We are very happy to announce that Strelia has once again been recognized in several categories in the newly published guide:

Belgium > Industry focus: Retail (Tier 1)

Led by cross-border franchising specialist Olivier Clevenbergh, Strelia regularly acts for franchising, distribution, and commercial real estate actors from Belgium and beyond. In recent months, the team has handled commercial partnership terminations, master franchise agreements, and disputes regarding various breaches of contract, including distributorships and events-based projects in the high fashion space. Clevenbergh is also known for his transactional expertise, assisting various supermarkets and apparel chains with their expansion efforts. Jean-Pierre Fierens is widely regarded for his capabilities as an arbitrator and litigator in distribution law cases and franchising agreements. Joanna Kraus-Kolber and Gaetano Jannone are also noted.

Testimonials:

• ‘This practice is unique, due to its distinctive way of working with the client. High level of engagement and availability. The best advice and collaboration. Very good lawyers.’
• ‘Joanna Kolber is the best advocate I have worked with.’
  
• ‘Great responsiveness and insights in dispute settlements.’
  

Lawyers:

• Jean-Pierre Fierens (Recommended / Key Lawyer)
• Joanna Kolber (Recommended / Key Lawyer)
• Olivier Clevenbergh (Recommended)
• Gaetano Jannone (Recommended / Key Lawyer)

Belgium > Insolvency and restructuring (Tier 2)

Strelia advises distressed companies, creditors, and insolvency practitioners on restructuring and insolvency processes, including a number of cross-border proceedings, as well as representing in associated litigation. The team, led by the ‘excellent‘ Bart De Moor, is also regularly appointed by Belgian courts as administrator or liquidator of distressed companies. Another area of strength for the firm is creditor-side advice and litigation for the recovery of distressed debts.

Testimonials:

• ‘The department has its focus on administrator appointments and is involved in matters which are pertinent to restructuring/insolvency. This experience is important for companies in financial distress who are looking for legal assistance or for assistance in insolvency litigation’.
• ‘I have worked with Bart de Moor for a long time. He is an excellent lawyer. He is skilful, always helpful and responsive.’
  
• ‘Exceptionally committed partners, sought as contact persons in national and international topics.’
  
• ‘Great team which covers the Belgium market well.’

Lawyer:

• Bart De Moor (Leading Individual)

Belgium > Commercial, corporate and M&A (Tier 3)

Strelia is a boutique focused on corporate transactional and advisory work, alongside contentious matters. The team advises prolifically on domestic M&A, and is increasingly active on cross-border deals, with the M&A offering bolstered by the arrival of Katrien Vorlat from Monard Law in September 2021. Alongside its corporate work, practice head Olivier Clevenbergh has a strong specialism in the retail sector, advising major European players on commercial agreements and operational issues. Gisèle Rosselle handles domestic and cross-border deals, with a particular focus on the tech sector.

Testimonials:

• ‘Strelia’s Corporate M&A team is very experienced. They stand out in customer service and efficiency. Although they are very hands on and thorough in their work, they always manage to control cost development. It is a very hard working team. Flexible and always available.’
• ‘They are at the forefront of adopting relevant technology. For example they used a digital signing tool well ahead of peers in Belgium. Great international network.’
  
• ‘Stand out partner is Gisele Rossele. She is a true professional. She is really focussed on the matters at hand, involved and is great in building good relationships. In-depth knowledge. Charismatic, outstanding and very pleasant to work with. Always delivers.’
  
• ‘Strelia really focusses on the clients’ needs and is always one step ahead (while considering multiple options).’
  
• ‘Gisèle Rosselle made herself available throughout the process, during business hours and after business hours. Always flexible towards the client and others involved in the process. Not only advising the solution, but also the way to present it.’
  
• ‘The team is fully efficient and works extremely well with the client. Team members are also very flexible and available and take on their role to the end even when it goes on very late into the night because of the needs of the case. Each member of the team has his or her own personality and experience, which allows the client to benefit from a wide range of services.’
  
• ‘We worked with Olivier Clevenbergh and Julie Lo Bue: very high quality services.’
• ‘The team of Strelia is always available for all our questions. Very good collaboration and high quality of service.’

Lawyers:

• Gisèle Rosselle (Recommended / Key Lawyer)
• Katrien Vorlat (Recommended / Key Lawyer)
• Olivier Clevenbergh (Recommended)
• Julie Lo Bue (Key Lawyer)

Belgium > Dispute resolution (Tier 3)

Strelia fields a strong bench of partner talent, with the team acting for clients active in a diverse range of sectors in numerous disputes, both domestically and internationally. The group is noted for its prominent arbitration practice, where Jean-Pierre Fierens – who is regularly appointed as chair in CEPANI and ICC proceedings – and newly appointed partner Joanna Kraus-Kolber are both key contacts. Olivier Clevenbergh is noted for his capabilities in construction litigation and Sébastien Ryelandt is a key contact for clients seeking representation in liability claims and concession agreements.

Testimonials:

• ‘Joanna Kolber is excellent.’
• ‘Excellent communication and knowledge of the case. Very complementary collaborators.’
  
• ‘Excellent lawyers. Trilingual people. excellent communication skills.’
  
• ‘Olivier Clevenbergh and Sébastien Ryelandt are excellent lawyers.’
  
• ‘Excellent personal contact, reacting quickly for urgent demands. They give you a great confidence.’
  
• ‘Strong in collaboration and knowledge. Hands on. Problem solvers.’
  
• ‘High quality, no effort is too big. Co-operation with Joanna Kolber is excellent.’
  
• ‘Dynamic team that thinks together with the in-house counsel and the business. The team has both expertise and innovation.’

