The financial services regulatory practice at A&O Shearman advises clients on evolving banking and financial regulations, with particular focus on governance and outsourcing work. Work in insurance is another strength of the practice, with knowledge of reinsurance, asset management arrangements, and digitalisation of services. Fintech is a key focus of the team that has ‘broad and excellent knowledge of their field of expertise‘. Sylvia Kierszenbaum leads the team, specialising in regulations linked to banking and insurance activities and financial services. Axel de Backer is also the head of the practice and has intricate knowledge of sustainable finance.
EU regulatory: Financial services in Belgium
A&O Shearman
Praxisleiter:
Sylvia Kierszenbaum; Axel de Backer
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Niels De Waele
Referenzen
‘Broad and excellent knowledge of their field of expertise -thorough but clear & readable written opinions -delivery within the agreed timing -good coordination.’
‘We have very good experience with Sylvia Kierszenbaum and Niels De Waele.’
Kernmandanten
Athora Belgium
EPI Company
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised EPI on the financial regulatory aspects in relation to the proposed acquisition of Payconiq International and Currence Ideal.
- Advised Delen Private Bank on the acquisition of all the shares in Dierickx Leys Private Bank from various family shareholders.
DLA Piper
The ‘highly experienced and innovative‘ practice at DLA Piper advises clients on the gamut of financial regulatory matters, with expertise spanning authorisation and compliance matters, transactional advice, and investigations and enforcement. Clients turning to the team include major Belgian financial institutions, European banks, and fintech companies. Members of the team rely on the technological expertise of the corporate, financial markets, financial services, and tax practices of the firm, and collaborate closely with offices in other jurisdictions, to act on cross-jurisdictional matters. Pierre Berger leads the team, and is noted for being ‘very experienced and having insight on financial regulatory practices across the European Union’. Marie Goossens is ‘one of the true rising stars in the financial regulatory segment’, and has particular expertise in banking, payment services, asset management, and investment services.
Praxisleiter:
Pierre Berger
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Marie Goossens
Referenzen
‘We had the pleasure of working with DLA Piper on a rather complex legal matter, and their expertise and dedication truly set them apart from other firms. From the outset, it was clear that the team not only possessed exceptional legal knowledge but also a deep understanding of the nuances of our financial industry. Their pragmatic approach to client service ensures efficient communication, streamlined processes, and timely results.’
What truly distinguishes DLA Piper is their collaborative approach. Their team operates cohesively across practice areas, ensuring that we receive comprehensive advice covering all potential legal aspects.’
‘Marie Goossens was the individual that stood out for us. She was in charge of our file, explained everything clearly and tried her best to problem-solve. She allowed for a variety of perspectives and creative problem-solving approaches that we didn’t get when working with other lawyers.’
Kernmandanten
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
Accenture LLP
Aion NV
Alan SA
Alpha Card CBA
Alychlo NV
Amonis BV
Amonis OFP
Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC)
Argenta group
Arkane dba Venly
Athora Ireland Services Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Euroclear on the development of its new digital platform enabling the application of the correct amount of withholding tax at source by integrating the tax process with the corporate action process and matching investor data with transaction data in near real-time.
- Assisted Argenta Spaarbank NV in connection with various phishing-related cases, including a mediatised class action where a group of 51 claimants summoned Argenta in order to recover their lost funds.
- Assisting BCF, a subsidiary of Belfius Bank NV and licensed as a specialised subsidiary of a credit institution, with their offering of factoring services .
Linklaters
The financial regulation group at Linklaters is ‘excellent, business pro-active and legally profound’, advising clients on complex cross-border and Belgian deals, working closely with Belgian and European supervisory authorities on developing regulations. The practice benefits from extensive investment funds and asset management expertise. Etienne Dessy ‘combines theory with practice‘, and has extensive knowledge of UCITS, AIFMD, and MiFID applications. Also of note are Andreas Van Impe and Guillaume Leurquin, both with experience advising clients on all aspects of Belgian and EU financial regulations.
