In a large scale poaching, Strelia gets lawyers from rival firms

In a large scale poaching, Strelia gets lawyers from rival firms

The fast-growing Belgian boutique firm adds 13 lawyers for Brussels boost

The rapidly growing Belgian boutique firm Strelia has hired as many as 13 lawyers from rivals Monard Law and Daldewolf to its Brussels office to boost its market share.

Two of the three partners joining the firm are expected to build new practice areas to bolster its presence in Brussels.

Katrien Vorlat, an experienced deals lawyer, has joined Strelia's corporate and M&A team after spending five years as a partner at Monard Law. She had spent close to two decades at Stibbe before joining Monard Law. She has joined Strelia with three associates from her previous firm.

France Vlassembrouck, another Monard Law partner, has joined Strelia to establish a real estate and public law team along with two associates. She was associated with Monard Law for four years and had spent nearly a decade at the leading independent Loyens & Leoff, including three years as a partner and head of the procurement and projects team. She was also at Stibbe before switching over to Loyens & Leoff.

Pierre Goffinet, a former regulator, has joined from competition boutique Daldewolf along with four associates to establish the firm's antitrust and regulatory team. Besides carrying his experience at Belgium's competition regulator, Goffinet had spent time at UK firms Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Clifford Chance.

With the new arrivals, Strelia's headcount has increased to 17 partners across its Brussels and Luxembourg offices while its lawyer headcount has gone up to 50.

Strelia specialises in disputes, finance, corporate and antitrust practices besides the energy, retail, telecoms and transport sectors.

"With this new development, Strelia enters a new phase in the realisation of its ambitions to be one of the leading independent law firms in Brussels," Strelia's Managing partner Olivier Clevenbergh said.

According to Clevenbergh, the additional practice areas has broadened his firm's ability to meet client demand and give specialist advice on associated regulatory issues.