Member Profiles

Industries Banking and financial law Contracts and business relationships Debt recovery Energy European, Chinese and competition law Gaming and betting Insurance and tort Litigation, Arbitration & Mediation Merger and acquisition, corporate and restructuring Training Degree in Law, Catholic University of Louvain, magna cum laude, 1976 DESS in European Law, University of Utrecht, magna cum laude, 1977 Degree in Economic Sciences, Catholic University of Louvain, magna cum laude, 1978 Doctor of Law, Catholic University of Louvain, summa cum laude, 1983 Activities Within the bar Belgian expert for European contract law from the CCBE Outside the bar Professor at the Catholic University of Louvain and at ICHEC Lecturer at the University of Paris X Nanterre Visiting professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (V.U.B.) (Arbitration law) Member of the Jury for the thesis defense of Mr. Dave Mertens “Vrije en eerlijke mededinging en de bescherming van inspanningen buiten het (intellectuele) eigendomsrecht” at the University of Antwerp (October 4, 2010) Editor-in-chief of the Business Law Review (DAOR) Member of the Editorial Committee of the Revue de Jurisprudence Liège, Mons, Brussels (responsible for the Civil Liability column) Member of the editorial committee of the Handeslcontract series of the Larcier Group Member of the Editorial Committee of the Revue Générale de Droit civil (Contracts and Obligations) Member of the scientific committee of Businesslawtele.net 2000 – to date: Associate Lawyer, “Philippe & Partners”, member of the Brussels Bar and the Luxembourg Bar 1999 – 2000: Associate lawyer, “Simonet, Kelder, Philippe, Domont, Lories, Mertens”, Brussels 1984 – 1999: Associate lawyer, “Balon, Buyle, Maingain & Philippe, Brussels 1977 – 1984: Lawyer at the Brussels bar, collaborator of Professor R.O. DALCQ (Janson Baugniet association) Member of the council of the Institute of European Law Member of the French group “Transeurope Experts” Participation as a lawyer in the “Forum on specifications for sustainable food for communities” (Bioforum – Gembloux) – March 9, 2009 Member of the coordinating committee of the von Bar commission on the standardization of contract law, a commission comprising university professors from different countries of the European Union and a commission whose work is financed by the European Union. Participation in the seminar in Warsaw on May 19, 2004., in Milan in December 2004, in Berlin in June 2005 and Tartu (Estonia) in December 2005, in Luzern December 2006; in Prague December 2007. Assistance since 1960 to Central European countries in the transposition of directives (All Central European countries, management of a team of lawyers and university professors between 1999 and 2000 in Slovakia). Member of the International Contracts group led by Professors Fontaine and de Ly. Administrator of the Belgian Nuclear Association Chairman of the board of directors of the Huyghebaert company (since 2002) 2001 – 2002: director of the company Vandemoortele (Kortrijk) Member of the examination committee of the Institute of Company Auditors

Catherine has over 20 years experience working for the Aviation sector. From 2003 until 2016 she has been the co-head of a global law firm’s international Aviation Group. Since 1 January 2017 she launched a new niche firm called “Erkelens Law” which focusses on the Aviation sector. Catherine has developed a strong client base and leading reputation working for companies operating in or dealing with the Aviation & Aerospace sector, and was responsible for several landmark litigations with international impact.

Tom was admitted to the Brussels Bar in 2012. Prior to joining the bar, he held various management and legal positions in the financial industry. Currently, Tom advises companies and financial institutions on all aspects of banking and financial law, corporate law and general contract law. Tom has a broad experience in dealing with a wide range of corporate and commercial law matters, with a particular focus on M&A, restructurings, corporate finance transactions, shareholder issues, corporate governance and property transactions. Tom’s practice also covers banking, insurance and the regulation of financial markets. He has been counsel to many complex and high-profile transactions, involving Belgian companies as well as foreign multinational companies.

Van Aerde & Partners is a solid team of outstanding lawyers. They are available for legal advice, mediation, negotiations and the drafting of contracts, as well as for litigation and the defence of clients’ interests before any court, judge, arbitrator or other authority anywhere in Belgium. The lawyers of Van Aerde & Partners are renowned for the first-rate quality of their services.

Dieter's focus is on intellectual property related litigation. His experience covers a variety of subject matters, including complex patent disputes, trademark infringement proceedings and litigation over copyrighted work of all kinds (audio-visual productions, tv-formats, original fashion and other designs, publications etc.). He also assists clients in proceedings on other, related subjects: unfair competition, freedom of speech, contractual disputes, etc. His transactional expertise includes drafting and negotiating a wide range of license and other collaboration agreements, and assisting companies with the intellectual property aspects of corporate transactions (IP due diligence). In addition to traditional IP work, Dieter advises clients who operate in a creative and innovative environment (in particular in media & entertainment and life sciences) on other legal issues affecting their business. Such advice includes informing clients of the impact of the regulatory framework in which they operate, clearing proposed advertising campaigns, weighing privacy and personality rights against freedom of speech, safeguarding the protection of confidential know how, etc. Dieter studied law at the University of Ghent and subsequently obtained an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law at the George Washington University in Washington DC (LL.M.). He authored various contributions to legal journals, and is often called upon by newspapers and radio stations to comment on intellectual property related news items. He is recommended by legal directory LEGAL 500.