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Belgian Legal Awards 2012 : Winners + Justifications from the JuryDroitBelge.NetLundi 19.03.12 |
The Legal Awards Ceremony 2012 took place on March 15th 2012 at Hotel LE PLAZA in Brussels.
The winners are:
CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : NAUTA DUTILH
REASONS :
Has successfully managed interesting projects on 2011
Team combining both experience and innovation
Consistency and continuity
Interest and investment in the legal profession
Excellent results
Business minded approach
Good availability, even of the top partners
COMPETITION & ANTI-TRUST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : OLSWANG
REASONS :
Very strong interaction between corporate/M&A and competition team
Quality of the files handled this year, especially in anti-cartel area and investigations area.
Very flexible team
Continuity in providing quality
Remarkable understanding of EU institutions and good network of contacts
Excellent corporate culture and good mix between foreign and lawyers
BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : LIEDEKERKE
REASONS :
Proven track record and excellence in all major banking & finance deals this year
Well presented memo
Unmatchable competences in Banking & Finance
High academic profile combined with pragmatic approach
Team constantly increasing in quality and quantity
REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : DLA PIPER
REASONS :
Has raised substantially its corporate profile in 2011 to come to the top
Continuous growth on the Belgian Real Estate market
Presence on the Brussels, Flemish and Walloon sector
Interesting cooperation with its international network
Practical approach to a number of consequent transactions
Great combination in PPP & Real Estate
Highest Potential LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : HOLLAND VAN GIJZEN
REASONS :
Tailor made legal approach
Multidisciplinary approach
Impressive growth in 2011
Interesting communication materials including own magazine
Presence of women at the top
Full service firm covering all business needs
Strong corporate culture
Innovative positioning on the market
MOST INNOVATIVE LEGAL DEPARTMENT
WINNER : ELECTRABEL
REASONS :
Innovative Legal team which has found business solutions allowing the company to implement industrial partnerships
Long term contractual relationship in compliance with competition rules
Sophisticated legal structure of all elements in the energy conversion chain
Narrow the gap between legal counsel and the customer
Invest time and effort in internal and external communication to make sure that the customer knows and understands their competencies.
Legal team acted in several deals beyond the usual boundaries of an in house legal team, shows leadership
Able to act in an environment facing major challenges
TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : AFSCHRIFT
REASONS :
Tax practice effectively structured, pluralist and multidisciplinary team
Customized solutions offered to clients
Very sharp and precise analysis
Able to assess the full complexity and range of tax matters
Presence and commitment in Society
Continuity in excellency
Presence of female lawyers at decision-making positions
Accompanied several of the key transactions in 2011
EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : LYDIAN
REASONS :
Has a record year in 2011
Employment is not a support department of the firm but a key element
Extremely innovative and creative approach
Work for both client companies and service other law firms
Important growth with one of the largest teams in Belgium
Pragmatic and cost-effective approach
Important cases handled successfully
US LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IN BRUSSELS
WINNER : CROWELL & MORING
REASONS :
Managed to create a substantial hub in Brussels with a good growth
Multicompetency team with several strong practice areas
Investment in the local community
Interesting strategic vision
Great mix of US, Belgian and foreign lawyers
Impressive growth
Continuous presence of 20 years in Belgium
Committed & dynamic Managing Partner
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & REGULATORY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : PHILIPPE & Partners
REASONS :
high demonstrated expertise in the field and in depth knowledge of comparative law principles
Strong collaboration with the academic community, combined with a down to earth solution driven approach
Lawyers equally devoted to consultancy, transactional work and litigation, with a strong interest in alternative dispute resolutions, mediation and arbitration
Innovation and new services: development of outsourcing to legal departments, assistance with innovative products (wind energy PPP’s, green certificates, micro-credits, etc.
Excellent co-operation with in house counsels
IP, IT & TMT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : JONES DAY
REASONS :
Impressive list of deals achieved in 2011
Good balance national & international
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
Interesting use of an international network and contacts
Practice area well supported by Tax, corporate and EU/trade departments of the firm
LITIGATION & ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : MONARD D HULST
REASONS :
Active before most levels of courts with success this year
Good combination between a business law firm and a litigation firm
Has raised its arbitration and litigation profile in 2011
Capacity to work under strong pressure
Strong ideas about previsibility of fees for clients, especially in these times of economic turmoil
Clear strategy divided in 4 chapters
Good balance of advisory and procedural work - Close to the clients
MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR
WINNER : CMS-Debacker: Stanislas van Wassenhove
REASONS :
Has brought the firm to the Top 10
Managed successfully the merger integration and growth of the firm
Thought leadership
Implemented non lawyer support staff to key positions in the firm
Present on the domestic and international side of management
Impressive record of achievement and continuity at the highest position of the firm
BEST FIRM TO WORK FOR
WINNER : DE WOLF & PARTNERS
REASONS :
Small turn over and depart from the firm
HR policy based on proximity and openness
Young and dynamic corporate culture
Keep a positive attitude although constantly growing
Good life-work balance
Team building approach to create a small community
Entrepreneurship put forward
MARKETING TEAM OF THE YEAR
WINNER : CLIFFORD CHANCE
REASONS :
Consistent & elaborated marketing approach with proved outcome
Marketing team considered at the highest level by partners and not perceived as simple support
Innovative and non aggressive approach to the market
Humility although very professional
ADVOKATENKANTOOR VAN HET JAAR : VLAANDEREN
WINNER : NELISSEN GRADE
REASONS :
Impressive growth
Well balanced extension between Flanders & Brussels and an opening of a branch in Wallonia
Professional approach in management
Pioneering statements in jurisprudence and doctrine
Great balance advisory and litigation work
Very professional HR policy
High sense of ethics
CABINETS D’AVOCAT DE L’ANNEE EN REGION WALLONNE
WINNER : CELES
REASONS :
Constant growth and opening of a rep office in Brussels
Consolidation of an employment department and integration of a Flemish partner
Involvement in the local community
Product approach (Lexpack) towards the SME sector
Active in Brussels and the whole Walloon Region
Constant investment in new technologies
Team building for the lawyers and the support staff
Multi-specialist approach
Well prepared memo
BELGIAN LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR 2012
WINNER : LIEDEKERKE
REASONS :
Excellent briefing and presentation to the jury
Impressive track record of deals in 2011
Substantial growth in 2011 (4 new equity partners in 2011)
Gender diversity and participation to Woman on Board + several lady partners + participation to the programme Women in Law
Investment in know-how: hiring high profile knowledge managers
Investment in Society and academia
Creation of a crisis task force to respond to the magnitude of the financial crisis
Intensive workshop programme with clients on subjects chosen by the client (non billable)
Outstanding international strategy: office in London and focus on BRIC Lands & Africa
Pilot project to use Villo – the Brussels bike
More info on : www.legal-awards.be
Lien: Interview de Me Frédéric Gosselin : Award 2012 du cabinet Wallon
Source : DroitBelge.Net
