Everest lawyers
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.
Email:stephane.bertouille@everest-law.eu
Tel:+32 (0)2/640.44.00
Areas of expertise:Tax law; Company law
Partner
Herman Verbist
Herman Verbist is a lawyer at the bars of Ghent and Brussels. Until 31 December 2020, he was chairman of the arbitrators of the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport (BCAS). Since 2021, he is chairman of the department training and documentation of the BCAS. He specialises mainly in arbitration and is registered on the list of arbitrators of several arbitration institutions (including CAS, VIAC, SIAC, HKIAC, AIAC, KCAB, ThAC and ICDR). He is also a member of the executive board of CEPANI.
Herman is also an accredited mediator and is registered on the list of mediators with institutions such as WIPO, the Energy Community, ICSID and the Energy Charter Treaty.
For 17 years, he was a visiting professor for the course on international commercial arbitration at the University of Ghent. Since 2020, he has been a professor for the course ‘Case Study Investment Mediation’ at the European Institute of the University of Saarland.
He has written and co-authored several books and articles on arbitration and mediation.
Email:herman.verbist@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Arbitration and mediation; Real estate, construction and energy law
Partner
Jan De Waele
Jan De Waele obtained a master’s degree in law in 1984 at the Roman Catholic University of Leuven. For quite some time, he was a partner with the law firm Storme-Leroy-Van Parys before joining the Ghent office of Everest in 2010 as a partner.
Jan is head of the social law department and deals mainly with cases in matters of social law (individual employment law, collective employment law, social security law and social criminal law) and corporate and contract law.
He assists his clients with drafting contracts and giving advice. As regards disputes, he works as a matter of priority towards a negotiated solution. However, he also has an extensive track record in dispute settlement.
For the judicial year of 2016-17 Jan gave the opening address at the bar of Ghent with the title: ‘Strike action – the unbearable lightness of the gentlemen’s agreement’.
Email:jan.de.waele@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Social law; Corporate law and contracts
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.
Email:philippe.steinfeld@everest-law.eu
Tel:+32 (0)2/640.44.00
Areas of expertise:Corporate law and contracts; Social law
Partner
Frank Burssens
Frank Burssens graduated in 1990 with a master’s degree in law at the University of Ghent and in 1991 obtained an LL.M. in internatinal business law at London University (Queen Mary and Westfield College).
In 2007, Frank, together with some co-partners, founded the firm Burssens & Partners Ondernemingsadvocaten, which now operates under the name Everest. As a lawyer working in the Ghent office of Everest, Frank specialises in property law (legal assistance with the purchase and sale of land and buildings, share transactions of project companies and urban planning and environmental issues), construction law (both public contracts and private construction law) and energy law. He assists his clients in the areas of both contracts and judicial proceedings and arbitration.
Moreover, he also has an extensive track record in the area of general commercial and company law, especially as regards company takeovers. He has also been appointed as an arbiter with the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Email:frank.burssens@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Real estate, construction and energy law; Arbitration and mediation; Corporate law and contracts
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.
Email:johan.vandriessche@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Corporate law and contracts; Company law; Intellectual property, ICT and privacy
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.
Email:stijn.de.meulenaer@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Fraud prevention and corporate criminal law; Banking and finance law; Company law
Partner
Naima Es-Samri
Naima Es-Samri has worked as a lawyer at the Brussels bar since 2000. Since 2018, she has also been a lawyer at the Antwerp bar. She obtained a master’s degree in law at the Roman Catholic University of Louvain-La-Neuve (1998) and has also studied at the Saint Louis University Faculty in Brussels and at Tilburg University in the Netherlands.
Naima is a co-founder and partner of Everest Antwerp.
She assists her clients in all aspects of employment law, both individually and collectively, and also in social security law. She has special expertise in the various aspects of employment provisions, employment contracts, individual dismissal, well-being at work, temporary employment, international employment contracts, secondment abroad, wage policy and social inspection. She gives advice, conducts negotiations and takes care of disputes in these matters.
Email:naima.es.samri@everest-law.com
Tel:+32 (0)3/376.02.00
Area of expertise:Social law; Liability and medical law
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.
