28/05/21

DLA Piper Belgium appoints new counsel to Financial Services and Insurance Sector Practice

DLA Piper has appointed Diederik Bruloot as counsel, strengthening its financial services and insurance sector practice in Belgium.

Diederik joins from Ghent University’s Financial Law Institute as a professor specialising in the legal aspects of corporate finance. Diederik oversees various ongoing research projects in corporate, financial services and insolvency law, including topics on liability risks resulting from the use of artificial intelligence in the credit, investment and insurance industry. He is also responsible for the legal clinic for start-ups at the university and has authored numerous publications on corporate, financial services and insolvency law and is one of the authors of the new Belgian Companies Code.

Diederik brings over 16 years’ experience in Belgian and European business and financial services law and joins Pierre Berger who is Head of the Financial Services and Insurance practice. His appointment reflects the increasing need to operate in a fast-changing regulatory environment which focuses on strategic advice beyond traditional legal services.

DLA Piper is at the forefront of many high-profile financial services matters across Belgium, providing financial institutions and FinTechs assistance with complex regulatory advice, digital product development, corporate compliance and governance, strategic contracting, resolution and recovery, cross-border and regulatory driven transactions as well as civil and administrative litigation followed in boardrooms.

Commenting on the appointment, Country Managing Partner for Belgium, Kristof De Vulder, said: "Diederik adds valuable experience to the team whilst growing our capacity to work more closely with our global colleagues. He will provide a real boost to the financial services and insurance practice, particularly in the fintech sector, allowing us to take advantage of the many opportunities available in the market.”

Head of the Financial Services and Insurance Sector, Pierre Berger, added: "Diederik joins a unique team which covers the full spectrum of work for financial services and insurance clients. His invaluable academic knowledge will further boost our practice in complex and strategic regulatory, contracting and transactional work in the Belgian and European market. His start-up experience will also allow us to focus on Europe’s growing FinTech start-up and scale-up community. I also trust that our clients will value Diederik as their future bridge between academic know-how and strategic projects requiring a practical hands-on approach.

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