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Key contacts
Key contact: Timothy Speelman
Quick facts
Number of lawyers

293

Languages

Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish

Key practice areas
Banking and finance
Financial and corporate
M&A
Banking and finance
Firm overview

From our Brussels office, our firm is perfectly positioned to assist any company in the Benelux that is doing business with the rest of the world, or companies from, for example, Asia or the US that are, or want to be, active in the Benelux.

We provide our clients with Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourg legal and tax advice with regard to, for example, corporate and M&A, real estate, IP, ICT, data privacy & security and commercial litigation.

We will be able to help clients navigate easily through the complex legal arena and they will also benefit from a truly integrated service. Our changing landscape, Brexit and internationalisation are all affecting the strategic choices we are making when it comes to being a full-service Benelux firm.

Client feedback

“Very hand on and strong commercially thinking.”

“Responsive, diligent and competent.”

“Reliable and professional partner.”

Key transactional practices
Other offices

Rotterdam
Wilhelminakade 1 (Maastoren)
3072 AP, Rotterdam
T: +31 88 253 5000
info@akd.eu

Eindhoven
Flight Forum 1
5657 DA, Eindhoven
T: +31 88 253 5000
info@akd.eu

Breda
Vlaszak 67
4811 GX, Breda
T: +31 88 253 5000
info@akd.eu

Amsterdam
Gustav Mahlerlaan 2970
1081 LA, Amsterdam
T: +31 88 253 5​0 00
info@akd.eu

Luxembourg
42, Avenue Monterey
 L-2163, Luxembourg
T: +352 26 75 82 
info@akd.eu

Address:
5, Place du Champ de Mars
1050, Brussels
Belgium
Tel:+32 2 629 42 22 Fax:+32 2 629 42 11 Email:Contact Us Web Address:https://akd.eu/offices/brussels
Rankings published in 2026
Banking and finance
Tier 4
28 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

A&O Shearman
8 practice areas
View profile
Clifford Chance
9 practice areas
View profile
Linklaters
8 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

Baker McKenzie
6 practice areas
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DLA Piper
5 practice areas
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Loyens & Loeff
9 practice areas
View profile
Stibbe
8 practice areas
View profile
White & Case
6 practice areas
View profile

Tier 3

Ashurst Perkins Coie
6 practice areas
View profile
Deloitte Legal
8 practice areas
View profile
Eubelius
9 practice areas
View profile
Jones Day
6 practice areas
View profile
Liedekerke
8 practice areas
View profile
NautaDutilh
6 practice areas
View profile

Tier 4

AKD
4 practice areas
View full profile
Altius
6 practice areas
View profile
Argo
7 practice areas
View profile
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
7 practice areas
View profile
Fieldfisher
4 practice areas
View profile
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
2 practice areas
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Lydian
7 practice areas
View profile
PwC Legal
5 practice areas
View profile

Notable

Ariga
2 practice areas
View profile
Astrea
3 practice areas
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Freshfields
7 practice areas
View profile
Monard Law
7 practice areas
View full profile
Strelia
4 practice areas
View profile
Van Bael & Bellis
4 practice areas
View profile
M&A
Tier 5
39 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

A&O Shearman
8 practice areas
View profile
Baker McKenzie
6 practice areas
View profile
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
7 practice areas
View profile
Freshfields
7 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

Argo
7 practice areas
View profile
Clifford Chance
9 practice areas
View profile
Eubelius
9 practice areas
View profile
Linklaters
8 practice areas
View profile
Loyens & Loeff
9 practice areas
View profile
Stibbe
8 practice areas
View profile

Tier 3

Altius
6 practice areas
View profile
Liedekerke
8 practice areas
View profile
NautaDutilh
6 practice areas
View profile
Simont Braun
5 practice areas
View profile
Van Bael & Bellis
4 practice areas
View profile
White & Case
6 practice areas
View profile

Tier 4

CMS DeBacker
3 practice areas
View profile
Cresco
5 practice areas
View profile
DLA Piper
5 practice areas
View profile
Deloitte Legal
8 practice areas
View profile
Jones Day
6 practice areas
View profile
Lydian
7 practice areas
View profile
Monard Law
7 practice areas
View full profile
Quinz
3 practice areas
View profile
Strelia
4 practice areas
View profile
Van Olmen & Wynant
3 practice areas
View profile

Tier 5

AKD
4 practice areas
View full profile
Astrea
3 practice areas
View profile
Contrast
3 practice areas
View profile
Dentons
2 practice areas
View profile
PwC Legal
5 practice areas
View profile
Quorum
2 practice areas
View profile