Email:mario.van.santvoort@everest-law.com
Tel:+32 (0)3/376.02.00
Areas of expertise:Arbitration and mediation; Company law; Real estate, construction and energy law
Partner
Joris Deene
Joris Deene graduated in 2002 with major distinction with a master’s degree in law at the University of Ghent. In 2004, he did postgraduate studies in internatinal copyright law at the University of Amsterdam (IVIR). Joris was a researcher at the Centre for Jurist & Informatics of the University of Ghent (2004-2010) and currently lectures there in intellectual property and new technology.
Joris sits on the Council of Intellectual Property which advises the Belgian minister for Economy on intellectual property rights. He is also a third-party decider for .be domain name disputes at CEPANI.
Joris Deene is a partner at Everest and specialises in ICT law, intellectual property law and privacy law. He is the author of dozens of contributions and articles and is a popular speaker at seminars and conferences on these topics.
Email:joris.deene@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Liability and medical law; Corporate law and contracts; Intellectual property, ICT and privacy
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.
Email:bert.bekaert@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Insolvency law; Company law; Banking and finance law
Partner
Anthony Poppe
Anthony Poppe practices at the Ghent and Brussels Bar and is partner at Everest lawyers.
He practices public and administrative law in general with a particular focus on public contracts, health law, civil servants law and regulated professions. He assists his clients from the private and public sector in answering their legal questions in these matters, both in advisory work and in litigation before the courts, the Council of State and the Constitutional Court.
As a speaker and trainer, he regularly takes part in study days on various questions in his specialist areas and also writes about subjects in his preferred fields. He is a lecturer for ESCALA (Syntra group; public procurement and disciplinary law for police and local authorities).
Email:anthony.poppe@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Public and administrative law; Health Law
Partner
Méhdi Zagheden
Méhdi Zagheden graduated with major distinction in 2008 with a master’s degree in law and also gained a supplementary diploma in tax law at the Free University of Brussels in 2009. He subsequently took several additional training course in the areas of VAT, customs and excise and asset planning.
Méhdi specialises in corporate tax and asset planning and is a partner in the Ghent office of Everest. His clients comprise business operators, accountants and public authorities whom he assists with advice, negotiations and dispute settlement.
In view of the technical aspect and development of taxation law, Méhdi believes it is important to continue studying academically. In that respect he lectures at Brussels Tax College and Bruges Business School (VIVES) where he teaches the subjects of tax procedure, local and regional taxation and customs and excise. Furthermore, he is also connected as an assistant at the Free University of Brussels. Méhdi Zagheden publishes regularly on current topics in various publications.
Partner
Kevin Bertouille
Kevin Bertouille graduated with distinction in 2001 at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve and in 2003 he obtained a master’s degree in business law (LL.M.) at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
After working for ten years in various banking institutions in Brussels, Paris and Luxembourg, he started to work at Everest in Brussels in 2012 where he became a partner in 2016.
Kevin works in banking law (disputes and legislation) and commercial law.
Email:kevin.bertouille@everest-law.eu
Tel:+32 (0)2/640.44.00
Area of expertise:Banking and finance law; Corporate law and contracts; Real estate, construction and energy law
Partner
Frédérique Gillet
Frédérique Gillet graduated from the Université Catholique Law School de Louvain-la-Neuve (1996) and postgraduated in employment law from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (1997).
She has been a member of the French-speaking Brussels Bar since May 2001. Frédérique joined Everest Brussels as a partner specialised in employment law, with more than 20 years of experience in international business law firms in September 2022.
She deals with all aspects of employment law, including collective labour law, individual labour law and social security law. She advises her clients on a day-to-day basis as well as in strategic issues (e.g., restructuring, setting up of social bodies, social inspections or legal proceedings). Frédérique is a regular contributor to several law reviews in the field of employment law.
Partner
Mathieu Baert
Mathieu Baert graduated with distinction in 2015 with a master’s degree in law at the University of Ghent. Prior to his law degree, he graduated with a master’s degree in criminology in 2012. After that, in 2017, he obtained a master’s degree in business economics with studies at the University of Latvia and the University of Ghent. He started working at Everest in 2015.
