Diep bedroefd, melden wij u het overlijden van onze zeer gewaardeerde medevennoot, collega en vriend Stefaan AERTS op 18 augustus 2022.

Stefaan kreeg eind verleden jaar de diagnose van slokdarmkanker. Zoals hij zelf zei “zou dit waarschijnlijk de moeilijkste case ever zijn” voor hem. Hij zou, zoals jullie hem kennen, “zoals altijd voor niets minder dan de overwinning gaan”.

Ondanks al zijn levenslust en wilskracht heeft hij deze ongelijke strijd echter niet kunnen winnen.

Woorden schieten tekort om te beschrijven hoezeer we getroffen zijn door dit overlijden en onze gedachten gaan in de eerste plaats naar zijn dochtertjes Eloïse en Noémie, zijn ouders en schoonouders, zijn zussen, schoonbroers en schoonzus, maar we voelen ook mee met de vele vrienden die Stefaan in deze moeilijke periode zeer nabij zijn geweest.

Stefaan startte zijn loopbaan als advocaat in ons kantoor. Door zijn gedreven aanpak en zijn persoonlijke toewijding werd Stefaan heel snel één van de drijvende krachten van Racine. Hij was een sterke jurist, een begenadigd pleiter en een betrouwbare raadsman. Maar bovenal was hij voor ons een toegewijde collega en vennoot.

Wij zullen Stefaan enorm missen en op vraag van Stefaan zelf staat het team van Racine klaar om zijn cliënten, die hij vaak al jarenlang juridisch en met raad en daad begeleidde, op te vangen. We gaan de uitdaging aan om de dossiers met hetzelfde grote engagement en dezelfde deskundigheid als Stefaan van heel kortbij op te volgen.

Alle medewerkers, advocaten en vennoten van Racine zijn enorm aangeslagen en het kantoor zal de leegte van Stefaan nooit kunnen invullen. We zijn heel dankbaar voor alle jaren die we samen met Stefaan mochten beleven. Zijn humor en kwinkslagen, zijn “to the point” conversaties en zijn gevatte opmerkingen gaan ons, collega’s, voor altijd bijblijven.

Wij willen iedereen danken voor de vele blijken van medeleven die we mochten ontvangen. Confraters getuigen van zijn deskundigheid en grondige kennis van zijn dossiers. Cliënten kijken dankbaar terug op zijn positieve kijk en ervaring.  Wij zullen niet nalaten om al deze herinneringen en getuigenissen te bundelen en te overhandigen aan zijn dochtertjes en familie. Een rouwregister is eveneens beschikbaar hier. Het rouwbericht kunt u hier consulteren.

Mocht u vragen hebben bij dit bericht, kan u steeds terecht bij onze Managing Partner, Stijn Vanschoubroek (svanschoubroek@be.racine.eu  – +3224120166) of bij één van de andere vennoten of medewerkers van het kantoor.

The post Overlijdensbericht – Stefaan Aerts first appeared on Racine.

Racine Brussels is proud to again be recommended as a leading firm in the following practice areas in this year’s Legal 500 EMEA guide:

• Corporate, Commercial and M&A
• Insolvency and Restructuring

This is what Legal 500 says about us in their 2021 guide:

Corporate, Commercial and M&A

Anthony Van der Hauwaert heads up the corporate and transactional team, while retail sector expert Stijn Claeys leads the commercial group.

The firm advises publicly listed and private companies on a wide range of transactional and advisory matters, including domestic and cross-border M&A, group restructurings, share capital transactions, shareholder agreements, corporate governance and director liability.

Commercial work includes advice on franchising, advertising, supply agreements and consumer protection. Claeys has particular expertise in distribution law issues.

Testimonials

‘Hands-on team with smooth negotiators.‘

‘Stijn Claeys is partner at the commercial department. His strength is that he thinks along with the client, he understands the business very quickly, goes straight to the core of the problem, does not turn around the issue, tries to find practical solutions with ear for commercial arguments (if any), but he does not avoid tricky discussions and he is witty.‘

‘Always accessible, they think also out of the box, ready to go with you until the end of the process (dedicated).‘

‘I work with Anthony Van der Hauwaert. He is very knowledgeable and friendly. He understands the need very quickly and responds to it very well and quickly.‘

‘Stijn Vanschoubroek was our single point of contact, coordinating from his side with his colleagues internally. It sounds easy, but to keep communication clear & transparent seems to be a big issue in more complex situations for many companies.‘

‘The team is very professional and discrete. Always available for helping you out.‘

‘Pragmatic, cost-efficient and client-focused approach.‘

‘Racine has a great corporate team with lots of international experience and credentials. They understand complex global deals and work smoothly together with other lawyers from other jurisdictions.‘

Insolvency and Restructuring

At Racine, the focus is primarily on insolvency and restructuring-related litigation, with practice co-heads Joan Dubaere and Stijn Vanschoubroek often appointed as trustees and liquidators in various domestic proceedings. The team’s client roster includes both debtors and lenders, and it has a further ability to handle distressed M&A-related matters.

