Stibbe is pleased to announce the appointment of Bart De Bock as partner in its Brussels office, effective 1 July 2026. He joins the firm's Litigation & Restructuring practice, reinforcing Stibbe's capabilities in complex restructurings, corporate litigation, and distressed transactions. This strategic appointment further strengthens Stibbe's ability to provide clients with fully integrated services throughout the restructuring lifecycle and in corporate disputes.
Bart De Bock joins Stibbe with 14 years of experience in complex international commercial and corporate law disputes. He has built a well-established and market-recognised practice in contentious restructurings, out-of-court and in-court reorganisations, prepacks, and distressed M&A transactions.
Throughout his career, Bart has represented debtors, creditors, shareholders, boards, and distressed asset acquirers in all aspects of restructuring matters, combining deep procedural knowledge with transactional expertise to guide clients through every stage of financial distress. Beyond restructuring, he has extensive expertise in corporate litigation, advising on post-acquisition claims, shareholder disputes, directors' liability cases, and joint venture disputes for major private equity firms and listed companies.
Bart joins Stibbe's Litigation & Arbitration practice in Brussels alongside partners Nicolas Résimont (commercial litigation and arbitration), Oliver Stevens (litigation and insurance), and Hans Van Bavel (corporate fraud and white-collar crime), reinforcing the firm's ability to advise clients on complex commercial and corporate disputes.
Bart has been recognised as "Rising Star" in Restructuring and Insolvency by Legal 500 for several consecutive years and as "Up and Coming" in Restructuring/Insolvency by Chambers Europe 2026. He co-founded the Belgium Turnaround Association, the market-leading association for high-profile restructuring work in Belgium, where he currently serves as board member and Secretary General. He is also an active member of the Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (CEPANI) and serves on the Steering Committee of CEPANI40, the organisation's next-generation network.
Prior to joining Stibbe, Bart was Counsel at A&O Shearman. He holds an LL.M. from King's College London and a Master of Laws from the University of Antwerp.
Bart De Bock: "I am very much looking forward to joining Stibbe. Complex restructuring mandates demand a truly integrated, multidisciplinary approach across corporate, finance, and litigation, and Stibbe is exceptionally well-positioned to deliver exactly that. Belgium has a vibrant and sophisticated restructuring market, and I am excited to build on the strong foundation Stibbe has already established while drawing on the firm's wider offering to support clients on the increasingly international nature of restructuring matters. The same goes for corporate litigation, where I look forward to working closely with colleagues across the firm to deliver integrated solutions for clients."
Wouter Ghijsels, Managing Partner of Stibbe Brussels: "We are delighted to welcome Bart as a partner in our Brussels office. Bart is widely recognised as one of Belgium's leading restructuring and insolvency lawyers, with a proven track record in the most complex and notable restructuring cases in the Belgian market. His appointment reflects the growing demand from clients for integrated restructuring and insolvency advice that brings together corporate, finance, and litigation expertise. Bart's arrival significantly strengthens Stibbe's position as a leading disputes and restructuring firm in Belgium and creates further opportunities to support clients on increasingly complex domestic and cross-border matters."
