LAWFUEL – Law News Network – International law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP announced today that leading Belgian corporate and M&A lawyer Laurent Legein will join the firm as a partner in its Brussels office.
Mr. Legein, 38, comes to Cleary Gottlieb from Clifford Chance, where his current practice spans a broad range of corporate transactional and advisory work. His main areas of practice are private and public M&A, private equity and equity capital markets transactions. Mr. Legein has been recognized as a “leading individual” in Corporate/M&A in the Chambers Global 2006 guide and as a “leading lawyer” in both capital markets and M&A in the 2006 edition of IFLR 1000.
His appointment brings the total number of Cleary Gottlieb partners to 190.
“Laurent’s arrival at Cleary Gottlieb underscores our commitment to our Brussels-based corporate practice,” said Cleary Gottlieb managing partner Mark Walker. “He is an extraordinarily talented and energetic lawyer who will further strengthen our capability to handle complex Belgian and cross-border corporate transactions.”
In 1994, Mr. Legein became a member of the Brussels Bar. He joined Clifford Chance that same year as an associate, becoming a partner in 2001. In 1997, Mr. Legein spent significant time at Clifford Chance’s London office.
A graduate from the law faculty of the Université Catholique de Louvain in 1992, Mr. Legein obtained a post-graduate degree at the law faculty of Ghent University in 1993 and an LL.M. at Georgetown University in 1994.
Commenting on his move, Mr. Legein said, “Clifford Chance is a great firm. My time there has been extremely rewarding and I did my best to contribute to the success of their Brussels practice. But I had reached a time in my career when I needed a new challenge. Cleary Gottlieb has an outstanding reputation in Brussels and I look forward to working with them.”
