Liedekerke is delighted to announce the promotion of Thomas Vanthournout to Partner, effective 1 January 2025.
Thomas specialises in banking and finance transactions and projects, and is primarily in- volved in syndicated lending, project finance, real estate finance, acquisition finance and trade finance transactions in Belgium and across Africa.
During his career he gained extensive experience representing a wide range of interna- tional banks, development finance institutions, private equity sponsors, real estate devel- opers and corporate borrowers on domestic and cross-border finance transactions.
Thomas has gained a particular expertise in the financing of complex and multi-stakeholder energy, infrastructure and mining projects, and has (in addition to his commitment to the Belgian practice) been driving the development and broadening of the Banking and Finance practice of Liedekerke’s offices in Kinshasa and Kigali.
He has been ranked as a Rising Star in the area of Banking, Finance and Capital Markets by the Legal 500 for several years and is described by clients as an “intelligent and hands- on lawyer” who “understands very well the position of the lenders, is very reactive and easy to reach” and is recognised for his problem-solving ability and efficiency: “(t)he transaction was burdensome from a legal point of view, yet Mr Vanthournout managed the process very efficiently”.
Freya Mareels, Head of the Banking and Finance practice, comments: “I am thrilled to see Thomas promoted to Partner at our firm. Over the years, Thomas has proven to be an excellent banking and finance attorney and he has gained the trust of colleagues and clients very quickly. This promotion is testimony to Thomas’s dedication, excellence, and entre- preneurship which he will further deploy to the benefit of our clients locally and world- wide. The team is looking forward to working alongside him as we drive our practice for- ward.”
Alexandre Emond and Etienne Kairis, Co-Managing Partners of the firm, add “With this promotion, we are proud to acknowledge Thomas’s exceptional expertise in banking and finance law. His ability to navigate complex financing transactions and his dedication to delivering tailored solutions for our clients reflect the firm’s commitment to excellence. Since joining us in 2021, Thomas has consistently demonstrated strategic insight, professionalism, and an unwavering client-focused approach. We are confident that his promotion to Partner will further strengthen our Banking & Finance practice and enhance our ability to serve our clients at the highest level.”
