A&O Shearman‘s environment and sanctions team often provides advice on contentious and non-contentious issues with a focus on sustainability, the energy transition, and ESG. The firm's work includes waste management regulation, environmental permitting, and noise and nuisance matters. The practice has extensive experience in all types of environmental disputes including those before enforcement agencies, administrative litigation, and constitutional court litigation. Practice head Gauthier van Thuyne‘s work covers advice on permits, waste, hazardous substances, contaminated law, and planning regulations. Key individual Fee Goossens has over 15 years of experience advising clients on environmental, regulatory, and public law matters covering transactional, advisory, and litigation work.

DLA Piper’s environment team, which handles both litigation and regulatory matters, has a strong presence in all areas of environmental and urban planning law including environmental and urban litigation, defense of environmental and urban prosecutions, permitting and licensing of major developments, and zoning. Additionally, the team engages with policymakers and legislators at the early stages of the legislative process, sometimes initiating legal reviews. Notably, Bob Martens, who heads the team, is a pioneer in the development of PPP projects in Belgium, and was also involved in the realisation of numerous brownfield projects. Other key individual Alec van Vaerenbergh advises a wide range of energy and industrial companies, governments and international organisations on energy and climate change regulations.

Liedekerke’s team works across all three regions of Belgium with its environmental law specialists integrated into the firm’s regulatory department and supporting the firm’s corporate and real estate practice groups. The firm has a formidable track record advising clients across the entire range of environmental services including on soil pollution, waste management, circular economy, permitting, and environmental litigation matters. Key individual François Tulkens , who has over 35 years of experience, focuses his practice on administrative law, urban planning, environmental law, and energy law. Dominique Devos  stands out for his expertise in waste management, soil remediation, and contaminated land matters, while Filip De Preter often advises clients on planning and permit matters, demonstrating particular strength in the field of nature protection legislation.

Stibbe’s team advises clients in Dutch, French and English across the entire spectrum of planning and environmental law. It often collaborates with the firm’s public law and real estate practices, assisting clients with advisory and transactional work, frequently representing them before national, European and International courts in contentious matters. Recently, the team has increasingly been working in areas such as climate change, sustainability, and nature conservation. Jan Bouckaert, who heads up the practice, focuses his practice on climate change, emission rights and renewable energy, as well as nature conservation matters. Other key individual Guan Schaiko often advises public authorities, developers, and private individuals on the regulatory aspects of project development, land use, and nature conservation. Olivier Di Giacomo combines his expertise as a lawyer and his academic background to assist clients in matters of public and administrative law.

Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL's environmental practice often represents clients before administrative courts in environmental permit disputes and enforcements matters in the Flemish region of Belgium. It also advises clients on the renewal of environmental permits, as well as on environmental regulatory compliance matters across all three regions of Belgium. Pascal Mallien, who heads up the group, assists clients with permit issues across industries including chemical plants, gas stations and wind farm projects. Jean-François Vandenberghe  often advises national and international clients on the environmental aspects of real estate transactions. Mario Deketelaere‘s primary focus is on regional, federal and European environmental law, and zoning and planning law.

Eubelius‘ public and administrative law team acts across all three of Belgium’s regions, covering the full spectrum of environmental law matters, including permit disputes, zoning, soil, environmental impact assessments and waste. The practice excels in environmental litigation matters. Barteld Schutyser, who co-leads the team, is a public litigation expert and stands out for his work in the real estate and construction sectors. Fellow co-lead Bart Martel is especially active in urban planning and environmental law, both as a litigator and as an advisor. Other key individual Laura Janssens has built up exceptional experience regarding urban planning and environmental law in both the Flemish and Brussels regions.

 

Linklaters environment team is headed by Melissa Verplancke and assists clients across a large range of environmental law issues including in connection with renewable energy as well as more traditional energy such as nuclear power. Besides providing advice on land planning permit applications, more recently, the firm has also been focusing on ESG issues. Verplancke has experience in real estate transactions and PPS projects and has a focus on ESG regulations. Other key individual Laura Vervier advises local and international clients on all environmental aspects of commercial real estate in Belgium, in particular in connection with real estate transactions. Corneel Debusscher is involved in environmental advisory, transactional, and litigation work for both national and international clients with a combined focus on real estate and public law.

Lydian’s real estate, environment and regulatory practice offers a wide range of urban planning and environmental services across the three Belgian regions. The firm has a strong track record in urban planning, environmental regulatory enforcement, and dispute resolution. The team often collaborates with the firm’s finance and corporate groups. With her environmental and urban planning litigation focus, practice head Kyoto Van Herreweghe handles high-profile environmental cases. She has extensive experience in various areas of environmental law including waster-as-service projects, PFAS contamination, asbestos pollution, and nitrogen issues within the framework of permitting procedures.

