Liedekerke is delighted to announce the promotion of Michaël Houbben and Dr. Gabriele Ruscalla to Counsel.
Arnaud Nuyts, Head of the International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Practice, comments:
“These appointments reflect both Gabriele and Michaël’s unique legal expertise and outstanding contribution, their continuous commitment to solving our clients’ challenges, and demonstrate the firm’s focus on rewarding world-class dedicated lawyers. Michaël and Gabriele are loyal members of Liedekerke and I therefore am very proud of this achievement and look forward to their continued contribution to our success.”
Alexandre Emond and Etienne Kairis, Co-Managing Partners of the firm, add:
“With these promotions, Liedekerke is acknowledging high motivation, several years of hard work and dedication to our clients, colleagues and to the firm. Gabriele and Michaël have demonstrated exceptional legal abilities and share the firm's commitment to achieve the highest standard of client service.”
With more than a decade of experience in international arbitration, Dr. Gabriele Ruscalla has broad experience in high-value, complex disputes under most arbitral institutions (e.g. ICC, LCIA, SIAC, SCA, UNCITRAL, ICSID, SCC), numerous governing laws (e.g. the laws of France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Algeria, international law), and arbitral seats. He has represented corporate clients, States and state entities in both international commercial and investor-State arbitrations, and has acquired specific expertise in construction, energy, oil & gas, and distribution matters as well as investment protection and public international law.
Gabriele also acts as counsel in litigation proceedings before French courts in matters dealing with the setting aside or recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards.
Before joining Liedekerke, Gabriele was Counsel at the Secretariat of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, where he managed a team handling hundreds of arbitrations in connection with European jurisdictions.
Gabriele previously held a position as Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Dispute Resolution and Public International Law of the Max Planck Institute for International, European and Regulatory Procedural Law. Earlier on in his career, he worked as an associate in the International Arbitration Group of a global law firm in Paris, for almost three years.
Gabriele is Adjunct Professor of Business and Human Rights at IE Law School (Madrid) and teaches International Commercial and Investment Arbitration as Lecturer at HEAD Law School (Paris) and at the Catholic University of Lille (Paris Campus). He frequently publishes articles and notes on, and regularly speaks at conferences and seminars about international arbitration-related subjects. He is a member of the Paris Bar and registered as Foreign Lawyer at the Brussels Bar.
A member of Liedekerke since almost ten years, Michaël Houbben is a litigation and dispute resolution lawyer, working mainly on civil, commercial and corporate matters.
A significant part of Michaël’s activities involves the management and resolution of disputes, before courts and tribunals or arbitration bodies when applicable, for private clients as well as for Belgian and international companies of various sectors (real estate, construction, mining, energy, etc.), particularly in commercial and corporate matters. He has developed specific skills to deal with assessment of queries and treatment of disputes related to the interpretation, performance and termination of contracts such as purchase agreements, distribution agreements, lease agreements, share purchase agreements, etc.).
Michaël also acts as counsel in litigation proceedings before Belgian courts in matters dealing with the setting aside or recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards.
In addition, Michaël frequently assists clients in alternative dispute resolution processes, such as mediation.
Furthermore, through his collaboration with John Kirkpatrick and then Simone Nudelholc, both former lawyers at the Court of cassation, Michaël has acquired a particular expertise in handling cassation cases in civil, commercial and tax matters. He has successfully completed the four-year course “professional training in cassation techniques and procedures” organized by the Bar Association of the Court of Cassation.
