News
News
HVDB celebrates its 20th Anniversary at the Egmont Palace
On 14 October 2022, Hanotiau & van den Berg celebrated its 20 year anniversary, hosting over 300 guests from Belgium and abroad at the magnificent Egmont Palace in Brussels.
Set up in 2001 by renowned international arbitrators, the firm boasts unparalleled expertise and experience in the field of dispute resolution. Thanks to this unique insight into the dispute resolution process, the firm offers cutting-edge advice and first class legal representation in all types of commercial disputes, both before international arbitration tribunals and in proceedings before state courts.
Today, H&VDB is recognized as one of the leading dispute resolution firms in the world, offering services on both sides of the bench. Many of H&VDB’s lawyers are highly sought-after to act as arbitrators. Our team includes some of the world’s sharpest decision-makers in high stakes matters, as well as the next generation of leaders in the field. The firm also successfully represent clients in complex and high value disputes before arbitral tribunals and domestic courts, including in arbitration-related litigation. H&VDB is one of the few law firms that is able to provide legal representation before the Belgian Supreme Court. We further provide advice on dispute management and avoidance as well as on select contentious issues. Our clients include Belgian and international companies, ranging from sole operators and SMEs to multinationals. In litigation proceedings, we also represent States. The Firm has particular expertise in franchising.
To see all the pictures of the event, please see here.
WHO’S WHO LEGAL 2022 GLOBAL GUIDE RECOGNIZES EIGHT HVDB LAWYERS FOR THEIR EXPERTISE IN ARBITRATION
In its 2022 Guide, Who’s Who Legal (WWL), recommended eight of the firm’s lawyers as leaders in international arbitration. Partners Bernard Hanotiau and Albert Jan van den Berg were once more singled out as Global Elite Thought Leaders in international arbitration. Partners Paul Lefebvre, Pascal Hollander, Niuscha Bassiri and Maarten Draye are each Recommended as Arbitration Global Leaders. Partner Iuliana Iancu, together with counsel Emily Hay, were each ranked as Arbitration Future Leaders.
Bernard Hanotiau is considered by his peers and clients as “[o]ne of the best presiding arbitrators around”, who is “very efficient and knowledgeable”, according to sources, who highlight his “vast experience of complex arbitrations”.
Albert Jan van den Berg is respected as “one of the biggest names on the international circuit” and “one of the leading arbitrators in the world”. He is “highly recommended for his investment and commercial arbitration expertise”.
Niuscha Bassiri is “a very smart and hard-working lawyer” and “a brilliant arbitrator” who “displays excellent judgment”.
Pascal Hollander is identified by his peers and clients as “the top arbitrator in the field” who is known to be “a sensible, creative and very poised professional”.
Paul Lefebvre is recommended by his peers and clients as an “an excellent arbitrator with great expertise in international disputes” who is “simply first-rate in commercial arbitration”.
Iuliana Iancu is recognized by her peers and clients as “incredibly talented and knowledgeable” heralded as “a super-prepared and very clear lawyer”, and “one of the rising stars of the new generation of arbitrators”.
Maarten Draye is known by his peers and clients as “[o]ne of Belgium’s best arbitration practitioners”, signalled as “a brilliant advocate and arbitrator”, and who is “always well prepared to handle complex cases (in a variety of languages)”.
Emily Hay is regarded by her peers and clients as “brilliant” and “a dedicated and knowledgeable arbitration lawyer” with “great knowledge and experience in investment arbitration”.
HVDB RECOGNIZED IN LEADERS LEAGUE 2022 FOR ARBITRATION AND LITIGATION
In its 2022 International Arbitration Ranking, Leaders League praises Hanotiau & van den Berg as one of two leading firms, its highest category, recognizing six HVDB partners Bernard Hanotiau, Albert Jan van den Berg, Paul Lefebvre, Pascal Hollander, Niuscha Bassiri and Maarten Draye, as leading practitioners in Belgium
HVDB’s commercial litigation practice comes highly recommended, with recognition for partners Pascal Hollander, Paul Lefebvre, Pierre Vermeire and Maarten Draye as leading practitioners.
