A&O Shearman is a key contact for critical environmental advisory and litigation mandates. Complementing its expertise in environmental regulations, permitting, and enforcement, the team stands out across chemicals, energy transition, and sustainability issues. Heading the team is Gauthier Van Thuyne, who acts for a diverse client-base on critical environmental matters spanning nitrogen permitting, renewable energy, pollution and toxic tort, and sustainability. Alongside leading on complex nitrogen permitting matters, Fee Goossens supports the team across environmental, regulatory, and public law matters. Alexander Pirard supports the team on environmental compliance, permitting, and enforcement matters.

Highly sought-after on complex and pressing environmental law matters, DLA Piper stands out for its advice across the energy, infrastructure, and urban development sectors. Heading the team, Bob Martens is a longstanding expert on litigation and regulatory matters concerning waste management, PFAS, pollution, and urban planning. Demonstrating deep expertise in the energy, retail, consumer goods, and real estate sectors, Alec Van Vaerenbergh stands out on matters concerning environmental remediation, pollution, permitting, and sustainability regulation. Supporting the team is Birgit Creemers, an expert in spatial planning, urban planning, and environmental law.

Liedekerke demonstrates a breadth of experience on critical environmental law issues. François Tulkens, who co-heads the practice, boasts a wealth of expertise in administrative and public law matters and is a key contact concerning project permitting as well as noise, soil, and river pollution. Fellow practice co-lead Dominique Devos is a real estate and construction expert with demonstrable experience handling environmental pollution issues, permitting, and litigation. On large-scale and high-profile infrastructure and real estate project permitting procedures, Filip De Preter is a key contact. Bert Van Herreweghe supports the team on real estate development matters.

Stibbe stands out for its wealth of experience in environmental law matters pertaining to large-scale projects, as well as its knowhow in litigation proceedings. The practice is co-led by Jan Bouckaert, a specialist in planning, permitting, and environmental compliance matters concerning energy, waste, and infrastructure projects. Guan Schaiko, who also co-heads the team, stands out on matters concerning environmental regulation, environmental liability, and project permitting. Supporting the team is Stefanie François, who focuses on energy and waste sector issues, and Olivier Di Giacomo, an expert on energy and real estate project matters.

Eubelius stands out for its wealth of urban and environmental law experience. A longstanding public law specialist, Barteld Schutyser co-heads the practice and is regularly instructed for his expertise concerning pollution risk, permit issues, and liability litigation. Bart Martel, who also co-leads the team, is a key contact on contentious environmental and permitting matters, acting for a breadth of public and private sector clients. A further key contact is Laura Janssens, who stands out on the public and administrative law aspects of urban planning and environmental matters.

Standing out for its pairing of ‘deep legal expertise and pragmatic, solution-oriented advice’, Lydian is regularly instructed on complex and critical environmental law mandates. Heading the practice is the ‘exceptionally responsive and proactive’ Kyoto Van Herreweghe, who acts for notable municipal and corporate clients across environmental liability, permitting, and urban planning matters. Van Herreweghe also demonstrates a notable specialism concerning soil pollution legislation. Supporting the team are urban planning and environmental law specialists Evelien Alaerts and Tobias Burms.

The ‘very responsive and proactive’ NautaDutilh offers a public law and regulatory approach to environmental law mandates. Heading the team is Jens Mosselmans, who demonstrates expertise in public law, permitting, and environmental regulation and enforcement. A further key contact is Maxime Vanderstraeten, who stands out for his knowledge of the environmental law aspects of large-scale and critical nuclear power projects. Stef Feyen is a particular expert on ESG matters, including the EU Deforestation Regulation, Emissions Trading Scheme, and Net Zero Industry Act.

Schoups offers a wealth of experience on environmental matters impacting real estate and infrastructure development. Department co-head Kristof Hectors stands out for his knowhow regarding environmental permitting, compliance, and sustainability issues. Highly sought-after for his ‘broad knowledge and experience’ of environmental law, fellow practice co-head Charles Poncelet is a key contact for energy and real estate project permitting. Roel Meeus, who is ‘highly knowledgeable in planning and environmental law’, stands out for his advice on zoning, permitting, and environmental contamination issues.

