25 Years. 25 Faces.

Andreas shares his perspective by answering the question:
What surprised you the most when you started at Lydian?

"I was surprised that a law firm not only focusses to make of us strong legal experts but does real efforts to create a team spirit, a sense of belonging to Lydian, a culture of appreciation and offers opportunities to learn, develop and grow, not only as a lawyer but also as a person, colleague, team member. This sense of care towards us makes us going the extra mile.”

Eveline shares her perspective by answering the question:
What is the moment in your Lydian career you are most proud of?

"Looking back on my career at Lydian, it is almost impossible to pick one single proud moment.

Winning a case for example will always feel special. Even after many years of practice, standing up in court and advocating for a client remains for me the absolute highlight of this profession.

Becoming a partner at the Employment department of Lydian was of course a personal milestone, but what I am perhaps most proud of is the entire journey that led there: the growth, the learning, the relationships built along the way.

What also makes me proud is mentoring young lawyers at the start of their careers and seeing them grow and find their own path.

We are now celebrating twenty-five years of Lydian, and I have had the privilege of being part of almost fifteen of them. Many proud moments and hopefully many more to come. I am truly grateful for each of those moments and for the people who were part of them."

Delphine shares her perspective by answering the question:
What does a typical day look like for you?

“A typical day for me starts around 7 AM with breakfast with my husband and our 3-year-old daughter Philippa. After we drop Phily off at school, I head to the office – I live in Mechelen so the commute to Brussels takes about 35 to 50 minutes. Once I'm at work, the day is a mix of catching up with my team and of course working on my files. No two days look the same, which is exactly what I love about corporate M&A. Around 5 PM, I usually log off to spend the evening with Phily. I really appreciate that Lydian gives me the flexibility to step away for those few hours. Once she's in bed, I pick work back up for a few more hours. If I can, I squeeze in a workout, or otherwise unwind with an episode of a good tv-series, before calling it a day.”

Tommy shares his perspective by answering the question:
What does a typical day look like for you?

"While I could (with just a hint of sarcasm…) give a facile reply to the question what a typical day looks like by stating that it has me sitting at a desk typing away on a keyboard (like any typical corporate slave…), one advantage I certainly have is that I have no fixed or recurrent schedule, and my day can vary greatly according to current requests/urgent tasks and whatever takes priority. Once the emergencies (e.g. requests for input or research, presentations, pitches, …) have been more or less taken care of, I generally move on to more long-term initiatives with less stringent deadlines, but which nevertheless require regular follow-up (e.g. quarterly legal updates for clients in various formats, analysis of new legislation or law bills, updating the know-how database, drafting or translating articles, …). Typically I will almost always start off the day (after guzzling a few coffees to achieve a semblance of wakefulness…) by quickly checking the main Belgian and EU websites for potential new legislative or prudential developments to flag, and go on from there. Whenever I find the time (i.e. I am left in peace for a couple of hours), I will seize the opportunity to work on the set tasks I handle autonomously. Preparing and directing departmental BD/know-how sharing meetings or client seminars also takes up a considerable amount of time, but those are not a daily feature and thus more ‘ad hoc’. On occasion I might be allocated more laborious one-off tasks that temporarily require a considerable investment of time and effort, such as extensive research for – or the drafting of – a full-length in-depth article for a legal publication (which is not always easy to fit into my regular schedule), or a thorough analysis of a particular piece of legislation for a presentation or a memo. To sum it up, a typical week will involve most or all of the above, but it’s hard to give a set answer as to what a typical day looks like as that can vary greatly according to circumstances and priorities. Which is just as well, as I vastly prefer this variety to a highly repetitive or predictable, fixed schedule."

Iris shares her perspective by answering the question:
What brought you to Lydian, and what has kept you here?

"What brought me to Lydian is in my personal case a who: it was Wouter Neven with his well-known charm, warmth, professionalism and positivism that convinced me to join Lydian. What kept me with Lydian is an absolute no-brainer for me: our wonderful team and as a consequence thereof, the appreciation that we receive on a daily basis from our clients. It’s nice to know that we truly make a difference."

Audrey shares her perspective by answering the question:
What is the best thing about working with your team?