Finally, Leaders League recommends Bernard Hanotiau, Albert Jan van den Berg, Pascal Hollander and Paul Lefebvre as leading arbitrators in Belgium. Maarten Draye is recommended as “excellent”.
LEADERS LEAGUE 2021 RECOGNIZES HVDB AS THE ONLY LAW FIRM IN BELGIUM TO BE RANKED AS ‘LEADING’ IN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION, ITS HIGHEST TIER
In its 2021 International Arbitration Ranking, Leaders League has identified HVDB as the only law firm to attain the highest ranking tier within the category of “best law firms in Belgium for international arbitration 2021”. Leaders League recognized five HVDB partners, Bernard Hanotiau, Albert Jan van den Berg, Paul Lefebvre, Pascal Hollander, and Niuscha Bassiri, as Leading practitioners in Belgium.
In its 2021 Commercial Litigation Rankings, Leaders League has distinguished partners Pascal Hollander, Paul Lefebvre, and Pierre Vermeire as Highly Recommended practitioners in Belgium.
Hanotiau & van den Berg turns 20
20 years ago on 1 September 2021, Bernard Hanotiau, Professor Albert Jan van den Berg, Paul Lefebvre and Pascal Hollander set up the very first boutique law firm dedicated to arbitration and litigation. The founding partners’ visionary approach to dispute resolution services has turned out to be a resounding success. Since its inception, members of the firm have been involved as arbitrators and counsel in hundreds of cases, a lot of them high profile ones, both before Belgian and Dutch courts as well as in international commercial and investment arbitrations.
Hanotiau & van den Berg wants to sincerely thank our clients and peers for the trust during these years, as well as our staff – past and present – who have made these achievements possible. We look forward to continuing on this path in the future, which looks bright. In keeping with our tradition of promoting homegrown talent, we are very pleased to announce today also the promotion of Juan Camilo Jiménez-Valencia and Pratyush Panjwani to senior associate.
WHO’S WHO LEGAL 2021 GLOBAL GUIDE RECOGNIZES EIGHT HVDB LAWYERS FOR THEIR EXPERTISE IN ARBITRATION, LITIGATION, AND FRANCHISE.
In its Arbitration 2021 Legal Marketplace Analysis, Who’s Who Legal (WWL), ranked eight of the firm’s lawyers as leaders in the practice areas of international arbitration, commercial litigation and franchise. Of these, partners Bernard Hanotiau and Albert Jan van den Berg were again acknowledged as among the world’s top Global Elite Thought Leaders in international arbitration. Partner Pascal Hollander is distinguished as an Arbitration Thought Leader, while partner Paul Lefebvre comes Recommended in the Commercial Litigation practice area. Partners Maarten Draye and Iuliana Iancu, together with counsel Emily Hay, were each ranked as Future Leaders in Arbitration.
Bernard Hanotiau is again recognized by his peers and clients as “[a] global elite arbitrator with a well-deserved reputation”, who “is a superstar”, according to sources, who highlight his “truly international” practice.
Albert Jan van den Berg is named by his peers and clients as “one of the biggest names on the global arbitration circuit”, with “an excellent reputation”. WWL sources further attest to his “deep knowledge and vast experience”.
Niuscha Bassiri is once more recognized as an Arbitration Thought Leader, with her peers and clients recommending her as an “elegant and skilful arbitrator” who has “deep experience in international commercial arbitration and construction” disputes.
Pascal Hollander is identified by his peers and clients as “one of the top names in the market” who is known to show “exceptional strength on arbitration cases.”
Paul Lefebvre is singled out by his peers and clients as an “experienced, smart and considerate arbitrator” who has “a stella reputation”.
Maarten Draye is known by his peers and clients as “ha[ving] the knowledge and experience to be one of the next leaders in international arbitration” who is “[o]ne of the foremost young arbitration practitioners in Belgium”.
Iuliana Iancu is recognized by her peers and clients as “a brilliantly talented attorney with a deep knowledge of international commercial and investment treaty arbitration” who is “[w]ithout any question one of the smartest lawyers around”.
Emily Hay is regarded by her peers and clients as “an astute and dedicated lawyer who pays great attention to details” and who is “very meticulous and brilliantly impressive”.
