McDermott Will & Schulte — Belgium

About

Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,750+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better. Brussels office: Operating at the heart of the EU, the firm’s Brussels team supports McDermott’s global client base and provides sophisticated counsel in all aspects of competition and international trade law. The Brussels office has lawyers of many different nationalities, the majority of whom are bilingual, if not multilingual. Some of the firm’s lawyers are admitted to practice in several EU jurisdictions, as well as the US. This international environment not only provides a wealth of different viewpoints and approaches to the cases the firm works on, but has also built up an excellent network of contacts internationally over the years. The team advises clients across several areas of law, including corporate transactions, merger control notification, state aid, public procurement, cartel investigations, technology licensing, and pricing and distribution arrangements. The dispute resolution team represents clients in EU and member state litigation, arbitration and mediation, risk arbitrage, sector inquiries and agency complaints. The EU trade team counsels exporters, complainants and importers in EU anti-dumping investigations, and advises international investors on customs, export controls and trade-related matters, notably origin, preferential tariffs and anti-circumvention measures. The EU regulatory lawyers are uniquely positioned to offer co-ordinated regulatory advice on international and cross-border issues of clients operating in a diverse range of industries. The Brussels team and individual lawyers are recognised for the quality, consistency and creativity of their legal counsel. As part of a global, full-service law firm, the lawyers of the Brussels office are prepared to help clients wherever their business interests take them. - Main areas of practice Corporate and transactions: Our seasoned lawyers represent the full spectrum of corporate interests around the world, from global corporations to family-owned businesses to privately held companies. Our lawyers thrive on solving the most complex business problems facing their clients today and mapping out strategies to drive clients’ success tomorrow. Our broad capabilities include seamless transactional services, such as negotiating cross-border acquisitions or outsourcing deals, representing issuers in public offerings, securing preferred financial credit arrangements for borrowers or navigating a business restructuring. Employment: We pair deep resources with broad geographic coverage, to meet the rapidly evolving needs of employers in virtually every sector, including manufacturing, financial services, health care, education and construction. Our lawyers help clients attract and retain workers at every level, enter and exit markets as business conditions warrant, develop and implement effective employment policies, identify and protect trade secrets and other confidential information, and negotiate and enforce employment contracts. Global privacy and cybersecurity: Our lawyers advise clients on the statutory, regulatory and enforcement regimes that govern the collection, use and disclosure of data in the United States, Europe, Asia and elsewhere. With extensive experience advising on the full range of data privacy and protection laws, industry standards and issues, our lawyers regularly counsel clients on US and international data-use issues and conduct in-depth privacy/cybersecurity risk assessments, often in the context of mergers, acquisitions and other domestic and cross border transactions. Employee benefits and executive compensation: Our lawyers help clients maximise the value of and return on their investments in human capital while avoiding exposure to liability. The team provides strategic day-to-day counsel on matters such as executive compensation, health/welfare plan compliance, qualified retirement plans, privacy and data protection, executive employment and severance, cultural diversity, full compliance with relevant laws, including ERISA legislation, among other general employee-relations matters. Healthcare and life sciences: Our team provides unparalleled legal acumen rooted in decades of experience and forward growth powered by unconventional thinking. With a deep bench that includes lawyers at the cutting edge of digital health, the firm partners with clients on the full range of health-care-related issues, including physician practice management, health care litigation and the evolving regulatory landscape — both in the United States and internationally. As a top-ranked law firm for health and a leader in life sciences, we help clients navigate the issues that matter when it comes to achieving missions and solidifying positions in the market. Intellectual property: Our top-notch team of IP lawyers, partners with clients to identify and secure their creative assets, maximize the value of their IP portfolios, and enforce or defend their rights in courts and tribunals virtually everywhere their products are made, distributed and sold. Whether you’re building the next iconic brand, protecting game-changing new technology or creating new revenue streams from your established IP assets, our team can help you achieve your business goals at every stage of the IP lifecycle. We are business savvy, technically skilled and steeped in high-stakes experience. We speak fluent CFO, CSO, CPO, CMO and Tax—skills honed over decades and maintained by understanding and embracing diverse perspectives. We are fearless and relentless advocates for your business, always pursuing a return on your IP investments. Our lawyers prioritize our partnership with you and believe service is a 24×7 proposition. We help our clients respond quickly and offer actionable solutions designed to mitigate risk and capitalize on opportunity. Litigation and dispute resolution: Our litigation and dispute resolution lawyers are always ready to roll up their sleeves and deliver the sound, practical legal strategies necessary for both short- and long-term success. Based internationally, our nimble and creative lawyers are dedicated to providing passionate client advocacy through superior trial skills and incisive industry knowledge. The synthesis of skill and experience, flexibility and strength — plus track record of success in high-stakes controversies — makes McDermott a go-to firm for large-scale, complex litigation. Our white-collar team has tried hundreds of cases in courts throughout the United States and internationally, and draws on the unmatched insights of its lawyers who previously served as senior federal prosecutors. Private client and wealth management: From the global to the personal, the firm brings its full-service network to bear in helping closely held business owners and high-net-worth individuals effectively structure their assets, meet their wealth transfer and planning goals, and make their mark philanthropically. As clients make the critical decisions that shape their personal, business, tax, civic and charitable concerns around the world, we will be at their side with creative, customized solutions. Regulatory: Our lawyers marry legal skill with political savvy to turn regulatory risks into forward-looking business solutions. Based in government and trade capitals around the world, our lawyers support companies traversing the increasingly complex international trade landscape, and tackle rising global antitrust activity in all major US and international forums. Wherever the business reaches, our talented regulatory lawyers can help position the your organization for success. Tax: Our lawyers advise some of the world’s most successful companies on tax matters, including more than 60 percent of the Fortune 100. With a unique combination of tax practitioners, strategists and creative thinkers who can validate sound strategies and offer innovative solutions it helps clients advance their organization’s growth plan — with senior partners involved at every step — 365 days a year with a 360-degree view of the evolving tax landscape. ### Languages - All main business languages ### Staffing Figures - 0 Number of lawyers - 9 at this office

