Company law

Partner

Stéphane Bertouille

Stéphane Bertouille has master’s degrees in law and economics from the University of Leuven and obtained a master’s degree in company law at the University of New York (LL.M. University New York).

In 1990, he set up his own firm of lawyers, Bertouille & Partners, which merged with Lawfort in 2005. In 2007, he moved to MB&P, which took on the name Everest in 2008.

Stéphane assists his national and international clients mainly in commercial corporate law including M&A, and tax issues linked thereto, from the Brussels office.

Partner

Philippe Steinfeld

Philippe Steinfeld obtained his law degree at the Free University of Brussels in 1990 and a master’s degree in European law at the Institute of European Studies of the Free University of Brussels in 1992.

He was admitted to the bar of Brussels in 1990.

At the Brussels office of Everest, Philippe specialises mainly in company law and social law.

Partner

Johan Van Driessche

Johan Van Driessche graduated with honours with a master’s degree in law at the Roman Catholic University of Leuven and has been a lawyer since 1997.

Johan has been a partner at Everest Advocaten in Ghent since 2015 and is head of a department which specialises in commercial and company law and contracts and liability law. He also has a special interest and expertise in IT law.

Johan assists companies and their directors by giving advice, editing contracts, and helping with disputes and conflicts, which may or may not be part of judicial proceedings. He has an extensive track record and a sound knowledge in company and commercial law. He looks for solutions and attaches great importance to providing judicial service which optimises the commercial interests of the company.

Johan was a recognised mediator in civil affairs and commercial affairs and has an accreditation for collective negotiations. Moreover, he is also appointed regularly as a liquidator for bankrupt companies by the Court of Commerce in Ghent.

He provides training courses for agencies such as Kluwer.

Johan Van Driessche has been entrusted with various mandates within the structures of the bar. Amongst other things, he was treasurer of the Council of the Oudenaarde Bar from 2006 to 2011 and director of the Association of Flemish Bars (OVB) from 2011 to 2017. He is currently still a director at Diplad, the IT integrator of the OVB and the bars.

Partner

Jean-François Richard

Jean-François Richard graduated in 1990 with a master’s degree in law at the Free University of Brussels and specialised in tax law. In 1993, after starting his professional career at a firm of auditors, he became a lawyer at the Brussels bar and he joined Everest Brussels in 2018.

Jean-François specialises in tax law at national and international level. He advises and helps his clients with disputes both in the phase of negotiations with the tax administration office and in courts and tribunals. Apart from companies (from SMEs to big companies on the stock exchange), Jean-François advises and defends families, corporate leaders, and investors both in Belgium and abroad. He has special expertise in the areas of properties, cross-border situations, and the transfer of residence.

His knowledge also extends to company law and non-profit agencies, including agreements and disputes between shareholders. He also covers various complex disputes. His priority is to ensure a personal and focused approach geared to achieving specific solutions. He has written various publications and scores of articles on various topics.

Partner

Stijn De Meulenaer

Stijn De Meulenaar graduated in 1996 with distinction with a master’s degree law at the University of Ghent. After that, he also obtained a master’s degree in criminology at the University of Liège, where he was also an assistant for a while. After gaining experience in some big firms in Brussels, he started at Everest Lawyers in 2007 with some fellow partners. He is a lawyer in Ghent and Brussels and is also a director of the Everest office in Ghent.

Within his practice as a lawyer, Stijn has built up a wealth of experience in corporate criminal law and fraud prevention. Together with his team, he assists companies and business leaders with advice and in litigation cases.

Stijn De Meulenaar has written various articles and books on fraud and corporate criminal law. In addition, he is also a popular speaker at seminars, lectures in tax criminal law at the Bruges Business School (VIVES), and is an executive professor in fraud auditing. He is also connected to the Free University of Brussels as a scientific collaborator.

CV

Partner

Mario Van Santvoort

Mario Van Santvoort obtained his master’s degree in law with honours in 2000 at the Roman Catholic University of Leuven (1995-2000). He completed an EEP year in France at the University of Rennes (Brittany) and was sworn in as a lawyer at the Brussels bar on 6 November 2000. In 2002 and 2003, he further specialised in corporate law via an additional master’s degree in business law (GGS) at the University of Antwerp.

In 2004, he was registered at the Brussels bar (Dutch-speaking section). He has been a partner of the firm since 2007 and is a co-founder of Everest. Since 2018, he has also been registered at the Antwerp bar.

