Belgium

Cleary Gottlieb’s commitment to its practice in Belgium began over half a century ago, long before almost all of our peer firms and international competitors. By paying close attention to our clients’ business and legal needs and by growing our office in line with those needs, the approximately 90 lawyers in our Brussels office have, alongside our leading EU competition practice, built depth of expertise in all aspects of Belgian business law, including corporate, financial, commercial, labor, tax, media and administrative law. We offer clients thorough knowledge of local law as well as practical expertise in applying those laws within the wider, multi-jurisdictional context.


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What Others Say About Our Practice
Top Two Global Competition Review Elite Firm
Global Competition Review (2011)
Corporate Law Firm of the Year
Belgian Legal Awards (2010)

European Legal Team of the Year
Legal Week’s British Legal Awards (2009, 2010)

Best Antitrust Law Firm in Brussels
Global Competition Review (2009)

Belgian Law Firm of the Year
Chambers Europe (2008)

#1 in Benelux M&A (announced and completed, value)
Thomson Financial (2008, U.S.-based law firms)

“Clients laud the competition team as ‘one of the the best you can get. The team is adept at dealing with sensitive issues that go beyond the law; it fully understands the borderline between law and politics in Belgium.’ The corporate/M&A team is similarly regarded as a domestic market leader, whilst the banking and international trade teams also earn recognition amongst commentators. Clients are also quick to commend the firm for ‘its impressive consistency and collegial approach, which other firms struggle to maintain across a large global footprint.’”
Chambers Global (2011)

““This firm has one of the best reputed and largest competition groups in Brussels. The 13-partner team’s huge size and reputation enables it to cover the full range of EU and competition law matters and to be involved in complex and high-profile cases. ... ‘This practice is the Rolls Royce of EU competition law: the best that you can get, with zero failure or weakness. ... ‘Not many law firms can guarantee this kind of consistent quality with a large global footprint, but Cleary does.’”
Chambers Europe (2011)
“‘Cleary Gottlieb are the Rolls-Royce of Belgian law firms, they have top lawyers, great business understanding and the highest standards, they are simply a class apart from other law firms,’ says one client.’”
IFLR 1000 (2011)

“This huge team of 70 practitioners is extremely well regarded in Brussels, where it provides a first-class EU competition law service. The group is well integrated and networked with its other offices in Europe, which makes it a perfect fit for multi-jurisdictional filings. … ‘It has great connections with the regulators, so the lawyers are aware of what is possible to do at any given time.’”
Chambers Global (2010)

“This firm is sought after for its premium competition and antitrust advice. The firm is proficient in both EU and local law, and boasts able litigators and an acclaimed corporate practice. Clients highlight the group's seamless work with the firm’s North American offices.”
Chambers Europe (2010)
“[Cleary Gottlieb] is widely considered to be the best firm for competition in Brussels” and if there was “a category higher than ‘Elite’, Cleary would be in it.” 
Global Competition Review (2009)