Apart from his vast experience in corporate criminal law and corporate law and criminal law more generally within the anti-fraud and corporate criminal law department, Mathieu also takes the lead of the sport law department within Everest.
Mathieu was appointed as academic consultant in crime and sport at the University of Ghent on 1 June 2020. Furthermore, he is also working on various publications in matters of sports law and he is also a disciplinary judge within the Disciplinary Committee of the Judo Federation of Flanders.
Email:mathieu.baert@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Fraud prevention and corporate criminal law; Sports law; Liability and medical law
Partner
Alain Delfosse
Alain Delfosse has over 40 years of experience as a lawyer at the Brussels bar and has been a partner at Everest Brussels since 2020.
Alain specialises in administrative law (especially in the legislation regarding public contracts) including procedures for the Council of State and for the Constitutional Court.
He also has an extensive track record in the area of procedural law for the Court of Cassation, agreement law in general and contract law in particular (especially for enterprises), commercial law (corporate law) and financial criminal law.
Alain Delfosse has worked together with others on several publications on commercial law and agreement law.
Email:alain.delfosse@everest-law.eu
Tel:+32 (0)2/640.44.00
Areas of expertise:Corporate law and contracts
Partner
Peter Van Eysendeyk
Peter Van Eysendeyk graduated in 1998 as a Licentiate in Law at the KU Leuven and has since been active as a lawyer at the Antwerp bar.
During his internship at the Bar in 2001, he graduated in fiscal sciences at the Fiscale Hogeschool.
Within the office Peter is active in the tax law department. The department focuses both on providing advice and on tax dispute resolution. In addition, he also deals with corporate and commercial matters.
Partner
Lucien Kalenga
Lucien Kalenga obtained a master’s degree in law and a specialist qualification (D.E.S.) in economic law at the Roman Catholic University of Leuven.
Lucien practises company law, international law and dispute settlement in the Brussels office of Everest.
He was a member of the Council of French-speaking Lawyers at the Brussels bar from 2011 to 2014.
Lucien Kalenga also held office as president of the Brussels Young Bar Association during the period from 2008 to 2009.
Email:lucien.kalenga@everest-law.eu
Tel:+32 (0)2/640.44.00
Areas of expertise:Arbitration and mediation; Banking and finance law; Company law and contracts
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.
Email:Rafael.AlvarezCampa@everest-law.eu
Tel:+32 (0)2/640.44.00
Areas of expertise:Tax law; Company law; Corporate law and contracts
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.
Email:jonas.helaut@everest-law.eu
Tel:+32 (0)2/640.44.00
Areas of expertise:Tax law; Company law; Corporate law and contracts
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.
Email:alexandre.roy@everest-law.eu
Tel:+32 (0)2/640.44.00
Areas of expertise:Company law; Insolvency law; 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.
Email:christophe.bourtembourg@everest-law.eu
Tel:+32 (0)2/640.44.00
Areas of expertise:Insolvency law; Company law; Corporate law and contracts
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.
Email:valentine.pacco@everest-law.eu
Tel:+32 (0)2/640.44.00
Areas of expertise:Intellectual property, ICT and privacy; Corporate law and contracts, Company law
Partner
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.
Email:sophie.bertouille@everest-law.eu
Tel:+32 (0)2/640.44.00
Areas of expertise:Corporate law and contracts; Company law; Liability and medical law
Of counsel
Dieter Janssen
Dieter Janssen is appointed counsel in our Brussels office. He joined our firm in April 2024.
Dieter earned his law degree (KUL – University of Leuven in 2009), followed by a master’s degree in tax law from the same institution in 2010. Dieter was admitted to the Brussels Bar in the same year.
With a focus on various aspects of tax law, including income tax, local and regional taxation, VAT, inheritance tax, and registration duties, Dieter’s practice embraces a broad spectrum. He brings also extensive experience in tax advisory services and dispute resolution.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Dieter contributes as a guest lecturer at Technovation Hub/Start Up Academy (KUL) and has authored several articles on topics related to tax law.
Fluent in Dutch, French, and English, Dieter adeptly navigates legal matters across linguistic boundaries.
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.