"The most motivating thing is definitely the cohesion within our team and I mean that at every level. First and foremost, professionally: everyone supports each other and is genuinely attentive to one another's needs. Sometimes you don't even need to say anything to know that a colleague could use a helping hand or a coffee. There is a real sense of togetherness that makes it so much easier to handle pressure and heavy workloads. In over ten years of my career, I have never experienced anything quite like it. But it goes beyond work as well. We have lunch together every day, we cheer each other on in our personal sporting achievements, the bond we share simply does not stop at the office door. Being part of the EPB Antwerp team is a genuine privilege, both professionally, because the collaboration is incredibly enriching, and on a human level too. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to join this team."

Dimitri shares his perspective by answering the question:
How has Lydian changed in the time you have been here? 

"Since 2018, Lydian has evolved from a solid traditional firm into a much more tech-driven and innovation-minded organisation, without losing its identity. Personally, I’ve always been given the space to explore and implement new technologies. Starting out in a support role and growing into my current position as ICT & Security Manager makes that evolution very tangible for me. On top of that, it’s simply a great place to work thanks to the people and the team spirit."

Marijn shares his perspective by answering the question:
What does Lydian mean to you in one sentence?

“Lydian means working together with great and passionate colleagues, delivering top-quality service to our clients.”

Tom shares his perspective by answering the question:
Who at Lydian has shaped the way you work and what did they teach you? 

“The person who has most shaped the way I work is without any doubt Wouter Neven, co-founder of the firm, who passed away far too early in 2022. To me, he was the real estate lawyer par excellence: someone with exceptionally strong legal and strategic insights, which he consistently combined with a sharp commercial and entrepreneurial mindset. What I learned most from him is that a lawyer should not only be legally proficient, but must also see the bigger picture: the client’s story, the commercial reality, and the strategic objectives. It is this integrated approach that I strive to apply consistently in my own matters today.”

Kristel shares her perspective by answering the question:
What does Lydian mean to you in one sentence?

“Lydian is a familiar place where I feel appreciated and enjoy working with great people.”

Peter shares his perspective by answering the question:
What does it mean to you, personally, that Lydian turns 25 this year? 

"Lydian turns 25 this year! She has been my home for almost 20 years now. It has been a privilege and an honour to have been part of this firm since its early childhood and hope to continue to be part of it for many years to come!"

Tine shares her perspective by answering the question:
What do you wish clients or colleagues knew about what you do every day?

"People might assume insurance law is purely technical — dense policy wordings, coverage disputes, and regulatory frameworks. And while that is certainly part of the job, what might come as a surprise is how people-centred my work actually is. A large part of my day is about communication and collaboration: listening carefully to understand what a client actually needs, explaining complex issues in a way that is clear and practical, and working with colleagues to find solutions that are not just legally sound but genuinely useful to the person in front of us. The real added value for me is in finding ways to help, not just answering a question."

Bruno shares his perspective by answering the question:
What do you wish clients or colleagues knew about what you do every day?

"People sometimes think real estate law is mainly about contracts and transactions. In reality, it is very much about people: understanding different perspectives, navigating complexity and helping clients move forward with confidence. As a father of three young children, I am reminded every day of the importance of patience, flexibility and a sense of humour. Those qualities turn out to be just as valuable in real estate as they are at home."

Estelle shares her perspective by answering the question:
Who at Lydian has shaped the way you work and what did they teach you?

"I have had the opportunity over the years to work a lot with Alexander Vandenbergen, whose approach has certainly shaped the way I practise law. In particular, he has influenced my focus on clarity, intellectual rigour and a pragmatic understanding of clients' needs. Working together has also demonstrated the importance of combining technical precision with a broader perspective when developing legal solutions. Beyond the legal work itself, I have always appreciated our exchanges, both on professional matters and on shared interests such as art, travel and music. I am grateful for his guidance over the years and for the opportunity to continue learning from him as a colleague and mentor.”

Kyan shares his perspective by answering the question:
What does Lydian mean to you in one sentence?

"To me, Lydian is a flexible, dynamic, and constantly evolving work environment where people are encouraged to grow. Every year I've been with the firm, my role has expanded alongside my skills and interests, taking me from library support into learning & development, compliance, and a range of strategic projects. It's a place that has continuously challenged me, trusted me with new responsibilities, and allowed me to develop both professionally and personally."

Liese shares her perspective by answering the question:
What is the best thing about working with your team?

"What I value most about my team is the supportive environment where colleagues genuinely believe in each other. By investing in one another's growth, we create a culture where every team member feels empowered to take on greater challenges and reach new heights. That collaborative spirit is what drives us forward, and ultimately, it is what allows us to truly make a difference for our clients."

Jeffrey shares his perspective by answering the question:
What would surprise people about what you actually do every day? 