Mario is a managing partner of Everest Antwerp where his specialities include company law, arbitration and mediation and real estate, construction and energy law.

Partner

Bert Bekaert

Bert Bekaert graduated with distinction in 2003 with a master’s degree in law at Leuven University. After that, he took economic studies at the Roman Catholic University of Louvan-La-Neuve and did a work placement at the United Nations in New York. In 2011, he obtained a master’s degree in corporate law at the HUB.

Bert is a partner in the Ghent office of Everest and has an extensive track record in commercial law, insolvency law, and book-keeping law. He has already successfully advised several companies in bankruptcy proceedings and in procedures of judicial reorganisation. Moreover, Bert gives seminars on the application of the judicial reoganisation and publishes on this subject as well.

Bert has also been put on the list of curators of the Court of Commerce at Ghent, divisions of Ghent and Oudenaarde. He lectures on company law, companies in difficulties and director liability. Moreover, Bert Bekaert also has an extensive track record in banking law (assistance for banking agencies and debtors). Due to his vast experience in specific matters, he and his colleagues are often consulted by economic professionals such as book keepers and accountants.

Partner

Rafaël Alvarez Campa

Rafaël Alvarez Campa holds a master’s degree with distinction from the Roman Catholic University of Leuven and obtained an additional master’s degree with distinction at Brussels Tax School (ICHEC).
In February 2019, he entered the office of Everest in Brussels as a partner, where he mainly practises tax law.

He has specialised particularly in matters related to Spanish fiscal matters and asset planning in Belgium and Spain. In this connection he is contacted regularly to assist residents of Belgium who wish to relocate to Spain or purchase a property in Spain.

He is a member of the judicial Commission of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg.

He is also entrusted with the training in the ‘Ateliers des Fucam’ (University of Mons) where he is jointly responsible for the university certificates with regard to tax and asset planning.

Rafaël has also written several fiscal texts and fiscal columns in La Libre.

Partner

Jonas Helaut

Jonas Helaut graduated in 2004 with a master’s degree in law and in 2011 he obtained a master’s degree in tax law at the Roman Catholic University of Leuven. He has worked as a lawyer since 2005 and is a partner at the Brussels Everest office.

Jonas specialises in (international) tax law, asset planning, company law, company takeovers, and insolvency law and he offers both advice and dispute settlement.

He is also a member of the BATL (Belgian Association of Tax Lawyers).

Jonas Helaut is an author of numerous technical articles and publications and a popular seminar speaker.

Partner

Alexandre Roy

Alexandre Roy holds a master’s degree in law from the Roman Catholic University of Leuven (2001) and in 2003 he obtained a master’s degree in finance at the Vlerick School of Management.

After gaining five years of work experience in the banking and financial sector, Alexandre joined the Brussels bar in 2008. He is a partner in the Brussels office of Everest.

Alexandre Roy practises mainly company law, insolvency law, and banking and finance law.

Partner

Christophe Bourtembourg

Christophe Bourtembourg obtained a master’s degree in law with great distinction at the Roman Catholic University of Leuven in 2012 (thesis: “Promises of contract: reflection on the opportunity of an uniform legal regime. Overview of European and comparative law”).

Christophe also graduated with great distinction at the Institute of European Studies of the Free University of Brussels in 2013 with an additional master’s degree in European law and has been a member of the Brussels bar since 2014.

He joined Everest Brussels in 2018 and practises mainly insolvency law, company law, commercial law and contract law. He operates mainly in French, but he also assists his clients in English and Dutch.

Christophe Bourtembourg is appointed regularly as a curator at the French-speaking Court of Commerce in Brussels.

Managing associate

Veronique Neve

Veronique Neve graduated in 2006 with a master’s degree in law with distinction at the University of Ghent. During her studies, she specialised in commercial and economic law. Since 2006, she has been registered as a lawyer at the Ghent bar.

She joined the Everest office in Ghent early in 2018, where she works within the areas of company law and insolvency law. Veronique gives both advice and assistance and/or representation of clients within the context of amicable negotiations and judicial proceedings.

She also has an extensive track record in general agreement and contract law and the broad field of corporate law. She also shows a particular interest in insolvency law.

Furthermore, she is a mediator in civil and commercial affairs and has taken the curator training course.

