A three lawyer finance team has left DLA Piper in Brussels for Belgian independent law firm Van Bael & Bellis.
The trio is led by partner Johan Mouraux, who headed DLA Piper’s finance, projects and restructuring practice group in Belgium. Mouraux joined DLA from Loyens Advocaten – now known as Loyens & Loeff – in 2007 and was promoted to partner in 2012, according to his Linkedin profile.
He specialises in financing transactions, with particular expertise in the infrastructure sector, renewables, real estate finance and leveraged finance, according to a press release about the move.
Mouraux is taking two lawyers with him from DLA Piper – senior associate Caroline Coppens and associate Lucas De Four. All three will be based from the firm’s Brussels office.
“The arrival of Johan and his team is part of our long-standing strategy to be leaders in the specific areas we focus on,” Van Bael & Bellis managing partner Philippe De Baere said in a statement. “Our transactional services team has gone from strength to strength for well over a decade now and will continue its growth in the future. Following the opening of our London office, this move shows once again that VBB is a firm that invests in high-end expertise for its clients.”
“We would like to thank Johan for his contribution to the firm and wish him well in his new role,” DLA Piper Belgium managing partner Kristof De Vulder said in a statement. “He leaves a solid team which is exceptionally well placed to help our clients succeed both in the Belgian market as well as across the global stage.”
Founded in 1986, Van Bael & Bellis counts more than 70 lawyers today, according to its website. The Belgian firm also has a base in Switzerland and opened an office in London in June 2020.