Praxisleiter:
Etienne Dessy
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Andreas Van Impe; Guillaume Leurquin
Referenzen
‘Excellent knowledge. Helicopter view. Accessibility.’
‘Etienne Dessy is an excellent lawyer, who combines theory with practice. It a also a pleasure to work with him.’
‘The Fin-Reg team at Linklaters Belgium is excellent, business pro-active and legally profound while being close to their client.’
Kernmandanten
Ageas
Aion Bank
AXA
Bank Nagelmackers
Bank of America
Barclays
Belfius
BlackRock
BNP Paribas
bPost
CACEIS
Candriam
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Indosuez Wealth Management Group, part of Crédit Agricole Group, in acquiring a majority stake in Degroof Petercam, a leading Belgian wealth management firm valued at €1.55bn. The acquisition, involving negotiations with family shareholders and Cobepa, will be followed by a public takeover bid, and includes a partnership agreement with CLdN Finance. Pending regulatory approvals, the deal, expected to finalize in 2024, aims to establish a pan-European leader in wealth management.
- Advised CACEIS Bank S.A. on the cross-border merger with CACEIS Investor Services Belgium, following CACEIS’s acquisition of part of RBC Investor Services Trust UK branch’s custody and middle office business. The merger was completed on 31 May 2024.
- Advised Dajia Insurance Group on the sale of 100% of the shares in Bank Nagelmackers to Caisse d’Epargne Hauts de France, a BPCE Group subsidiary. Bank Nagelmackers, known as the oldest bank in Belgium with a strong personal and private banking reputation, was sold through a competitive auction process involving multiple bidders.
NautaDutilh
NautaDutilh’s team has vast experience advising on the European and Belgian financial services regulatory framework, working with national credit institutions, insurance undertakings, investment firms, payment institutions, and other financial institutions that focus on central securities depositories. For one client, the firm’s ‘professionalism, combined with their client-focused approach, made them an invaluable asset to our project‘. A range of leading banks, including ABN Bank, Euroclear, and Klarna rely on the expertise of the practice. Team head Anne Fontaine is ‘highly available and very nice to work with‘. Pierre De Pauw is ‘technically very good.’
Praxisleiter:
Anne Fontaine
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Pierre De Pauw
Referenzen
‘The NautaDutilh’s FS practice is efficient and able to deliver rapid responses that address our needs and provide insightful and client-friendly analysis. Their cooperative nature significantly contributes to the smooth progression of the project.”
‘Their professionalism, combined with their client-focused approach, made them an invaluable asset to our project. ’
‘Anne Fontaine’s approachability and professionalism have made a significant positive impact on our cross-border collaboration. Anne was really responsive, and gave practical commercial advice in relation to a complex marketing question for a major transnational financial services business.’
Kernmandanten
ABN AMRO Bank
American Express
Bank Degroof Petercam
Euroclear
ING Bank
Klarna Bank
Mizuho Bank
Triodos Bank
Uber
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisted ING with the extension of a bancassurance partnership.
Simont Braun
Simont Braun is a ‘premier licensing and regulatory legal firm, distinguished by its deep expertise and client-focused approach in navigating complex EU financial regulatory landscapes‘, handling advisory work, licence applications, financial services marketing and advertising, and platform banking. The team works across a range of sectors, with expertise in FinTech, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs. The ‘strong team with exceptional knowledge and practical expertise‘ is led by Joan Carette along with the ‘fantastic and very responsive’ Philippe De Prez. Thomas Derval is noted.
Praxisleiter:
Joan Carette; Philippe De Prez
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Thomas Derval
Referenzen
‘Philippe De Prez is fantastic and very responsive and reliable. A joy to work with. ’
‘Strong team, exceptional knowledge and practical expertise. Ability to translate complex matters into straightforward legal advice. ’
‘Philippe De Prez is a fantastic lawyer with exceptional knowledge and practical expertise. Also very amicable and accessible. He is an example for how one should collaborate with clients and other firms. Thomas Derval: Counsel operating at partner level. Great guy to work with. ’
Kernmandanten
Buy Way Personal Finance
Cofidis
NewB
ABN AMRO
Itsme
Bitvavo
Etterbeek Municipality
YouLend
Bux
Aion Bank
Meilleurs Taux (Silver Lake)
Viva Wallet
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisted the ABN AMRO Banking Group on a regular basis with all their Belgian financial regulatory and insurance questions, including advice on PSD2 and consumer credits, contractual drafting, and litigation matters.
