Lydian is ‘simply the firm of reference for Belgian insurance law’, boasting ‘very specialised knowledge’. The practice works for a wide range of leading insurers and corporates, advising on reinsurance, corporate insurance, and life and non life insurance, often on high-profile or complex cases. Leading the team is Hugo Keulers, commended for being a ‘vessel of knowledge’, with commercial and dispute resolution expertise complementing his insurance practice. Also at leadership level is Sandra Lodewijckx, a ‘dynamic lawyer with an excellent knowledge of the insurance sector’. Together, the pair ‘represent the insurance encyclopedia’. Noted members of the team include the ‘highly knowledgeable and approachable’ Jo Willems, and ‘great lawyer’ Héloïse Fostier.
Insurance in Belgium
Lydian
Praxisleiter:
Hugo Keulers; Sandra Lodewijckx
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Jo Willems; Héloïse Fostier; Marijn De Ruysscher
Referenzen
‘It is simply the firm of reference for Belgian insurance law.’
‘Sandra Lodewijckx has a breadth of experience and is an excellent advisor on the regulatory side.’
‘Very high specialized knowledge of insurance law. Pragmatic, looking for an amicable negotiated solution rather than long uncertain proceedings. Easily accessible.’
Kernmandanten
AIG Europe Ltd
Allia Insurance Brokers
Probitas 1492 Pty Ltd
Arc Europe SA
Furness Professional Risks Europe SRL
International Professional Risks Europe SRL
AXA SA
AXA XL
Canopius
United Kingdom Freight Demurrage and Defence Assocation (UKFD) Ltd
London Steam-Ship Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association Limited (LSSO) Ltd
International Transport Intermediaries Club Limited (ITIC) Ltd
Great Lakes Insurance SE, (Munich Re Group)
TT Club Mutual Insurance Limited Ltd
Hilton Food Group BV
HDI Global SE
HDI Global Specialty SE
Arval Belgium NV
BNP Paribas Cardif NV
Amlin Insurance SE
Zurich Insurance Plc
Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance (Global) Ltd
Aon Belgium BVBA
Aon Consulting Belgium NV
Ergo Insurance NV
Ethias SA
Belfius Insurance NV
Belfius Bank NV
Baloise Belgium NV
AEGON NV
Qover NV
Allianz Commercial
P&V Verzekeringen CVBA
SEB Life International Assurance Company
ARAG SE – Branch Belgium
Hiscox Europe Underwriting Limited
STIB-MIVB
Liberty Mutual Group
Beluga Insurance Solutions NV
Alta Signa Group BV
DKV NV
Euler Hermes NV
Nationale Nederlanden NV
Alpha/Enstar Insurance plc
Mitsui Ltd
Beazley Furlonge Ltd
KBC Verzekeringen NV
AG Insurance NV
Gallagher
Booking.com Inc
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty
Starr Insurance Company Inc
Trip vzw
Assuralia
Alecto Consulting BV
CannGen Insurance Europe BV
DELA Natura-en levensverzekeringen N.V.
Homeserve France SAS
KU Leuven
Next Wave insurance LLC
OCM -CDZ
Zurich Insurance Plc, Belgium Branch
Zurich Insurance Company Ltd
Fidelis Insurance
RiverStone
Aviva
Sompo
QBE
MSIG
Wakam
Concordia NV
April
SD Worx
Randstad
Highlight-Mandate
- Acted for AIG in one of the few Covid-19 coverage disputes on the Belgian market under an EIL-policy and obtained a successful judgment in first instance.
- Acted for AXA XL in one of the largest US Pfas-cases involving one of the largest Belgian chemical companies.
- Assisting Hogan Lovells Paris with all Belgian aspects concerning (i) the relocation of the Belgian (re)insurance company International Partner Assistance into France through a cross-border conversion, followed by (ii) the (reverse) merger of AXA Partners Holding SA into IPA.
A&O Shearman
A&O Shearman‘s insurance practice has vast expertise across the industry, advising an array of employers, insurers, funds, and regulators on a wide range of insurance regulatory work. Solvency requirements and governance are strengths of the team. Insurance-related M&A is another mainstay of the practice. The practice is led by Tom Schoors and Sylvia Kierszenbaum, both of whom have extensive experience in financial services regulation and advising insurers and asset managers. Christian Bayart heads the employment department of the firm, and is a key part of the insurance practice, advising regularly on employee benefits and occupational pensions. Bart De Bock specialises in insurance litigation.
Praxisleiter:
Tom Schoors; Sylvia Kierszenbaum
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Christian Bayart; Bart De Bock; Niels de Waele
Kernmandanten
Ageas
Antwerp Museum of Contemporary Art
Athora
Delen Private Bank
Financial Services & Markets Authority
ING
NN (Nationale Nederlanden)
Randstad Belgium
SEB Life International
SWIFT
Swiss Life
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised the leading Belgian insurer Ageas in connection with the acquisition of a €730 million stake in Ageas by the bank, BNP Paribas.
