Crowell & Moring LLP

Chair: Philip T Inglima

Number of partners worldwide: 269

Number of lawyers worldwide: 670

Number of partners in Brussels: 11

Number of lawyers in Brussels: 36

Firm Overview: 

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia that represents clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and transactional and corporate matters. The firm is internationally recognised for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation and government-facing matters, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2021, the firm saw unprecedented growth, opening offices in Chicago, Denver, and Indianapolis, and joining forces with storied financial law firm Kibbe & Orbe and with Brinks Gilson & Lione, a premier technology-focused IP firm.

Brussels Practice:  

Crowell’s office in Brussels provides local and multinational clients with the full complement of legal services both in Belgium and Europe as a whole, and this across a spectrum of technological and commercial fields. It has a strong domestic and European practice and is an interdepartmental office, with each partner having their own individual areas of focus. Dispute resolution is at the core of our practice, and our renowned litigators represent clients before all the Belgian courts as well as before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The office offers practical, commercial solutions to local and international clients, serving as a one-stop shop for those faced with Europe’s multiple legal jurisdictions and regulatory requirements. The Brussels practice is supported internationally by Crowell & Moring colleagues in the US, London, MENA, and Asia, and can rely on a well-established network of other local lawyers across Europe.

Our Brussels office has a strong tradition of serving the local community. Through pro bono work, the office assists and represents those who desperately need help in matters such as immigration, civil law, and domestic violence. For example, several of Crowell’s lawyers offer their services to the “Legal Helpdesk,” a Brussels Bar initiative, and the office also periodically set up a firm weekend “Call-in Clinic,” which offers free first line legal advice.

Brussels Office Industry Focus:  

The office represents many of the world’s leading multinational companies as well as local businesses in diverse industries, with particular experience in the following areas:

• Telecommunications
• Media & Technology
• Pharmaceuticals
• Biotech & Medical Devices
• Health Care
• Food & Beverages
• Betting & Gambling
• Retail & Consumer Products
• Infrastructure
• Industrial Manufacturing
• Aviation
• Automotive
• Service Providers

Main Areas of Practice: 

• Competition/European Law
• Competition Domestic (Belgian)
• Compliance
• Corporate & Commercial
• Dispute Resolution (Litigation & Trial)
• International Dispute Resolution (Litigation & Arbitration)
• International Trade
• Labor & Employment
• Intellectual Property
• Privacy & Cybersecurity
• Regulatory
• TMT

Competition/Antitrust: The EU and domestic competition practice has extensive experience in merger control, damages litigation, abuse of dominance proceedings, state aid, compliance programs/training and IP/antitrust issues. The domestic Belgian practice is well established, and more than 30 US/London antitrust lawyers provide international support.

Compliance: Several different Brussels practices combine to help clients negotiate the often complex requirements they must satisfy in order to comply with laws relating to competition, data protection, whistleblowing, corporate, and employment.

Corporate & Commercial: The Belgian corporate & commercial practice provides a full array of integrated legal services to assist companies set up, manage, structure, and develop their business in all its aspects. We advise on business formation, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, commercial agreements, shareholder rights, distribution systems, obligations and exit strategies, corporate governance, executive compensation, financing, and litigation.

Dispute Resolution (Litigation & Trial): The litigators in Crowell’s Brussels office support our clients through negotiation, domestic and international alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and litigation before Belgian courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union. Our litigation practice is at the forefront of the Belgian litigation scene and clients entrust us with their most important strategic matters and “bet the company” disputes.The Brussels partners are widely acclaimed for their innovative, persistent and often groundbreaking approach to handling crucial matters for their clients across industries.

International Dispute Resolution: With over 150 partners in our global Litigation & Trial practice and more than 40 lawyers in our International Dispute Resolution practice, our firm has a global footprint and can offer unparalleled skills and subject-matter expertise to clients with cross-border interests. Our Belgian litigation team, embedded in this wider practice, has access to a large number of practitioners with diverse language skills and legal qualifications. This sets us apart from many domestic Belgian firms, which often lack this international dimension.

