Simont Braun is pleased to announce the promotion of Fanny Laune and Thomas Derval to Partner, and Alexia Faes to Counsel, recognising their valuable contributions and professional development within the firm.
Partner promotions
Fanny Laune and Thomas Derval have been promoted to Partner, effective as per 1 January 2025.
Fanny Laune started her career in 2007 and joined Simont Braun’s Dispute Resolution team in 2016. Promoted to Counsel in 2020, she has established a strong reputation in civil and commercial litigation, areas in which she is also an accredited mediator. She is ranked as a "Rising Star" in dispute resolution by The Legal 500. Fanny has also in-depth expertise in insolvency law and is actively involved in INSOL Europe and serves on the AIJA Insolvency Commission. She was a teaching assistant in judicial law at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) from 2009 to 2021 and, presently, remains a member of the university's judicial law unit and regularly contributes to seminars and publications in her fields of expertise.
Thomas Derval started his career at Simont Braun in 2012. He specialises in financial and insurance law, combining an advisory and litigation practice in these areas. He is ranked as a "Rising Star" in insurance law by The Legal 500. Thomas is also an expert in contract law and civil liability, and has been a teaching assistant and member of the Private Law Centre at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) since 2014, where he gives seminars on contract law. Thomas is also an expert member of the Commission on Unfair Terms.
Counsel promotions
Alexia Faes has been promoted to Counsel in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the firm, and the further development of the Real Estate department in particular. She started her career in 2015 and has been a key member of our Real Estate team since 2020. Specialising in construction law and real estate law, Alexia advises clients and supports them in litigation matters.
As an accredited mediator, she is currently member of the Special Construction Commission of the Federal Mediation Commission. Internally, Alexia is involved in the LDIA and ESG committees, actively contributing to the firm’s initiatives on diversity, inclusion, and ESG.
Reflections from Simont Braun’s Managing Partners
“These promotions reflect the remarkable expertise, leadership, and commitment that Fanny, Thomas, and Alexia bring to our clients and our firm every day,” said Tom Swinnen, Managing Partner of Simont Braun. “Fanny and Thomas have reached a pivotal point in their careers as Partners, while Alexia’s promotion to Counsel highlights her dedication and impressive progress within her field. We are proud to celebrate their success.”
Joan Carette, Managing Partner, added: “The achievements of Fanny, Thomas, and Alexia exemplify the values that drive Simont Braun—excellence, entrepreneurship, and a growth mindset. Their promotions underscore our commitment to empowering talent and fostering professional development. We are confident they will continue to thrive and inspire.”