Email:veronique.neve@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Insolvency law; Corporate law and contracts; Company law
Managing associate
Ilse Renders
Ilse Renders obtained her master’s degree in law at the Free University of Brussels in 2008 and also studied for an additional master’s degree with great distinction in international and European law at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. In addition, she obtained an advanced master’s degree in tax law at the University of Antwerp in 2013. In 2017, she was awarded the certificate for special training in cassation procedure in criminal matters.
She has been registered with the Brussels bar since 2008 and with the Antwerp bar since 2011.
She joined the Antwerp office of Everest in 2018 where she works mainly in (national, international, and European) corporate law, commercial and company law liability law, attachment law, contract law, arbitration proceedings (especially in the diamond sector), litigation and dispute resolution, property law.
Email:ilse.renders@everest-law.com
Tel:+32 (0)3/376.02.00
Expertises:Liability and medical law; Insolvency law; Real estate, construction and energy law
Senior associate
Alexander De Buck
Alexander De Buck obtained his master’s degree in law at the University of Ghent in 2008. He subsequently obtained an advanced master’s degree in tax law at the University of Ghent in 2010 and joined the Ghent bar.
He joined the Ghent office of Everest in 2011. Alexander works within the areas of companies in difficulties, a domain where his background in tax law and general interest in assisting companies are a bonus. He also has an extensive track record in insolvency law, corporate law (including attachment and enforcement), and banking and finance law.
Email:alexander.debuck@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Insolvency law; Corporate law and contracts; Banking and finance law
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.
Email:christian.buysse@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Corporate law and contracts; Insolvency law; Company law
Managing associate
Laurent De Clercq
Laurent De Clercq obtained his master’s degree in EU studies in 2012 before graduating with a master’s degree in law in 2016. He joined Everest Ghent in that same year where he specialises in commercial and insolvency law.
Within the department of companies in difficulties, Laurent concentrates on proceedings and dispute settlement in various aspects of company law and has special expertise in private banking and lending law, commercial disputes, attachment and enforcement, and insolvency law.
Email:laurent.declercq@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Insolvency law; Corporate law and contracts; Banking and finance law
Senior 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.
Email:harold.ferreira@everest-law.com
Tel:+32 (0)3/376.02.00
Areas of expertise:Corporate law and contracts; Company law
Senior associate
Lisa De Paepe
Lisa De Paepe graduated in 2017 with a master’s degree in law at the University of Ghent and since that same year she has been a lawyer at the Ghent bar.
In 2021, she has joined the Everest office in Ghent where she works in the social law department. She also has a special interest in corporate and contract law.
Email:lisa.depaepe@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Social law; Corporate law and contracts
Managing 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.
Email:lore.huyghe@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Corporate law and contracts; Company law; Insolvency 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.
Email:jochen.vermeir@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Corporate law and contracts; Company law
Senior associate
Danique Van Mechelen
Danique Van Mechelen obtained a master’s degree in law from Ghent University (2019, cum laude). Before that, she had already worked for five years in a firm specialized in criminal (procedural) law and complex dispute resolution, first as a paralegal in combination with her law studies and later as a lawyer.
Danique joined the Everest office in Ghent in August 2022, where she is active in the (anti)fraud and corporate criminal law department.
In addition to a special interest in corporate criminal law, Danique also has broad experience in criminal (procedural) law and corporate law.
Email:danique.vanmechelen@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9 334 94 70
Area of expertise: Fraud prevention and corporate criminal law
Senior associate
Kim Taveirne
Kim Taveirne graduated with distinction in 2017 with a master’s degree in clinical psychology at the University of Ghent. During that course, she also started on a master’s degree in law, graduating in 2019.
Since 2019, she has been a lawyer at the Ghent bar and has joined the Everest office in Ghent.
Kim works in the real estate, construction and energy law department and specialises in family and juvenile law. She is therefore familiar with matters such as divorce proceedings and maintenance contributions for children. Thanks to her background in psychology, she looks at matters not just from a purely legal perspective, but also she will consider the psychological aspects which arise in each case.
Email:kim.taveirne@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Real estate, construction and energy law
Associate
Fien Schreurs
Fien Schreurs graduated in 2019 with a master’s degree in law at the Roman Catholic University of Leuven. She then completed a general LL.M. at the University of Ottawa in Canada.