Notable

Ashurst Perkins Coie
6 practice areas
View profile
Bird & Bird
4 practice areas
View profile
Cambrian
2 practice areas
View profile
EY Law
4 practice areas
View profile
Fieldfisher
4 practice areas
View profile
Four & Five Law
2 practice areas
View profile
PKF BOFIDI Legal
1 practice area
View profile
AKD
Linked Reviews
Financial and corporate

AKD is a leading Benelux law firm founded in 1903. The firm has maintained its presence in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The firm is led by managing partner Carlos Pita Cao. The firm operates a 26-person office at the heart of Brussels. The Belgium team consists of prominent legal professionals such as Antoine De Raeve, Thomas Chellingsworth and Werner Heyvaert. The firm has a recognized reputation in M&A, with a notable presence in IT, SMARTech, technology, and biotech industries. 

 

Highlights 

The firm recently advised Mentha Capital on the $41.7 million acquisition financing provided by KBC Bank, Belfius Bank and ING Belgium in respect of the acquisition of the Belgian Specialty Paints & Coatings 9-company group. 

The firm also advised H I G European Capital Partners on the €60 million acquisition of CGH Group SA through a Luxembourg Holding. 

 

Key Clients 

Belfius Bank, ING Belgium, KBC Bank, Morgan Stanley and Thomas Gruppe. 

 

Testimonials 

From start to finish, the AKD team was proactive, precise, and aligned. Their ability to manage complex issues pragmatically and swiftly was a real asset. Banking and finance Client

Working with Jan is reassuring — he is proactive, thoughtful, and always keeps the bigger picture in view.” – Jan Missoul 

2024

AKD provided pragmatic advice, covering all aspects (corporate, tax, M&A) through a single efficient team.” - M&A 

3 results3 results
Deal Highlights
10 results10 results
Deal Name Deal Date Firm Name Jurisdiction Deal Type Lawyer Names Client Names Client Role
Pony SA Compartment German Auto Loans 2021-1 - Bond Issue
2021-07-01
AKD
Germany
Bond issue
ING Bank
Underwriter
Groupe Sterne - M&A
2022-02-23
AKD
Germany
M&A
Groupe Sterne
Buyer
Ncardia - M&A
2021-11-20
AKD
Belgium
M&A
Timothy Speelman
Ncardia
Target
OneMed - M&A
2021-06-01
AKD
Belgium
M&A
Timothy Speelman
OneMed
Acquirer
Astek - M&A
2021-02-20
AKD
Belgium
M&A
Timothy Speelman, Nathalie van Woerkom
Astek
Acquirer
New Era Technology - M&A
2021-09-20
AKD
Belgium
M&A
Timothy Speelman, Mickey Engel
New Era Technology
Merger party
Remia - M&A
2021-05-20
AKD
Belgium
M&A
Timothy Speelman
Remia
Acquirer
Masco Corp - M&A
2021-03-20
AKD
Belgium
M&A
Timothy Speelman
Masco Corp
Seller
Alcadon Group - M&A
2021-12-20
AKD
Belgium
M&A
Timothy Speelman
Alcadon Group
Acquirer
CWS International, an integrated system provider offering products and services in the areas of Hygiene, Floor Care, Workwear, Fire Safety, Cleanrooms and Healthcare. - Restructuring
2021-04-20
AKD
Belgium
Restructuring
Timothy Speelman
CWS International, an integrated system provider offering products and services in the areas of Hygiene, Floor Care, Workwear, Fire Safety, Cleanrooms and Healthcare.
Insolvent entity
IFLR1000
Benelux firm hires four partners as US firm exits Belgium
IFLR1000
Benelux firm adds two partners to Luxembourg office
IFLR1000
Partner moves across from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
IFLR1000
Dutch firm expands into Benelux region
Sponsored

Sponsored

  • IFLR1000
    Sponsored by AKD
    AKD welcomes Harm Kerstholt as partner in its energy practice in the Netherlands. Harm brings over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and large-scale sustainable projects, including offshore wind, solar energy and hydrogen. With Harm’s arrival, AKD adds a strong transactional component to its energy practice, which is already renowned for its expertise in permitting, grid connections and litigation, giving the team a significant boost.
  • IFLR1000
    Sponsored by AKD
    AKD welcomes Jan-Willem Raadgever as a partner in the real estate practice at its Amsterdam office. Alongside him, Jip Post is also joining AKD. Jip specialises in real estate development and brings additional expertise for both Dutch and international investors and developers.
  • IFLR1000
    Sponsored by AKD
    Amsterdam, 6 March 2025 - AKD welcomes new partner Michiel de Wit to its Real Estate team at the Amsterdam office. With Michiel on board, AKD is able to further deepen its services for international investors, particularly in the fields of Asset Management and ESG.