12 August 2010 – Stibbe, an Alliance partner of Gleiss Lutz and Herbert Smith, announced today it will open a new office in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in September 2010. The new office will be developed by Dirk Leermakers, who will join from Bonn Schmitt Steichen together with his team.

Luxembourg is one of the major European financial centres with an important legal market. Olivier Clevenbergh, Managing Partner Stibbe Brussels, comments: "We see significant growth opportunities for high-end corporate, finance and tax work in the Luxembourg market. The new office is a natural extension of our footprint in the Benelux, since Stibbe is already a leading firm in Belgium and in The Netherlands." "With our decision to launch in Luxembourg we follow the request from our international clients. Our presence on-the-ground will enable us to provide an even better service to our clients in the region and it will further enhance our Alliance network with Herbert Smith and Gleiss Lutz”, adds Heleen Kersten, Managing Partner Stibbe Amsterdam.

Dirk Leermakers has been practicing as a lawyer in Luxembourg since early 2003, when he joined Loyens & Loeff to set up their corporate practice there. In that same year Dirk was appointed Managing Partner of Loyens Luxembourg. Prior to that, he spent most of his career at De Bandt, van Hecke & Lagae (presently Linklaters).

In commenting on his move to Stibbe, Dirk said: "Luxembourg's dynamic financial services industry, its leading position in the market of regulated investment funds and its growing reputation as the Delaware of the European Union have turned it into a "must consider" jurisdiction for many M& A and private equity transactions. A firm with Stibbe's stature, and the Alliance to which Stibbe belongs, have everything to gain by now being able to include Luxembourg in the offering to their clients."

The core focus of Stibbe’s Luxembourg office will be corporate, funds, tax, real estate, banking and finance work. The office is expected to be up and running by 1 September 2010.

Media enquiries

For more information, please contact: Evelien Bekaert, Media relations, T +32 2 533 5604, evelien.bekaert@stibbe.com