Careers at Van Bael & Bellis - Van Bael & Bellis
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Careers at Van Bael & Bellis
Careers at Van Bael & Bellis
“There are few firms of comparable
calibre to Van Bael & Bellis, which
fields a team of lawyers who are
‘highly specialized in their field’ and
‘eager to understand clients’ needs’.”
Legal 500, 2018
CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLIS | 5Our
Van Bael & Bellis is a leading independent law With nearly 70 lawyers coming from 20
firm based in Brussels , with a office different countries, we offer our clients the
in Geneva exclusively dedicated to WTO matters. support of a highly effective team of
Established in 1986, the firm houses a professionals with multi-jurisdictional expertise
multinational team of lawyers who regularly and an international perspective.
advise a diverse group of clients ranging from
Van Bael & Bellis is well known for our client-centred
multinational corporations and government bodies
approach, commitment to excellence and extensive
to international trade associations and international
expertise in EU and national competition law, EU
law firms. Since our inception, we have developed
trade and customs law, EU regulatory law as well
a reputation as one of the most skilful teams of
as Belgian business law. Our expertise is focused
lawyers in our practice areas centred in Europe with
and specific, resulting in deep experience within our
a global reach.
specialisations. The quality of our work has been
acknowledged and recognised by such industry
publications as Chambers and Partners, the Legal
500, Best Lawyers, Expert Guides and IFLR1000.
6 | CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLISOur team
Van Bael & Bellis is always looking for highly
motivated candidates with an excellent academic
track record and a first-rate command of English to
join its international team of lawyers.
We are committed to excellence, collaborative work
and creative as well as innovative thinking. We would
like to hear from young lawyers and prospective
interns who share these values and are ready to work
for top-flight global and Belgian clients.
CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLIS | 7Serving clients’
legal needs
Van Bael & Bellis has a wealth of hands-on experience Quality service: our client service is marked by
in competition, trade, regulatory and Belgian business timeliness and attention to detail, combined with a
law matters, with a track record that speaks practical, results-oriented approach.
for itself. Over the years, we have developed an
Relationship management: our law yers build
extensive network, both at a national, international
relationships with our clients that are based on
and European level. Thanks to this network, we are
solid knowledge of clients’ requirements and fulfilled
uniquely positioned to provide state-of-the-art advice
expectations.
and creative solutions to the issues clients might be
confronted with. Multinational experience: our lawyers hail from more
than 20 different countries and understand the
Our comprehensive expertise in our specialised fields
subtleties of working within multiple jurisdictions
and our deep understanding of the global market
and different cultural environments.
today make our firm the ideal choice for organisations
looking for a legal partner who can serve their Multilingual ability: our working language is English,
interests effectively. but we also work in several other languages,
including Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Danish, Dutch,
Independence: our independent status has enabled
Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian,
us to develop our firm in the way we believe best
Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Pashto,
serves our clients.
Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and
Personal attention: our senior lawyers staff matters Ukrainian.
efficiently, ensuring that our clients receive personal
attention at all times from key partners in the firm.
8 | CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLISOur Practice Areas
EU COMPETITION LAW
Van Bael & Bellis is widely recognised as one of the Our firm’s status as a forerunner in EU competition
leading competition law practices in Europe. Since the law is matched by a thriving Belgian competition law
early 1970s, members of our firm have been involved practice, as we have been involved in most of the
in many of the seminal cases in the field. As a result leading Belgian antitrust cases.
of this depth of experience, our firm combines a
Further to our work on complex and innovative
full range of skills in complex transactions, major
cases, we also engage in long-term relationships with
litigation, multijurisdictional filings and advisory work.
leading companies, including a number of Fortune 500
We have assisted clients in cases at both the EU and companies, resulting in our status as their preferred
national levels, notably appearing before the European EU competition law firm.
Commission and the EU Courts, where we have acted
as defence counsel in many landmark cases. We also
develop and implement compliance programmes for
clients and author one of the leading reference
sources for companies, law firms and universities
– “Competition Law of the European Community”
(now in its sixth edition). Our competition compliance
training DVD entitled “Complying with EU competition
law”, a practical tool which is used as part of a more
complete practical compliance programme for clients,
won the first prize in the “Training and Education”
category at the 2005 International Creusot Festival.
With the largest practice in Brussels consisting of a
dozen partners with more than 15 years of experience,
the firm has extensive expertise in all aspects of
competition law, including merger control, cartel
investigations, the establishment and operation
of distribution systems, the licensing and use of
intellectual property rights, abuses of dominant market
positions and state aid.
CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLIS | 9EU AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW Van Bael & Bellis has the largest team of lawyers in Europe handling EU trade law. Specialising in trade defence instruments and investigations, our firm has handled more than 450 EU anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases and is recognised as the leading Brussels-based law firm in the area of EU trade defence proceedings. We have also authored the leading treatise on EU trade law – “EU Anti- Dumping and other Trade Defence Instruments” (now in its sixth edition) – which is regularly used by organisations, governments and universities as a leading reference. Our firm’s expertise extends to representing the interests of clients at all stages of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy proceedings before the European Commission as well as litigating before the European Courts. In addition, over many years, we have built up a strong network of contacts at all levels of the Commission and Member State administrations with whom we have an excellent working relationship. Our experienced multinational team closely monitors new developments in EU trade law and are in regular contact with the relevant bodies in the Member States. Our firm has a strong client base in China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Taiwan and Ukraine. The relentless growth of international trade in recent decades has been accompanied by a continuous development of international trade laws within the framework of the W TO. We have developed unparalleled experience in providing assistance to clients on EU and international trade law matters. With the largest team of trade lawyers in Brussels, the firm’s expertise in this area extends to EU anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard proceedings, as well as investigations initiated by third countries. 10 | CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLIS
WTO CUSTOMS & EXPORT
Van Bael & Bellis monitors W TO meetings and
CONTROLS
negotiations on a regular basis and provides legal and
Van Bael & Bellis has developed a highly specialised
trade-related advice to governments, international
customs and export controls practice advising
organisations, private enterprises and business
international clients, including corporations,
associations. In the area of WTO dispute settlement,
governments and trade associations in various
our assistance covers all stages of the proceedings,
industry sectors. We have particular expertise in
from consultation to implementation. Our firm is listed
providing assistance to multinational manufacturers
as External Legal Counsel for the Advisory Center
of technology products involved in classification
on WTO Law (ACWL), assisting the members of the
and origin disputes before the Member States’
ACWL in WTO dispute settlement proceedings.
customs authorities and their national courts, the
EU Commission’s Customs Code Committee, OLAF,
With a office in Geneva exclusively dedicated to the Court of Justice of the EU, the WCO and the WTO.
WTO matters, the firm’s strong global WTO practice
We also assist clients in obtaining the repayment or
includes advising governments and business
remission of import duties, as well as advising on the
associations in trade negotiations, handling WTO
impact of customs valuation rules, origin marking and
dispute settlement proceedings and assessing the
counterfeiting.
consistency of certain trade measures under the WTO
Agreement.
With a dedicated team of customs and export control
lawyers, the firm assists clients in tariff classification,
preferential and non-preferential origin issues, tariff
quota and duty suspensions, customs valuation,
compliance programmes and audits, “a posteriori”
investigations, Free Trade Agreements, requests for
repayment and remission.
CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLIS | 11EU REGULATORY LAW Van Bael & Bellis has developed a strong practice in EU regulatory law covering several areas, including chemicals, consumer protection, data protection, environmental law, food safety, life sciences, product safety and standards and CE marking. Our firm’s expertise includes advising on the implementation of the relevant EU laws in all Member States and monitoring and reporting on the activities and developments of the EU regulatory framework. This knowledge combined with our wide network of contacts (including key decision-makers within the Member States’ competent authorities) make us the ideal partner for businesses navigating through this complex area of law. Our expertise includes issuing expert advice regarding compliance with the REACH and CLP (classification, labelling and packaging) Regulations. In the field of life sciences, we are regularly ranked as one of the two leading firms in Belgium specialising in this area. Our expertise not only covers medicines and biotech products for human use, but also medicines for animal health, medical devices, food supplements and cosmetics. With a strong regulatory practice comprising top tier lawyers, the firm’s expertise in this area includes: environmental law, chemicals (REACH), consumer protection issues, product safety, standards and CE marking, data protection law, food law and life sciences. 12 | CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLIS
BELGIAN BUSINESS LAW
Van Bael & Bellis’ Belgian business law practice is one
of the leading independent business law practices
in Belgium. Our growing team of multilingual Belgian
business law practitioners offers our clients, both
international and Belgian, the entire range of legal
services associated with doing business in Belgium.
Drawing on the diverse expertise within our firm,
we are able to form inter-disciplinary project teams
tailored to meet our clients’ requirements.
This team-based approach has been successfully
With a thriving Belgian business practice, our areas
used in several large projects including cross-border
of expertise include: commercial law, corporate, M&A
transactions and foreign business acquisitions, such
and finance, dispute resolution, intellectual property,
as public and private acquisitions, take-over bids,
employment, real estate, unfair trade practices and
restructuring work, MBOs, LBOs, joint ventures, spin-
taxation.
offs and more.
We also offer advice and litigate in commercial law
matters involving unfair trade practices, distribution
and franchising, and intellectual property matters,
including trademarks, patents and copyright. Using
a combination of our expertise in a number of areas
and specific sectors, we offer sophisticated legal
services relating to new technologies including
software licensing, e-commerce, data protection,
technology transfer as well as outsourcing and
procurement issues.
