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.
Our leading stand-alone environmental practice is known for its quality transactional, advisory, and litigation services provided by recommended specialists acting as frontline players in all environmental matters, in addition to, supporting our corporate and real estate departments.
We advise on, negotiate, and give procedural assistance to clients concerning various subject areas such as waste and soil (management, recycling, remediation, decontamination, transport and transit), permits (environmental permits, soil certification, cease or transfer of activity/industry, environmental liability, carbon markets), and water regulations.

We are known for our knowledge, experience, and our collaboration with scientific and technical advisors, especially regarding complex soil pollution cases, environmental impact assessment files, and product regulatory matters. Our team is used to assisting clients at every stage of their project development and solving issues.

Our assistance covers advisory and contractual issues, transaction management, due diligence, dispute resolution (in various jurisdictions at EU and national levels), criminal defense, permit application and acquisition, lobbying support, and crisis management.

Our Services

Our services cover all types of environmental law issues, focusing on:

Project development

Assistance at all stages of project development from conception to operation including lobbying and negotiations with the competent authorities.

Permits

Acquisition, drafting, negotiating, due diligence support, appeals against refusals, renewals, modifications, regularizations, and splitting of environmental and single permits.

Advisory & litigation

We advise on European as well as Belgian federal and regional regulations (waste and soil management, transport and transit, brownfields, distributors’ take-back obligation, water and nature protection, regulation, IPPC compliance, environmental impact assessment, cessation of activities, and soil remediation), and litigation in any of the relevant jurisdiction.

Our planning and zoning team has vast experience of dispute resolution (before the Constitutional Court, administrative jurisdictions [i.a. Council of State], civil and criminal courts,etc.).

We work seamlessly and effectively with the firm’s other specialists, especially on M&A, construction, and real estate transactions and in particular, when determining the risks and opportunities related to zoning and planning.

Zoning and planning

Zoning and planning includes legal issues relating to environmental impact analyses, nature conservation, safety reporting, identifying competent authorities, and others.

Our team has experience of planning infrastructure (railways, motorways, airports, utility lines, and industrial parks), massive structures (football stadiums, train stations, offices, residential properties, hospitals, and prisons) and urban regeneration.

Our team is used to helping planning initiators navigate the procedures as well as helping to oppose initiatives. Because we understand the interests of the concerned parties, we ensure that our clients opt for the most efficient strategies.

Permit acquisition and allotment

At every stage, our team helps clients obtain building permits and permits for allotment.

In practice the team proposes services for projects ranging from individual house building projects and allotments, through industrial constructions to infrastructure projects.

Our team analyses different legal possibilities in order to defend our clients before the competent authorities at every stage of the procedure.

Expropriation and property rights

Zoning and planning regulations often conflict with landowners’ property rights. Our team has experience in issues including expropriation, public servitudes, pre-emptive rights and so on.

OUR STRENGTHS

Pragmatic, creative, and understanding Liedekerke’s lawyers apply a pragmatic and creative approach to offering swift, clear, practical, and value-creating solutions. This approach combines a profound insight into the different fields of law with a solid understanding of the general social and political environments. The practice is diversified and deals with varied files in all Belgian Regions and on the European level, including soil pollution, waste management, circular economy, logistics, infrastructure, retail, nuclear regulations, noise nuisance, pesticides, permitting and litigation, climate law etc.

True Belgium-wide coverage

Because of Belgium’s institutional system (i.e., environmental matters are split between the federal and regional levels), practitioners need to provide their clients with services that cover every corner of the country. Liedekerke’s environmental team is known for its expertise in handling matters in every region in the country, thanks to its cultural diversity and multilingual abilities and has extensive knowledge of regional and European legislations.

Continuous support throughout the course of each project

We have a solid and demonstrated experience in assisting our clients at every stage of their project.

OUR CLIENTS

Our clients include environmental and energy utilities, project developers, real estate retailers, logistic firms, and chemical companies, and pharmaceutical entities. We also assist private individuals and public authorities.

OUR TEAM

Our team is able to handle matters efficiently at the three Belgium regional levels, the Belgium federal level, as well at international level. We are known for our tailor-made and up-to-date solutions to all types of environmental law matters.

Our Relevant Experience

  • Assisting a European Commercial Distribution leader with all its zoning and permitting matters in Belgium in the three regions

  • Advising a public authority on high profile noise limitation cases

  • Advising several clients on various questions related to soil pollution and permits

  • Assisting with the development of a multi-generational new leisure park based on sports, nature, culture and education

  • Advising several clients with the environmental aspects of their M&A transactions

  • Advising a sectorial fund in all its environmental works that relate to the sanitation of petrol stations

  • Giving global project development assistance in the implementation of new self-assembled furniture stores in Belgium

  • Assisting with the set-up of a non-profit organization for the collection of specific types of waste

  • Assisting with the redevelopment of a brownfield project

  • Developing an implementation handbook on environmental and single permits (for all Belgian regions)

  • Handling litigations regarding waste water taxes and historical soil pollution

  • Conducting due diligences (for offshore wind parks, chemical industries, hydroelectric)

  • Assisting an administrative authority in a management study on administrative environmental measures

Awards & Recognition

Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick has a top-tier environmental law practice with enviable experience in permitting issues, pollution regulation enforcement and waste management. It advises major domestic players and public bodies on environmental, zoning and urban planning law aspects of development projects. The practice represents clients in high-profile contentious matters, including around climate change regulations. The public law team additionally provides extensive experience in high-value disputes concerning domestic regulations on gambling and construction, as well as concerning the differences between domestic and EU regulations. The lawyers are mandated by major private companies in contentious and non-contentious procurement law matters.

"They combine academic excellence with market experience."

Chambers Europe, Planning & Environment 2023

“Top tier environmental law practice with enviable experience in permitting issues, pollution regulation enforcement and waste management. Advises major domestic players and public bodies on environmental, zoning and planning law aspects of development projects. Represents clients in high profile contentious matters, including around climate change regulations. Additionally provides extensive experience in high value disputes concerning domestic regulations on gambling and transportation, as well as concerning the differences between domestic and EU regulations. Mandated by major private companies in contentious and non contentious procurement law matters.”

One client particularly notes: " We were pleased with the knowledge, high degree of expertise and technicality of the team, team," and further comments on the team's responsiveness saying: Everything came in due time and the service level is high”.

Chambers Europe, Public & Administrative Law, Planning & Environment 2022

“In depth knowledge of the Belgian environmental laws in all regions.‘

‘Dominique Devos has a very good knowledge of our needs and our business.”

Legal 500, Environment, 2022

One source describes the team as " top of the market ," adding that the lawyers are very pragmatic and considered. considered.“ A client praises the firm's very thorough understanding of the public laws, regulations and jurisprudence

Chambers Europe, Public & Administrative Law, Planning & Environment 2021

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