DLA Piper strengthens its Energy and Data Protection practice in Belgium with two partner promotions

DLA Piper Belgium announces the promotion of two of its lawyers to its partnership. Heidi Waem is a data protection and privacy lawyer with almost 15 years’ experience advising clients in EU regulatory data protection and cyber security compliance. Alec Van Vaerenbergh is an energy and ESG lawyer. He advises clients from a wide range of sectors on EU and national energy and climate change regulations.

Heidi Waem, DLA Piper Partner says: “The rapidly evolving EU regulatory data protection framework is bringing both opportunities and challenges for companies. On the one hand the EU is creating opportunities for data sharing and monetization while on the other hand stringent legal frameworks are put into place requiring companies to enhance their data protection compliance and data management practices. My team and I are here to assist companies in navigating these complex data laws.”    

Alec Van Vaerenbergh, DLA Piper Partner says: “Maybe more than any other sector, the energy sector is in a state of continuous evolution. EU legislation is changing fast and multiplying, with impacts still unclear. To become future-proof, players must be able to find their way to a full picture of possible outcomes. Our teams of dedicated lawyers are proficient in a wide range of international and European regulatory fields, thus providing our clients with the analysis and tools they need in order to harness market shifts, including the green transition, while remaining competitive - both short and long term. I look forward to continuing my collaboration with them.”

Heidi and Alec’s appointments are part of a broader set of recent recruitments to grow the firm’s wide array of practices in Belgium and make Brussels DLA Piper’s EU Centre of Excellence. In Belgium, the firm recently recruited Joost Haans and Laurent Geelhand, two external partners hires, to focus on its Trade and Competition activities.  It also recruited Caroline Hoste, another external partner hire, to strengthen its Banking, Finance and Restructuring practice. The firm is also building its presence in both Life Sciences and Regulatory with the Co-Chair of its Life Sciences practice, Marco de Morpurgo, committing to split his time between the firm’s Brussels and Rome offices.

Kristof De Vulder, DLA Piper Country Managing Partner Belgium says: “We are happy to welcome Heidi and Alec to the Partnership. They will strengthen our capabilities in the fields of data protection and energy and significantly contribute to the development of our Brussels office as the EU regulatory hub of our global firm.”