David Haverbeke

Career

I am an energy and infrastructure lawyer with over 20 years' experience advising international and domestic clients on oil and gas, water, power, nuclear and renewable projects.

I have broad experience in providing strategic advice and assistance in the liberalisation of energy markets, including drafting legal and regulatory frameworks in the electricity and gas markets and drafting regulated and negotiated contracts in the natural gas, electricity, hydrogen, heat (project development, transit, supply and trading) markets.

Furthermore, I have developed an extensive practice in advising and assisting clients in the Belgian and European energy sectors and have acted in several EU Member States on a wide range of commercial and regulatory matters, including energy contracts, construction and permitting issues, greenhouse gas emissions-related mechanisms, financing and public procurement.

I act on behalf of private (international companies, domestic companies) and public entities (provinces, regulators) and focus mainly on the regulatory aspects of energy law. Thanks to its in-depth knowledge of the legal framework of these sectors, I advise major players on every aspect of energy contracts (both regulated agreements and commercial contracts). Moreover, greenhouse gas emissions-related mechanisms and public procurement are part of his expertise.

Finally, I have extensive experience in proceedings before commercial courts, the Belgian Council of State, the Constitutional Court, the European Court of Justice and various arbitration bodies. My recent work includes acting as an arbitrator (ICAC, CEPINA) in commercial disputes. I am also a fellow and guest lecturer at the "Centre for Energy Law" (AUCEL) at the University of Aberdeen.

After graduating from KU Leuven, I obtained an L.L.M. from VUB and a Finance Certicate from the London School of Economics.

As a member of the Brussels Bar, I speak fluent Dutch, English, German and Spanish in addition to French (mother tongue) and have a basic knowledge of Russian.