Léonard Maistriaux

Léonard advises on a broad range of civil, commercial, and regulatory disputes, with a particular focus on cross-border matters. He represents clients before Belgian courts and acts as counsel in arbitration proceedings. Léonard has specific expertise in product liability, competition and financial litigation, judgment and arbitral award enforcement, as well as in restructuring and insolvency. He also has a keen interest in tech-related matters such as cryptoassets.

Léonard taught private international law at UCLouvain for several years. He has given seminars and published extensively on conflicts of jurisdiction and conflict of laws.

Work highlights

Léonard has assisted many clients in resolving disputes. These include advising and representing (*):

• Various financial institutions on large domestic and cross-border restructuring and insolvency proceedings, including related litigation.

• A leading multinational insurance company on a c.€200m landmark prospectus liability claim brought by a former shareholder
• A global pharmaceutical company on an investigation and enforcement proceedings led by the Belgian Competition Authority, securing an unprecedented 95% reduction of the fine sought by the Belgian Competition Authority’s investigative arm.
• Global pharmaceutical companies against product liability claims concerning both well-established and ground-breaking new pharmaceutical products.
• Eastern European investors in enforcement proceedings regarding an arbitral award rendered against a Central Asian State under the Energy Charter Treaty, involving a record US$22 billion asset freeze.
• A pension fund in a c.€50m post-M&A arbitration.

(*) including at a previous law firm

Léonard was admitted to the Brussels Bar in 2018. He joined Linklaters in 2021 having worked for three and a half years in the litigation & arbitration department of another Brussels-based international law firm.

In addition, he is a trustee and the treasurer of the Royal Belgian Benevolent Society, the oldest foreign charity operating in the UK, which supports young Belgians pursuing their academic or artistic ambitions in the UK. He is also actively involved with TADA (a network that involves citizens, civil society and businesses in the integration and empowerment of Brussels’ socially most vulnerable teenagers) and Be.Face (a business network that promotes inclusiveness in the world of work by creating opportunities for students and job seekers).

Léonard studied law at the University of Namur (Bachelor of Law), the University of Antwerp (exchange programme), the UCLouvain (Master of Law) and the University of Buenos Aires (exchange programme). He also holds an LL.M from the University of Cambridge (Jesus College).

Léonard’s recent published work include:

• L. Maistriaux, « La compétence internationale pour l’action en restitution fondée sur un enrichissement sans cause », R.D.C./T.B.H., 2023/1, p. 84-92
• L. Maistriaux, « Arrêt Gtflix TV : la Cour consolide sa jurisprudence en matière d’atteintes aux droits de la personnalité commises sur Internet », R.D.T.I., 2023/1, pp. 36-47
• L. Maistriaux, « La Convention de La Haye sur la reconnaissance et l'exécution des jugements étrangers en matière civile ou commerciale. Lignes de force, état des lieux et perspectives pour la Belgique », J.T., 2022/12, p. 181-187
• L. Maistriaux, « Règlement signification : mise en œuvre, applications et interprétations belges » in Schmitz, M. et Gielen, P. (dir.), La signification des actes judiciaires et extrajudiciaires en Europe, 1e édition, Brussels, Bruylant, 2021, pp. 49-74