Office locations

Practice areas

Lawyers in this office

Axel Schulz

Axel Schulz focuses his practice on European competition law and has a wealth of experience in merger control, global cartel defence and general antitrust advice in sectors including energy, chemicals, agri-commodities, container shipping, ports, pigments, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Within the pharmaceutical sector, Axel demonstrates exceptional proficiency and industry insight. He has built a solid reputation assisting clients with competition law matters arising around loss of exclusivity; in addition, Axel has advised on distribution, co-marketing, licensing and various forms of vertical and horizontal cooperation agreements. Axel is adept in orchestrating advice across numerous jurisdictions, providing clients with clear and comprehensive solutions. This global aspect of his practice equips him to guide both national and multinational companies through the most intricate challenges. · Competition Law

Elisabeth Dehareng

Elisabeth Dehareng heads the Information Technology & Communications and Intellectual Property practice groups at Baker McKenzie Belgium. She is based in the Brussels office. Elisabeth advises clients across all areas of IT, IP and new technology law, with a special focus on privacy, cybersecurity and AI. Her practice focuses on European and worldwide data protection compliance projects, in which field she advises on GDPR-readiness programmes, cross-border data transfer strategies, cybersecurity and data breach management. She provides strategic advice on internal compliance issues, whistleblower protection legislation, investigations and privacy/data litigation. She also helps clients navigating the new regulatory developments and enforcement in relation to the growing body of legislation governing the European Data & Digital Economy (DMA, DSA, Data Governance Act, Data Act, AI Act, NIS 2, Cybersecurity Act, Cyber-Resilience Act, among others), advertising and marketing practices, including adtech, and consumer protection. She represents clients in all sectors, with strong industry focus on tech, healthcare and financial services. Elisabeth's practice also covers data protection and cybersecurity aspects of corporate transactions and reorganisations. · Intellectual Property

Rosa Barcelo

Rosa Barcelo focuses her practice on global data privacy and cyber security. She counsels clients on data protection and privacy, including compliance with the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive. She helps companies develop global privacy compliance programs that harmonize GDPR with other international laws such as US privacy legislation (eg., CCPA/CPRA). She regularly advises organizations on structuring international data transfers using SCCs and BCRs, completing Data Protection Impact Assessments, drafting data processor agreements, advising on personal data breaches, and carrying out lead authority assessments. Rosa’s practice has particular focus on cutting-edge IT issues, and she has a wealth of experience counselling clients on privacy in the electronic communications sector (both number dependent and independent services). She has additional skill in data privacy issues related to AI and machine learning, autonomous vehicles, marketing, programmatic advertising, and online tracking technologies. Rosa’s previous experience includes her role as Deputy Head of Unit of the Cybersecurity and Digital Privacy Unit of DG CONNECT in the European Commission, where she led legislative deliberations over the proposed e-Privacy Regulation. Rosa’s work with the office of the EDPS focused on a wide range of ICT-related issues. Rosa worked closely with national supervisory authorities participating in the former Article 29 Working Party (now the European Data Protection Board). Rosa has also worked in academia and as a private lawyer in the Brussels offices of various international law firms, where she advised on EU privacy and data protection issues, as well electronic commerce and technology laws. Rosa is a frequent lecturer on data protection, privacy and cybersecurity. In addition, she is a correspondent for the Journal of Computer Law Review International and is acting Chairwomen of the Brussels Chapter of the International Institute of Communications. She teaches a data protection certification course at the Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht. Rosa previously served on the European board of the International Association of Privacy Professionals. · Data Privacy

Stéphane Dionnet

Stéphane Dionnet has over 20 years of experience practicing international competition law, and has experience liaising with competition authorities in the European Union, United States and Asia. Stéphane has advised global corporations on how to navigate complex multijurisdictional merger control matters. He has represented clients in numerous cartel investigations and has also successfully assisted companies in obtaining conditional immunity from the European Commission and other competition law agencies in and outside the European Union. Stéphane has experience across a wide range of sectors including consumer products, energy, entertainment, financial services, technology, pharmaceuticals, retail, e-commerce and telecommunications. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/stephane-dionnet/ · Antitrust