- Successfully managed on behalf of ING, the Dutch multinational banking and insurance group, the reorganization of its independent agents network in Belgium.
- Advised Delen Private Bank on the acquisition of all the shares in Dierickx Leys Private Bank from various family shareholders, subject to obtaining regulatory approvals.
ALTIUS
The practice at ALTIUS is ‘highly skilled and very easy to communicate with’, with expertise in advising insurance companies, reinsurers, and insurance intermediaries on a wide range of matters. Insurance coverage disputes are a strength of the team, along with providing advice on insurance policies. Alexander Hansebout leads the team, and is a ‘very skilled and reputable lawyer’ with extensive experience in liability and insurance work, as well as the enforcement of foreign judgments. Stijn Van Schel is key to the practice, working with insurance companies on complex liability and coverage disputes. Audrey Zegers is noted for assisting financial institutions and investment funds in domestic and cross-border transactions.
Praxisleiter:
Alexander Hansebout
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Jérôme Vermeylen; Stijn Van Schel; Audrey Zegers
Referenzen
‘The Altius insurance team are highly skilled and very easy to communicate with. They are great at navigating cross-border cases and have a good feel for differences between the various legal systems.’
‘Alexander Hansebout is a very skilled and reputable lawyer. He is extremely knowledgeable without losing sight of practical solutions. His team, like him, are not only lovely individuals but are also very communicative.’
Kernmandanten
AG Insurance
elipsLife
Aviva Plc
Bastion Insurance Company
Mapfre and Mapfre Re
Amplifon
Highlight-Mandate
- Advising the listed British insurance group, Aviva, regarding all Belgian legal aspects of its 242 million GBP acquisition of Probitas Holdings (Bermuda) Limited, the ultimate holding company of the Probitas Group.
- Advising German car insurance company, Car-Garantie, on liability disputes and on its information obligations under the Insurance Distribution Directive in Belgium, reviewing and amending its client information documents to align with Belgian standards.
- Advising Amplifon on its consumer credit and insurance intermediary activities in Belgium, including the set-up of an additional loss and theft warranty service.
CMS
The team at CMS covers all areas of the insurance industry, with expertise in life and non-life insurance, focusing on W&I, cyber, construction, environmental liability, and professional liability. The practice regularly advises leading insurance companies on complex cross-border matters. Team co-head Benoît Vandervelde advises financial institutions on issues related to the compliance of insurance products, and has a focus on life insurance law. Tom De Cordier also leads the team, specialising in data privacy and technology law. Jean-François Goffin is key to the team, along with Pierre-Axel Chabot.
Praxisleiter:
Benoît Vandervelde; Tom De Cordier
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Jean-François Goffin; Pierre-Axel Chabot
Referenzen
‘They have many partners covering very diverse fields, even niche fields.’
‘Kindness and availability.’
Kernmandanten
Bolttech
Qover
Humn.ai
Allianz Benelux
AroundTown/Sheraton-Cardo fire
The shareholders of INDEPENDENT RISK INSURANCE ADVISORY SERVICES BV (IRIAS)
AIG
Marsh
Aon
Gallagher
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised AIG during the underwriting process for a tax W&I policy covering the biggest Belgian transaction of 2023 and currently assisting in the underwriting process for insurance to be given to a EUR 100 million real estate transaction.
- Assisting AroundTown in insurance law and liability law in connection with the fire at the Sheraton Hotel in the centre of Brussels.
- Advised Bolttech, an international insurtech, in the development of its insurance offering in Belgium with certain telecom providers, including regulatory licensing, rules of conduct requirements, and contractual documentation.
DLA Piper
DLA Piper’s insurance team acts for a number of leading players in the insurance market, related to coverage advice, dispute resolution, and transactional work. Clients including traditional insurers, re-insurance companies, and intermediaries rely on the expertise of the practice, which often represents them in high-profile litigation. Pierre Berger leads the practice which has continued to grow with the arrivals of Virginie Frémat and Julie De Pauw from CMS, Joris Latui from KPMG Law in Belgium, and Delphine Goens from an in-house role, all in September 2024. Another key contact is Alexander Hamels, who ‘combines in-depth knowledge of insurance law and regulation with an excellent understanding of the market’.
Praxisleiter:
Pierre Berger
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Virginie Frémat; Julie De Pauw; Joris Latui; Delphine Goens; Alexander Hamels
Referenzen
‘Pierre and Alexander are very knowledgeable, and have great experience and connections in the insurance sector which allows them to always assist quickly and in an efficient manner.’
‘Alexander Hamels is always quick to respond and assist. He is well aware of the latest insights and practice developments. It is great to have him on the team.’