International Trade: The EU international trade practice works closely with colleagues across the firm to advise global businesses on managing risk and seizing opportunities. Our Brussels team handles the full spectrum of trade defense and customs issues, including litigation before national, European Courts and the WTO. We advise on export controls and economic sanctions, provide strategic counselling and training, and monitor local and international developments to ensure that we support our clients’ business needs in this fast-paced environment. The practice works closely with the firm’s subsidiary, C&M International, to craft government policies for countries.

Labor & Employment: The Labor & Employment practice helps local and global clients respond promptly to their workplace challenges and supports them as they reconfigure their workplace for the future. We advise clients on both individual and collective employment law issues and assist them with their social security, compliance and HR privacy issues.

Intellectual Property: The Brussels IP practice is one of the largest, strongest, and most diverse in the market. We assist clients from a broad range of industries and are well-known for our advisory and dispute resolution skills, especially in complex, multi-jurisdictional matters. Wefocus on patent litigation, trademarks, designs, TMT, trade secrets, copyright and IP in new technologies.

Privacy & Cybersecurity: Our Privacy and Cybersecurity team helps businesses navigate the laws that govern the collection, use, transfer and protection of data both within the EU and globally. We help our clients understand their rights and obligations and ensure that they are prepared for cyberattack and data breach through risk assessment and crisis management.

Regulatory: The regulatory practice is multidisciplinary and relies on the up-to-date and in-depth legal knowledge of our commercial, intellectual property, competition, and international trade practitioners. Our office has a unique perspective and first-hand knowledge of how legislative bodies and regulatory agencies work, both at EU and at member state level, and we work hand-in-hand with local and multinational companies to identify and manage the legal requirements that affect their businesses.The EU regulatory practice has a particular focus on IP, IT, life sciences, telecommunications and the media.

TMT: Recognized as a leader among Belgium’s TMT law firms, our multidisciplinary practice relies on seamless collaboration to help clients address a broad spectrum of issues. We represent network operators and service providers, broadcasters, operators of broadband cable and telephony, internet and digital television operators, social network operators, computer hardware and software manufacturers, online retailers, gambling software vendors, and online and land-based bookmakers. We also represent clients in advertising, media, online games, and entertainment. Our team provides advice on commercial and transactional matters, regulatory requirements, corporate and M&A, competition law, outsourcing, employment issues, intellectual property-related matters, and dispute resolution.

Contacts:  

• Competition/European Law: Thomas De Meese, Karel Bourgeois
• Competition Domestic (Belgian): Thomas De Meese, Karel Bourgeois
• Compliance: Thomas De Meese, Karel Bourgeois, Emmanuel Plasschaert, Evelien Jamaels, Maarten Stassen, Frederik Van Remoortel
• Corporate & Commercial: Frederik Van Remoortel, Eric Montens
• Dispute Resolution and International Dispute Resolution (Litigation & Trial): Werner Eyskens, Kristof Roox, Thomas De Meese, Emmanuel Plasschaert, Jan-Diederik Lindemans, Sari Depreeuw, Vassilis Akritidis, Karel Bourgeois
• International Trade: Vassilis Akritidis
• Intellectual Property: Kristof Roox, Jan-Diederik Lindemans, Sari Depreeuw
• Life Sciences: Kristof Roox, Jurgen Figys
• Labor & Employment: Emmanuel Plasschaert, Evelien Jamaels
• Privacy & Cybersecurity: Maarten Stassen, Frederik Van Remoortel, Yung Shin Van Der Sype
• Regulatory: Thomas De Meese, Kristof Roox, Karel Bourgeois, Emmanuel Plasschaert, Maarten Stassen, Frederik Van Remoortel, Eric Montens
• TMT: Thomas De Meese, Jan-Diederik Lindemans, Sari Depreeuw, Karl Stas