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Belgian Legal Awards 2013: Winners and Justifications from the JuryDroitBelge.NetVendredi 15.03.13 |
The Legal Awards Ceremony 2013 took place on March 14th 2013 at Hotel LE PLAZA in Brussels.
The winners 2013 are:
CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : AMBOS NBGO
REASONS :
Team constantly increasing in quality and quantity
Has successfully managed interesting projects on 2012
Team combining both senior and junior lawyers with talent
Business minded approach
Good availability, even of the top partners
Strong ideas about anticipation of fees for clients, especially in these times of economic turmoil
Special Mention: Nauta Dutilh
COMPETITION & ANTI-TRUST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : CLIFFORD CHANCE
REASONS :
Very strong team
Arrival of J Ysewyn allowed to bring CC’s competition practice to the highest level
Technically highly skilled teams, partners with a real innovative approach
Quality of the files handled last year
Remarkable understanding of EU institutions
Excellent corporate culture and good mix between foreign and lawyers
Capability to work at both domestic and international level
Professionally drafted submission
Special Mention: Gide Loyrette Nouel, DLA Piper, O’Melveny & Myers
BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : BUYLE LEGAL
REASONS :
Interesting technical handling of cases in 2012
Excellent value for money
Unmatchable competences in Banking & Finance
High academic profile combined with pragmatic approach
Managed to deal cases although strong investment in the community
Special Mention: Clifford Chance, Altius
REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : NAUTA DUTILH
REASONS :
Continuous growth on the Belgian Real Estate market
Very good profile of the team
Clairvoyant understanding of clients demand
Able to master the regional factor
Good support from the finance and public teams
Involvement in consequent transactions
Special Mention: Lydian & Clifford Chance
HIGHEST POTENTIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : STRELIA
REASONS :
Ambitious and risk-managed move
Innovative positioning on the market
Well-structured organization from the start
Perfect team of partners and associates but will have to address the international challenge
Special mention: IP Porta, Younity, Holland van Gijzen
MOST INNOVATIVE LEGAL DEPARTMENT
WINNER : JOHNSON & JOHNSON
REASONS :
Absolute innovative approach
Leadership rotation
Important Legal team which has found business-minded solutions for the benefit of their domestic and international units
Innovation in many areas
The ICD Package
Interesting approach in compliance issues
Sophisticated system for legal translation
Capability to act in an environment facing major challenges
Special mention: ING BANK – BELGACOM – PMV (Participatie Maatschapij Vlaanderen)
TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : AFSCHRIFT
REASONS :
Team spirit
Committed their skills not just for the clients but for the Community as well
Tax practice effectively structured, pluralist and multidisciplinary team
Customized solutions offered to clients
Scientific approach in a fast changing legal environment
Very sharp and precise analysis
Able to assess the full complexity and range of tax matters
Continuity in excellency
Presence of female lawyers at decision-making positions
Accompanied numerous key transactions in 2012
Special mention: Liedekerke, Tetralaw
EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : VAN OLMEN & WYNANT
REASONS :
Presence in many important cases in 2012
More than just advisors, real support to the client
Nice balance between employment and corporate
Continuity in their creative approach
Excellent contact with the individual and with the whole company
One of the largest teams in Belgium
Important cases handled successfully
Nice international development with involvement in a niche cross-border network
Special Mention: Altius, De Wolf & Partners
INTERNATIONAL FIRM OF THE YEAR IN BRUSSELS
WINNER : MCGUIREWOODS
REASONS :
Large scope of expertise
Has been growing an excellent reputation in the Belgian market
Brussels was the first international hub of the firm
Leading counsel in several high profile cases
Managed to create a substantial hub in Brussels with a good growth
Full service team with several strong practice areas
Great mix of Belgian lawyers with international profiles and foreign lawyers
Continuous presence of many years in Belgium
Special Mention: Mc Dermott Will Emery
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & REGULATORY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : PHILIPPE & Partners
REASONS :
Innovation and new services: development of outsourcing to legal departments, assistance with innovative products (wind energy PPP’s, green, micro-credits, etc.