- Advised NewB on the granting of a licence as a credit institution.
- Assisted Cofidis on various strategic developments of new activities including in the credit and payment sector.
Ashurst LLP
Ashurst LLP‘s finance team has a growing regulatory practice, with market-leading expertise in structured product offerings and derivatives transactions. The team acts for a wide-ranging client base, acting for Goldman Sachs, Citibank, Barclays, and Lloyds Banking Group on complex cross-border transactions. The practice is led by Arnaud Wtterwulghe, who acts on corporate lending, real estate finance, acquisition finance, and securities and derivatives work. Bram Delmotte is key to the team.
Praxisleiter:
Arnaud Wtterwulghe
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Bram Delmotte
Kernmandanten
Goldman Sachs
Citibank
Barclays
Dexia
Tritax EuroBox plc
Natixis
Société Générale SA
Lloyds Banking Group plc
NatWest
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised on Euroclear security agreements for a number of large banks and financial institutions.
- Advised a number of large banks to ensure consistency of the terms of their issuance programmes with the Belgian Code of Economic Law and, in particular, the provisions in respect of unfair terms and greenwashing.
- Advised a number of financial institutions on various Belgian regulatory issues, in particular the Belgian outsourcing notification requirements and the requirements for cross-border licences.
Bird & Bird
Bird & Bird is particularly adept at acting on the intersection of technology and regulation, with expertise across innovative payment services, blockchain technology, and open banking. Cybersecurity is another strength of the practice, with the team advising on preventative measures and complying with regulatory requirements. Practice head Scott McInnes ‘understands the sector incredibly well and is second to none when it comes to anything payment or card scheme related’. Paul Hermant has experience in regulatory, structured, project, and acquisition finance, and is integral to the team, while Cathie-Rosalie Joly has expertise in fintech-related matters.
Praxisleiter:
Scott McInnes
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Paul Hemant; Cathie-Rosalie Joly
Referenzen
‘Scott McInnes knows his clients and the industry incredibly well and is excellent at highlighting regulatory/industry information that he thinks is relevant to his clients. He understands the sector incredibly well and is second to none when it comes to anything payment or card scheme related.
‘The advice provided by Bird and Bird is always practical, relevant and concrete. In a number of complex regulatory situations, Bird and Bird supported us in identifying solutions that were appropriate to address the regulatory concerns while taking the business needs fully into account. We always consider them for files requiring a creative and pragmatic solution and legal reasoning.’
‘I would highlight the expertise, industry understanding and customer focus of the bird and bird team.’
Kernmandanten
bunq (including Tricount)
Aion Bank
Booking.com group (including e.g. Priceline.com, Agoda)
Satispay
Mirakl
Bonsai
Eubelius
The financial services regulatory practice at Eubelius handles a variety of matters related to financial services regulatory, spanning MiFID, AIFMD, UCITS, and AML, with particular expertise in alternative investment funds and payment services. The practice that also frequently handles regulatory matters for pension funds is led by Thomas Donnez, who focuses on banking and financial transactions, debt capital market, and investment funds. Nicolas Schrans is a key member of the team, focusing on financial regulatory advice.
Praxisleiter:
Thomas Donnez; Jean-Marc Gollier
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Nicolas Schrans
Kernmandanten
Batopin
AG Insurance
The European Payments Initiative
Bancontact
Lazard Fund Managers (Ireland)
Lazard Frères Gestion (France)
Dexia
ION
Leoville
Elia
KBC Asset Management
V-Bio Ventures
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised the European Payments Initiative on regulatory matters in connection with the rollout of its Pan-European payment services offering and scheme.
- Advised Batopin on regulatory matters in connection with its PSP-license and the rollout of its ATM-network.
