After 24 years on Avenue Louise, the Brussels office was re-established in 2014 in the heart of the European Quarter to reflect clients’ increasing need for government relations assistance alongside traditional legal representation. The office advises on all aspects of the European Union’s laws, ranging from assisting clients with legislative developments and policy initiatives that may impact their business operations to advising on compliance with the Union’s regulations as implemented by its 28 Member States.
Working closely with Washington D.C. attorneys and professionals, the Brussels office helps clients understand complex international and European policy and legislative processes relating to food and drug, animal welfare, environmental matters, mobility and consumer products. We create and implement strategies, including through advocacy with the European Commission and European Parliament, to proactively protect and advance business interests as well as to solve problems when they arise. The office specializes in assistance with the negotiation and domestic implementation of international treaties and conventions, including advice and assistance with conducting business operations subject to various multilateral environmental agreements and complying with increasingly complex export control and sanction regimes.
The Brussels office also represents Belgian, U.S. and other international corporations on a wide variety of commercial, finance and corporate matters. The office assists sellers and buyers with M&A transactions in competitive auction processes and is involved in cross-border greenfield investments, joint ventures, financial and real estate transactions, project finance and other commercial contracts. Client services further include assistance with restructuring of companies throughout Europe and general Belgian corporate law matters including liquidation proceedings, corporate governance and advising national and international nonprofit organizations on formation and governance practices.
The Brussels office is fully integrated with the firm’s international practice groups and has experience in working on coordinating U.S. inbound and outbound work for the firm in Belgium and elsewhere in Europe.