Caroline Daout joins Van Bael & Bellis with three associates in Brussels

Caroline Daout joins Van Bael & Bellis with three associates in Brussels

They were previously working with DLA Piper

Belgian independent law firm Van Bael & Bellis (VBB) has hired four lawyers to boost its transactions team in Brussels. Caroline Daout, the corporate lead has joined the firm along with senior associate Virginie Lescot and associates Jens Westerwoudt and Charles-Antoine du Bus.

The hires represent a significant expansion of VBB's transactions team, comprising three partners and 15 associates and paralegals.

All four lawyers were previously working with DLA Piper. Meanwhile, senior associate Cedric Hauben has also moved to VBB from Allen & Overy.

Philippe De Baere, the managing partner at VBB said, "Our transactions team now has a depth and strength that allows it to compete with other international practices in the market. Following the opening of our London office, the move shows once again that VBB is a firm that invests in high-end expertise for its clients."

VBB is traditionally known for its strength in EU antitrust, trade and regulatory law as well as commercial disputes.

Early this year, it hired a three-member transactions team from DLA Piper. It was led by experienced banking and finance partner Johan Mouraux.

Michel Bonne, the head of the transactional services team at VBB, added, "Following Mouraux's very successful integration into the team, we now are very pleased to welcome Daout's team. They add strong expertise to our already wide range of transactional services, in Belgium and abroad."

Daout worked at DLA Piper for nearly three decades. She led the Brussels office's corporate and M&A practice group for six years. She focuses her practice on corporate transactions, primarily across the pharmaceutical, technology and energy sectors.