Fien has been registered since 2020 as a lawyer at the Ghent bar and joined the Everest office in that same year.
She works in the anti-fraud and corporate criminal law department.
Fien also specialises in sports law.
Email:fien.schreurs@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Fraud prevention and corporate criminal law; Sports law; Corporate law and contracts
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.
Email:floor.dhondt@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Areas of expertise:Fraud prevention and corporate criminal law; Company law; Tax law
Junior associate
Kiana Beernaert
Kiana Beernaert obtained her master’s degree in law from the Free University of Brussels in 2021, where she graduated cum laude. In 2018 she participated in the prestigious Moot Court and in 2024 she fulfilled the Supralat program, earning the certificate for assistance during interrogations.
In 2022, Kiana was admitted to the Antwerp Bar, where she primarily practices within the Antwerp office of Everest corporate, liability, criminal and traffic law.
Email:kiana.beernaert@everest-law.com
Tel:+32 (0)3/376.02.00
Expertise:Corporate law and contracts, Liability law
Junior associate
Kobe Boecquaert
Kobe Boecquaert graduated cum laude as a Master of Laws at Ghent University in 2021. Subsequently, he pursued a Master of Intellectual Property and ICT Law at KU Leuven, which he also completed cum laude in 2022.
Since then, he has been a lawyer at the Ghent Bar and joined the Everest law firm in Ghent.
Kobe works within broad corporate law and has a particular interest in intellectual property rights, ICT and data law, M&A and business-related agreements.
Email:Kobe.Boecquaert@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9 334 94 70
Areas of expertise:Corporate law and contracts; Intellectual property, ICT and privacy
Junior associate
Lore Vanden Berghe
Lore Vanden Berghe obtained her master’s degree in law cum laude at Ghent University in 2022.
Since then, she has been registered as a lawyer at the bar in Ghent and joined Everest in Ghent.
Lore is active in the department of (anti)fraud and corporate criminal law but mainly focuses on sports law.
Email:Lore.VandenBerghe@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9 334 94 70
Areas of expertise:Fraud prevention and corporate criminal law; Sports law
Junior associate
Ralph Verduyn
Ralph Verduyn graduated with distinction as a master of law at the Free University of Brussels in 2021. He obtained a master’s degree in tax law and a master’s degree in criminal law. He then continued his studies at the Fiscale Hogeschool where he obtained the postgraduate degree in tax law and tax practice. During his studies, Ralph worked within the notarial practice for three years.
Ralph has been registered as a lawyer at the Ghent Bar since September 2022.
In his first year of internship he won the Georges Debra moot court competition. In the same year, Ralph was allowed to represent the Ghent bar at the Vlaams Pleitjuweel, where he took second place.
Within the Everest office in Ghent, he works in the Tax & Innovation department.
Junior associate
Olivier Bottequin
Olivier Bottequin graduated magna cum laude as a Master of Laws at Ghent University in 2022. During his studies, he also gained study experiences abroad at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona and at American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C.
After previous summer internships at Everest Ghent, he has been registered at the Ghent Bar since 2022 and definitively joined our Real Estate and Construction Law team. He is particularly specialized in contracting and corporate law.
During his first internship year, Olivier immediately won silver at the annual pleading competition Georges Debra of the Bar of Ghent and achieved bronze at the international Southern Pleading Competition in Breda.
Since 2024, Olivier has also been active as a part-time practice assistant at the Institute for Contract Law of the KU Leuven, where he teaches working lectures to students and assists students in writing their master’s thesis.
Email:olivier.bottequin@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9/334.94.70
Expertise:Droit de l'immobilier, de la construction et de l'énergie
Junior associate
Alexander Lacante
Email:alexander.lacante@everest-law.be
Tel.:+32 (0)9 334 94 70
Expertise:Corporate law and contracts, Company law
Associate
Elisabeth Robbroeckx
Elisabeth Robbroeckx obtained a degree in master of laws with distinction in 2018 from the University of Antwerp. She started her career in 2018 as a lawyer at the Dutch-speaking Bar in Brussels. In 2020, Elisabeth joined the federal government as a public procurement law expert. She then gained experience as a consultant in this field. Since October 2024, she has been registered at the Ghent Bar and joined Everest Law Ghent.
