Litigation and Arbitration
The Litigation and Arbitration Practice is dedicated to the prevention and resolution of complex and/or international disputes, representing clients or assisting the firm’s other practices in their litigation or arbitration work.
We represent Belgian and foreign clients both in litigation or arbitration in Belgium and abroad. We help our clients organize multi-jurisdictional claims and defence strategies.
Our team enjoys a strong reputation for complex litigation, including urgent and ex parte proceedings, mass claims, attachments and enforcement disputes.
Liedekerke also has also the privilege of counting one lawyer admitted to the Bar of Cassation among its partners.
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Partner, Head of practice T: +32 2 551 14 72 Send an email |
Our team has extensive experience of handling disputes for clients in the following sectors: automotive, aeronautical (manufacturing and airlines), commodities, consumer goods and food, banking and finance, mining, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, construction, cinema. We have an excellent track record of dealing with highly complex, high-stake international disputes in the context of financial and share deals.
We have recently been involved in:
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Assisting a US hedge fund in an unprecedented garnishment order against a sovereign state in the hands of 145 financial institutions.
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Assisting one of the Middle East’s largest constructing and oil companies in handling a high profile oil dispute involving enforcement and other proceedings in more than 10 countries.
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Assisting the seller in post-acquisition arbitration regarding representations and warranties in relation to the sale of five manufacturing sites of a large US industrial group to its Japanese competitor.
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Acting as lead counsel for the largest state mining company in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a case against a State creditor seeking to enforce its debts against the company’s assets. In a landmark decision, the Privy Council has ruled in favour of Liedekerke’s client.
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Representing an African State in ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, World Bank Group) arbitration proceedings relating to the alleged violation of international treaty standards of investment protection.
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Representing one of the world largest contractors in an ICC arbitration in relation to a USD 1.6 billion infrastructure-project in Qatar.
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Assisting an Asian hedge fund to enforce, in less than five weeks, an ICC arbitral award by (i) obtaining an ex parte Order appointing a custodian to manage the award debtor’s assets and (ii) forcing the award debtor to repatriate its foreign funds to Belgium for collection under the award.
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Assisting one of the world’s leading concession and construction groups with the successful enforcement of an ICC Arbitral Award against a sovereign state by means of an unprecedented garnishment order served on the Central Bank of that sovereign state.
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Assisting US plaintiffs in obtaining evidence in Europe ("US style" witness depositions).
Our team boasts a unique inter-disciplinary composition. Our six partners, supported by highly qualified associates, offer an exceptional depth of experience and knowledge of domestic and international procedure, private international law and international public business law together with excellent knowledge of foreign markets and cultures, especially in the English-speaking world.
Our team also includes two of just twenty Belgian lawyers admitted to the Bar of Cassation.
- Nicolas ANGELET, Partner
- Hakim BOULARBAH, Partner
- Sarah COMPAGNION, Junior Associate
- Aimery DE SCHOUTHEETE, Partner
- Edwine ENDUNDO, Associate
- Roel FRANSIS, Partner
- Bruno HARDY, Junior Associate
- Julien HISLAIRE, Junior Associate
- Martin MEEÙS, Junior Associate
- Arnaud NUYTS, Partner
- Stefaan RAES, Partner
- Luc VAN DEN BON, Senior Attorney
- Maria-Clara VAN DEN BOSSCHE, Junior Associate
- Olivier VAN DER HAEGEN, Senior Attorney
- Charlotte VAN THEMSCHE, Associate
- Magda VANDEBOTERMET, Partner
- Liedekerke contributed to the Belgium chapter of the 2017 edition of “GAR’s Enforcement Know-How”
- Les responsabilités en matière de transport sous température dirigée
- Questions stratégiques liées aux clauses prévoyant une procédure préalable à l'arbitrage
- Getting the Deal Through: Dispute Resolution
- Congo - D.R. - International Arbitration 2nd Edition
- Liedekerke contributes to the 2nd edition of ‘Global Legal Insight – International Arbitration’ - Belgium chapter
- Liedekerke contributes to the 2nd edition of ‘Global Legal Insight – International Arbitration’ - RDC chapter
- L'article 1412quinquies du Code Judiciaire: les immunités internationales codifiées ou malmenées par le législateur?
