Ivo and Jean-François had accumulated considerable experience in the emerging areas of European competition and trade law.
As colleagues, they had worked on landmark competition and trade cases before the European Court of Justice, including United Brands, BP, IBM, and Timex, which confirmed the reviewability of EU anti-dumping measures.
Together, they took the pioneering decision to found a new law firm, VBB, to focus and develop their practice in these areas, accompanied by four Belgian and US associates and a Japanese intern.
Within a few years, VBB had expanded to include 20 associates – of various nationalities – and was acting on some of the most significant European competition and trade law cases in the market.
In the competition law arena, these included Woodpulp (representing International Paper in a cartel case raising multiple novel issues), AKZO (the first EU case on predatory pricing), Michelin II, Microsoft and Intel. VBB also handled some of the most important merger control approvals, such as Boeing’s acquisition of McDonnell Douglas.
The trade practice was active in countless EU trade defence proceedings, representing international clients before the European Commission and the EU Courts.
The firm did not stand still. It continued to anticipate and embrace opportunities to serve client needs to the highest possible standard.
In response to client demand, it began acting in anti-dumping proceedings opened by non-EU countries including the US, Australia, Singapore, China, Turkey and Morocco.
In 1998, it was the first European law firm to open an office in Geneva to handle the then growing WTO litigation, assisting governments and private parties from countries as diverse as Japan, Norway, China, Korea, Indonesia and Argentina.
We have continued to take bold decisions where merited: developing a successful litigation practice, expanding our EU regulatory practice and adding a top-tier M&A practice to the firm’s Belgian law capabilities – a key element of VBB’s identity from the outset.
Building on our core competition and trade expertise, we opened a London office in September 2020.
Now as then, we are an international firm (currently counting around 20 nationalities among our 90+ lawyers and serving many longstanding international clients on EU, UK and global matters) focussing on what we know we can do best while always looking ahead to anticipate market trends and equip our clients and ourselves for a successful future.
2026
A vibrant future-facing firm, continuing to serve clients on their business-critical matters
