A&O Shearman‘s infrastructure and transport team wins plaudits for its handling of major projects in the transport sector. Public authorities, operators, financial institutions and construction companies are among the firm’s varied client base. Filip Tanghe heads up the practice and is embedded in the financing aspects of PPP rail, road and port projects. Gauthier van Thuyne is equipped to handle advisory and contentious transport mandates for public sector clients. Fee Goossens is also noted.

Praised for its ‘pre-eminent service in the field of maritime law‘, ASTREA CVBA‘s contentious and advisory expertise also extends to transport law in general. The Antwerp-based team has a focus on cargo and ship interests and is geared to handle matters such as cargo damage claims, seizures of ocean-going vessels and maritime appraisals. Commercial law specialist Marc Van Looveren heads up the unit and frequently represents companies in cases related to collisions at sea, ship’s arrests and charterparty disputes. Ruud De Houwer is mandated by clients ranging from shipping companies to public authorities to assist with issues such as cargo claims and general average-related mandates.

Kegels Advocaten is praised for its expertise in ‘complicated brown and blue water cases’, alongside its ‘practical and technical knowledge and years of experience in international litigation’. Core strengths include logistics matters (spanning sea, rail, road and air issues), fact finding work and maritime disputes such high-profile capsize and sinking cases. André Kegels, Peter Noben and Wim Drofmans jointly lead the team; Kegels is well placed to represents shipowners in collision cases, while Drofmans is a key contact for insurers looking for representation in the recovery of claims.

The transport and logistics team at Ambos is equipped to handle matters ranging from up-to-date issues, such as matters involving autonomous vessels, to traditional transport law cases including cargo claims and accidents. The ‘knowledgeable and pragmatic’ Ingrid Van Clemen heads up the team from the firm’s Antwerp office and has a proven track record in maritime litigation. Her colleague Philippe Van Dijck is well placed to handle both transactional and contentious maritime mandates as well as contentious road rules matters.

Described as 'creative thinkers’ and 'very knowledgeable and specialised', the team at Leeward is known for its prowess in the fields of transport, postal and road law with additional knowledge of criminal proceedings related to social dumping. The Brugge-based trio of Jeroen Villé, Armin Wintein and Saar De Gelas leads the group; the latter joined the practice in March 2023 as part of the firm’s merger with Weegmann-De Gelas Law. Wintein is described as having ‘shipping in his DNA’ , while De Galas boosts the firm’s criminal transport law capabilities.

Lydian‘s multidisciplinary port and logistics team is active across transport-related disputes, notably in the rail sector, and also handles corporate transactions and port, logistics and shipping sector agreements. The unit is also well placed to provide regulatory assistance to logistics clients wishing to enter the Belgian market. Practice chair Yves Lenders is highly regarded for his work on railway disputes and port projects. ‘Good strategist’ Pieter-Jan Van Mierlo is equipped to handle disputes related to rail freight transport and logistics services agreements.

Quadrant‘s rapidly growing Antwerp-based practice covers a wide array of transport issues including maritime liability claims, customs law, road transport issues and matters relating to logistics intermediaries. Dirk Noels, described as ‘a true wizard in the field of maritime law’, is a key contact at the firm; his broad practice includes working as an arbitrator in CEPANI arbitrations relating to shipping and transport matters. Kristin Verhaegen frequently leverages her expertise in insolvency to advise on matters in the field of transport, while Jan Delen has in-depth knowledge of shipping and customs matters. Patrick Rubens, Pierre Bogaerts and Jan Everaerts, all of whom joined from Marcon & Rubens in April 2023, are further names to note.

A key name for clients from the transport and logistics sector as well as the ports and shipping sector, Deloitte Legal assists public bodies and private corporations with issues encompassing PPPs, public transport mandates and passenger transport law. Corporate law specialist Marc Van tieghem co-heads the practice alongside public law expert Kathleen De hornois, who equipped to assist with the drafting of legislation pertaining to water and seaborne transport. Wim Naudts and Jasmine Coppens further extend the public law expertise at the firm.

Well positioned to advise clients on existing and new EU legislation and regulations in the context of transport-related work, DLA Piper is also geared to advise on aviation and railway-related regulatory matters, public procurements and matters pertaining to maritime law. Bob Martens, Ilse Van de Mierop and tax partner Nicolas Engelmann share leadership duties; Martens is an authority on aviation regulation, while Van de Mierop has a focus on restructuring mandates with a transport component.

Eubelius‘ ‘excellent team of driven experts’ has expertise across roads, rail and aviation. Areas of activity for the firm include toll-related work - the group is praised for its ‘broad knowledge of EETS regulation’ - PPP projects in the public transport sector, and the drafting of sector-specific contracts. A bevy of practitioners head up the team with leadership duties divided between Alain François, Anthony Logghe, Barteld Schutyser, Jeroen Delvoie, Jan Bocken, Rosita Geelen, Bart Martel, Pieter Callens and Anneleen Van De Meulebroucke.

Formerly known as Transport & Logistiek Advocaten, the firm merged with Dutch and Polish law office Vallenduuk Transport Advocaten in late 2023 to form ITL Attorneys, which draws praise for its ‘exceptional grasp of all aspects of transport law’. The team has a strong focus on work for road transport clients. Litigation is the cornerstone of the practice, which also handles work in areas such as insurance and tax. Frederik Vanden Bogaerde, Vincent Van Der Mast and Mathias Dendievel share leadership duties.

K&L Gates GP is noted for providing advice on international and European transport legislation, incorporating aviation, rail, road and maritime transport issues. Practice co-head Mélanie Bruneau has in-depth knowledge of the commercial issues faced by logistics companies, while co-lead Antoine de Rohan Chabot frequently advises on EU regulatory issues faced by transport and aviation companies. Fomer co-head Philip Torbøl left the firm in 2024, shortly before publication.

Kennedys is instructed by logistics companies and their insurers across shipping, road transport, and cargo handling issues, as well as acting for international airlines in matters such as cargo claims, robberies, and road transportation disputes. Practice head Dimitri de Bournonville is an authority on aviation finance and regulatory matters. Dries Deschuttere leverages his background in insurance law to handle, among other issues, claims that airline clients receive for compensation to passengers following a delay or cancelled flight.

Liedekerke is active across a broad range of transactional, contentious and advisory matters for clients such as domestic and foreign airlines, insurers and major players in the railway industry. Olivier Vanden Berghe and Jean Pierre Kesteloot jointly lead the the practice, and Jonas Vansevenant has a focus on commercial law in the aviation sector.

Reed Smith‘s far-reaching transport offering is piloted by Christian Filippitsch, Isabelle Rahman and Yves Melin.

Simont Braun‘s transport offering handles M&A work, real estate advice to railway companies, and town planning advisory work. Steven Callens co-heads the practice and is able to leverage his corporate M&A expertise to advise major players in the transport sector, while fellow co-head Manuela Von Kuegelgen is equipped to assist public and private entities with major infrastructure projects relating to transport. Renaud van Melsen is another name to note.