A&O Shearman has a market-leading fraud and white-collar crime practice which is active across the full-range of issues including matters relating to fraud, money laundering, corporate manslaughter, and breaches of financial regulation. Thomas Declerck, who is particularly experienced in cybercrime, international sanctions, and export controls, was promoted to partner in May 2023 and took over as practice head, with previous lead partner Joost Everaert retiring at the end of 2023. European and international criminal law are areas of focus for Basil Saen, whose practice encompasses bribery, corruption and money laundering, amongst others.

Known for its strength across the whole gamut of fraud and white-collar criminal matters, Stibbe represents clients in high-profile disputes with particular expertise pertaining to anti-money laundering as well as cybercrime. The practice also works closely with the firm’s other groups such as tax and employment on complex multidisciplinary matters and acts for a number of multinational corporates and their executives. Hailed as ‘one of the best white-collar crime lawyers in Belgium’, Hans Van Bavel leads the team which also comprises anti-money laundering specialist David Verwaerde.

Dispute resolution boutique Arcas Law handles criminal and civil matters, where the firm is a go-to advisor for SMEs, global corporations and individuals alike. ‘Good communicator’ and practice co-head Dirk Libotte handles a wide-range of fraud and white-collar contentious work in sectors such as pharmaceutical, banking, telecoms, and insurance. Joost Verlinden completes the team’s leadership duo and has longstanding expertise across civil and criminal matters, with experience that includes domicile fraud and insolvency.

Praised for its ‘balanced approach’ and ‘creative legal solutions’, DLA Piper fields particular expertise in fraud within public and cybercrime, though the practice covers a vast array of matters such as bribery, money laundering, and IP fraud. Joris De Vos and ‘outstanding individual’ Ilse Van de Mierop are both particularly well-versed in regard to insolvency and restructuring. Administrative and public law are at the core of Bob Martens‘ practice, whose work covers corruption matters and infringements against environmental regulations.

The criminal enforcement and compliance-focused team at Eubelius assists clients with investigations and represents them in criminal cases up to the Court of Cassation, in addition to handling compliance programmes and due diligence matters. The firm is also well-versed in cases pertaining to cybercrime and data breaches. Practice head Tom Bauwens is hailed as an ‘authority in the field of criminal law’ and counts human rights law to his areas of specialty alongside white-collar criminal law. Monica Rodriguez also fields an active compliance and criminal enforcement practice.

Everest fields a practice that assists clients with compliance and fraud prevention alongside investigations and represents them in enforcement proceedings, both on a domestic and cross-border level. The practice is also noted for its niche knowledge in sports-related white-collar criminal cases, where it can draw on the know-how situated within its dedicated sports practice. Stijn De Meulenaer leads the team and is noted for his expertise across fraud, compliance and business criminal law, with a particularly in-depth experience relating to fraud audits. Another key name on associate level is Danique Van Mechelen.

Acting for domestic and multinational companies and their executives, as well as non-profit organisations and public bodies, Liedekerke assists clients with compliance and contentious matters relating to the full array of fraud and white-collar criminal issues, including tax fraud, public corruption, and breach of environmental regulations. Magda Vandebotermet is the key partner and fields a broad criminal law practice that has seen her represent clients up to the Court of Cassation. Corporate criminal law specialist Margot Vandebeek is another core member of the team.

At Lydian, the fraud and white-collar crime practice focuses on three core pillars: employee fraud, insurance fraud, and contractual fraud. The firm assists financial institutions, insurers, and companies from sectors such as tech and banking in internal investigations in addition to criminal and civil litigation. A trio of partners helms the team, consisting of insurance fraud specialist Hugo Keulers, Jan Hofkens, who is regularly sought out by clients for his expertise in employee fraud and Yves Lenders, whose practice encompasses criminal liability of directors as well as contractual fraud.

Deloitte Legal capitalises on its proficiency in handling tax disputes, where the firm represents clients in various high-stakes tax fraud cases encompassing both criminal proceedings and tax audits. The practice is led by a trio of practitioners: Jürgen Egger leverages his experience in commercial and contract law in cases such as fraud, embezzlement and anti-money laundering, while Annick Visschers and Johan Speecke are particularly active in tax litigation.

Acting primarily for individuals in criminal defence proceedings, Hirsch & Vanhaelst handles matters relating to a wide-range of issues including tax fraud and money laundering. The team is led by white-collar crime and international criminal law specialist Michèle Hirsch and also includes Morgan Bonneure, whose expertise extends to insider dealing and tax fraud, amongst others. Sophie Colmant left the firm in November 2023.

The fraud and white-collar crime capabilities at Janson range from assisting clients with investigations to defending them before various courts and authorities, with matters relating to financial fraud, money laundering, and insurance fraud, amongst others. ‘Excellent white-collar crime lawyer’ Céline Masschelein leads the team together with François Koning, who is well-versed in anti-money laundering.

Linklaters acts for domestic corporations and multinational conglomerates in investigations and proceedings relating to a number of white-collar criminal issues, such as anti-money laundering and investment fraud. Managing partner for Belgium Stefaan Loosveld leads the practice together with litigators Xavier Taton and Florence Danis.

Praised for being ‘extremely reliable’ and ‘solutions-driven’, Loyens & Loeff‘s corporate criminal defence team handles compliance issues, corporate investigations, and criminal proceedings for clients from a variety of sectors, including finance and transport. Litigator Olivier van der Haegen leads the team together with senior associate Clémence Van Muylder.

Quinz provides assistance in corporate criminal law as part of its dispute resolution offering, wherein the firm handles allegations of bribery and corruption, fraud, defamation, and bankruptcy offences, amongst others. Litigation and arbitration specialist Benoît Allemeersch, who ‘stands out as pragmatic and enigmatic’, heads the practice.

Strelia‘s fraud and white-collar crime practice acts for corporations, financial entities, and individuals entangled in fraud and white-collar crime litigation, working closely with the firm’s restructuring and insolvency group. Sébastien Ryelandt, leading the practice, fields significant experience in banking disputes, liability proceedings, and various white-collar criminal matters.

Tetra Law is noted for its expertise pertaining to tax fraud and anti-money laundering, where the firm defends individuals and corporations in both domestic and cross-border cases. Sabrina Scarnà is the key partner and specialises in criminal tax law, assisting clients with investigations and defending them in disputes.

Under the leadership of Philip Walravens, who is praised for his ‘very pragmatic and solid approach’, Verhaegen Walravens handles fraud and white-collar criminal matters including those with a cross-border dimension. The team defends clients up to the Court of Cassation in issues such as sanctions violations and corruption.