The addition of this experienced International Disputes Lawyer strengthens the litigation and arbitration in the Brussels office.

Eyskens focuses on the contentious international and Belgian aspects of commercial transactions, including arbitration proceedings. He also advises on non-contentious contractual issues, specifically on distribution matters, asset leasing, and construction contracts.

His focus areas include disputes involving infrastructure, aviation, construction, and contractors. For example, he advised a wind farm operator in ICC arbitration proceedings on an offshore seafloor dispute involving field electricity cable defects and has extensively acted for marine contractors on offshore construction projects across the world. In one recent high-profile case, he successfully defended the sellers of the pharma multinational Omega Pharma against a publicly reported EUR 2.5 billion claim by leading global health care supplier Perrigo.

He regularly sits as an arbitrator and has conducted arbitrations under the Belgian Center for Arbitration and Mediation (CEPANI), ICC, Singapore International Arbitration Center, the London Court of International Arbitration, and the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes rules.

“A strategic priority of our firm is to expand our infrastructure and construction disputes practice,” said Ian Laird, co-chair of Crowell & Moring’s International Dispute Resolution Group. “Werner’s experience across a wide range of sectors complements our existing work in London and Doha and deepens the international reach of the IDR practice.”

Eyskens is also experienced in aviation and space law. He worked on a series of insolvencies that ran through the Belgian aviation industry, including the bankruptcy of SABENA, the flag carrier, on which he acted (and continues to do so) for SAirGroup and later its liquidator to defend the EUR 3 billion claims pursued by the Belgian State and the bankruptcy trustee.

“We are thrilled to welcome Werner. He is an extremely effective advocate and cross-examiner, and a go-to lawyer for complex national and cross-border disputes,” said Kristof Roox, co-managing partner of Crowell & Moring’s Brussels office.