Advocatenkantoor De Coninck demonstrates a broad environmental law practice, with core focuses including public procurement, contractual drafting, and asset M&A. Jointly heading the team is Jeroen De Coninck, who focuses on environmental permitting and enforcement, and Tinneke Hugyhe, a key contact for urban planning issues. Hugyhe stands out for her 'ability to combine legal expertise with commercial judgment', while De Coninck demonstrates 'excellent legal knowledge' in the space.

Baker McKenzie BV/SRL stands out for its wealth of knowledge on environmental matters concerning energy, industrial, real estate, and telecoms projects. Practice co-head Jean-François Vandenberghe is an expert in the real estate sector, advising on zoning and environmental law issues. Fellow co-lead Pascal Mallien focuses his practice on environmental permitting issues. Elsewhere in the team, Mario Deketelaere acts for clients across industrial sectors including chemicals, raw materials, and waste management.

Linklaters demonstrates deep environmental regulation and planning expertise, particularly concerning high-value regulated sector projects. Heading the practice is Melissa Verplancke, who advises major players in regulated sectors on issues concerning PFAS, packaging regulation, and project permitting. Verplancke also assists on the environmental risk and liability aspects of high-value transactions in the real estate and retail sectors. A further key contact is Atdhe Krasniqi, who assists on environment, zoning and planning matters within the energy, chemicals, and real estate sectors.

A key port of call among public and private sector clients, Monard law is skilled across environmental permitting, urban planning, and soil and brownfield issues. Practice co-leads Koen Geelen and Wouter Moonen are regularly instructed by clients in the waste and airport infrastructure sectors. Sarah Jacobs demonstrates a strong focus on environmental and urban planning, representing clients before the administrative and civil courts.

Publius draws on the wealth of environmental law experience demonstrated by its practice co-heads. Dirk Van Heuven focuses on spatial planning and environmental law; Steve Ronse is sought-after on permitting and enforcement mandates; Jan Beleyn boasts expertise across planning and real estate matters; Sofie Logie contributes environmental law expertise within projects mandates; Merlijn De Rechter focuses on permitting in the real estate sector; Leandra Decuyper is regularly entrusted on urban planning mandates; Deborah Smets is a further permitting expert; and Thomas Quintens is also of note across planning mandates.

White & Case LLP demonstrates recent experience on mandates involving sustainable development and EU green deal initiatives. The firm pairs traditional environmental law knowhow with a notable specialism concerning the EU ESG regulatory suite. Co-heading the practice is Genevra Forwood, who pairs sustainability and EU law knowhow, and Sara Nordin, who focuses her practice on EU environmental regulations.

A key port of call for land use planning, nature conservation, and environmental liability mandates, Andersen is skilled at advising project developers and infrastructure operators on environmental law. The practice is led by Koen de Puydt, an expert in urban planning, and Jan Ghysels, who is mainly involved in spatial planning mandates.

In the environmental law space, ASTREA focuses on spatial planning, climate, soil, and water mandates. The firm demonstrates a notable recent caseload regarding nitrogen, PFAS, and water quality. The trio leading the practice consists of Ciska Servais, an expert in real estate sector issues; Philippe Van Wesemael , a specialist in urban development and spatial planning; and Ilse Cuypers, a further key contact for spatial planning matters.

Deloitte Legal is well-equipped to policy, permitting, and compliance mandates. The team demonstrates a particular focus on matters supporting sustainable development and the circular economy, including biodiversity issues, green public procurement, and the energy transition. Leadership of the team sits with Kathleen De hornois, an expert in environmental law and urban planning. Dominique Vanherck contributes a specialist focus on renewable energy planning and permitting.

Chaired by Günther L’heureux, Marie Vastmans, and Dominique Lagasse, the Janson public and administrative law team handles the  environmental law aspects of utility and infrastructure projects, zoning and planning issues, environmental and building permits, soil contamination issues, and waste producer responsibilities. The team demonstrates core relationships with domestic municipal and corporate clients.

Noted for its expertise in the transportation, e-commerce, and pharmaceutical sectors, Simont Braun is a key port of call for a diverse array of transactional and advisory environmental law mandates. Manuela von Kuegelgen heads the team and is especially knowledgeable in planning law matters. Standing out for his expertise in cases surrounding planning permissions is Renaud van Melsen.

Regularly advising clients on planning, permitting, and soil issues, Vectilex Advocaten is highly sought-after among private companies and public authorities. The practice group is co-led by Ive Van Giel and Valère Vereecke. Charlotte Persoons is particularly sought-after on construction and environmental law matters.