Awards & rankings
1. Commercial
Fraud & white-collar crime
Legal 500
Whilst Lydian’s ability in director liability cases is well known, the team’s forensic abilities extend to sequential, civil, criminal and employment cases where employee embezzlement and criminal fraud are all involved. Jan Hofkens has experience, whilst Hugo Keulers’ fraud practice saw instructions from AIG in relation to motor insurance fraud.
Legal 500
Lydian offers the experience of John Stoop as senior counsel in the shipping team, where, together with Yves Lenders, he works on a variety of mandates for the ports and logistics team. Clients include DB Netz and Nova Natie Group.
PLC
Lydian’s Insurance practice is highly recommended by PLC Which Lawyer.
2. Corporate
Chambers and partners – Chambers Europe 2011
The firm
A relatively new player on the market, Lydian enjoys increasing attention for its work in M&A, private equity and corporate finance. The team acts on behalf of local and international clients and recent highlights include assisting SMI and Eckert Ziegler in relation to their mandatory takeover bid of International Brachytherapy.
Sources say “The team has a good mixture of technical expertise and strategic know-how.”
Key individuals
Peter De Ryck co-leads the corporate team and specialises in private equity and real estate transactions. Clients describe him as “creative, solution-driven and skilful in negotiations.”
Legal 500
Lydian’s Peter De Ryck continues to receive praise, being ‘very customer-minded and devoted, with deep knowledge and expertise’. Complex and contested deals pose no problems for the team, advising SMI and Eckert Ziegler in a mandatory take-over of IBt involved appellate litigation and regulatory clearance under the new Belgian Takeover Code, in a €40m deal. The team also counsels KBC, SMI, Citibank and Pentahold. Patrick della Faille joined with a three-lawyer team in October 2010. Clients say the team provides a ‘very high level of service, short response times, in-depth knowledge of corporate matters, and high value for money’.
PLC
Lydian’s Corporate and M&A practice is recognized by PLC Which Lawyer.
Lydian’s Private equity / venture capital practice is recommended by PLC Which Lawyer.
Chambers and partners – Chambers Europe 2011
Peter De Ryck of Lydian is respected for his work in acquisition finance, while Tom Geudens, also of Lydian, is an expert in structured and project finance. Clients consider Geudens “responsive, intelligent and pragmatic in his approach.”
Legal 500
Lydian’s hire of Tom Geudens has paid dividends; client recognition for being ‘responsive, proactive and practical’ has seen increased instructions. The team assisted Deutsche Bank on a €500m structured commodity trade finance credit facility for Nyrstar, a deal notable for its size and speed of completion. Client service is equally prompt, delivering ‘good value for money’ as the team ‘produce advice and documents in an efficient way’. Peter de Ryck is also recommended.
PLC
Lydian’s Banking & finance practice is recognized by PLC Which Lawyer.
3. Dispute Resolution
Legal 500
Lydian’s ‘knowledge, experience and commitment’ is the foundation of the team’s ‘professional approach in difficult and delicate matters’. The litigation practice is broad and diverse, taking in referral work from large US and UK law firms, but also generating its own international arbitration following, amid mainstream agency, commercial and construction law disputes. A string of clients, including SMI, Dexia and G4S, recommend Annick Mottet Haugaard, whilst others say Hugo Keulers ‘has the ability to make our “problem”, his and to advise and act accordingly’.
PLC
Lydian’s Dispute Resolution practice is recognized by PLC Which Lawyer.
4. Employment
Chambers and partners – Chambers Europe 2011
The firm
Employment law is an important area of focus for this dynamic Belgian firm, which has offices in Antwerp and Brussels. The full-service group has grown to three partners and ten associates, and continues to win major new clients. It focuses on advising companies, but also represents some top executives. The team has been particularly visible on major restructurings of late, and has a strong capacity for pensions advice. Noteworthy recent instructions include assisting Atos Origin with all its employment matters in Belgium, such as dismissals, bonus plans, restructuring issues and litigation, and providing counsel to BASF on the special status of harbour workers in the chemical industry. Clients appreciate the lawyers’ multilingual capabilities.
Sources say
“Gives very practical, condensed advice and has great technical knowledge. The lawyers are immediately on the right track when you explain something to them, and they think out of the box.” “Achieves a good balance between general employment and pensions work.”
Key individuals
Interviewees hold partner Alexander Vandenbergen in high regard. He is able to advise on a wide range of issues but has special expertise in collective labour law issues of large restructurings and in pensions. Also a well-established name in the employment field, partner Jan Hofkens is particularly strong in company restructurings and the negotiation of severance packages for senior executives. He is also an expert in employee fraud and public sector cases.