With a strong reputation in complex litigation work, NautaDutilh's public and regulatory practice group offers comprehensive legal advice across a wide spectrum of environmental and regulatory issues with particular expertise in construction and environmental permits as well as environmental enforcement law, both administrative and criminal. Practice head Jens Mosselmans often advises clients on transactions and disputes involving conventional and renewable energy projects, including hydrogen and geothermal energy. Other key individual Maxime Vanderstraeten specialises in public law and often works within the energy and environmental sectors.

Schoups’ environment team stands out for its expertise advising developers, operators, contractors and authorities on the full range of planning and permitting, compliance, disputes, and environmental litigation matters, operating across all three regions of Belgium. Key individual Kristof Hectors  heads the practice and often advises clients before the administrate and civil courts on a wide range of environmental, zoning, and energy law matters. Roel Meeus has broad experience in environmental and zoning matters, offering both advisory and litigation assistance to clients.

Boutique law firm Advocatenkantoor De Coninck often acts in infrastructure, real estate, energy and environmental projects. Firm founder Jeroen De Coninck often advises international clients with a focus on environmental permitting, enforcement, and due diligence. Tinneke Hugyhe stands out for her expertise in permitting and urban planning issues, handling not only the legal aspects of permitting procedures but also the technical side.

Monard law's public law team has extensive experience advising clients on environmental permits, environmental due diligence, urban planning and building permits as well as sustainable energy projects and environmental tax matters. Key individual Koen Geelen  specialises in issues regarding environmental permits, soil contamination, and environmental and urban planning. Wouter Moonen often assists public entities as well as private companies and is experienced in public law with a special focus on environmental law.

Local law firm Publius specialises in public, environmental, energy and climate change law. It often advises private clients as well as federal, regional, and local authorities. Dirk Van Heuven co-founded the firm and has expertise in spatial planning and environmental law matters. Fellow co-founder Steve Ronse focuses on administrative and environmental law, representing several enterprises and public authorities in environmental-related matters. Other key individual Jan Beleyn stands out for his work in spatial planning law, environmental law, and the environmental aspects of real estate.

PwC Legal‘s public law team specialises in environmental law matters, often assisting Belgian and foreign private companies and public authorities on strategic town planning, permitting and other environmental issues, as well as in environmental litigation. Els Empereur  has over 20 years of experience in public law and real estate with an emphasis on project development, planning and permits. Tom Villé focuses his practice on public business law, in particular public real estate. Olivier Drooghmans has over ten years of experience in a range of environmental, administrative and public law as well as real estate related matters.

Agio Legal‘s environmental law and real estate development team stands out for its work assisting private companies and public authorities on strategic urban planning as well as on complex environmental litigation and transactional issues. Ive Van Giel heads up the team and often assists clients with various real estate matters regarding planning and zoning law, environmental law, and energy law.

Full-service firm Andersen's urban planning and environmental law team advises clients on a broad spectrum of urban and environmental matters, including acquiring urban planning permissions, environmental permits for classified entities, land division permits, and retail establishment permits. Koen De Puydt co-heads the team and specialises in business law, public law, and real estate matters. Other co-head Jan Ghysels stands out for his expertise in spatial planning and urban development and environmental matters.

Deloitte Legal‘s climate & energy team brings together lawyers from different practice groups and stands out for its expertise in EU regulatory law – including EU environmental law and the transition towards a circular economy. Kathleen De Hornois heads up the team and has extensive experience in administrative, environment, urban planning, and real estate law.

Janson’s public and administrative law department often deals with matters related to spatial planning and environmental issues, such as assisting clients with obtaining environmental permits. The team stands out for its work on all environmental aspects related to infrastructure projects; and is co-headed by Günther L’heureux, Dominique Lagasse, and Marie Vastmans.

Osborne Clarke‘s projects team focuses on realising new energy projects with expertise in all aspects of environmental law such as permitting matters, litigation, regulatory issues, enforcement, and compliance. Cedric Degreef heads up the practice group and stands out for his expertise in the utilities and infrastructure sectors, often advising clients on a broad range of matters relating to energy and climate law.

Simont Braun‘s real estate, public and administrative law team provides a full service offering, which includes permitting, soil management, and environmental assessment advice. Key individual Manuela Von Kuegelgen heads up  the team and is a specialist in town and country planning law, environmental law, and administrative law in general. Joris Beckers has expertise in real estate contracting and transactions.