Eversheds raid forces Weil to axe Brussels office

Eversheds has beefed up its Brussels presence with the addition of a team of lawyers that includes the head of Weil Gotshal & Manges' local office, M&A partner Stanislas De Peuter.

De Peuter's exit spells the official closure of Weil's Brussels operation.

Also joining Eversheds is Ignaas Behaeghe, head of tax at Brussels firm Lawfort, accompanied by two tax associates.

Eversheds Brussels head of employment Stefan Corbanie said: "The Brussels group has been expanding over the past five years and we'd come into a situation where we needed to expand the M&A and tax teams. Also, Weil Gotshal have confirmed on an informal basis that they'll continue to refer work to Stan, albeit in his new role at Eversheds."

Weil chief financial officer Norm LaCroix said: "The firm's exited from Brussels, having built a strong competition and regulatory practice centered in London, Paris and Germany. A Brussels presence is no longer viewed as a strategic necessity."