To keep clients up-to-date on topical issues that could
impact their business interests in the Belgian market,
Van Bael & Bellis publishes a monthly newsletter, Van
Bael & Bellis on Belgian Business Law – a companion
to our competition newsletter, VBB on Competition
Law. Both cover the most timely and relevant legal
issues, ensuring that our team and our clients are
always aware of the latest legal developments.
CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLIS | 13Careers QUALIFICATIONS We are always looking for talented lawyers to join our team who have excellent academic results and a high standard of written and spoken English. Other languages are an asset and a post-graduate degree from a leading English-speaking academic institution is also considered an advantage. DIVERSITY As an independent firm with a global reach, Van Bael & Bellis relies on a diverse team of exceptional lawyers from over 20 countries who serve our clients around the world. In order to continue to provide the highest standards of legal services and ensure we are well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of our clients in a rapidly developing global marketplace, we seek to attract, retain, and develop the best legal talent from a wide array of backgrounds and legal traditions. One of the distinctive characteristics of Van Bael & Bellis is that our associates are given the possibility of working in different fields of law before deciding on the areas in which they ultimately wish to specialise. EXPERIENCE At Van Bael & Bellis our lawyers gain a wide range of experience. From the outset, young associates have the opportunity to work with and learn from a number of different senior lawyers and partners. We believe that the strength of our firm lies in the practical coaching we give our associates. With teamwork high on the agenda, the sharing of information and the passing on of years of accumulated knowledge and experience forms an integral part of our approach to new lawyers. 14 | CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLIS
SECONDMENT
To develop your sk ills f ur ther, we organise
secondments to clients’ legal departments when
suitable circumstances arise.
INTERNSHIPS
We offer a limited number of internships throughout
the year and aim to provide interns with the
opportunity to experience firsthand the life of a Van
Bael & Bellis lawyer. We welcome applications from
law students and recent graduates from first-rate
academic institutions from all over the world.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Van Bael & Bellis is always interested in talking
to highly motivated individuals who share our
commitment to excellence and are looking for a new
opportunity in an international legal environment. If
you can bring initiative and dynamism together with
creative and innovative thinking to our firm, while
simultaneously blending well with our existing team,
then please complete the application form, attaching
your cover letter and your curriculum vitae.
CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLIS | 15Testimonials
MICHEL BONNE, PARTNER ,
In my experience, Van Bael & Bellis combines the ŧ Ŋ
best of both worlds. Although most of its lawyers
are based in one location, Brussels, its practice has a ŋ
truly global reach. What I found particularly appealing
on joining the firm is that it is more international than Ŋ ŋ
the Belgian offices of many global law firms. Ŋ
Ŋ
This gives us a unique ability to handle complex
Ŋ
cross-border corporate transactions.
ŋ
I also became very enthusiastic about our practice of
deliberately involving our young lawyers in projects Ŋ
calling for expertise in various areas of law. Our young Ŋ
associates become more complete lawyers thanks to ŋ
this enriching exposure.
Ŋ
We also work in small teams with direct client Ŋ
interaction and close contact with partners, offering
the very best training. Ŋ Ŋ Ŋ
ŋ
16 | CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLIS ,
ŧ Ŋ
ŋ
ľŊŊ Ŋ
ŋ Ŋ
ŋ
Ŋ
ŋ
Ŋ
ŋ Ŋ Ŋ
Ō
Ŋ
ŋ
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Ŋ
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JOANNA REDELBACH, ASSOCIATE
My decision to apply to Van Bael & Bellis was
motivated by the firm’s unparalleled experience in
international trade law. As I found out, Van Bael &
Bellis is the number one trade practice in Europe. My
personal practice ranges from complex WTO litigation
through FTA negotiations to anti-dumping and anti-
subsidy investigations.
What I especially appreciate about Van Bael & Bellis is
working as part of an international team of talented
people who are dedicated to excellence in everything
they do. Something else unique about the firm is its
stimulating, yet friendly working environment, where
people cooperate rather than compete.
Van Bael & Bellis has given me the opportunity to
grow and take on new challenges together with
people who are not only my colleagues, but also my
friends.
CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLIS | 17“The lawyers’ ‘intellectual curiosity and outgoing personalities make them one of the best teams I have ever worked with’.” Chambers Global, 2017 18 | CAREERS AT VAN BAEL & BELLIS
BRUSSELS Glaverbel Building Chaussée de La Hulpe 166 Terhulpsesteenweg B-1170 Brussels Belgium Phone : +32 (0)2 647 73 50 Fax : +32 (0)2 640 64 99 GENEVA 26, Bd des Philosophes CH-1205 Geneva Switzerland Phone : +41 (0)22 320 90 20 Fax : +41 (0)22 320 94 20 ĔŊ ēĐ ŌĜēēœďŔđďĖēďĕĐēĖĐ ŋŋ
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