Degrees and qualifications
Ph.D. in Law, summa cum laude, Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), 1983
Degree in Economics, cum magna laude, Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), 1978
Special Degree in European Law, cum magna laude, University of Utrecht, 1977
Law Degree, cum magna laude, Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), 1976
Professional experience
2000 – present
Founder & senior Partner, Philippe & Partners law firm, member of the Brussels Bar and Luxembourg Bar
Experienced Arbitrator
Extraordinary Professor at the Catholic University of Louvain and at the ICHEC
Lecturer at the University of Paris X Nanterre
Member of the Scientific Committee of the CEPANI (Belgian Center for Arbitration)
Editor-in-Chief of the Law Journal Droit des Affaires
Associate Editor of the Law Journal Revue Générale de Droit Civil
Associate Editor of the Law Journal Revue de Jurisprudence Liège, Mons, Brussels
1998 – 2000
Partner, Simonet, Kelder, Philippe, Domont, Lories & Mertens law firm
1985- 1998
Partner, Balon Buyle Maingain & Philippe law firm
1977-1984
Lawyer in private practice, member of the Brussels Bar
Other activities
Experienced arbitrator
Member of the UCL Private Law Department
Member of the university association Jean Renauld
Member of the Working group on European Contract Law (European law Institute) in the framework of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE)
Treasurer and member of the executive committee of the European Law Institute
Member of the jury of the price Van Dievoet (KUL) 2020
Member of the board of examiners of the thesis of Mr Michaël de Potter de ten Broeck, “Gewijzigde omstandigheden in het contractenrecht”, (University of Ghent), 23 August 2016.
Member of the board of examiners of the thesis of Mr Dave Mertens « Vrije en eerlijke mededinging en de bescherming van inspanningen buiten het (intellectuele) eigendomsrecht » at the University of Antwerp (October 4, 2010).
Member of the coordination committee of the von Bar commission on standardisation of contract law, which commission regroups university professors of the various Member States of the European Union and is financed by the European Union. Seminar participation in Warschau on 19 May 2004, in Milan in December 2004, in Berlin in June 2005, in Tartu (Estonia) in December 2005, in Luzern in December 2006, in Prague in December 2007.
Assistance since 1960 to Central European countries for the implementation of European Directives (management of a team of lawyers and university professors between 1999 and 2000 in the Slovak Republic).
Member of the International Contracts Group lead by Professor Fontaine and de Ly.
Member of the editorial board of the series Handelscontract of the Établissements Larcier.
Member and president of board of directors of the company Huyghebaert.
Member of the scientific committee of Businesslawtele.net
Director of the Belgian Nuclear Association
Expert OBFG for EU contract law.
Member of the exam commission of the « Institut des réviseurs d’entreprises (I.R.E.)».
Member of the French group « Trans Europe Experts »
Independent administrator at ASBL Les Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure (17 avril 2018)
Why do we do what we do ?
We are convinced that innovation needs to be prioritised as a driver of progress.
This means that what we do is inspired by the root value guiding any law firm’s social role, i.e. making your projects a success.
How do we work ?
Above all, we do everything to understand you and what you want.
In doing so, we do not see the role of a law firm as solely applying legal rules and regulations, but also as being a source of practical solutions in compliance with the law and helping you achieve your goals. Many of us have also spent time working in companies, an aspect making it easier for us to understand how our customers “tick”.
Anticipating legal developments is a further stepping stone contributing to the long-term viability of any legal solution. This is why our firm is not just made up of specialist lawyers, but also maintains very close links with the academic world, with a number of our lawyers providing teaching at major Belgian universities and a number of European universities.
Our firm operates in several countries, and all our lawyers speak several languages. Over the years we have developed privileged partnerships with international legal networks sharing our humanist values. This set-up allows us to support your projects throughout the world.
We are a completely independent firm, not too large to lose that human touch and guided by top-notch professionalism.
While taking care to maintain our firm’s healthy financial footing, we are able to offer you a very attractive level of fees.
What do we offer?
We provide an all-round high-quality service in the majority of legal fields.
Our in-depth specialised knowledge of law and our painstaking attention to detail, both spiced with a creative approach and a touch of audacity, allow us to offer you what we call “fine art in legal practice”.
Belgium ,
Luxembourg