Involved in many cases in a fast changing sector
Strong collaboration with the academic community, combined with a down to earth solution driven approach
Lawyers are very accessible also at partner level
Transparent budgeting
Special Mention: Nauta Dutilh
IP, IT & TMT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : ALTIUS
REASONS :
Impressive list of deals achieved in 2012
Good balance national & international
Excellent co-operation with in house counsels
Committed & dynamic Managing Partner
Variety of economic sectors served
Great track record of clients
Deserved accolade from all relevant leagues & directories
Strong in all chapters of IP, IT & TMT
Very professionally drafted submission
Special Mention: Olswang
LITIGATION & ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : LIEDEKERKE
REASONS :
Very efficient case management in arbitration cases
Respect for the main advantages of ADR
Prompt in dealing with arbitration procedure
Very high availability
Top notch individuals
Great mix between practitioners and academics
Very international practice
Active before most levels of courts with success this year
Good combination between a business law firm and a litigation firm
Special Mention: Matray Matray Hallet
MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR
WINNER : Eric CUSAS, Field Fisher Waterhouse
REASONS :
Has managed an amazing growth in terms of quantity and quality of the team.
Has been recognized by its international fellow partners for his skills and invited to the international Board of his firm
Managed successfully the integration of new partners and growth of the firm
Thought leadership
Real managing skills and not simply a lawyer
Has a vision for his firms on both the domestic and international side
Impressive record of achievement and continuity at the highest position of the firm
Special Mention : Yves Tavernier (De Wolf & Partners), Bob Martens (DLA Piper)
BEST FIRM TO WORK FOR
WINNER : VAN CUTSEM WITTAMER MARNEF & PARTNERS
REASONS :
Team building approach to create a small community
The firm’s practice covers various fields of the law, which provides the trainee/associate with a large specialization choice
The newcomer receives a high-quality training and is given a good career opportunity;
The firm organizes many informal activities, which helps to reinforce the team-spirit.
Small turn over and depart from the firm
HR policy based on good communication between seniors and juniors.
Good life-work balance
Special Mention: Monard D’Hulst
MARKETING TEAM OF THE YEAR
Winner: LYDIAN
REASONS:
In a world where it is extremely hard to get a press coverage without creating a scandal, Lydian succeeds in doing so in an informative and positive way.
Employers Branding programme
Very impressive amount of actions taken throughout the year
Business lunches and seminars. Pragmatic publications compiled
Humor in communication although serious business
Consistent & elaborated marketing approach with proved outcome
Marketing team considered at the highest level by partners and not perceived as “underdogs”
Special mention: Altius
ADVOKATENKANTOOR VAN HET JAAR : VLAANDEREN
WINNER : Geyskens, Vandeurzen & Vennoten
REASONS :
Ambition and risk appetite of the firm
Well thought and consistent development
Initiative to promote a regional network of local firms in a globalized context
Cases which prove that the firm goes the extra mile for the client
Very strong in advisory and litigation services
Special Mention : SCHUERMANS & SCHUERMANS
CABINETS D’AVOCAT DE L’ANNEE EN REGION WALLONNE
WINNER : CELES
REASONS :
Active in the Walloon region but with a capability in Brussels and the Flemish region (Flemish speaking team).
Growth in turn over and staff although financial crisis
Very well managed law firm with professional management processes
Product approach (Lexpack) towards the SME sector
Constant investment in new technologies
Team building for the lawyers and the support staff
Multi-specialist approach
Well prepared memo
Special mention: Matray Matray & Hallet
BELGIAN LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR 2013
WINNER : DLA PIPER
REASONS :
Substantial growth in Belgium : new partners, new associates
Putting Brussels as « legal capital » (hub) within their international organisation
Remarkable management scheme
Excellency in training younger generation and academic investment
Two lawyers at the Supreme Court
Investment in knowledge management
Innovation in sharing their knowledge
Regional, national and international ability (opening in Antwerp in crisis time and development in Africa)
Open communication
Good diverity balance
Interesting policy towards the Community (Médecins sans frontiers)
More info on : http://www.legal-awards.be
Source : DroitBelge.Net