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Rankings published in 2026
M&A
Tier 4
39 firms ranked
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Tier 1

A&O Shearman
8 practice areas
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Baker McKenzie
6 practice areas
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Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
7 practice areas
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Freshfields
7 practice areas
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Tier 2

Argo
7 practice areas
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Clifford Chance
9 practice areas
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Eubelius
9 practice areas
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Linklaters
8 practice areas
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Loyens & Loeff
9 practice areas
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Stibbe
8 practice areas
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Tier 3

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

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

AKD
4 practice areas
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Astrea
3 practice areas
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Contrast
3 practice areas
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Dentons
2 practice areas
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PwC Legal
5 practice areas
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Quorum
2 practice areas
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Notable

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

Founded in 2014, Cresco is a Belgian boutique based in Antwerp.

 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm specialises in advising entrepreneurs, fund managers and start-ups on venture capital fund work (formation, fundraising and investments) and mid-market M&A, especially in the tech sector.

 

Key clients

The firm’s notable clients include imec.xpand, SmartFin Capital, Dovesco, Projective, Qover, KBC Group, Novalis Group, Rein4ced, Azalea Vision, Robovision, Pitchdrive Fund II, Weerts Group, Partech Ventures, Angelwise,  KBC Focus Fund, M80 Partners, Airbus Ventures, Blue Corner, Skipr, Lab Box (D’Ieteren Group) and UFO Drive.

 

Research period review: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

During the research period the firm was active in fund formation work, fund raising and in acquisitions for private equity clients.

In the funds space it advised clients on forming new venture capital funds and in fund raising.

In M&A the firm was active on the buy and the sell side, including representing private equity clients on cross-border acquisitions.

 

Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

imec.xpand €250 million fund formation

 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)

 

Investment funds: Private equity funds

"Expertise, fast turnaround, quality of work, client relationship."

"Clear feedback. Knowledgeable about the legal framework."

 

M&A                                                                                       

"Pragmatic, entrepreneurial."

"Reactive, pragmatic, deal makers."

"Very professional and diplomatic approach."

 

Private equity                                                                                    

"No-nonsense and fast reaction time."

 

David Dessers           

"Reliable, expertise."

"Pragmatic and top-down view; a very good sounding board."

"Diplomatic and professional approach."

 

Olivier van Raemdonck        

"Reactive, deal maker."

"Constructive mindset, willingness to find solutions."

2 results2 results
Deal Highlights
20 results20 results
Deal Name Deal Date Firm Name Jurisdiction Deal Type Lawyer Names Client Names Client Role
imecxpand II Fund - Fund raising
Cresco
Belgium
Fund raising
David Dessers
imecxpand II Fund
Partner
Pitchdrive Fund - Fund formation
Cresco
Belgium
Fund formation
David Dessers
Pitchdrive Fund
Partner
Angelwise Fund - Fund formation
2021-12-20
Cresco
Belgium
Fund formation
David Dessers
Angelwise Fund
Partner
Novalis II - Fund formation
2021-12-31
Cresco
Belgium
Fund formation
David Dessers
Novalis II
Partner
Blue Corner - M&A
2021-05-20
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
David Dessers
Blue Corner
Seller
Projective - M&A
2021-08-20
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
David Dessers
Projective
Acquirer
Engilico - M&A
2021-11-20
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
David Dessers
Engilico
Seller
Skipr - Secondary share offering
2021-07-01
Cresco
Belgium
Secondary share offering
Olivier Van Raemdonck
Skipr
Issuer
Partech Ventures ; KBC Focus Fund - M&A
2021-07-01
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
Olivier Van Raemdonck
Partech Ventures, KBC Focus Fund
Investor
Skipr - M&A
2021-07-01
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
Olivier Van Raemdonck
Skipr
Investor
UFO DRIVE - M&A
2022-02-20
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
David Dessers
UFO DRIVE
Target
UFO DRIVE - M&A
2021-02-20
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
David Dessers
UFO DRIVE
Investor
Airbus Ventures and Xange Ventures - M&A
2021-12-20
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
Olivier Van Raemdonck
Airbus Ventures and Xange Ventures
Investor
Smartfin Capital II - M&A
2021-07-01
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
David Dessers
Smartfin Capital II
Investor
Azalea Vision - Fund formation
2021-08-20
Cresco
Belgium
Fund formation
Olivier Van Raemdonck
Azalea Vision
Fund manager
Rein4ced - M&A
2021-12-20
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
Olivier Van Raemdonck
Rein4ced
Investor
Partech Ventures / KBC Focus Fund - M&A
2021-07-01
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
Olivier Van Raemdonck
Partech Ventures / KBC Focus Fund
Investor
Smartfin Ventures II - M&A
2021-08-20
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
David Dessers
Smartfin Ventures II
Investor
Azalea Vision - M&A
2021-08-20
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
Olivier Van Raemdonck
Azalea Vision
Target
Qover - M&A
2021-04-20
Cresco
Belgium
M&A
Olivier Van Raemdonck
Qover
Target
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