16 VBB lawyers across five practice areas ranked in Chambers Global 2024
- 22/02/2024
- News
VBB has achieved rankings for 16 of its lawyers across five major practice areas in the recently published Chambers Global Guide 2024. The firm has also received practice rankings for its key Trade, Competition and Corporate/M&A practices. The practice rankings span the Belgium, Europe-wide, Global Market Leaders and Global: Multi-Jurisdictional categories and the individual rankings cover International Trade/WTO, Competition, Corporate/M&A, Banking & Finance, and Dispute Resolution: Litigation.
In recognition of its “outstanding practice” and expertise across trade law-related work streams, including its “tremendous reputation for work opposing the imposition of trade remedies by the European Commission” and its sanctions compliance work, the firm continues to be ranked in Band 1 for International Trade/WTO – one of only two firms in that band. In addition, six of the team receive individual rankings – the highest number of any firm ranked in that practice area – with senior trade partner Philippe De Baere recognised as a Star Individual. Fellow partners Benoît Servais, Fabrizio Di Gianni, Richard Luff and Pablo Muñiz maintain their 2023 rankings while Yuriy Rudyuk moves upwards from his previous ranking. The firm’s “renowned expertise in WTO and trade remedy matters” and “robust trade customs practice” are among the features of the practice highlighted in the Guide’s Global Market Leaders section, where Philippe De Baere is listed as a Notable practitioner. Client quotes include reference to the team’s “client-focused partners with a deep understanding of WTO, EU and public international law”.
The VBB Competition practice is praised for its expertise across the full gamut of competition law matters, including its “notable experience in the appeal of EC decisions”. Clients call out its capabilities in understanding their business and markets, in handling complex merger filing matters and its ability to anticipate issues before they arise. Six key team members also receive individual recognition in the Guide’s Competition: EU section – among the highest number of any ranked firm. “[O]ne of the most eminent competition lawyers in Europe”, VBB founding partner Jean-François Bellis retains his ranking as a Senior Statesperson and other key partners, practice co-heads Andrzej Kmiecik and Porter Elliott along with David Hull, Kris Van Hove and Markus Wellinger, are also recognised. The Competition/Antitrust-Global: Multi-Jurisdictional section acknowledges the team’s expertise across its Brussels, London and Geneva offices and highlights Andrzej Kmiecik and Porter Elliott as Notable practitioners.
The Corporate/M&A practice achieves recognition for its work for Belgian and international companies and private equity houses, with the team’s “significant skills and experience in handling complex and sophisticated matters” attracting particular praise. Practice head Michel Bonne is awarded individual recognition, with appreciative client quotes including a tribute for his “world view on transactions”. He is joined in the rankings by Transactions partner Caroline Daout who is a new addition this year “thanks to excellent client feedback”.
Additional individual recognition is accorded to “experienced and proactive” Transactions practice partner Johan Mouraux for Banking & Finance and to partner Catherine Longeval in the Dispute Resolution: Litigation area for her “wide-ranging” practice, which includes litigation in the life sciences sector.
Applying the results of extensive research and published annually, the Chambers Global Guide ranks the top lawyers and law firms in over 200 jurisdictions. See VBB’s full 2024 rankings here.
We would like to thank our clients and colleagues for their collaboration and feedback and for contributing to our continued recognition as a leading law firm.
