Belgian law firm Lydian has named three new partners and welcomes a new finance counsel

The business law firm Lydian, with offices in Brussels and Antwerp, has named three new partners and with the arrival of a new finance counsel, the firm now counts  more than 60 lawyers. Over the course of the past several years, Lydian has prepared itself  well against the current crisis and continues to show steady growth in a climate of notable downsizing of business law firms. 
 
Employment law lawyer Stijn Demeestere, energy law specialist David Haverbeke and commercial law and dispute resolution expert Yves Lenders will be partners in Lydian as of 1 July 2009. They are the first generation of lawyers who have risen to partnership within the firm. “It’s a great pleasure for us to see that we’ve been able to coach a young generation of lawyers up to partner”, says managing partner Alexander Vandenbergen. “It makes me particularly happy to see this proof that our firm has matured since its start-up in 2001. Compare it to football clubs like Chelsea or Barcelona who get their top players from their own ranks. We have truly succeeded in creating our own Lydian culture”.  
 
In addition, Tom Geudens, who in just a short time built up a solid reputation in financial law, has joined the Corporate & Finance department. To quote Legal 500: “Tom Geudens is ‘very clear in his advice and quick to respond’ and consistently singled out by clients who state that they are ‘very impressed – whenever we need local counsel, he’s the “go to” man.’'  In welcoming Tom to the Corporate & Finance department, Alexander Vandenbergen said "Thanks to Tom, we now have a fully-fledged financial law practice - as one of the few independent law firms in Belgium - and we retain our position as preferred partner for prestigious UK and US independent law firms. From now on, Lydian will also be able to offer counsel on restructuring of distressed debts and to advise on complex finance aspects of takeovers and projects. Tom’s arrival is in fact living proof of the ever increasing success the Lydian brand has in attracting top talent from the market.”   
 
The four major areas of law that were already Lydian’s strong points (employment law, real estate-environment-energy law, commercial law and corporate law) will now have extra support. With this solid foundation, our firm is poised to develop into the largest independent law firm in Belgium.  
 
Stijn Demeestere - Employment, Pensions & Benefits Department, Brussels
Stijn Demeestere has specialised in the labour law aspects of mergers, takeovers, downsizings and in- and  outsourcing operations. At Lydian, he mainly focuses on end of career planning, discrimination, remuneration and the social security status for top executive positions. Stijn also writes a weekly legal column in the employment section of De Standaard, a leading Belgian newspaper.
 
David Haverbeke - Real Estate, Environment & Regulatory Department, Brussels
David Haverbeke advises international and Belgian clients from the energy sector (electricity, gas, oil) in matters regarding rules and regulations, permits and energy contracts and he also provides strategic advice. Moreover he has experience in commercial disputes, procedures and arbitration in this sector. David  is the co-author of the Treaty on Belgian Energy Law, the work of reference on energy matters in Belgium.
 
Yves Lenders - Commercial & Litigation Department, Antwerp
As a commercial lawyer, Yves Lenders specialises in litigation and dispute resolution. He also has specialist expertise in logistics, warehousing and port projects. A client says: 'In his work and communication, Yves Lenders is meticulous, pleasant and enthusiastic. He negotiates diplomatically and always from the standpoint of the client's requirements.'
 
Tom Geudens - Corporate & Finance Department, Brussels
Tom Geudens is Lydian's finance expert. In recent years, Tom  has specialised in project finance, structured finance, LBOs, private equity and capital markets. He also has special expertise in financial products, M&A and corporate restructurings. Legal 500 recently described Tom  as 'the to go man' who is 'very clear in his advice'.
 
 
Lydian
Lydian, with offices in Brussels and Antwerp, is one of the largest independent law firms in Belgium. ‘Lydian’ is a term that stems from jazz music and can mean ‘a type of harmony, touchstone or backbone’, the foundation jazz musicians rely on when they improvise. In the same way, the firm wants to offer its clients a solid basis for all their business undertakings. 
Since it was founded in 2001, Lydian has evolved into an international player specialising in large and complex projects, with prestigious clients in Belgium and abroad. Lydian lawyers are praised by prominent legal directories, such as Chambers and Legal 500.  
 
 
Lydian
Brussels office - Tour & Taxis - Havenlaan 86c b113 - 1000 Brussels - Belgium - T: +32 2 787 90 00
Antwerp office - Arenbergstraat 23 - 3000 Antwerpen - Belgium - T: +32 3 304 90 00
info@lydian.be - www.lydian.be