Member Profiles

ADMISSION Brussels Bar, 1986 EDUCATION Law degree, KULeuven LANGUAGES Dutch, French, English REFERENCES • Assistant lecturer at the University of Leuven (KUL): The sources of the law, The law of property and securities • PRACTICE AREAS : • Debt Recovery, Commercial Law, Litigation and Arbitration

Cédric Alter (born 1972) graduated from the Brussels University School of Law in June 1995 (Lic. Juris, graduated magna cum laude, ULB, 1995). Prior to joining Janson Baugniet as Partner as of 1 September 2007, Mr Alter was Special European Counsel at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Brussels office (2005-2007), and an associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (2002-2005) and Stibbe (1996-2002). Mr Alter has gained significant experience of business law and contract law working for both Belgian and foreign clients. He also regularly acts in judicial and arbitration proceedings (as counsel or arbitrator), and is a member of the Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (CEPANI and CCI). Mr Alter was an assistant professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in the field of civil obligations and contract law from 1998 to 2012. In 2012 he became a professor of business law at the Solvay Brussels School of Economic and Management of ULB. He is the author or co-author of numerous publications in the field of contract law, as well as in banking law, insolvency and securities and guarantees. In 2010 he wrote a book on general banking law and recently co-author several books on the Belgian Business Continuity Act (Belgian equivalent of the US Chapter 11 procedure) with Alain Zenner and Jean-Philippe Lebeau. Chambers & Partners 2013 commented: "Clients say that Cédric Alter of Janson Baugniet 'picks up on the technicalities, understands the nuances of the process, and works well with local counsel'. He represented Oxycure in litigation with competitors up to the Supreme Court." Chambers Global Guide 2014 stated: "Cédric Alter is a growing presence in the field of dispute resolution and has recently handled litigation and arbitration matters in Belgium and abroad; he acts as both counsel and arbitrator." Legal 500 (2013) recommends Cédric Alter in banking and finance, dispute resolution, insolvency and restructuring. Mr Alter's working languages are French and English.

Stephanie Nijs is mainly active in employment law and social security law. In this context, she assists both national and international companies with regard to various employment law issues such as the recruitment and dismissal of employees, social inspections and the drafting of employment contracts and policies.  In addition, she has a particular interest and experience in conducting proceedings before the Belgian courts and tribunals with regard to employment law and social security disputes. Stephanie has several years of experience in reputable international law firms, where she provided employment law advice to international companies.

Dirk HUYGENS (°1967) is a sworn Belgian lawyer, registered at the Antwerp bar, and founding partner of the Antwerp based business law firm CORBUS. Dirk mainly works in national and international business law, focusing on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and insolvency. He is also active in IP/ICT law. As certified mediator in civil and commercial matters and member of VOBA (www.voba.be) and the Brussels-based mediation centre b-Mediation, Dirk has acquired considerable experience as a commercial mediator. Dirk is regularly appointed as arbitrator in national and international arbitration cases, and he is a member of Cepina and arbitrator at the Arbitration Institute (www.euro-arbitration.org).

Specialized in personal injury, traffic law, occupational accidents, medical liability law, civil liability law and insurance.