Real Estate & Construction

Our lawyers have years of experience in advising clients in Belgium and Europe.  We assist with the preparation and legal structuring of projects, draft contracts and terms of co-operation, conduct negotiations and act proactively to avoid conflicts.  In case of a dispute, we act as a mediator, and if useful, we outline an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedure with the client. We act before all Belgian courts, and support clients in case of disputes before foreign courts through privileged partnerships with selected local specialists.

We advise and represent owners, developers, lenders, buyers, sellers, tenants and asset managers in all types of real estate and construction matters.

We help you with

• Construction law, in both private and public sector
• Design & Build agreements
• Architect agreements and contracting agreements (including EPC, MTC)
• Legal structuring of real estate projects
• Co-operation agreements between intervening parties in a real estate project
• Partnership agreements (unlimited partnership / temporary partnership)
• Development agreements
• Accreditation of contractors
• Agreements with advisors such as engineers, EPC advisor, safety coordinator, surveyor, …
• Architect, Designer and Contractor Liability
• Construction Litigation (private sector and public sector)
• Expert analysis and technical arbitration procedures
• Disputes regarding construction in both private and public sector
• Tenders, Awards, Bid protests (private sector and public sector)

Some recent credentials

• Representing a Belgian contractor in an arbitration procedure regarding warranty issues concerning a turnkey construction project in Romania for an aviation company;
• Representing contractors in disputes with public sector bodies regarding tenders for public construction projects (construction phase);
• Representing a property developer in a dispute regarding the termination of a retail lease;
• Representing the seller of a retail park in Limburg in disputes with the buyer and assistance with the conclusion of a settlement;
• Assisting several co-owners in a real estate project in a dispute with other co-owners;
• Representing a contractor in a dispute launched against it by an association of co-owners;
• Advising a consortium on the tender for the DBFM project for a new prison in Leopoldsburg;
• Advising the (winning) consortium co-ordinated by contractor Jan De Nul on the DBFM project for the construction of a new prison in Antwerp;
• Advising a consortium on a PPP project for the construction of 7 new clusters of schools;
• Advising the lenders of the winning consortium on the construction financing for the construction of a hangar for 8 new military transport aircraft at the Melsbroeck (Brussels) military airport;
• Assisting the shareholders of the SPV Livan in connection with the refinancing (Livan is a PPP of tram lines in Antwerp);
• Advising a consortium on the PPP project for the construction of 7 new bridges over the Albert canal;
• Support for applications for accreditation and representation before the approval committee
• Assistance of developers and contractors in litigation;
• Litigation in connection with the construction of a new urban administrative center ;
• Guidance and advice in strategic positioning for claims in the execution of public works contracts;
• Ex officio measures during the execution of public works contracts
• Additional work in the context of the execution of public works contracts