Banking & Finance
Europe Guide 2024 : Belgium
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+32 2 501 9411About
Provided by Linklaters
Our Banking practice encompasses both transactional and regulatory expertise. Whether our clients seek top teams for acquisition and takeover financing, syndicated credit facilities, borrowing base, project financing, derivatives, export credit or real estate finance, we can provide the highest-quality advice available in the Belgian market. In addition, we have vast experience in combined bank-bond financings and refinancings.
Banking in Belgium increasingly requires thorough knowledge of the regulatory framework. Our long-standing contacts with the local regulatory authorities and our skilful expertise in financial regulation, internet banking and private banking give our clients a major competitive advantage.
Our Capital Markets lawyers have advised on virtually all significant IPOs in Belgium over the past decade, including the largest ever in Belgium. We have been involved in the vast majority of major recent regulatory capital Tier 1 and Tier 2 issues, as well as hybrid financings and convertible bond issues.
Our team covers the spectrum of domestic and cross-border securities, bank financings, issues of equity, warrants, convertibles and other equity-linked instruments, as well as debt (including MTNs). We also have vast experience of private placements and public offerings in Belgium and throughout Europe.
Please visit the Linklaters website for more details about our work in this category: https://www.linklaters.com/en/client-services/banking
Chambers Review
Linklaters offers an outstanding banking and finance team, assisting clients with the full range of issues. The Brussels team benefits from its global network of offices, providing an impressive cross-border service on multi-jurisdictional transactions. Lawyers in the team advise an impressive array of financial institutions and institutional lenders on syndicated lending, credit facilities and securitisation transactions. Additionally, the team provides excellent banking regulatory advice and has experience representing borrowers.
Work Highlights
- Linklaters lawyers advised Ineos on the EUR3.5 billion financing for a petrochemical facility project.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Linklaters is a very good firm that has high-quality lawyers who are very responsive."
"Linklaters have the necessary know-how and expertise to solve complex and sophisticated matters."
"The lawyers' availability and response times are most satisfactory."
"They are very knowledgeable and understand clearly the consequences of any transaction."
"Linklaters is a very good firm that has high-quality lawyers who are very responsive."
"Linklaters have the necessary know-how and expertise to solve complex and sophisticated matters."
"The lawyers' availability and response times are most satisfactory."
"They are very knowledgeable and understand clearly the consequences of any transaction."
Notable Practitioners
Charles-Antoine Leunen has a noteworthy practice advising financial institutions on complex debt restructuring and credit facility mandates. He has a particularly prominent client base among leading Belgian banks, but is also experienced acting for borrowers on project financing matters.
"Charles-Antoine Leunen is very strong content-wise and is a very good communicator. He is a high-level partner who is useful in situations where higher management is involved."
"He brings a huge amount of knowledge to the table."
David Ballegeer has a prodigious practice advising borrowers on complex financing matters, representing listed companies and private entities. His recent work includes acting for borrowers on sustainability-linked credit facilities.
"David Ballegeer has a mix of technical expertise and business knowledge in the field."
"He works on extremely complicated and sophisticated financial transactions."
"He is very knowledgeable, friendly and available. Without any doubt one of the top-notch financial law lawyers in Belgium, always impressive."
"David has a clear and down-to-earth way of explaining complex topics. He is keen to understand our business."
Etienne Dessy offers market-leading expertise in regulatory matters pertaining to capital requirements, payment services and ESG matters, such as the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation.
"Etienne Dessy is very knowledgeable. He is a great partner to brainstorm with in order to come to a sound legal advice."