- Advised Bancontact on regulatory matters in connection with its payment services offering and domestic card scheme.
Hogan Lovells International LLP
The financial services regulatory team at Hogan Lovells International LLP advises clients including major multinational banks and funds on a wide range of issues, covering fund structuring, insurance policy negotiation, anti-money-laundering, and counter-terrorism-financing obligations. The department is led by Philip Van Steenwinkel, who has expertise in loan finance and capital markets. Ivan Peeters is key to the practice, advising financial institutions and government authorities on financing needs related to third parties. Charles-Henri Bernard and Sean Jonckheere are noted.
Praxisleiter:
Philip Van Steenwinkel
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Ivan Peeters; Charles-Henri Bernard; Sean Jonckheere
Kernmandanten
Ardian
Bank Delen NV
Buy Way Persona Finance SA/NV
Cooperatieve Rabobank UA
DZ Bank AG
Euroclear SA/NV, Euroclear Bank SA/NV, Euroclear Investments SA
Goldman Sachs
ICG
ING Bank NG. ING Bank Belgium SA/NV
KBC Bank NV
Lease Plan Corporation
Partners Group
Highlight-Mandate
- Represented Telos Impact on the design, structuring and set up of its first double layer alternative investment fund structure.
- Advised Apple on the development of their Tap to Pay offer, which proposes to enable functionality for merchants in Belgium and the EU that effectively turns a compatible iPhone device into a POS (point of sale) terminal.
KPMG Law in Belgium
The financial services regulatory practice at KPMG Law in Belgium advises leading banks, investment firms, and insurance companies on sustainable finance, digital finance, and MiFID work. The group works closely with the international network of the firm, allowing it to benefit from know-how on global regulatory developments. The ‘strong, experienced team with personally involved partners’ is led by Isabelle Blomme, with Walter Jacob and Joris Latui both noted.
Praxisleiter:
Isabelle Blomme
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Walter Jacob; Joris Latui
Referenzen
‘Strong, experienced team with personally involved partners. Excellent support in ad hoc tax and regulatory questions for the Belux market. They think out of the box and refer to possible impacts on the organization as a whole. ’
‘Excellent services provided by the whole team. Clear communication, planning and no surprises during the engagement.’
‘All team member are pleasant to work with. Clear communications and no surprises during the execution of the engagement. Good sector knowledge and technical skills.’
Kernmandanten
Ageas
AG Insurance
Aliaxis
ARHS
Bank Nagelmackers
Bank J.Van Breda
BNP Paribas Fortis
Brink’s Solutions Belgium
CapitalatWork
CIGNA Europe Insurance Company
Curalia OVV
DELA
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisting Ageas with the implementation of the opening of a third-country branch in Switzerland and the related application file to be submitted for approval to the National Bank of Belgium.
- Assisting J.P. Morgan in mapping all obligations that are applicable to the Belgian branch of their German entity from a Belgian law perspective.
Liedekerke
Liedekerke‘s financial services regulatory team acts for a range of banks, insurance providers, and financial institutions, including Binance, BNP Paribas Fortis, and AG Insurance. The practice is commended for providing advice that is ‘always timely, accurate and complete’. Tom Van Dyck leads the team, and is ‘very knowledgeable and a very good sparring partner‘. Also of note is Louise Verstraete, an ‘outstanding associate who follows up very closely on all ongoing matters’.
Praxisleiter:
Tom Van Dyck
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Louise Verstraete
Referenzen
‘We have worked together with the Liedekerke team on a number of financial regulatory matters. This team works very well together and is eager to provide the best possible service. The advice provided is always timely, accurate and complete. ’
‘I am always very happy to work with Tom Van Dyck. He is very knowledgeable and a very good sparring partner to discuss recent developments and positions taken by financial regulators.’
‘Louise Verstraete is an outstanding associate who follows up very closely on all ongoing matters. ’
Kernmandanten
Binance
Belfius
AirBnB
BNP Paribas Fortis
CapitalatWork
Payward
Leo Stevens & Cie
Banque de Luxembourg
CLIC’ISSIMO (portfolio company of SIPAREX)
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Benelux
Maxel
Yago
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisted Freshfields and Airbnb in the context of the submission of the limited network exemption with the National Bank of Belgium.
