Olswang has hired IP partner Christine De Keersmaeker from Bright Legal Solutions in a bid to expand its Brussels office.
De Keersmaeker will bring with her two associates, expanding the office’s capability to 10 lawyers (two partners and eight associates) and one trainee. Michael Burdon, joint head of the firm’s IP group, said Olswang had been looking to expand the Brussels office, which focuses on competition and telecoms law, for some time.
He added that the firm is different to its locally-based US and English rivals because the majority of its work relates to Belgian rather than EU competition law.
He said De Keersmaeker, who advises Belgian and multinational clients under Belgian law, is seen by the firm as a “good fit”.
