A&O Shearman is known for its expertise in digital transformation with projects concerning digital health, connected cars, fintech and cybersecurity notable areas of activity. The team is additionally well placed to advise on a range of telecoms matters. Filip Van Elsen, one of the practice co-chairs, frequently guides clients through complex outsourcing projects and software implementations; he possesses a strong background in digital innovation and transformation, including data protection and AI. Fellow co-head Peter Van Dyck frequently handles matters related to data protection, technology, and IP law and is well versed in IT services arrangements. Edward Taelman left the firm in March 2024.

Drawing upon its extensive knowledge of IT contracts, IP protection clauses and regulatory initiatives and changes, Bird & Bird provides comprehensive support to a diverse client base, including media players, international corporations and technology suppliers. The team is also well positioned to support its clients’ outreach to EU institutions. Benoit Van Asbroeck co-heads the practice and is equipped to advise on projects involving big data, blockchain infrastructure and the implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code. Co-head Hein Hobbelen frequently advises major telecoms clients on an array of competition law issues, including state aid matters.

CMS‘ ‘tech-savvy’ technology, media and communications team stands out for its comprehensive handling of technology and communications matters, spanning contentious and non-contentious work. Internet of Things projects, cyber incident response and cross-border data transfers are some of the group's focus areas. ‘Truly exceptional lawyer’ Dirk Van Liedekerke co-chairs the team; his varied portfolio of work incorporates advice to major EU public operators on electronic communications regulation and contentious work related to inter-operator conflicts. IT expert Tom De Cordier completes the leadership team and is well versed in the implementation of the EU Data Act and mandates pertaining to AI. Deven Dobbelaere is a known name for telecoms regulatory advice.

Crowell & Moring‘s telecoms expertise includes the drafting and negotiating of a wide range of telecoms agreements, outsourcing projects and the representation of clients in merger control proceedings and antitrust investigations. On the IT side, the team’s experience extends to cloud computing mandates, IT outsourcing contracts and guiding clients through interactions with regulatory bodies. Thomas De Meese heads up the team and specialises in competition, telecoms and technology law; he is well versed in commercial telecoms litigation and also active in the field of internet access provider liability. Sari Depreeuw advises and represents a wide range of clients from the digital sector with IoT, autonomous vehicles and software among her areas of expertise. Frederik Van Remoortel is a further name to note, and Edward Taelman, who is singled out for his expertise in digital regulation, joined the team in March 2024.

DLA Piper leverages its ‘great knowledge of the market’ to handle work across the IT and telecoms spectrum for clients ranging from hyperscalers to government entities and state-owned companies. Providing regulatory assistance for AI-driven services, securing authorisations for the global and national deployment of telecoms and technology infrastructure, and IT procurement and IT outsourcing projects are notable areas of activity for the firm. Kristof De Vulder heads up the practice and is described as a ‘master in IT contracting and related issues’. Raf Schoefs assumes a central role in the team’s significant IT outsourcing endeavours, and Nicolas Becker has amassed considerable experience in contentious IT contracting work.

Described as the ‘leading tech law team in Belgium’, Stibbe is equipped to handle a wide range of IT and telecoms work with matters related to digital platforms, social media, data centres and telecoms all areas of strength. The team is additionally well placed to assist major clients with capex to opex transitions. Practice head Erik Valgaeren is praised for his ‘extensive practice and experience in IT, AI and data protection’. Carolien Michielsen is singled out for her IT contract drafting skills and her expertise pertaining to new technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain. Both lawyers are praised for their ‘willingness and ability to engage in the understanding of complex technical and commercial issues’.

ALTIUS‘ offering includes assisting with acquisitions in the IT and telecoms sector, providing day-to-day advice for multinational organisations, and handling contentious and non-contentious employment matters. Gerrit Vandendriessche heads up the team; his far-reaching advisory practice encompasses computer law, electronic communications and e-commerce matters, while IT-related litigation is another area of strength. Jan Clinck‘s in-depth knowledge of new technologies is frequently brought to bear in both contentious and non-contentious mandates.

Fieldfisher‘s broad offering covers assistance with outsourcings, technology procurements, cloud computing issues and the commercialisation of new technologies. The ‘ pragmatic and compliant’ team is also competent in the area of IT disputes, handling matters ranging from mediation to litigation. The ‘hands-on’ Tim Van Canneyt jointly leads the practice alongside IP expert Stijn Debaene and French-qualified lawyer Olivier Proust. Van Canneyt’s practice extends to IT contract negotiation and litigation, while Proust excels in mandates with a privacy dimension. Hakim Haouideg and Nathalie Poupaert are further names to note.

The team of ‘lawyers with strong technology backgrounds’ at Jones Day is active across areas such as  competition and regulatory issues in the telecoms sector, cybersecurity assessments in the context of transactional work, and contractual mandates. The firm is also well positioned to handle an array of venture capital work in the space. Jörg Hladjk, one of four heads of team, is praised for his ‘great communication skills’. Fellow co-heads Bernard Amory and Alexandre Verheyden frequently handle domestic and EU-level competition work for telecoms clients, while co-head Thomas De Muynck is able able to bring his corporate expertise to bear on cross-border technology transactions for local and foreign multinationals and private equity funds. Regulatory issues connected with Belgian fibre roll-out fall among Yvan Desmedt‘s practice strengths, and Laurent De Muyter is recommended for EU regulatory issues.

