Crowell & Moring adds Werner Eyskens in Brussels

Crowell & Moring adds Werner Eyskens in Brussels

Despite US firm's continued run of laterals from UK rivals, Werner Eyskens moves on to his position in the Belgian capital

The US firm Crowell & Moring announced the addition of a partner from Allen & Overy (A&O) in Brussels, the latest deal that a UK firm has made with a European firm.

Having handled multinational arbitrations and international commercial litigation for nearly three decades, Werner Eyskens brings nearly three decades of experience to his new firm. After qualifying and working at legacy Loeff Claeys Verbeke - now Loyens & Loeff - he spent more than 20 years at A&O.

Before Dejonge was elevated to global managing partner in 2008 and senior partner in 2020, Eyskens worked at A&O in Brussels at the same time as Wim Dejonge was managing partner of the Belgian offices. Prior to moving from Loyens in 2001, both men also worked together there.

Crowell's Brussels office co-managing partner Kristof Roux said: "We're delighted to welcome Werner." "We rely on Werner for his litigation, as well as his extensive experience as a cross-examiner and advocate."

With his expertise in the construction, infrastructure, maritime, transport, and logistics sectors, Eyskens served as the lynchpin of A&O's dispute team. Having a sectoral focus attracted Crowell to him, as Ian Laird points out, led to Crowell becoming a member of Crowell's disputes group.

According to Laird, one of our firm's strategic priorities is expanding our infrastructure and construction disputes practice. Our existing work in London and Doha in addition to Werner's experience in several sectors will be enhanced by his expertise in a wide range of sectors. He will further expand [our] international reach."

Similarly, Eyskens cited Crowell's infrastructure disputes practice as the firm's integration with his own practice and its reputed Brussels office with strong litigation practices as driving factors.

Besides being an active member of the Belgian courts at all levels, Eyskens also served as the board director, counsel, and arbitrator for CEPANI, the Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation. As a fluent English, Dutch, and French speaker, he has also handled numerous insolvency cases in the Belgian aviation sector, resulting in a variety of contested situations.

His expertise in logistics and shipping is equally essential, as he handled the bankruptcy of national flag carrier Sabena, leading to a €3bn claim brought by the Belgian state against successor S Air Group.

Belgian corporations overseas have benefited from his international practice including the International Court of Arbitration at ICC Paris, London's LCIA and Singapore International Arbitration Centre.

Eysken has also been experienced in investor-state arbitration, serving as an attorney for the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington DC, which is known for its work in investor-state arbitration.

The partner of Laird, Laurence Winston, said he anticipated Eyskens would work closely with its London office on English-language arbitration disputes.

Werner is a welcome addition to the team. Kristof Roux, the co-managing partner of Brussels IP, says he is an outstanding advocate, cross-examiner, and go-to attorney for complex national and cross-border disputes.

Crowell has been to Brussels before. It has been a key component of the firm's growth strategy to expand its European practice in alignment with its global expansion. It will be with a focus that Eysken's arrival will be able to focus on work for clients in the Benelux countries as well as throughout Europe, while the rest of the work will be referred from Crowell's UK and US offices as well as its Middle Eastern offices.

In addition to his move, K&L Gates, which recently hired antitrust partner Nikolaos Peristerakis from Linklaters, is joining the trend of US firms hiring from established UK firms in the EU capital.

A US firm has replaced Peristerakis with a Brussels lawyer this year, Linklaters' third departure to a US firm this year. On the same day that Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton hired competition partner Isabel Rooms, Jonas Koponen and its antitrust and foreign investment team left Linklaters for Cooley, Jonas Koponen left Linklaters for Cooley.

Eyskens leaves A&O after Suzanne Spears, a partner in the firm's international arbitration practice and co-head of A&O's business and human rights division, left the firm to set up her own London business and human rights boutique last week.

"Suzanne Spears has left Allen & Overy, according to a spokesperson for the firm. It is with great gratitude that we thank her for her contributions and wish her good luck going forward."

Eysken's departure was not discussed by A&O.