‘Go to firm for to the point but detailed and well-researched advice on topics related to market and (supervisory) practice, in particular topics that have not been the subject of doctrine or case law.’
Kernmandanten
Airbus
Accenture
Alan SA
Allianz Global Corporate & Speciality SE
Allianz Global Life DAC
Amonis
Aviva
Argenta Assuranties NV
Arena NV
Assuralia
Athora Belgium NV
Axa Belgium NV
Axa Partners
AXA XL Insurance Company
Baloise Belgium NV
Berkley Select
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
Berkshire Hathaway European Insurance
Belfius
BDB Europe
Bpost NV
Cigna Life Insurance Company of Europe
Cigna Europe Insurance Company (Europe) SA
Companjon
Credendo
DKV Belgium
Dual International Limited
Edmond de Rothschild
ERGO Insurance
Europaeiske Rejseforsikring A/S
Euroclear NV
FM Global
Fortegra Europe Insurance Company SE
Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung
Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
ING Belgium
KBC Insurance
Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE
Lombard International Assurance SA
Lloyd’s Market Association
Marsh Belgium NV
Mercer (Belgium) SA
Michelin
Mithras Underwriting Europe
MS Amlin Insurance SE
Mutuelle d’Assurances des Instituteurs de France
Patronale Life
PetExpert
REEL Europe
RSA
Ryan Specialty
Qover NV
Securex
Society of Lloyd’s
Standard de Liège SA
Starstone Insurance Services Ltd
Swiss Life Luxembourg SA
VALE Insurance Partners Europe B.V.
Volvo Personvagnar AB
Wealins SA
Zurich Global Ventures NV
Zurich Insurance Company ltd
Zurich Insurance Europe AG
Zurich Insurance plc
Highlight-Mandate
- Provides regulatory and corporate assistance to Ryan Specialty Group with the acquisition of Castel Underwriting Agencies, an MGA platform having thirteen regulated entities in Belgium, the UK, Netherlands and Singapore.
- Assisting Fortegra with the incorporation of a Belgian insurer, including providing assistance with the licensing process before the National Bank of Belgium.
- Providing assistance with the incorporation and FSMA registration of an MGA and the development of an embedded insurance offering in multiple jurisdictions.
Philippe & Partners
Philippe & Partners specialises in insurance and liabilities litigation, advising clients on insurance products, distribution services and regulatory and governance work. The Brussels office of the firm works closely with the Luxembourg practice, widening its cross-border offering. Marc Gouden and Pierre Moreau lead the team, with expertise in Belgian and cross-border work. Gouden is adept at handling distribution and life insurance work, while Moreau focuses on life and non-life policies and group insurance.
Praxisleiter:
Marc Gouden; Pierre Moreau
Kernmandanten
AG Insurance
AGCS (Allianz Global Corporate Solutions)
AIG Europe
Allianz Benelux
Allianz Corporate Global
AR-CO
Athora Belgium
Axa Belgium
BNP Paribas Cardif
BNP Paribas Fortis
Europ Assistance
Fonds des accidents médicaux
NN Insurance Belgium
NN Non-life, Belgian branch of NV NATIONALE-NEDERLANDEN SCHADEVERZEKERING MAATSCHAPPIJ (Netherlands)
P&V Assurances
Highlight-Mandate
Simont Braun
The ‘very responsive’ practice at Simont Braun advises insurance clients across a wide range of matters, focusing on regulatory, tax, and M&A related issues. The team is particularly adept at handling litigation related to life insurance. Practice head Philippe De Prez is ‘readily available and responsive’, with extensive knowledge of FinTech and financial services. Also at leadership level is Thomas Derval, with experience assisting clients in complex insurance litigation claims. Rafaël Jafferali is key to the team, specialising in cross-border insurance disputes.
Praxisleiter:
Thomas Derval; Philippe De Prez
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Rafaël Jafferali
Referenzen
‘Our office is located overseas and we speak only English. The team at Simont Braun was very responsive, able to understand our unique position within the insurance market, and timely guided us through the process of establishing business operations in Brussels. We spoke with another law firm that was unable to move as quickly or provide the experienced guidance on what we should expect that Simont Braun could.’
‘Thomas Derval drafted informative, clear, and concise instructions and insight for what we needed to know in a timely manner. Philippe De Pez was readily available and responsive, as we fought against time zone changes, and a quick deadline to establish our business.’
‘Thomas Derval was very dedicated to our case. Thomas and his team were creative problem solvers. They were thorough with the handling of numerous shared documents.’
Kernmandanten
Cofidis
NewB
Aion Bank
La Mondiale Europartner
TCA Assurances
Test Achats
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisted NewB in setting up the first Belgian bank and insurance project with an innovative sustainable and ethical model.
- Assisting Aion Bank, Belgium’s first next generation digital bank, with the launch of a complete offer of new products and services.