- Back to the CJEU’s Gazprom judgment : anti-suit injunctions, arbitration and Brussels I
- Des discriminations en matière de point de départ du délai de prescription des actions en responsabilité contractuelle et extracontractuelle(*)
- Litigation partner Hakim Boularbah contributes to Thomson Reuters’ Class Actions Global Guide
- Getting the Deal Through – Dispute Resolution 2014
- Cross-Border Class Actions : The European Way
- Commentaire de la décision du Tribunal Pénal International pour le Rwanda The Prosecutor v. Jean Mpambara
- Headline Litigation, Corporate & Finance: Proposed rules on collective actions under Belgian law
- Dispute Resolution 2013 - Belgium
- Sections belges relatives au droit commercial et au droit du travail
- Fair and Equitable Treatment, Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law
- Product Liability 2012 - Belgium
- Le caractère autolimité de la loi du 13 avril 1995 relative au contrat d’agence commerciale
- Pourvoi en cassation en matière civile
- Les procédures de recours collectif existant à l’étranger
- Droit international des affaires
- Dispute Resolution 2012 - Belgium
- R.P.D.B., Complément, Tome XI, v° Pourvoi en cassation en matière civile
- Le Code judiciaire est-il adapté ( en l'état actuel) aux actions tendant à la réparation d'un préjudice de masse?
- Chapitre belge sur le droit social dans l’édition 2011 de Business Operations in Belgium.
- Requête unilatérale et inversion du contentieux
- International Franchise Sales Law (Belgium chapter)
- Chronique de jurisprudence du Tribunal Pénal International pour le Rwanda
- Interprétation et rédaction des contrats d'assurance
- Déclaration du risque, exclusion de la resposabilité contractuelle et fait intentionnel en assurance protection juridique
- International Litigation in Intellectual Property and Information Technology
- The Enforcement of Jurisdiction Agreements
- Le règlement communautaire sur l'obtention des preuves
- The immunity of International Organizations Confronted with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights
- Obtaining Evidence in Belgium
- Taking of Evidence in the European Union under EC Regulation 1206/2001
- The Doctrine of Forum Non Conveniens
- Assurance RC et garantie dans le temps
- La nationalité des personnes morales en droit international public
- “Arbitration and Brussels I Regulation: Before and After West Tankers”
- “Les procédures spécifiques en droit de l’énergie. Questions choisies”,
- “Le droit européen des recours contre les autorités nationales de régulation: vers une restriction de l’autonomie procédurale des Etats membres”
- “European Public Policy in Commercial Arbitration: Bridge over Troubled Water?”
Seminars
- IBJ-IJE Seminar "Internationale contracten en conflicten"
- IBJ-IJE Seminar "Contrats et litiges internationaux" - "Internationale contracten en conflicten"
News
- New job offer @Liedekerke: Associate (1 to 5 years of experience) Commercial Contracts and Litigation
- 11th International Roman Law Moot Court Competition
- Liedekerke included in the GAR100
- Rankings Legal 500 - 2018
- Hakim Boularbah participera à la table ronde organisée par la Cour internationale d'arbitrage de la chambre de commerce internationale - CCI et La Française International Claims Collection
- Liedekerke welcomes partner Jacques Meunier and Counsel Wim Dedecker within its Corporate & Finance Practice
- Arnaud Nuyts speaker at the Jura Falconis Conference 2018
- Les Codes Thématiques
- Update: draft bill on the extension of the access to collective claims to SMEs
- Stefaan Raes Chair of Panel on EU Damages Directive at CDR Winter Competition Litigation Symposium on 22 February in London
- Liedekerke’s International Arbitration team has been recognized in Who’s Who Legal – Arbitration 2018
- Litigation and Arbitration Client Alert: Preliminary draft bill on the extension of the access to collective claims to SMEs
- Getting The Deal Through - Dispute Resolution 2017
- The Class Actions Law Review 2017
- Global Legal Insights – International Arbitration
- Liedekerke lawyers recognised in The Best Lawyers in Belgium
- Roel Fransis speaker on the enforcement and realisation of a pledge under the new Act on Security Rights on Movable Assets
- Seminar on 10 years of REACH Litigation
- Au secours, un Etat dans mon arbitrage!
- Procédure Civile Européenne 2017
- Chambers Europe 2017 rankings
- Recognition of Liedekerke’s international expertise in Chambers Global 2017
- CETA approved by Trade Committee MEPs
- Class/collective actions in Belgium
- Doing Business 2017 : Equal Opportunity for All
- La stratégie dans l'arbitrage international
- Commentaar Gerechtelijk Recht
- Regards croisés sur le principe du contradictoire
- Liedekerke contributed to the “Global Arbitration Review – Enforcement 2016.”