- Assisted BNP Paribas Fortis in relation to its appointment as a Head of Pyramid for the Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V.
Loyens & Loeff
The financial services regulatory practice at Loyens & Loeff is commended by one client as being ‘very knowledgeable, with a personal approach’. the team advises financial institutions, insurance companies, and crypto-currency service providers on bond issuances, takeover bids, and numerous post-trade services, including derivatives and Euroclear. Vanessa Marquette leads the team, with particular expertise advising clients on their ESG-related obligations, and complying with the requirements of the Taxonomy regulation and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Marc Vermylen co-leads the team, with expertise in financial collateral-related matters. Also of note is Davina Devleeschouwer, who joined the practice from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in March 2024.
Praxisleiter:
Vanessa Marquette; Marc Vermylen
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Davina Devleeschouwer
Referenzen
‘The partners is always available for even for small questions. Very knowledgeable, with a personal approach.’
‘Personal relationship and highly competent. Their proactive approach to certain legal and regulatory developments is always to the point and relevant. ’
Kernmandanten
Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking
Banque de Luxembourg
AXA
Société Générale London Branch
Marketing of funds: Blackstone Europe Fund Management, Eurazeo, Fortress Investment Group LLC, FSN Capital, HG Pooled Management Limited, NewPort Capital B.V., Pacific Equity Partners Management Limited, Platte River Equity, Slate Advisory Service (US) LLC, Towerbrook Capital Partners L.P., Warburg Pincus LLC
European Union
Euratom
China Development Bank Corporation
International Swaps and Derivatives Association
Bundesverband Deutscher banken
European Banking Federation
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisting Banque de Luxembourg in the update of a large part of its credit and security documentation used for Belgian clients resident in Luxembourg and for clients of the Belgian branch resident in Belgium.
ALTIUS
The financial regulatory practice at ALTIUS boasts vast expertise advising on establishing funds, licensing and registration requirements, and negotiating with Belgian supervisory authorities. Audrey Zegers is the head of the practice, with expertise advising on MiFID II, AIFMD, and anti-money laundering topics. Elias Nys is ‘very proactive and goes out of his way to ensure all aspects of the transaction are attended to’.
Praxisleiter:
Audrey Zegers
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Elias Nuys
Referenzen
‘The team is responsive and adequately staffed for our needs.’
‘Elias Nys is very pro-active and goes out of his way to ensure all aspects of the transaction are attended to. He keeps a cool head and a respectful tone, and his commitment to client service is noticeable.’
‘Elias Nys’ analysis is reasoned and he is well positioned to explain relevant points of Belgian law to clients from other EU jurisdictions.’
Kernmandanten
Pluxee Belgium
Louis Vuitton
EventPay
CVC Capital Partners
ElipsLife
Aviva Group
CG Car-Garantie Versicherungs-AG
Bridgepoint Capital
Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management (Luxembourg)
Indosuez Wealth Asset Management
Amplifon
TPC Asset Purchase
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Pluxee on the set-up of a new payment card operating via the VISA Card scheme.
- Advised Eventpay on the regulatory aspects of its cashless payment solutions and assists with the issue of electronic money under the limited network exemption.
- Advised Amplifon on the regulatory aspects and contractual setup of a loss and theft warranty service.
Baker McKenzie BV/SRL
Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL’s financial services regulatory practice advises clients across the banking, insurance, Fintech, and funds industries on a range of matters including financial services regulatory issues, restructurings, and financial services litigation. Michael Van Acker leads the team, acting as head of the banking and finance and global real estate finance practice. Olivier Van Den Broeke co-leads the team.
Praxisleiter:
Olivier Van den Broeke; Michael Van Acker
Referenzen
‘Always prepared to collaborate and help on a variety of matters.’
‘High level of service.’