- Assisted the US-based International Sureties group with its registration as a Belgian insurance intermediary and with passporting its activities across the entire European Economic Area.
Stibbe
For one client, ‘the combination of very good collaboration, expertise, pragmatism and quick responses’ sets the practice at Stibbe apart from its competitors, with extensive knowledge of insurance litigation and arbitration. High-value M&A transactions in the insurance sector are another strength of the team, along with providing advice on the regulatory aspects of the sector. Team head Oliver Stevens is ‘smart, thoughtful and pragmatic’, with years of experience representing financial institutions and insurance companies in complex litigation. Sophie Bourgois focuses on insurance litigation, and is ‘very knowledgeable and a very efficient advocate’.
Praxisleiter:
Oliver Stevens
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Sophie Bourgois
Referenzen
‘For very complex insurance and liability questions, we were always able to quickly turn to Stibbe. They always manage to capture the complexity of such questions in the context of a public company and collaborations with various private parties. Their advice is clear, to the point, pragmatic and exactly what we need to get started.’
‘Oliver Stevens is the ideal partner to defend our interests in difficult negotiations as well as to obtain constructive solutions, taking into account the sensitivities and interests of all parties. His vast experience and knowledge of the practice is a huge asset.’
‘I recommend Sophie Bourgois. She is very knowledgeable and a very efficient advocate.’
Kernmandanten
Brussels Airport Company
MS Amlin
Aldi
AG Vespa
Federale Verzekeringen
Highlight-Mandate
- Successfully represented the operator of a major international transport hub in an ad hoc arbitration and obtained compensation for its Covid-19 business interruption losses.
- Representing a chemicals company in a 9-digit coverage claim before the Brussels Business Court, based on a pollution liability policy and concerning PFAS-like pollution found on one of the company’s overseas plants.
- Assisted Goed (the care services branch of the Christian Mutuality comprising several legal entities and ca. 200 branches in Flanders and Brussels employing a total of ca. 1,300 employees) in transferring its employee-related insurance policies within the framework of multiple restructurings.
Baker McKenzie BV/SRL
The insurance practice at Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL is noted for its ‘out of the box thinking, and client-oriented and resourceful approach’, with vast experience across insurance regulatory matters, insurance litigation, and re-organisations in the insurance sector. The firm regularly represents insurance clients in civil and administrative courts. Olivier Van Den Broeke co-leads the practice, with over 10 years' experience advising financial institutions and fintechs on high-profile insurance regulatory matters. Michael Van Acker also acts as head of the practice, with vast experience across both insurance and finance.
Praxisleiter:
Olivier Van den Broeke; Michael Van Acker
Referenzen
‘Out of the box thinking, and client-oriented and resourceful approach.’
‘High level of service. Very competent.’
Kernmandanten
AG Insurance NV
Alexander Peter Wealth Management
Amazon Insurance
American Express
Assuralia
Baloise Belgium NV
Cardif Lux Vie
Cigna Life Insurance Europe NV
Conservatrix N.V.
Credendo
Dekabank
FCA Capital
Febelfin
Fidelity
Generali Luxembourg
Imperium Insurance
Insurem Insurance Limited
KBC Verzekeringen
Lombard International Assurance
Novus Underwriting
Quilter International Ireland
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisting Baloise Belgium NV with the optimisation of a 1 billion EUR run-off life insurance portfolio in Belgium by entering into a reinsurance transaction with Reinsurance Group of America International.
- Representing Ingram Micro in a complex milestone insurance litigation against insurer Athora in front of the Brussels Court of Appeal and Belgium’s Constitutional Court.
- Advising Credendo in over 25 jurisdictions on the insurance aspects of the cross-border offering of its unfunded risk participations in relation to loan facilities, bonding facilities and documentary credit facilities offered by banks to corporates or to other banks for refinancing purposes.
Racine
Racine‘s practice leverages vast expertise across insurance and civil liability work, representing Belgian and foreign insurers. Professional and medical liability insurance, as well as coverage disputes, are within the remit of the practice. Leading the team are Kathlien Vergels and Lieven Van Besien, while Grégory Mouthuy specialises in insurance and liability law. Also of note are Karen Ronsijn and Bruno Verkest.
Praxisleiter:
Kathlien Vergels; Lieven Van Besien
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Grégory Mouthuy; Karen Ronsijn; Bruno Verkest
Kernmandanten
AG Insurance
AonBelgium
MS Amlin Insurance SE
Afes International Belgium
Axa Belgium
Dekra
DKV Belgium (member of Ergo-group)
Ethias
HDI Global SE
KBCVerzekeringen
Legal Village
NN Non-Life
Sedgwick
Van Ameyde Belgium
Argenta Assuranties
HDI Global Specialty SE
Helvetia Global Solutions LTD
TVM Belgium
Markel Insurance SE