Counsel Rubben Lindemans is another key name; he specialises in reorganisation proceedings and enforcement. Rubben  has been recommended as a “rising star” in Insolvency and Restructuring.

The post Racine recommended in the Legal 500 Emea 2021 Guide first appeared on Racine.

Consult the rankings of 2021 here.

The post Racine in Leaders League rankings first appeared on Racine.

Racine Brussels is proud to again be recommended as a leading firm in the following practice areas in this year’s Legal 500 EMEA guide:

• Corporate, Commercial and M&A
• Insolvency and Restructuring
• Real Estate and Construction practice

Our Partner Joan Dubaere has been recommended as a “leading individual” in Insolvency and Restructuring and Rubben Lindemans as “rising star”.

This is what Legal 500 says about us in their 2020 guide:

Corporate, Commercial and M&A

Our corporate and commercial practise is considered ‘very agile‘ and attracts praise for its ‘hands-on approach, outstanding knowledge of the local market and its ability to access its cross-border network‘. ‘The team is well acquainted with the Belgian Market and knows the right people at the right place. They work with a lot of discretion.‘

Practice head Anthony Van der Hauwaert has a broad practice with experience in corporate, M&A and private equity transactions as well as real estate and employment matters. Stijn Claeys is a key name to note for commercial and competition advice, particularly in the retail sector.

Insolvency and Restructuring

Our insolvency and restructuring team has ‘a very strong reputation for insolvency‘ and attracts praise for being ‘embedded in local practice and down to earth‘. It is a ‘Large practice with in depth experience and a real focus on insolvency.‘ ‘The group is instructed in insolvency and restructuring-related litigation and is frequently appointed as trustee and liquidator in bankruptcies and liquidation proceedings. Racine has a strong reputation in the area of insolvency law. With a considerable number of accredited bankruptcy administrators within this firm, it is the go-to firm when dealing with insolvency situations. Their combined practical experience is unrivalled by any other Belgian law firm.

Practice head Joan Dubaere, Stijn Vanschoubroek, Stefaan Aerts and senior associate Rubben Lindemans are all experienced in insolvency matters.

Real Estate and Construction practice

Racine’s ‘very professional‘ team provides ‘sound legal advice‘ to clients regarding real estate disputes, and has also been handling acquisition mandates. They provide ‘solution driven advice’ and are ‘client oriented with a solid theoretical knowledge‘. The ‘eloquent’ Isabelle Cooreman is the name to note.

Some testimonials from clients and peers:

‘Joan Dubaere and associate Rubben Lindemans have a pragmatic approach and propose practical solutions for clients.‘

‘Stefaan Aerts is a talented lawyer with a hands-on approach, which is highly valued by clients. His advice is always clear and straightforward. It is also a pleasure working with someone who is this available and responsive.‘

‘Rubben Lindemans has also built a strong reputation as one of the rising stars in the insolvency landscape. I look forward to working with him.‘

‘Stijn Claeys and his team offer a hands-on approach, efficient meetings and get straight to the core of the problem.‘

‘Stijn Claeys captures the problem or legal issue very quickly and builds a practical response with the client’s specifics in mind.‘

‘Stijn Vanschoubroek was very much available and helped out on a daily basis. He is a great person to work with: direct, interactive, no-nonsense.‘

‘Isabelle Cooreman is very pragmatic and goal oriented‘.

Follow the link to view the rankings and editorial.

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RACINE RECOMMENDED IN THE LEGAL 500 EMEA 2019 GUIDE

Racine Brussels is proud to be recommended as a leading firm in the following practice areas in this year’s Legal 500 EMEA guide:

• Corporate, Commercial and M&A
• Insolvency and Restructuring
• Real Estate and Construction practice

Our corporate and commercial practise is praised for its “commercially-minded” approach and stands out for its profound experience, excellent service and for providing very good value for money. The ‘committed and solution-driven’ Anthony Van der Hauwaert is highlighted as ‘a shrewd and calm negotiator’. Stijn Claeys is noted for his ‘pragmatic, hands-on approach and profound legal knowledge’.

Our insolvency and restructuring team is considered “well known and highly reputed in the market” and attracts praise for its ‘no-nonsense pragmatic approach’. The truly professional Joan Dubaere and Stijn Vanschoubroek, who combines sharp legal analysis with a cost-effective approach, jointly head the practice, which includes the ‘hands-on and pragmatic’ Anthony Van der Hauwaert.

Isabelle Cooreman is recommended for our Real Estate and Construction practice.

The post Racine recommended in the Legal 500 Emea 2020 Guide first appeared on Racine.