Ranking tables

Corporate/M&A | Global

Belgium

The Global-wide Corporate/M&A  Chambers research covers the elements of law related to various types of corporate and M&A transactions, with particular interest in firms’ ability to advise clients in multi-jurisdictional mandates.  Firms who feature in this table excel in cross-border deals including company acquisitions, dispositions and related financing arrangements, capitalisations, entity selection and formation, operating and partnership agreements, securities and governance matters. Also covers those transactions designed to help restructuring within companies and their subsidiaries by change of ownership. This section also recognises the expertise required to assist clients with large scale private equity buyouts. 

Rankings overview for Departments

1

Band 1

  1. Deborah Janssens
    Deborah Janssens Freshfields13 Years Ranked
  2. Dirk Meeus
    Dirk Meeus A&O Shearman23 Years Ranked
  3. Laurent LegeinCleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
5

Band 5

  1. An-Sofie Van Hootegem
    An-Sofie Van Hootegem Linklaters1 Years Ranked
  2. Koen Selleslags
    Koen Selleslags KPMG Law8 Years Ranked
  3. Michael Heene
    Michael Heene DLA Piper UK LLP1 Years Ranked
  4. Pascal Vanden Borre Stibbe13 Years Ranked
  5. David RyckaertLaurius
  6. Erwin DestuyverEubelius
  7. Gwen BeversSchoups
  8. Louis-François du CastillonFieldfisher (Belgium)
  9. Luc WynantVan Olmen & Wynant
  10. Marijke SpoorenCleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
  11. Matthias WautersEubelius
  12. Peter RooryckRooryck & Co
  13. Pieter CapiauCambrian
U

Up and Coming

  1. Patrice Viaene Clifford Chance LLP1 Years Ranked
  2. Caroline DaoutVan Bael & Bellis

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. A&O Shearman
    1
    A&O Shearman
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 1 | 21 Years Ranked
    The firm offers a pre-eminent M&A practice in the Belgian market, advising on a range of corporate law matters, including acquisitions, sales and restructurings. It offers an exceptional track record of representing international private equity houses, financial institutions and investors in multi-jurisdictional transactions. The firm also has prodigious expertise representing Belgian clients from the TMT sector. The team also benefits from the support of colleagues in the firm's well-ranked banking and competition teams spread across the Brussels and Antwerp offices, as well as its outstanding international network. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.
  2. Freshfields
    1
    Freshfields
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 1 | 21 Years Ranked
    Freshfields has a successful department offering a stellar performance for a range of blue-chip Belgian and international companies, as well as a number of private equity houses. The law firm acts on a range of corporate matters, including acquisitions, auction sales, joint venture agreements and restructurings, and benefits from an exceptional network of offices throughout Europe to offer clients seamless assistance with multi-jurisdictional files. Freshfields further offers market-leading competition expertise to boost its M&A offering.
  3. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 1
2

Band 2

  1. Baker McKenzie
    2
    Baker McKenzie
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 2 | 21 Years Ranked
    Baker McKenzie is a popular choice in Brussels for M&A and private equity transactions. The law firm benefits from its extensive international network to effectively represent clients in complex, cross-border mandates. The team offers considerable expertise acting for clients in the energy, TMT and medical device industries on substantial strategic transactions. Baker McKenzie offers further expertise in advising international private equity houses on transactions involving Belgium.
  2. Clifford Chance LLP
    2
    Clifford Chance LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 2 | 21 Years Ranked
    The Clifford Chance team is renowned for its extensive experience representing buyers, sellers and company founders in complex, cross-border mandates. The law firm offers substantial experience in transactions involving private equity and institutional investors, with additional expertise acting for financial services clients. Members of the team have particular experience advising on files in the telecoms, energy and biotechnology industries.
  3. Linklaters
    2
    Linklaters
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 2 | 21 Years Ranked
    Linklaters is a strong choice for international clients, offering considerable experience in cross-border M&A thanks to the firm's network of global offices. The law firm is able to draw on the expertise of colleagues in areas such as employment and competition in order to assist a wide range of clients, including major telecommunications and energy companies. The team frequently acts on high-profile public and private M&A transactions, as well as advising on corporate financing and governance mandates.
  4. Stibbe
    2
    Stibbe
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 2 | 21 Years Ranked
    Stibbe is a highly respected Benelux firm with expertise in transactions involving the healthcare, technology and energy sectors. The law firm offers considerable experience acting for both Belgian and international private equity houses, assisting with a wide range of portfolio acquisitions and sales. Clients benefit from the firm's well-integrated offices across the region on cross-border mandates.
3