She is a regular speaker at seminars on public procurement law and also writes on topics in her preferred fields.
Elisabeth is active in the public law department and developed a special affinity with public contracts.
Email:elisabeth.robbroeckx@everest-law.be
Tel:+32 (0)9 334 94 70
Expertise:Public and administrative law
Junior associate
Ellen Verschuere
Ellen obtained her law degree with distinction from Ghent University in 2021. As part of the Erasmus+ program, she studied at the law faculty of the Université Côte d’Azur in Nice for five months during her Master’s studies. Subsequently, in 2022, Ellen obtained a Master of Laws in International and European Law from the Free University of Brussels with great distinction.
Ellen started her career in 2022 as a lawyer at the Dutch-speaking Bar in Brussels. Since September 2024, she has been registered as a lawyer at the Bar in Ghent and joined Everest Law Ghent.
Ellen is active in the public law department and developed a particular affinity for government contracts.
Email:ellen.verschuere@everest-law.be
Tel.:+32 (0)9 334 94 70
Expertise: Public and administrative law
Junior associate
Marie-Capucine Michelot
Marie-Capucine Michelot obtained her master’s degree in law with distinction at the Free University of Brussels in 2020. During her studies, she participated in an Erasmus exchange program at the Renmin University of Beijing. She subsequently obtained an advanced master’s degree master in intellectual property and ICT law from KU Leuven in 2022.
She has been registered at the Brussels bar since 2023 and joined Everest law firm in Brussels, where she is active in the commercial and business law department.
Email:marie-capucine.michelot@everest-law.eu
Tel:+32 (0)2 640 44 00
Expertise:Intellectual property, ICT and privacy
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.
Email:lieselot.bracquene@everest-law.be
Tel.:09/334.94.70
Area of Expertise:Corporate law and contracts; Company law
Junior associate
Ilona Geerinck
Ilona Geerinck obtained her master’s degree in law with distinction from the University of Antwerp. Subsequently, she began her career as a lawyer.
In 2024 she joined Everest law firm in Ghent, where she is active in the real estate, construction and energy law department.
Email:ilona.geerinck@everest-law.be
Tel.:+32 (0)9 334 94 70
Expertise:Real estate, construction and energy law
Junior associate
Amal Akoudad
Amal Akoudad obtained in 2023 her master’s degree in Law with honours from the Université libre de Bruxelles. Since then, she has been registered as a lawyer at the Brussels Bar.
In 2024, she joined Everest law firm in Brussels, where she is active in the social law department.
Junior associate
Jorne Geenens
Jorne Geenens graduated cum laude with a Master of Laws from Ghent University in 2024. During his studies, he was selected to represent Ghent University in an international moot court competition before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
Since September 2024, Jorne has been part of the (anti-)fraud and corporate criminal law department at the Everest office in Ghent. He also has a keen interest in corporate and commercial law.
Email:jorne.geenens@everest-law.be
Tel.:+32 (0)9 334 94 70
Junior associate
Jonathan Joris
Jonathan Joris graduated magna cum laude as Master of Laws at Ghent University in 2024. During his studies, he immersed himself in environmental law, with a particular focus on spatial planning law.
After several summer internships, Jonathan has been registered at the Ghent Bar since 2024. He started his career by joining the Real Estate and Construction Law team within the Everest office in Ghent, where he will further specialise in environmental law.
Email:jonathan.joris@everest-law.be
Tel.:+32 (0)9 334 94 70
Expertise:Real estate, construction and energy law
Junior associate
Thimon Pollet
Thimon Pollet graduated as Master of Laws from KU Leuven in 2023. During his master, he immersed himself in tax law. He then obtained a Master in Sports Management & Sports Law at ISDE in Barcelona in 2024. He is currently completing another master after master in tax law at KU Leuven as a working student.
Having completed several summer internships, Thimon has been registered at the Ghent Bar since October 2024. Within the Everest office in Ghent, he works in the Tax & Innovation department, where he will further specialise in tax procedure and sports taxation.