Kernmandanten
Alpha Card
Alexander Peter Wealth Management
American Express
Assuralia
Baloise Belgium NV
Belfius Bank NV
BNP Paribas Fortis NV
Caisse d’Epargne Hauts de France
Capricorn Partners NV
Clearstream
Cobelfret
Creafin NV
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Creafin as originator on all financial regulatory aspects of the second issuance of notes under its Belgian non-banking mortgage lending platform.
- Assisted American Express with reviewing and amending all their Belgian customer and merchant contractual documentation in light of a major regulatory overhaul of Belgium’s Civil Code on contractual obligations.
- Assisted Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen (PMV), Flanders investment company, with obtaining a full license as an alternative investment fund manager (AIFM) from the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authorities (FSMA).
Lydian
Lydian boasts a ‘strong team with excellent knowledge and technical skills‘ in the financial regulatory space, benefitting from the firm’s sizable insurance practice. The banking and finance team at the firm acts for large and medium-sized Belgian and international banks, investment funds, and leading corporates in regulatory finance matters. Investigations by regulatory bodies are a strength of the group, along with experience with Euroclear. The department is led by ‘true expert in his field‘ Tom Geudens, covering international banking, project finance, and capital markets. Sandra Lodewijckx and Hugo Keulers also form the leadership of the practice.
Praxisleiter:
Tom Geudens; Sandra Lodewijckx; Hugo Keulers
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Héloïse Fostier; Matthias De Cock
Referenzen
‘A strong team with excellent knowledge and technical skills – responsive and user-friendly in the advice they provide. A joy to work with every time. ’
‘Tom Geudens – A true expert in his field. Delivers on-point advice in a way that can be easily digested and understood. Very personable. ’
‘The team offers seamless advice on the intersection of insurance law and insurance regulation.’
Kernmandanten
AIG Europe Ltd
Lloyd’s Insurance Company NV
Allianz Global Corporate
Hiscox
Deutsche Bank Capital Markets
Société Générale
Crédit Agricole
HDI-Gerling Verzekeringen NV
XL Catlin / XL Catlin Insurance Company SE / XL Catlin Services SE, now: Financial Insurance Company td. c/o AXA
Amlin Insurance SE
Zurich Insurance Plc
CNA Insurance Company Ltd
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Equals Group Plc, a UK payment services provider, on the acquisition of the Belgian authorised payment institution Oonex. Change of control approval by the NBB was obtained on 6 June 2023.
- Assisted BlueRidge Trade and Invest and Senior Homes with setting up specialised real estate investment funds and management companies.
- Assisted Fraktion with the set-up and licensing of a crowdfunding service provider.
Stibbe
The practice at Stibbe combines intricate litigation, transactional work, and advisory work, with members of the team advising leading banks and financial institutions on restructurings, insurance litigation, and M&A. Jan Peeters and Pieter Nobels co-lead the team, both with vast expertise in financial regulatory matters. Marc Fyon is key to the practice, working largely for supervisory authorities. Sophie Brenard and William Poelmans are noted.
Praxisleiter:
Jan Peeters; Pieter Nobels
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Marc Fyon; Sophie Brenard; William Poelmans
Referenzen
‘Prudential and financial regulation is complex and technical and, and lawyers grasping every detail of it – which requires in-depth knowledge also of civil, administrative, company law and even criminal – are rare.’
‘The individuals we work with at Stibbe – and in particular Sophie Brenard – offer us the support we need.’
Kernmandanten
Van Lanschot Kempen
Brookfield Asset Management
ING
Federale Verzekeringen
Proximus
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Brookfield Asset Management and its portfolio company Befimmo on its restructuring in light of a comprehensive €1.5bn refinancing of the entire Befimmo group, taking into account the specific regulatory status of the Befimmo Group entities as Belgian Real Estate Investment Funds.
- Assisted Touring Club Royal Belge with the internal restructuring and subsequent sale of its insurance and roadside assistance business to AG Insurance and BNP Paribas Fortis.
- Advised NZSF Euro Limited/Novo Holdings concerning the acquisition of a large shareholding in Euroclear Holding.