“What surprises most people is the sheer variety: one day I’m dealing with internal public governance issues, the next with complex litigation or major public procurement projects. While legal expertise is at the core of what I do, a large part of the job also involves understanding clients' objectives, developing strategy and helping them navigate complex decision-making processes.

One day I might be analysing a public procurement procedure worth millions of euros, the next drafting advice on governance issues or challenging a public authority's decision before the courts. The diversity of the work, combined with the opportunity to work closely with clients on matters that often have a significant societal and economic impact, is what makes working at Lydian so rewarding.”

Alexander shares his perspective by answering the question:
What is the moment in your Lydian career you are most proud of?

"Two moments come to my mind : the first moment is when I started the firm in 2001 after leaving a great international firm where I started my career. It was probably a crazy gamble which caused me lots of stress but in the end it appeared to be the right thing to do. The second moment is when we started appointing our next generation of partners and I realized Lydian would continue to prosper in the future."

Clément shares his perspective by answering the question: 
What is the best thing about working with your team?

"The most interesting part about working with my team are the very different approaches to tackle the challenges we come across: one person will find a short and pragmatic answer, while the other may find an alternative yet interesting take to the same question, and all that in French, Dutch and English. Every matter is therefore an opportunity to learn something new from the people I collaborate with on a daily basis!"

Nancy reflects on Lydian's anniversary by answering the question:
What does it mean to you, personally, that Lydian turns 25 this year?

"For me personally, Lydian’s 25th anniversary is a meaningful milestone that reflects a journey I have been part of for many years. Having worked here for 25 years myself, I feel I have grown alongside the organisation. It represents stability, growth, and the collective efforts of many colleagues over time. What I value most is the evolution we have experienced together, along with the strong sense of commitment and collaboration that continues to define Lydian today."

Hugo reflects on a career highlight:
What is the moment in your Lydian career you are most proud of?

“I was most proud when I was awarded Insurance Litigator of the Year in London by Benchmark Litigation last year. The competition was fierce, with strong candidates from the UK, Germany, Ireland, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands and other countries. I was able to win the award thanks to the outstanding performance of our whole Insurance Team at Lydian.

Winning this award showed that Lydian’s insurance practice is not only a leading practice in Belgium, as reflected by our consistent Tier 1 ranking for Insurance in The Legal 500, but is also recognised internationally. This is an achievement that is often reserved for major US or UK law firms.”

Hugo's story is a testament to what can be achieved through teamwork, expertise and a shared commitment to excellence.

Isabel gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her role by answering the question:
"What does a typical day look like for you?"

"In all honesty, there’s really no such thing as a “typical” day in the life of a lawyer. Flexibility is the name of the game, and being ready to respond to last-minute changes has become second nature. But, if all goes according to plan, my day usually starts in the office (on sunny days, I enjoy cycling in, which is always a great way to kick things off). I catch up with the cleaning team, often chatting about football, before grabbing a coffee with Jurgen and then diving into my files.

My work is a mix of client team meetings and one-on-one conversations with juniors, where we review their file preparations and I provide feedback and suggestions. Managing and sharing knowledge is a big part of my role, so I make it a point to keep the Employment, Pensions & Benefits (EPB) team updated on new laws and recent case law developments. Occasionally, I get the chance to give a webinar, usually focusing on GDPR and HR, which I thoroughly enjoy. Collaboration with the HR team is also a regular feature, as we search for new talent eager to start or continue their journey in our EPB department.

At least once a week, I step into my teaching shoes at the University of Ghent, where I have the pleasure of guiding students passionate about employment law. This involves helping them navigate real cases, improve their negotiation and presentation skills, and refine their legal writing.

Evenings are reserved for quality time with my teenage daughter, enjoying dinner together, squeezing in a padel game with friends, or simply unwinding with a good book."

From client work and mentoring to teaching and lifelong learning, every day brings something different.

We're kicking off the series with Luc Germonpré, Senior Associate in our Corporate & Finance practice, who has been part of Lydian's journey since day one.
 
When asked, "What brought you to Lydian, and what has kept you here?", Luc answered:
 
"I have been part of our firm since its creation. At the time, I was one of the staff members at KPMG Tax & Legal, from which our firm emerged. Right from the start, I felt I was part of a team of driven and competent people who delivered high-quality work in a positive working atmosphere. Although the composition of the team has, of course, changed significantly since then, those qualities and that drive have always remained a hallmark of Lydian."