Member Profiles

Alain Strowel is a member of the Brussels Bar Association since 1988 and a Senior Partner, member of the Intellectual Property & IT law department, at Pierstone Brussels. He is also a Professor at University Saint-Louis – Brussels since 1993 and at UCLouvain since 2013. Alain is a native French speaker and is fluent in English, German and Dutch. Professional experience: As avocat at the Brussels bar since 1988, Alain provides legal advice, drafts contracts and litigates in intellectual property, technology and media law matters. From 2001 to 2014, he was of Counsel with a U.S. leading firm, Covington & Burling LLP. During his years at Covington, he closely followed the European legal developments in IP/IT law and advised several major clients in the tech and software industry on law reforms throughout Europe. Prior to Covington, Alain worked as counsel in the IP department of NautaDutilh (1996-2001). As sole practitioner (2014-2020), he focused on legal advice and worked jointly with other law firms for litigation matters. In 2020, he joined Pierstone Brussels as Senior Partner. His practice focuses on digital copyright and tech law. Academic experience: Alain is professor at UCLouvain and at University Saint-Louis – Brussels, where he teaches several courses in intellectual property, tech and media law. He also gives courses in two advanced masters in IP and IT law at the KULeuven and at the Munich IP Law Center. Since the 1990s, he has conducted several studies for the European institutions in the field of intellectual property and the digital economy. He is an arbiter for the domain names dispute resolution system run by the WIPO and the CEPANI. He has been appointed as a trustee of the European Law Academy (ERA, Trier, 2012-2019) and was elected to the Academia Europaea in 2012. Since 2019, he chairs the Intellectual Property working group of All European Academies (ALLEA) to which he contributed since 2012. Today his research focuses on the regulation and governance of data, artificial intelligence and online platforms. Education: Alain graduated in law, economics and philosophy at the UCLouvain and the University of Amsterdam. He holds a PhD in Law from UCLouvain. Publications: He has authored more than 250 articles and a few books including : Droit des médias et de la communication (with F. Jongen & E. Cruysmans, Larcier, 2017, 896 p.) ;Quand Google défie le droit (De Boeck-Larcier, 2011, 238 p.) ;Droit d’auteur et copyright, Convergences et divergences (Bruylant and L.G.D.J., 1993). He has directed several collections of essays including: Des voitures autonomes à l’intelligence artificielle. Entre droit, politique et éthique (with C. Lazaro), 2020, 258 p ;Les droits intellectuels, entre autres droits. Intersections, interactions et interrogations (with Cabay), Larcier, 2019, 304 p. ;Net Neutrality in Europe – La neutralité de l’Internet en Europe, Bruylant, 2013, 178 p.;Peer-to-Peer File Sharing and Secondary Liability in Copyright Law, Edward Elgar, 2009;Of Authors and Origins (with B. Sherman), Cambridge UP, 1991.

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.