Band 3

  1. Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick
    3
    Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 3 | 23 Years Ranked
    Liedekerke is a strong full-service Belgian firm with substantial capabilities on cross-border transactions. The team acts on an enviable range of matters, including private equity transactions, public M&A, financing rounds and strategic acquisitions. Lawyers from the firm have experience advising clients from the energy and technology industries. Furthermore, the firm is frequently called on to act as local counsel for prominent international firms.
  2. Loyens & Loeff
    3
    Loyens & Loeff
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 3 | 22 Years Ranked
    Loyens & Loeff displays an impressively broad practice, with a particularly prominent client base among investment funds and private equity houses. Clients benefit from the firm's offices throughout the Benelux region, as well as its well-integrated tax offering. The lawyers act for a range of clients, including those from the technology and pharmaceutical sectors. The firm is also a strong choice on international mandates, frequently working with prominent international firms on the Belgian aspects of impressive multinational M&A transactions.
  3. ARGO LAW
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 3
  4. Eubelius
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 3
  5. Van Bael & Bellis
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 3
4

Band 4

  1. DLA Piper UK LLP
    4
    DLA Piper UK LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 4 | 17 Years Ranked
    DLA Piper offers clients a comprehensive corporate practice, advising on the full scope of corporate work including buy and sell-side transactions, restructuring and mergers. The team is frequently called on by clients in the pharmaceutical, financial services and telecoms industries. Lawyers at the firm also offer substantial experience advising private equity investors on multi-jurisdictional transactions.
  2. Jones Day
    4
    Jones Day
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 4 | 15 Years Ranked
    Jones Day is a global firm with a significant footprint in the Belgian corporate market. Lawyers at the firm offer clients expert advice on the structuring of joint ventures and investments in Belgium. The team also assists with the full range of acquisitions, disposals and corporate financing matters, often acting for private equity houses.
  3. QUINZ
    4
    QUINZ
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 4 | 9 Years Ranked
    QUINZ is a prominent Belgian firm with a respectable presence in the corporate market. The team advises on a full range of mandates, including the establishment of joint ventures, cross-border public transactions and private equity investments. Lawyers at the firm frequently act on behalf of clients in the life sciences, financial services and technology sectors.
  4. White & Case
    4
    White & Case
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 4 | 25 Years Ranked
    International law firm White & Case has a respectable offering in the Belgian market with a particular focus on cross-border mandates, often collaborating with the firm's other offices across the globe. The team advises on both acquisitions and sales, as well as acting on joint ventures, restructurings and private equity transactions. Lawyers at the firm also offer substantial experience in financing rounds and investments for companies in the pharmaceutical sector.
  5. NautaDutilh
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 4
  6. Strelia
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 4
5

Band 5

  1. CMS
    5
    CMS
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 5 | 9 Years Ranked
    The CMS team is noted for its expertise in cross-border matters, frequently acting for clients on pan-European acquisitions and divestments. Lawyers at the firm frequently act for international clients, often from France, and are particularly popular with prominent private equity houses and financial institutions. The team also offers significant experience in restructuring mandates.
  2. Cresco
    5
    Cresco
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 5 | 9 Years Ranked
    Cresco is a boutique corporate practice best known for its high-quality niche in venture capital transactions, acting for both investors and companies. The team offers substantial experience advising clients from the technology sector, including clients from the fintech and biotech industries. The lawyers act for an impressive array of private equity houses on the structuring and formation of growth-stage investment funds. Team members also represent clients in transactions, including auction processes.
  3. Lydian
    5
    Lydian
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 5 | 13 Years Ranked
    Lydian is a newly ranked firm that has a stable presence in the Brussels M&A market. The practice is well equipped to advise both domestic and international clients on M&A, corporate structurings and joint ventures. The team also acts for private equity firms on investment transactions.
  4. ALTIUS
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 5
  5. contrast
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 5
  6. Deloitte Legal - Lawyers
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 5
  7. Fieldfisher (Belgium)
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 5
  8. Laurius
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 5
  9. Monard Law
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 5
  10. Simont Braun
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 5
  11. Van Olmen & Wynant
    Corporate/M&A
    2024 | Band 5