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Consumer Law and Banking & Finance
Freya Mareels
Partner
Freya Mareels specialises in banking and finance law with a focus on leveraged finance and general syndicated lending, real estate finance, project finance and debt restructuring.
She acts for both lenders and borrowers and has extensive experience in cross-border transactions. Her practice further includes debt capital markets transactions and structured finance.
Freya holds a law degree (magna cum laude) from Ghent University (2005) as well as a master of law (LL.M.) from The University of Nottingham (2006). She also studied at Hofstra University (2005), New York.
Prior to joining Liedekerke, Freya worked at the Brussels, London and Amsterdam offices of an international law firm for ten years. She joined Liedekerke as a Partner in 2016.
Contact
Studies
The University of Nottingham (Master of Law) 2006
Ghent University (Law degree - Magna Cum Laude) 2005
Relevant expertise
Advising Sonaca SA, a Belgian corporate active in the aerospace sector, in connection with the financing of the take-over of Nasdaq-listed LMI Aerospace, Inc.
Assisting a syndicate of banks on a development financing for a major Belgian real estate developer
Advising a major Belgian mezzanine financier with respect to the mezzanine financing provided in the framework of several leveraged buy-outs
Assisting the Nomad Foods group on the Belgian law aspects of EUR 850,000,000 senior facilities and the issuance of EUR 400,000,000 senior secured notes
Advising the lenders on the refinancing of a 30-year infrastructure PPP project
Publications/Speaking Engagements
Mareels, F. and Richelle, J., ‘Belgium’ in G. Godfrey (gen. ed.), Neate and Godfrey: Bank Confidentiality (sixth edition), Bloomsbury Professional, 2015.
Mareels, F., Puglisi, A., Richelle, J. and ‘Belgium’ in G. Godfrey (gen. ed.), Neate and Godfrey: Bank Confidentiality (fifth edition), Bloomsbury Professional, 2011.
Mareels, F., “Bankgeheim en leasingmaatschappijen: het Hof van Cassatie geeft restrictieve invulling aan het begrip ‘cliënt’”, Bank- en Financieel Recht, 2009, 344-346.
Recognition
Freya Mareels is ranked in Band 4 of the Banking & Finance category of Chambers with clients praising ""She is relationship-driven and very experienced - and always available for her clients." Chambers Europe 2023
Freya Mareels has been ranked as "Highly Recommended" in the Banking and Finance area. - Leaders League, 2022
Freya Mareels is ranked as "Next Generation Partner" in the Banking, Finance & Capital Markets area. ‘Freya Mareels we appreciate her for her competence, client focus, dedication and her drive to deliver on target‘- Legal 500, 2021
Freya Mareels is ranked as ‘Up and Coming’ in the Banking and Finance area. ne client attests: "We appreciate her for her competence, client focus, dedication and her drive to deliver on target.".– Chambers Europe and Global, 2021
Freya Mareels is ranked 'Leading lawyer- highly regarded in Belgium' in the area of Banking - IFLR1000, 2020
Freya Mareels is ranked ‘Next generation partners’ in the area of Banking and Finance. Clients said “Freya Mareels has a deep understanding of the banking and finance market, and is knowledgeable both technically and in terms of market practices’’. She also communicates clearly and quickly goes to the essence of the matter‘ – Legal 500, 2020
Freya Mareels is ranked ‘Up and Coming’ in the area of Banking and Finance. She is noted by the market as a rising star whose name is "really worthwhile mentioning." She assists banks with leveraged finance, real estate finance and general corporate lending matters.– Chambers Europe & Global, 2020
Freya Mareels is ranked ‘Up and Coming’ in the area of Banking and Finance – Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, 2019.
Clients said “We like working with her because we can really rely on her”, adding that “she is always very responsive”. – Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, 2019
Freya Mareels is ranked ‘Next generation lawyer’ in the area of Banking and Finance – Legal 500, 2019
Memberships & Admissions
Member of the Brussels Bar
AEDBF/EVBFR-Belgium
Languages
- Dutch
- English
- French