VANCUTSEM - Key Persons
Christophe Hoogstoel's practice focuses mainly on corporate law.
He assists small or mid-market private companies, whether local or cross-border, as well as listed companies with general corporate law, securities compliance, corporate governance, PPP structuring, joint-ventures, venture capital financing or private equity investments.
Christophe focuses on national and international mergers and acquisitions, especially for transaction structuring and in relation to new-tech, real estate, chemical and insurances sale and purchase transactions.
As litigator, Christophe also brings to clients his broad experience in the management of disputed situations. He supports clients in injunction relief proceedings or for decision on the merits, as well as in arbitration. Christophe is one of the founders of AB Legal.
Job Titles:
- Related Professional Activities / Member of the Association of Insurance Lawyers ( AJA - VVJ )
Frédéric De Ridder's practice focuses mainly on corporate law and banking and financial law.
Frédéric has extensive experience of M&A transactions, joint ventures, reorganisation of companies and structuring of shareholder relationships. He also advises clients on financial regulation as well as on matters of financing (bank loans and other forms of credit).
He also represents clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings.
Frédéric advises a wide range of Belgian and foreign clients: listed and unlisted companies, private investors, banks, family groups and investment companies. His clients are active in many sectors, particularly in finance, industry, real estate, and new technologies.
Frédéric has recently been referred to as «highly recommended » for his M&A practice by Leaders' League Magazine 2019.
Hans Van der Mullen is dedicated to Company law. Together with his clients he seeks the best solution for their legal challenges.
Hans is a specialist in dispute resolution and litigation, in different areas of law, such as:
Commercial and contract law (distribution, aftersales, lease, etc.)
Banking and Financial law (loans, bonds, torts, securities, etc.)
Social law (individual labour law, law on termination, etc.)
He developed a specific expertise in safeguarding claims and in enforcing sentences (i.e. attachment proceedings).
Hans is a sounding board and a reliable counsel for both companies in various sectors and consumers.
His knowhow in litigation and proceedings allows Hans to assist his clients proactively when giving them legal advice, drafting commercial contracts and in legal risk assessment.
Hans strives for a pragmatic method and a personal approach of each file. He deems it extremely important to be available for his clients.
Hans is partner of the firm since January 2020.
Herman Lemaire heads the Africa practice group.
He provides support in the negotiation and drafting of all kinds of agreements relating to domestic and international transactions.
As a corporate lawyer dealing with mergers and acquisitions, Herman advises clients on legal audits, the negotiation and drafting of shareholders, share purchase and joint ventures agreements, as well as all ancillary agreements linked to these transactions. He also assists and represents clients in composition procedures and acts as a liquidator of companies. He often represents clients in arbitration proceedings. Since many years, Herman's international activities mainly focus on legal affairs in Central Africa countries in the bank, steel, energy supply, mining, telecom, real estate, commercial and transport sectors. He acts as legal adviser to various private and public operators as well as liquidator of banking companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Herman is the author and co-author of articles on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, distributorships and African business law. He was a speaker at conferences on Belgian corporate law and Congolese business law.
Jan Cuypers is a seasoned specialist in insurance and torts law.
He acts primarily on behalf of insurance companies as part of the defence of their civil interests.
He also advises insured persons and defends their interests in proceedings relating to liability as well as more technical issues.
He is a regular speaker at information events for insurance company case managers, as well as at meetings of insurance associations concerning specific issues of liability and insurance law.
Jan's practice also extends to various aspects of commercial law. With his specific training in commercial and economic law, he is able to assist his clients - small, medium-sized and large companies - with advice, negotiation of solutions and implementation of legal proceedings. He always encourages his clients to seek negotiated settlements and to avoid potentially unnecessary proceedings wherever possible.
Jan was referred to as « Leading Individual » for his insurance litigation practice by Leaders' League Magazine 2018.
Luca Roscini is a Counsel in the Africa practice.
He is mainly working in the Brussels office but he is frequently travelling in Africa.
He has indeed an in-depth knowledge of this continent where he lived and where he has been working, advising and assisting many local and international companies. His competences are wide broad and range from commercial to corporate, always in tune with Ohada law. As a skilled litigator, Luca handles complex litigation, leading national and international procedures and arbitrations. This experience makes him especially able in drawing up contracts and agreements.
He is described by clients as a fine artist, capable to understand spoken and unspoken needs and to have them translated in pragmatic solutions, from the most traditional to the most creative ones, when needed.
Olivier d'Ursel is a recognised practitioner in commercial law, corporate law and real estate and construction law.
Olivier has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts. He also has particular expertise in legal issues relating to gambling and betting,GDPR and in EU monitoring.
In the field of litigation, Olivier is active both in defence of the interests of his clients and also as a judge, arbitrator and mediator.
His 25 years of experience enable him to provide expert legal and strategic advice to both foreign clients - including many in Germany - and Belgian clients, primarily in the industrial, real estate and trade sectors.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Brussels Bar
Pierre Beyens has over 25 years of experience in liability and insurance law, commercial law, and employment and social security law.
He has particular experience in civil liability of professionals (doctors and other liberal professions, construction professionals), as well as accidents at work and damage assessment of bodily injuries.
Pierre has assisted his clients (SMEs, Belgian companies and foreign companies) on a daily basis for many years in relation to commercial law issues. He has developed particular expertise in commercial contracts (sales, commercial leases, independent collaboration agreements) as well as in matters relating to trade practices.
In the context of employment law, Pierre advises his clients (companies and individuals) on such issues as restructuring, termination of the employment contract, litigation and social security.
Pierre Beyens has been a member of the Brussels Bar since 1987. He joined van Cutsem Wittamer Marnef & Partners as a partner in 1998.
Pierre was referred to as "Leading Individual" for his insurance litigation practice by Leaders'league Magazine 2018.
Tanguy Gillain assists multinationals, SME's and executive managers in various aspects of business law. He advises, drafts agreements, negotiates and handles litigation.
Specialized in employment Law and social security, Tanguy focuses on Human Resources issues: individual and collective labor relations, international occupation of workers, remuneration policy, company transfers, issues of well-being at work, social elections, as well as the termination of employment contracts. Tanguy is the author of publications on these subjects and a regular speaker at conferences.
He has also developed extensive expertise in commercial litigation (sales, rentals, independent collaboration contracts, distribution, trade practices), real estate and construction law, as well as insurance and liability law.
He acts for clients operating in various sectors, including the financial sector (banks, insurance companies, brokers), industry (mechanical engineering, pharmacy, food, electronics), real estate (property developers, agents, co-owners), construction (architects, engineering firms, contractors), the hotel sector (catering, vending) and transport (logistics).
Tanguy is a native bilingual (Dutch - French) and he works in English. His strengths are his knowledge of the business and the concerns of his clients, combined with his honesty and accessibility. His opinions and advices are legal and pragmatic, ready to be applied immediately.