Serving Clients in Complex Industries

Dechert has maintained a strong presence at the heart of Europe for nearly half a century. We opened an office in Brussels in 1968, becoming one of the first U.S. law firms to establish a base in the European Union’s administrative and regulatory hub.

The city’s pivotal location and its advanced connectivity with other European business centers draw a host of companies from the continent’s most complex and highly regulated industries.

Multinational and domestic undertakings, governmental authorities and institutions rely on our expertise in devising innovative solutions to their most testing challenges and call on us, too, when facing complex litigation or other disputes.

We provide commercial advice, not just legal advice. Our timely counsel spans industries as diverse as:

  • energy and clean technology
  • mining and metals
  • real estate 
  • infrastructure 
  • life sciences 
  • aviation 
  • technology, media & telecommunications 
  • banking and financial services 
  • chemical 
  • food and beverage 

Multilingual Lawyers with Diverse Skills

Our Brussels lawyers are qualified to represent clients before the European Commission and before European and Belgian regulators, authorities and courts. We are also qualified to practice in numerous EU member states.

Many of the team serve as scientific scholars and research fellows. Our advanced linguistic capabilities allow us to provide legal advice in English, French, Dutch or German with equal dexterity. We also work comfortably in Finnish, Portuguese or Spanish.

Leading legal publications such as Chambers & PartnersThe Legal 500Best Lawyers, European Legal Experts and IFLR 100 regularly recognize our lawyers for their knowledge, experience and judgment.

  • Clients call on Dechert for advice on all areas of competition law. Our lawyers have an outstanding track record of success in complex merger control cases, multi-jurisdictional cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, business agreements, EU state aid and privatization matters.

    Long-term clients value our ability to provide a seamless service across all major jurisdictions around the world and to develop tailor-made, innovative and result-oriented defense strategies—even in the most challenging cases.

    We work closely with clients to improve their compliance posture, preparing and presenting tailor-made compliance workshops across a broad range of industries and jurisdictions. The Brussels office further serves as a hub for EU internal market and regulatory work and helps companies meet EU-related regulations.

  • Corporate and private equity clients value our extensive experience advising on corporate transactions, joint ventures and securities regulations. Our corporate and transactional teams are particularly distinguished for their expertise in publicly listed entities, shareholder agreements, private equity, tender offers, sensitive restructurings, regulated industries and regulatory compliance matters.

    We possess in-depth experience in regulated industries such as healthcare and food, as well as in the structuring and operation of network industries, such as electricity, natural gas, railways and telecommunications.

  • Our top-ranked energy lawyers are well-versed in corporate, banking, regulatory, EU, competition and climate change issues. The team is tapped into the complex web of relationships that links energy producers, suppliers, network operators, access seekers, large industrial customers and trading platforms.

    The team plays an important role in supporting Dechert’s energy-sector client base throughout the world, particularly in Central Asia, Middle East and Latin America. Clients rely on us to help them navigate challenging regulatory environments and maintain regulatory compliance—while keeping costs to a minimum.

    We represent clients before legislative, regulatory and executive bodies. We are regularly called on to counsel electricity and gas networks and power producers on regulatory matters such as unbundling, third-party access, regulated tariffs, financing and investment.

  • Banks and other financial intermediaries—whether borrowers or arrangers—trust in Dechert’s assistance when devising bespoke financing transactions. Over the years, we have developed and refined innovative, tax-enhanced structures that reduce borrowing costs or increase returns for lenders.

    Brokers, investment managers and other financial service providers—both those established in Belgium and those which offer products or services in the Belgian market—value Dechert’s familiarity with the regulatory and tax issues they confront.

    Moreover, as our Brussels office forms part of Dechert’s global Financial Services Group, clients benefit from “jurisdiction-neutral” advice that blends local experience with know-how on a global scale.

  • Our Brussels team works across jurisdictions and cultures to accomplish client objectives wherever they lie. In addition to the office’s main practice areas, our lawyers also possess significant experience in labor law, trade regulation and unfair trade practices, environmental law and intellectual property.

Office

480 Avenue Louise, Box 13A, Brussels, Belgium 1050