- Liedekerke is a proud sponsor of the international conference on policies against Odometer Fraud by Car-Pass
- Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation
- Liedekerke to attend the IBA 2016 Annual Conference
- Getting the Deal Through: Dispute Resolution
- Hakim Boularbah invité de l'émission radio Le Forum de Midi Première
- États généraux du droit médical et du dommage corporel
- Liedekerke named Belgian Law Firm of the Year at the Chambers and Partners’ 2016 Europe Awards
- Hakim Boularbah orateur au colloque "Etats généraux du droit médical et du dommage corporel"
- Hakim Boularbah parmi les lauréats des Diwan Awards 2015
- Hakim Boularbah interviendra lors du lunch-causerie de la Revue DAOR du 15 octobre prochain sur le thème de l'entreprise face au(x) consommateur(s) et l'impact du Code de droit économique sur les litiges de consommation.
- Hakim Boularbah orateur au colloque de l'AEDBF le 8 octobre
- Hakim Boularbah orateur à l'après-midi d’étude "Le mandat dans la pratique notariale et la procédure civile" organisée à l'Ulg
- Arnaud Nuyts, Speaker at ICC Conference in Paris on 23 May 2014
- Liedekerke voted best Litigation and Arbitration Law Firm of the Year
- Liedekerke promotes its talents
- Dispute Resolution 2013 – Belgium
- Liedekerke honoured "Litigation and Arbitration Law Firm of the Year" at the Belgian Legal Awards
- Liedekerke appoints a new Managing Partner and Chairman
- Liedekerke fifth anniversary in London
- Liedekerke wins another distinction at The Lawyer European Awards ceremony in Monaco, October 25th, 2012
- Hakim Boularbah, Head of the Liedekerke Litigation and Arbitration Department, appointed Professor of Civil Procedure at the University of Liège
- Liedekerke's participation to the Princely mission in Japan - June 2012
- Liedekerke winner at the Chambers Europe Awards 2012
- Liedekerke awarded "Belgian Law Firm of the Year" and "Banking & Fianance Law Firm of the Year" by the Belgian Legal Awards 2012
- Corporate Intl Magazine 2011 Global Awards: Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year in Belgium
- Best Benelux Law Firm 2011
- Hakim Boularbah, member of the Group of Experts set up to assist the European Commission on the attatchment of bank accounts
- More honors for Liedekerke as Lex Mundi named "Law Firm Network of the Year"
- Best Benelux Law Firm 2010
- Hakim Boularbah receives the Lucien Campion prize
Hakim Boularbah is regarded by one source as "the absolute number one for transnational litigation, with a name that resonates beyond borders." Described as "a tough litigator who will also take a reasonable view," his practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation and he is praised for his pleasant approach to negotiations.-- Chambers Global 2018
Aimery de Schoutheete is described by one client as "very proactive and able to provide very accurate advice." -- Chambers Global 2018
According to interviewees, Nicolas Angelet is "probably the most renowned counsel to African states for litigation." -- Chambers Global 2018
“Obvious market leader” Legal 500 – Dipute Resolution - 2016
Department head Hakim Boularbah "handles his cases extremely well," say clients. Peers describe him as "quite exceptional - one of the best for procedural law." -- Chambers Global – Dispute Resolution – 2016
Praise from clients for our dispute resolution team: "Efficient and reliable", "The lawyers get straight to the point and provide pragmatic solutions." -- Chambers Europe – Dispute Resolution – 2015
Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick has “strong expertise in litigation and arbitration” and expertise in Africa-related litigation as well as broader cross-border capability -- Legal 500 – Dispute Resolution – 2015
Clients describe department head Hakim Boularbah as an "incredibly knowledgeable and very good litigator." -- Chambers Europe – Dispute Resolution – 2015
“Extremely capable lawyer” Arnaud Nuyts is “very knowledgeable on conflict of laws and jurisdiction issues”. -- Legal 500 – Dispute Resolution – 2015
Aimery de Schoutheete is an experienced disputes lawyer who is described by sources as "calm, focused and unflappable." His strategic skills are also noted, as is his experience of disputes and arbitration proceedings involving Africa, in particular the Democratic Republic of Congo. -- Chambers Europe – Dispute Resolution – 2014
Praise from clients for Hakim Boularbah: Hakim Boularbah is "excellent at handling all the tricks involved in civil procedures - he impresses judges as he knows the law better than they do," according to an interviewee. Another source describes him as "efficient and clever." -- Chambers Europe – Dispute Resolution – 2014
Praise from clients for Hakim Boularbah: he is "a very talented attorney". -- Legal 500 – Dispute Resolution – 2014
Aimery de Schoutheete has "excellent written advocacy skills". -- Legal 500 – Dispute Resolution – 2014
boulevard de l'Empereur 3 Keizerslaan - 1000 Brussels - Belgium
T: +32 2 551 15 15 - F: +32 2 551 14 14
VAT - BE 0478 065 191
