Organising regular events for all members of the firm is pretty much synonymous with the Liedekerke approach 'we work hard but play hard as well'. A number of events such as the Liedekerke Summer Event, the Liedekerke After Summer Event, the Liedekerke Revue, our regular afterwork drinks throughout the year, ‘brain maniac’ breakfasts in the firm, etc… are recurring events that allow us to connect with each other more outside the professional working environment which obviously has a positive impact to the cooperation in the office as well. Soak up the cool atmosphere that is strong at these events by watching some after-event movies.
Liedekerke’s transactional Banking & Finance practice assists corporate borrowers, private equity sponsors, real estate developers, financial institutions, funds, and alternative lenders  on a wide range of financing arrangements, including acquisition finance, real estate finance, project finance, borrowing-base finance, general corporate lending, and debt restructurings.
Providing sophisticated and pragmatic advice, our team has the know-how, the size, and the international reach to ensure successful deal-making in Belgium and abroad.

In a volatile and rapidly evolving financial sector, financing arrangements are often subject to complex contractual hurdles and tight timelines, requiring an experienced, knowledgeable, and reliable partner to bring deals to successful completion.

We pride ourselves on being fully dedicated finance experts – as opposed to all-round lawyers – who have the necessary expertise and understanding to guide our clients throughout the entirety of a transaction (from deal origination to financial close). We do not see ourselves as a mere legal advisor, but as a true partner in helping our clients navigate intricate processes, spot problems early on, and find alternative solutions to address real business concerns.

We serve corporate borrowers, private equity sponsors, real estate developers, financial institutions, funds, and alternative lenders, all with the same enthusiasm and dedication – and with an approach tailored to each of their sectors and specificities. We understand the risks, sensitivities and deal dynamics of each transaction party, resulting in increased negotiation efficiency.

In essence, we have an international mindset. Clients looking to do cross-border transactions consistently seek our counsel, as we possess both the international expertise and wide-reaching network to smoothly guide them. Having the flexibility to choose the best law firms abroad, that meet the clients’ demands both in terms of quality and pricing, clearly sets us apart from other players.

Always striving for excellent service, yet remaining consistently approachable, we take pride in living up to our excellent reputation while always watching out for our clients’ interests.

Our Services

  • Acquisition finance

  • Real estate finance

  • Project finance

  • General corporate lending

  • Syndicated lending

  • Asset-based and borrowing base finance

  • Structured finance and securitisations

  • Export finance

  • Receivables finance and factoring

  • Financial leasing

  • Cash pooling arrangements

  • Debt restructurings and non-performing loans

Our Team

Our team works for corporate borrowers, private equity sponsors, real estate developers, financial institutions, funds, and alternative lenders on financing transactions across different sectors. We handle a variety of financing arrangements, and in addition, we have ample experience in guiding first-time borrowers entering into (LMA based) financing documentation. Our Banking & Finance team has the specialist know-how, size, and capacity to bring value for our clients in Belgium and abroad.

The practice is well-balanced in several ways: the team acts both on the borrower’s and lender’s side resulting in a true understanding of each party’s sensitivities, has an ideal mix of seniority meaning that work will be performed by the most appropriate lawyer at the most appropriate level of seniority, and is besides locally generated work experienced in referral work (where we act as Belgian counsel in large international transactions).

Relevant Experience

General corporate lending:
  • Assisting Brussels Airlines in the context of the EUR 290 million financial support from the Belgian State to address the COVID-19 crisis

  • Advising Natixis on an investment grade revolving credit facility for Ageas, Belgium’s largest insurance company listed on Euronext

  • Advising Innovatus Capital Partners, a private credit provider, on the Belgian law aspects of the multi-purpose financing of MDxHealth, a multinational healthcare company listed on Euronext and NASDAQ.

  • Assisting ING Bank , ING Belgium , Belfius Bank and BNP Paribas Fortis in connection with a borrowing base facility for International Car Lease Holding Belgium

  • Advising GALERIA Karstadt Kaufhof, a German company active in the retail and fashion industry and the sole shareholder of the Belgian company INNO, on the Belgian law aspects of a subordinated loan granted by the German State, through its Wirtschafsstabilisierungsfonds

  • Advising Sonaca, a Belgian aerospace company, on the syndicated global refinancing of the existing indebtedness of the Sonaca group

  • Advising Argos Wityu, a private equity sponsor, on the refinancing of the indebtedness of the Gantrex group, a global crane and speciality rail systems company

  • Advising Belfius Bank and BNP Paribas Fortis on the amendment, restatement and increase of a senior facilities agreement for Van Mossel Automotive Groep 4

Acquisition finance
  • Advised ING Belgium, BNP Paribas Fortis and KBC Bank on a secured club deal financing for Pauwels Consulting, a portfolio company of 3d investors

  • Advising One Rock Capital Partners, a private equity sponsor, on the Belgian law aspects of a first lien credit agreement for the financing of the acquisition of the Flexsys group, a global supplier of rubber chemicals and solutions.

