Offices: Brussels, Belgium

Key Recent Transactions

Recent key transactions include those for clients active in the areas of real estate and real estate finance, mining, leisure, manufacturing, advertising, insurance, high tech, storage, aviation, and distribution. McGuireWoods LLP, Brussels office represented in 2007 and 2008 the following clients in representative cases, and continues to represent them in 2009 for on-going matters:

Real Estate and Real Estate Financing

  • a Dutch bank specializing in real estate development finance, as lender, for the re-financing of two of the largest shopping centers in Belgium, worth more than EUR 100,000,000 and EUR 265,000,000 respectively; for the financing of the acquisition of real estate in view of the development at the Belgian coast of a residential complex worth over EUR 80,000,000; as lender, for the financing over EUR 100,000,000 of the acquisition and renovation by a Luxembourg based real estate fund of three sets of office buildings in Brussels; as lender, for the financing some EUR 40,000,000 of the acquisition and redevelopment of a shopping center combined with offices and dwelling in the historical centre of Ghent
  • a Belgian State owned real estate agency for the follow-up and implementation pursuant to the earlier signature of an MOU for the projected construction of the new seat for an international organization, for an amount over EUR 240,000,000
  • a U.K. listed real estate company for the acquisition of an office building in the centre of Brussels
  • another U.K. listed real estate company for the final closing agreement and breakdown upon the termination of a letting and renovation guarantee period in respect of the prior sale of a landmark office tower situated in Brussels; for the acquisition of a landmark research centre with laboratories, research facilities and offices situated nearby the University of Louvain-la-Neuve

Corporate

  • a US multinational with operating entities throughout Europe in connection with the securitization of the European entities' receivables in an aggregate amount of approximately EUR 210,000,000
  • a U.S. world leading manufacturer of foam products for the acquisition of a Belgian producer of polyurethane foam
  • a U.K. leading fashion retailer for the rolling out of its Belgian retail network; for the acquisition of retail outlets and businesses of sitting tenants; the work includes insurance matters and fair trade practices
  • a Belgian operator of entertainment parks for corporate matters and assistance in obtaining and renewing operational / environmental / building permits for individual attractions and for the extension of the parks

Mining - Africa

  • a Democratic Republic of Congo mining company, in cooperation with its main shareholder, a U.S. listed major mining company, in the implementation of a USD 2,000,000,000 mine construction and development, involving complex legal issues relating to corporate matters, contracts, real estate, mining, environment, labor, resettlement of villages, enforcement of anti-corruption policies, etc.
  • a Canadian listed mining company for the acquisition of a gold mine in Mauritania for a total of USD 278,000,000 and for assistance in on-going financing and corporate related matters

Litigation

  • a Belgian producer and reseller of potato seeds and plants for the production of French fries, in a multi-party products liability litigation relating to the contamination of the potatoes by a bacteria, involving potato producers, seed sellers, potato buyers and sellers, an insurance company, and public authorities
  • a Belgian operator of entertainment parks litigation issues involving contractual matters and defense against judicial and administrative actions of neighbors
  • a leading UK based casino operator in a number of litigation matters involving disputes concerning the interpretation of the legislation and regulations on operation of electronic gaming machines and the enforcement of gaming fraud
  • an international UK based gambling operator in Belgium and France in a dozen litigation matters opposing the client to sportsmen, sport teams and national sports federations in relation to the use of the name, trademark and image of the aforementioned for the organization of betting activities

Information Technology

  • a German company, one of the world leaders in software for the consumer products industry, in the negotiation of the worldwide license/maintenance/service agreements with a Belgian listed multinational, world leader in its category
  • various parties in litigation regarding domain names; one of the Brussels partners is also a third party decider for litigations concerning “.eu” domain names and “.be” domain names
  • a satellite operator in various matters relating to copyright and in meetings gathering other satellite operators in the defense of their common interest via-à-vis regulators

Media and Entertainment

  • please see the "Litigation" and "Corporate" sections above