Lawyers:

• Jean-Pierre Fierens (Hall of Fame)
• Joanna Kolber (Rising Star)
• Olivier Clevenbergh (Recommended / Key Lawyer)
• Sébastien Ryelandt (Recommended / Key Lawyer)

Belgium > Competition: Belgian law (Tier 3)

Strelia established its competition practice with the arrival of Pierre Goffinet and his team from DALDEWOLF in August 2021; team members have a strong record in competition advice in the regulated communications sectors as well as high-level competition litigation relating to cartels, follow-on damages, and private enforcement. The team acts for a combination of private and public sector clients, including competition regulatory bodies, healthcare and aviation companies. Counsel Laure Bersou is another key member of the practice, with expertise in regulated industries and cartel work.

Testimonials:

• ‘The experience in the domain, reflected in the outstanding quality of their output. Availability and speed of service is excellent’
• ‘Pierre Goffinet never misses an aspect, his work is of the highest quality, always very complete and to the point. Discussions with him are always very interesting, dynamic and give you a whole new perspective and energy to continue the work.’
  
• ‘I have a long lasting relationship with Pierre Goffinet and his team. He is a brilliant practitioner, a very nice personality and has an in-depth knowledge in competition law, including, but not limited to on the transport and energy market, the latter being more or less unique.’
  
• ‘Perfect knowledge of the Belgian competition authority and how it works. Hyper-reactive team, impeccable follow-up, efficient, pragmatic and so pleasant and close contact.’
  
• ‘Pierre Goffinet’s dual economic and legal role allows for a more pragmatic approach to cases, and the support goes beyond simple legal support. A global understanding of the client and his expectations, a sharp accompaniment in a warm and confident working atmosphere.’
  
• ‘Pierre and his team are one of the best on the market.’
  
• ‘Pierre has an economic background as well as a law background, which gives him an advantage in dealing with complex competition law issues on regulated markets such as energy markets.’

Lawyers:

• Laure Bersou (Recommended / Key Lawyer)
• Pierre Goffinet (Recommended)

Belgium > Fraud and white-collar crime (Tier 3)

Strelia represents corporates, financial institutions, and individuals as victims and defendants in fraud and white-collar crime cases, with a particular focus on distressed and insolvent companies. Related areas of expertise include corporate fraud and embezzlement, market abuse, and insider trading. The practice is led by Sébastien Ryelandt, who has a strong record in banking litigation and liability proceedings, alongside a wide range of white-collar criminal cases.

Testimonials:

• ‘Sébastien Ryelandt is an excellent practitioner.‘
• ‘The team is extremely competent and efficient.‘
  

Lawyer:

• Sébastien Ryelandt (Recommended)

Belgium > Private equity (Tier 3)

Strelia advises Belgian and domestic private equity and venture capital funds, institutional investors, and target companies on private equity acquisitions, exits, and investments, with a growing profile in cross-border deals in collaboration with its Luxembourg office. Areas of strength include the tech and innovation sector, particularly biotech. The practice is headed up by Gisèle Rosselle, an active PE and VC adviser who specialises in tech sector investments and cross-border investments, alongside Laurent Verhavert . Katrien Vorlat joined from Monard Law in September 2021 and has a strong record in international transactions.

Testimonials:

• ‘Strong commitment of the team across the whole process of the acquisition we were contemplating, from LOI review to SPA specific/technical points negotiation.’
• ‘Highly available, they know very well their case and have a deep knowledge of the rules that make them solid and efficient partners while negotiating on critical items of a transaction.’
  
• ‘Gisèle and her team are highly-skilled professionals with strong attention to detail and they know very well their topics. They assisted us under a complicated transaction which we managed to realize thanks to their incredible energy, skills and commitment.’
  
• ‘They provide solutions that secure the position of their client taking into account multiple factors and negotiation standpoints.’
  
• ‘Gisèle always makes herself readily available – after office hours. Assistance is there when required. Much appreciated.’

Lawyers:

• Laurent Verhavert (Next Generation Partner)
• Katrien Vorlat (Recommended / Key Lawyer)
• Gisèle Rosselle (Recommended)

Luxembourg > Tax (Tier 3)

Tax is a core area of focus for boutique business law firm Strelia and includes work for existing fund clients, as well as advice on stand-alone tax litigation matters. Formerly at Fieldfisher, Jean-Luc Dascotte has a focus on tax disputes, and heads up a two-partner practice that also includes Stanislas Bunetel, whose arrival from an in-house role at BIL Fund &Corporate Services in October 2020 provides particular strength regarding private client-related structuring.

Testimonials:

• ‘What is particularly remarkable at Strelia Luxembourg is to meet a multidisciplinary team, coherent, particularly attentive, flexible and able to mobilise in record time the necessary resources, sufficient to respond effectively to the needs of their clients’ needs.’
• ‘The relationship established with Stanislas Bunetel is excellent both on a human and professional level. Through his benevolent advice, we can see his total mastery of the law, of the financial world but also of the Luxembourg and international economic fabric. We also feel this entrepreneurial side which makes him a unique person, extremely competent and always available when needed.’
  

Lawyers:

• Stanislas Bunetel (Recommended / Key Lawyer)
• Jean-Luc Dascotte (Recommended)

Belgium > Banking, finance and capital markets (Firms to watch)

Thank you very much to our clients for their valuable feedback and trust. Congratulations to our colleagues!

More information: https://www.legal500.com/firms/16875-strelia/232379-luxembourg-luxembourg/?layout=emea&token=378a6996cf7001a6450f5215d45b1e39 

For 34 years The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme that is revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The rankings are based on a series of criteria, but simply put, they highlight the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsels. Their research is based on feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers, and a team of researchers who have unrivalled experience in the legal market.