  • Advising Aterian Investment Partners, a US investment fund, on the Belgian law aspects of the financing of the acquisition of the EverZinc group, a zinc chemicals production company

  • Advising SCIH Salt Holdings on the Belgian law aspects of the financing of the acquisition of K+S Belgium Holding, holding the North and South American salt business of minerals miner K+S, by Stone Canyon Industries Holdings, a global industrial holding company

  • Assisting BNP Paribas Fortis, KBC Bank and ING Belgium in connection with club deal financing for Sereni

Real estate finance
  • Assisting Standard Life Aberdeen in connection with the amendment and extension of an existing credit facility provided by Aareal Bank AG for real estate portfolio companies with properties in Belgium and France (part of European Property Growth Fund)

  • Advising ABN AMRO Bank on the Belgian law aspects of the refinancing of the European logistic real estate portfolio of CBRE, an international real estate services and investment firm

  • Advising Postbank, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, on the real estate financing of the acquisition of the ‘BAR 65’ office building located Rue Belliard 65 in Brussels by Real IS, a German real estate investment fund

  • Assisting Tikehau Investment Management and Tikehau Elpertel in relation to an intra-group merger and the amendment and restatement of an existing facilities agreement

  • Assisting BNP Paribas Fortis on a real estate development financing for investment firm Gingko Advisor

  • Assisting Deutsche Pfandbriefbank on certain Belgian law aspects of a financing for Eden Tower Frankfurt, an asset in the portfolio of Immobel

  • Assisting BNP Paribas Fortis and Belfius Bank in connection with a credit facility for the development of the Gare Maritime site in Brussels by Extensa, a major real estate developer

  • Assisting UFG Global Commercial & Hospitality Real Estate Fund I in connection with financing of the acquisition of the full ownership of an office building located in Brussels

  • Advising Postbank, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, on the real estate financing of the acquisition of the 'Louise 120' building located Avenue Louise 120 in Brussels by Catella Real Estate, a European property investment firm

Project finance
  • Advising Total Energies Gas & Power on the financial assurance arrangements for SPVs of Elicio, a Belgian renewable energy company, holding on-shore wind farm assets in Bretagne, under a power purchase agreement

  • Advising Nala Renewables Belgium, a joint venture between Trafigura (one of the world’s leading independent commodity trading companies) and IFM Investors (a global institutional fund manager) on the project financing for the construction and operation of a battery energy storage system (BESS) in Balen, Belgium

Awards & Recognition

Banking & Finance, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2024, Band 4

"The quality of the services they offer, their availability and the extent of their knowledge make it a great firm to work with."

"Liedekerke have a strong knowledge of the Belgian market."

"The team are available and manage deadlines in a very professional way."

Banking & Finance, Legal 500 2023, Tier 2

"Very efficient and ambitious team headed by two high potential partners, Wim Dedecker and Freya Mareels. The team is large enough to offer sufficient capacity, but at the same time close-nit so that a collective high standard is ensured."

"Wim Dedecker has built a strong track record in capital markets transactions, which he combines with a flourishing M&A practice. I would definitively recommend working with Wim given his expertise, his devotion and his particularly efficient conciliatory style."

"Very professional team with experience from international law firms."

"Partner on the deal was Freya Mareels, although day-to-day contact on the deal was mostly with Thomas Vanthournout. He understands very well the position of the lenders, is very reactive and easy to reach. The transaction was burdensome from a legal point of view, yet Mr Vanthournout managed the process very efficiently. He also took the initiative to liaise directly with the company counsel in order to tackle certain issues."

"Great team. High expertise, nice to work with & affordable."

"Wim Dedecker – sophisticated & creative. Freya Mareels – smart & extensive experience. Reinout Vrielinck – super smart & creative."

"Excellent price-quality ratio – constructive – willing to think outside the box."

Banking & Finance, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2023, Band 4

"Liedekerke is a strong, dynamic and pragmatic team".

Banking & Finance, Legal 500 2022, Tier 2

“The attorneys at Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick that we have worked with are all experienced in both legal and business matters, so they are able to provide “next level” guidance that is quite valuable to us as a business client. All of their partners and associates are extremely responsive and flexible.”

“The team is responsible, knowledgeable, flexible and extremely reactive.”

‘‘The team is a hidden gem on the Belgian market.”

“Very strong, dynamic and talented team.”

Banking & Finance, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2022, Band 4

"It is really more than support from the team; it is a real partnership.”

“The firm’s strengths are the speed of the responses and the accuracy of the answers.”

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