Partner

Valentine Pacco

Valentine Pacco obtained a master’s degree in law at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve in 2014. After that, she continued her studies with an European master’s degree in law and economics.

She has been a lawyer at the Brussels bar since 2015 and works at the Brussels office of Everest.

Valentine Pacco practises mainly intellectual property, ICT and privacy law, corporate law and contracts, and company law.

Senior associate

Sophie Bertouille

Sophie Bertouille obtained her master’s degree in law with great distinction at the Roman Catholic University of Louvain-La-Neuve in 2017.

In 2020, she also obtained an advanced master’s degree in company law at the Roman Catholic University of Leuven.

She has been registered at the Brussels bar since 2017 and in that same year she joined the Everest office in Brussels.

Sophie operates mainly in commercial and company law.

Her working languages are French, Dutch and English.

Senior associate

Christian Buysse

Christian Buysse obtained his master’s degree in law at the University of Ghent in 2015. He then gained a master’s degree in company law at the Roman Catholic University of Leuven.

In 2016, he started his career as a lawyer at the Dutch-speaking bar in Brussels. In 2017, he transferred to the Ghent bar and he works at the Ghent office of Everest.

Christian specialises in M&A, company law and corporate-related agreements and gives companies advice on developing corporate and financial structures. He deals with shareholder agreements and director liability. He has also built up some practical experience in assisting companies in difficulties.

Senior associate

Lore Huyghe

Lore Huyghe graduated in 2017 with distinction with a master’s degree in law at the University of Ghent. Prior to that, she obtained a master’s degree in criminological science, also at the University of Ghent.

Since 2017, Lore has been registered at the Ghent bar and works as a lawyer.

In 2021, she joined the Everest office in Ghent where she works within the broad field of corporate law and contracts, especially in company law.

Senior associate

Jochen Vermeir

Jochen Vermeir graduated with a master’s degree in law at the University of Ghent in 2018. Before that, he had gained a master’s degree in criminal sciences also at the University of Ghent.

He has been registered as a lawyer with the Ghent bar since 2018 and joined the Everest office in Ghent in that same year.

Jochen works in company law and also has an extensive track record in the broad corporate law and contract law.

Junior associate

Harold Ferreira

Harold Ferreira obtained his master’s degree in law with distinction in 2020 from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. During his law studies, he also did an Erasmus exchange at the Universidad Carlos III in Madrid. After his master’s degree, he started an internship with a Brussels law firm.

Harold started his career as a lawyer in February 2021 at the Brussels bar and works at Everest in Antwerp.

Harold practices corporate, commercial, company and contract law.

Junior associate

Floor Dhondt

Floor Dhondt graduated in 2021 with a master’s degree in law at the University of Ghent.

Since 2021, she has been a lawyer at the Ghent bar and she has joined the Everest office in Ghent where she works in the anti-fraud and corporate criminal law department.  She has a special interest in tax law.

Junior associate

Emma Bruneau

Emma Bruneau obtained her master’s degree in law  at the Université libre de Bruxelles in 2022 (Magna cum laude).

In September of this year, Emma joined Everest (Brussels office). She is mainly involved in contract and company law.

In January 2024, Emma received the “Prix Bâtonniers Braun et Jakhian”. This price is awarded by the French Brussels bar to the lawyer who ranked first in the bar exams in 2023.

Junior associate

Thomas Grandjean

Thomas Grandjean obtained his master’s degree in law with honours at the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve in 2020 and is graduated (LL.M. in Intellectual Property law) at the Maastricht University in 2021.

He then worked for a year in a boutique consulting firm specializing in compliance.

In September 2022, Thomas joined Everest Law Brussels.  He is mainly involved in commercial law, company law and intellectual property law.

Junior associate

Lieselot Bracquene

Lieselot Bracquene graduated cum laude as Master of Laws at Ghent University in 2023. Since then, she has been registered as a lawyer at the bar in Ghent and joined Everest Ghent.

Lieselot works there in the department of business and contract law, with a special interest in corporate law.

Junior associate

Telli Nur Akyüz

Ms. Telli Nur Akyüz obtained her Master’s degree in Law from the University of Antwerp in 2021. Since then, she has been registered as a lawyer at the Antwerp Bar Association. In 2023, she joined Everest Advocaten in Antwerp.

Telli Nur Akyüz is primarily active in business and contract law, as well as liability law.