Legal 500
Lydian is praised for being ‘very knowledgeable, great value for money, as it gives useful, to-the-point advice, without too many caveats’. With fifteen lawyers, highlights included advising BASF on the special status of harbour workers in the chemical industry, and assisting the Belgian Chemical Industry on pension law issues. Clients single out managing partner Jan Hofkens and Alexander Vandenbergen in seeking ‘practical and useful solutions with full disclosure of risk exposure to the client’. Beneficiaries of such advice include Honeywell, and new clients KPMG and Wolters Kluwer.
PLC
Lydian’s Labour and employee benefits practice is highly recommended by PLC Which Lawyer.
Fraud & white-collar crime
Whilst Lydian’s ability in director liability cases is well known, the team’s forensic abilities extend to sequential, civil, criminal and employment cases where employee embezzlement and criminal fraud are all involved. Jan Hofkens has experience, whilst Hugo Keulers’ fraud practice saw instructions from AIG in relation to motor insurance fraud.
5. IP/IT
Chambers and partners – Chambers Europe 2011
Commended as “very proactive and client-focused,” Lydian’s Annick Mottet Haugaard is experienced in trade mark protection and anti-counterfeiting, most notably in the luxury goods sector.
Legal 500
Lydian’s Annick Mottet Haugaard is recommended for ‘good industry knowledge and value for money’. She represents numerous trade mark owners, particularly from the watch and luxury industries, in counterfeiting actions across Belgium, as well as significant patent work for CooperSurgical.
PLC
Lydian’s Intellectual property practice is recommended by PLC Which Lawyer.
PLC
Lydian’s Life sciences practice is recommended by PLC Which Lawyer.
6. Real Estate
Chambers and partners – Chambers Europe 2011
This two-partner department continues to expand into the PPP area. This is exemplified by a recent key work highlight assisting Democo Group’s DMI, a Belgian project developer, with negotiating its PPP agreement with the municipality of Tervuren for a large city development project. Highly acclaimed for his PPP expertise, department head Wouter Neven is commended by clients for his dynamic teamwork and “straightforward, no-nonsense negotiation style, which always ensures a good result for the client.”
Legal 500
Lydian’s real estate team gives ‘very quick and clear responses, based on good knowledge’. Wouter Neven is praised for the number of contacts he has in Belgian real estate, his ‘in-depth knowledge and for being a tactful negotiator’. PPP deals for Cordeel and Willemen included one on the construction of four new prisons in Belgium; Brussels office leasehold purchases and energy-related property advice also a prominent feature. PPP advice, public law, and property litigation are also all covered. Clients include Cofinimmo, Fortis Real Estate and ING.
PLC
Lydian’s Corporate real estate practice is recommended by PLC Which Lawyer.
Lydian’s Construction practice is recognized by PLC Which Lawyer.
Chambers and partners – Chambers Europe 2011
The firm
Sources recognise this real estate, environment and regulatory department for its strength in renewable energy and green issues. Recent significant mandates for the firm include advising the European packaging, paper and forestry products company, StoraEnso Langerbrugge, on several environmental and energy matters, such as permits, waste and green certificates.
Sources say “The team's advice is timely, accurate, well rounded and to the point.”
Key individuals
Department head Wouter Neven's broad practice encompasses all aspects of environmental and planning law. He has a particular focus on soil issues and permits.
Legal 500
Lydian offers a foundation for Wouter Neven’s work across a variety of fields, ranging from soil pollution, to advice and litigation in support of green electricity; his real estate experience is valued on planning matters. Clients say ‘his availability is high and his knowledge is remarkable’. Equally, David Haverbeke is seen as ‘proactive’, and praised for energy sector experience. Clients include StoraEnso and DSV Road.
PLC
Lydian’s Environment practice is recommended by PLC Which Lawyer.
Chambers and partners – Chambers Europe 2011
This effective department combines real estate, environment and regulatory law expertise to offer an integrated public law service. The firm caters to private sector clients in addition to regional and provincial authorities and is becoming increasingly visible on the market. The team is particularly experienced with PPPs and is currently involved in several large projects. Most notably, it continues to advise building contractors Cordeel and Willemen on the construction of four new prisons. Department head Wouter Neven is praised as "a great negotiator" with a focus on PPP and planning law work. Clients appreciate his detailed technical knowledge and pragmatism. He recently advised Eurostation during its negotiations with the Flemish Investment Company, regarding the rent and sale of new administrative centres in Ghent, Bruges and Leuven. Jens Debièvre also receives praise for his negotiation skills. Clients describe him as "calm under pressure, knowledgeable and precise."
7. Regulatory
Legal 500
Lydian’s energy practice delivers service, which is ‘proactive, value-oriented, and result-oriented’, whilst lead adviser, David Haverbeke is ‘very professional and efficient’, praised for his legal, lobbying and regulatory skills. Clients include Infrabel.