Testimonials

Michel Bonne (Counsel)

Having worked for more than  eight  years  at a global firm before joining Van Bael & Bellis, I have had the opportunity to compare both types of law firm. 

In my experience, Van Bael & Bellis combines the best of both worlds: with lawyers from more than twenty countries on one single site, the international feel is even more present on the daily work floor than often is the case for the Belgian office of an international law firm.

I also became very enthusiastic about the fact that our young lawyers are being deliberately exposed to various areas of law.  At my previous firm, there was a strict division between the different practice groups, but I now notice that they become more complete lawyers thanks to this enriching exposure.  It helps them not only for their day-to-day work, but also for their future career as a lawyer, be it at a law firm, a company or anywhere else.

Thibaut D’Hulst (Associate)

Just over 3 years ago, I chose to start my professional career at Van Bael & Bellis. During my time at university, I spent 2 years studying abroad. In these years, I particularly enjoyed the international and multi-cultural atmosphere.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that same atmosphere here in the heart of Brussels at Van Bael & Bellis.

Indeed, initially my choice for Van Bael & Bellis was based principally on professional reasons. Few other law firms offer the opportunity to practice different fields of law and for each field to work with lawyers who are at the top of the relevant practice area. In addition, my decision was made easy by the spontaneous and honest contacts with the partners at the firm. 

Hajar Mouatassim (Associate)

In my experience, working for Van Bael & Bellis as a working mother, can be described as a challenge but one which I can handle due to the flexible working culture of the office.

Working from home or leaving in time are perfectly acceptable.

This makes it possible to combine my work as a lawyer with having a family and taking up the responsibilities that come along with it.

Volker Hahn (Associate)

I chose to join Van Bael & Bellis because it is an outstanding boutique in EU law. You are quickly exposed to high-profile work and get client contact, so you learn a lot in a relatively short period of time.

The very friendly and helpful working atmosphere is another asset of the firm.

Laure Vandamme (Associate) 

I got to know the philosophy and way of working of Van Bael & Bellis through their open office day and instantly felt a connection with the firm. Therefore, I was honored to be given the opportunity to work at Van Bael & Bellis as a summer intern, an experience which certainly lived up to my expectations. I got the chance to tackle a great variety of tasks within the different aspects of business law and experienced what it means to work as a lawyer. I found out that this was what I wanted to do.

Today, I am an associate at Van Bael & Bellis and every day I become even more convinced that this is the right firm for me.

I like the fact that I am working for a renowned law firm and in an international environment, without ever having the feeling that I’m just a number.

What is also essential to my wellbeing at the firm, is that it doesn’t have a departmental structure. This allows me to get involved in a wide range of fields of law, such as corporate law, commercial law, real estate, regulatory, banking, financing and so on, what gives me the opportunity to discover what suits me best.

At Van Bael & Bellis, you enjoy a high level of autonomy to organize your work and to take initiative, which is something I find particularly motivating. On the other hand, you can still count on more experienced associates and partners, who are always prepared to help you out with valuable tips and explanations.

Ever since my first day at Van Bael & Bellis, everyone has made me feel very welcome. Here, we do not compete, but work together. Teamwork is high on the agenda and personal skills are just as much appreciated as legal and technical expertise, which results in an exceptionally good atmosphere.