Track record: The banking & finance department was lead counsel in a matter regarding the creation of a regulated private equity fund focusing on investments in China by Belgian investors and on investments in the EU by Chinese investors. The team advised a joint stock company on a purchase and financing of an aircraft portfolio with respect to Belgian law.

Team & differentiation: The banking & finance team is headed by Thierry Bosly, a key practitioner who is widely regarded as the leading restructuring and insolvency expert in the Belgian market. The firm has gained a strong foothold in the financing landscape as a trusted advisor to financial institutions and corporations on the full range of finance and capital market transactions.

Track record: The vast majority of this niche firm’s clientele is made up of leading financial institutions, such as ING Belgium. They also represent some smaller banks and provide financial planning and family office services. They recently developed a support service for clients facing banking compliance issues.

Team & differentiation: The team of 6 lawyers comprises 2 partners and 4 associates. Their practices are segmented like a bank’s. The firm specializes in banking and finance law, compliance, litigation, regulatory, tax and estate planning, and is active in Belgium and Luxembourg. They are also developing links in Switzerland. They take special care to understand the client from the inside out.

Track record: The team has extensive experience representing financial institutions and assisting them on financial law matters and regulatory issues. They also assist clients in complex deals and transactions. Clients range from small and medium sized enterprises up to listed companies and entrepreneurs, operating throughout the world and in a wide variety of sectors – such as hospitality, IT and sports – as well as institutions and administrations.

Team & differentiation: The 28-lawyer law firm comprises 7 partners. A full-service firm specializing in commercial, real estate, construction and administrative law, Seeds of Law has a unique positioning in the market. They have a no-paper policy as regards communications with clients, which includes a very successful newsletter.

Track record: Strelia advises major international and domestic banks and international groups in domestic and cross-border financing transactions, including syndicated loans, acquisition finance, real estate finance, structured finance and securitization. The banking and finance team work closely with their colleagues in the M&A practice, including on share and asset deals, private equity, restructuring and reorganizations, and shareholders agreements.

Team & differentiation: In banking & finance the key contact is Frédéric Heremans. A member of the Brussels bar since 1995, Heremans excelled at other major law firms prior to joining Strelia. He regularly publishes pieces on the subject of banking and finance.