveners or addressees of EC decisions operating in the IT, energy and sports sectors. It assists an impressive list of life sciences or consumer goods companies with questions surrounding pricing of goods or the management of compliance programmes. Van Bael & Bellis has also secured roles acting on phase II EC merger investigations and is active in cartel cases and subsequent damages claims.
Strengths
The team is well balanced and can guarantee continuity of assistance at various levels of seniority.
Van Bael & Bellis is highly capable of dealing with complex matters, assessing the level of risk and providing various possible alternatives in a quick and concise manner.
Van Bael & Bellis really is our go-to law firm for any antitrust matter.
We can rely on Van Bael & Bellis when faced with tight deadlines, and we also appreciate the clarity of their advice.
Van Bael & Bellis is honestly one of the best counsel I have worked with. The team is extremely responsive and very knowledgeable.
Work Highlights
Van Bael & Bellis successfully defended Stora Enso in the EC's investigation of a suspected cartel among suppliers of wood pulp.
Notable practitioners
Jean-François Bellis is considered one of the top competition lawyers in Brussels. He has a superb reputation for his handling of CJEU and EGC litigation on behalf of either intervening third parties or the addressees of EC decisions. In addition to handling mandates in the technology arena, he is an experienced representative of clients in the aviation industry.
Andrzej Kmiecik leads on behavioural investigations, including EC cartel investigations.
Andrzej Kmiecik provides an excellent service. He is always available, even when he is extremely busy, attending requests of advice with very short notice.
Andrzej is an expert in his field, highly knowledgeable and always up to date, but also business-savvy and capable of delivering legal advice in a practical and business-friendly manner.
Kris Van Hove offers notable strength in assisting clients with appeals to EC decisions before the CJEU and EGC related to Article 102 investigations and cartels. His practice extends to acting on subsequent follow-on damages actions and assisting clients with compliance with the FSR.
With Kris Van Hove's calm and polite demeanour, he knows exactly what he is doing and will ensure the client's interests are perfectly looked after.
Kris is an excellent lawyer and I highly recommend him.
Porter Elliott plays a leading role in several of the firm's most important EU merger control mandates, frequently assisting third-party interveners with major merger investigations, or with merger notifications as part of remedies packages. He is also adept at advising clients on the EU's Foreign Subsidies Regulation.
Porter Elliott is an outstanding lawyer, who is meticulous and organised. It is a pleasure to work with him.