The ‘competent and flexible’ practice at Lydian covers advisory, transactional and contentious IT and telecoms work with telecoms operators, financial institutions and major tech companies among the clients which seek out the unit’s expertise. Practice head Bastiaan Bruyndonckx has far-reaching telecoms expertise and is described as a ‘pragmatic and in-depth expert in all related matters concerning IT Infrastructure, technologies and GDPR’.

Information technology regulatory work is the mainstay of Timelex‘s practice with the ‘exceptional experts and great minds’ at the firm frequently instructed by governments, governmental bodies, multinationals and SMEs in the IT space. IT-related litigation, assistance with the drafting of legislation in areas such as AI, and the creation of legal frameworks for electronic communication in the public sector stand out as areas of activity for the team. Jos Dumortier is well positioned to advise on cybersecurity and regulatory issues associated with technological platforms, while Hans Graux has in-depth knowledge of cloud services, e-identification issues and artificial intelligence. Geert Somers, Edwin Jacobs, Frederic Debusseré and Ruben Roex are further names to note.

A popular contact for medtech and digital health clients, Cresco Advocaten‘s Antwerp-based practice is well placed to handle technology transactions, digitialisation mandates and work that lies on the nexus between information technology and intellectual property such as the monetisation of intellectual assets and dispute resolution. Olivier Van Raemdonck, who is described as ‘strong in negotiations’, leads the team alongside strategic transaction specialist David Dessers. Glenn L’hoëst adds to the technology transactions expertise at the firm with funding rounds and M&A areas of strength.

Linklaters‘ offering is chiefly directed at the customer base of IT service providers, with IT and business process outsourcing and the implementation of IT projects all falling within the unit’s purview. The team also provides transactional and regulatory assistance to telecoms clients. Tanguy Van Overstraeten heads up the practice; his mixed contentious and adviser practice centres on large IT outsourcing projects. Guillaume Couneson has significant experience pertaining to IT contracts and technology-related transitional services agreements. Claudia Allatta is highlighted for her international compliance expertise, while Valérie Heremans is a key contact for IT procurement mandates.

The far-reaching offering at Loyens & Loeff handles work encompassing dispute resolution for IT and telecoms clients, regulatory advice on issues such as e-commerce legislation, and M&A work in the IT space. Contract law, employment matters and public procurement issues are additional areas of competence. Practice co-head Stéphanie De Smedt advises a wide range of clients form the IT sector on regulatory issues such as liability risks. Contentious expert Hakim Boularbah completes the leadership duo. Maria-Clara Van den Bossche‘s proficiency in Belgian court litigation and pre-litigation matters makes her a key contact for multinational tech companies.

The ‘experts in IT law and data protection’ at Osborne Clarke are known for providing assistance to IT providers on strategic IT projects and handling regulatory work for major technology and streaming platforms. Benjamin Docquir – praised for his ‘deep knowledge of the industry and data-related issues in particular’ – co-leads the team alongside technology legislation and regulations expert Laurens Dauwe. Antitrust and trade law specialist Roderick Nieuwmeyer joined from CMS in September 2022; he notably advises on the intricacies of EU competition legislation.

Verhaegen Walravens is known for its expertise in technology contracts work with the firm handling a high frequency of software, hardware and semi-conductor-related contracts. The firm is also active on telecoms issues with fibre optic deployments and MVNO agreements standing out as areas of activity. Emmanuel Szafran, praised for his ‘commercially-aware and thorough advice’ heads up the team and has developed a niche focus on the legal impacts of quantum computing. He is also well placed to advise on personal data protection and cloud computing contracts.

Deloitte Legal leverages the unit’s strong technological expertise to advise on issues encompassing data life-cycle management, the integration and launch of IT platforms, and blockchain mandates. Practice co-chair Matthias Vierstraete‘s far-reaching practice straddles IP and IT issues; he frequently assists clients with the review and negotiation of key agreements such as technology license agreements and SaaS agreements. Commercial law specialist Jürgen Egger completes the leadership team, and Willem-Jan Cosemans is a key contact for both IT litigation and IT due diligence relating to M&A work.

Deprevernet, which is known for only representing public institutions within the telecoms space, is praised for its ‘unique knowledge and insight of how public authorities function’. The team’s contentious experience covers aspects of public law, criminal law and procedural issues. Sébastien Depré co-leads the team and is noted for his excellent ‘general administrative and constitutional law background’, while fellow co-lead Philippe Vernet is praised for his ‘incredible writing skills combined with pertinent and sharp arguments’. ‘Hands-on lawyer’ Jasper de Fauw and Grégoire Ryelandt, who is praised for his competition law expertise, are further names to note.

Described as a ‘well-oiled machine‘, Monard law, joined by Buyle frequently assists domestic and international clients with issues such as the drafting and negotiation of IT contracts, licensing and distribution agreements, and a range of cross-border disputes before the commercial courts. Kristof Zadora – noted for his ability to ‘translate complex issues‘ – leads the practice and is equipped to advise on issues such as cloud computing, big data and the IoT. Jeroen Raskin has deep experience regarding transactions in the IT and telecoms sector, while Stefanie Stappers centres her practice on commercial contracts and litigation and works extensively with the Tomorrowland legal team.

Simont Braun is active across regulatory matters, contractual issues, dispute resolution and M&A work in the IT and telecoms space. The team is notably strong in tech and data questions in the financial sector and disputes involving telecoms clients and relating to copyright principles. Fintech expert Joan Carette co-leads the team and is well positioned to assist clients with issues such as IT contracting, outsourcing and data regulatory compliance mandates. Trade mark litigation specialist Eric De Gryse completes the leadership team. Emmanuel Cornu leverages his IP expertise to assist telecoms clients in major disputes.