In its Franchise 2021 Legal Marketplace Analysis, WWL ranked Pascal Hollander as a Global Elite Thought Leader, renowned as “an exceptional arbitrator and litigator who has a wealth of experience acting in franchise disputes”.
CHAMBERS GLOBAL 2021 RANKS HVDB IN BAND 1 FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN BELGIUM
In its 2021 Guide, Chambers and Partners again ranked HVDB among the top three law firms in Band 1 for dispute resolution in Belgium. Chambers recommends HVDB as a “[m]arket-leading boutique with renowned expertise in international arbitration” and an “[e]xceptionally strong group of arbitrators acting on large-scale cross-border disputes involving commercial companies and governments, representing clients as arbitration counsel, as well as sitting as arbitrators on complex cases”.
Albert Jan Van den Berg is described as “one of the most renowned arbitrators in the world” by a Chambers source with “a wealth of experience acting as an arbitrator on international arbitrations spanning a wide range of sectors.”
Bernard Hanotiau comes recommended by Chambers as “a highly esteemed international arbitrator with vast experience acting as both an arbitrator and as arbitration counsel.”
Pascal Hollander is distinguished by Chambers as “represent[ing] clients in high-profile arbitrations, often involving commercial or trade disputes”, who “files excellent submissions and is a very good advocate in a hearing.”
Paul Lefebvre is recognized as “a member of the Belgian Supreme Court and regularly acts as chairman and co-arbitrator on both institutional and ad hoc arbitrations.”
HVDB partners Bernard Hanotiau and Albert Jan van den Berg are, again, featured in Band 1 of the most in demand arbitrators world-wide. Together with Pascal Hollander, they equally feature in the category most in demand arbitrators Europe-wide. Along with Paul Lefebvre, they are each recognized for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration in Belgium.
LEADERS LEAGUE 2020 RECOGNIZES FIVE HVDB PARTNERS AS LEADING ARBITRATORS IN BELGIUM
In its 2020 International Arbitration Ranking, partners Bernard Hanotiau, Albert Jan van den Berg, Paul Lefebvre, and Pascal Hollander are ranked by Leaders League in its highest tier of Leading, within the category of “best arbitrators in Belgium 2019-2020”. HVDB partner, Maarten Draye is also identified by Leaders League as a Rising Star in international arbitration in Belgium.
HVDB is proud to announce that Paul Lefebvre was appointed President of the Bar of the Supreme Court of Belgium for a two year term starting in September 2020.
HVDB is proud to announce that Paul Lefebvre was appointed President of the Bar of the Supreme Court of Belgium for a two year term starting in September 2020.
CHAMBERS GLOBAL 2020 RANKS HVDB IN BAND 1 FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN BELGIUM
In its 2020 Guide, Chambers and Partners ranked HVDB among the top 3 law firms in Band 1 for dispute resolution in Belgium. Chambers describes HVDB as a “team […] composed of “world-class arbitrators.”
Albert Jan Van den Berg “acts as an arbitrator on international investment treaty arbitrations, as well as corporate and shareholder disputes. He assists with arbitrations under a variety of rules, including SIAC and LCIA rules”.
Bernard Hanotiau “is an acclaimed arbitrator specialising in international arbitrations within the construction sector. One market commentator claims that he ‘remains the star arbitrator in Belgium.’”
Pascal Hollander “is a highly regarded ICC arbitrator, regularly appointed on international arbitrations concerning contractual breaches. He also acts as arbitration counsel in commercial proceedings. One interviewee hails the ”excellent” Hollander as a ”very sophisticated lawyer who is extremely clever.””
Paul Lefebvre “is regarded by sources as a ”senior litigator with a very good reputation.” He is admitted to the Belgian Supreme Court and is known for handling commercial litigation, as well as arbitrations.”
Bernard Hanotiau and Albert Jan van den Berg feature in Band 1 of the most in demand arbitrators worldwide. Together with Pascal Hollander, they equally feature in the category dispute resolution: arbitration for Belgium. Paul Lefebvre is recognized for dispute resolution in Belgium.
