‘We anticipate the challenges coming to start-ups and large companies’

Entrepreneurs who make an impact, that is what Anneleen prefers to dedicate herself to. She is praised not only for her legal knowledge, but especially for her strategic advice.

After all the most effective lawyer doesn’t solve problems but sees them coming. In six years, Anneleen has developed Four & Five into a law firm that is far ahead of its competitors. ‘We think ahead and identify the challenges on the horizon for start-ups and large companies alike’

She is a firm believer in long-term relationships. ‘Every successful entrepreneur started as a rookie and later grows into the corporate world or as an investor,’ Anneleen says. At Four & Five, she has already seen several entrepreneurs grow and evolve. ‘That doesn’t happen without trial and error, but we understand the life cycle of entrepreneurs. We are entrepreneurs ourselves.’

Anneleen focuses on technology and innovation. Together with her team, she advises start-ups, scale-ups and listed companies on a broad spectrum of topics, from drafting complex licensing agreements to advising boards of directors, during which she brings both her expertise in technology (IP/ICT) and corporate law (VC and PE investments and M&A) to the table.

Clients also value Anneleen for her in-depth knowledge and exceptional leadership skills. She herself says she is good at multi-tasking. ‘I can do that because I like to have clear structures in place.’ And if you don’t already know Anneleen, nonsense is not in her vocabulary. ‘I say what I think.’

What you need to know about Anneleen:

• Anneleen obtained her degree in Law at Ghent University and at Louvain-la-Neuve (magna cum laude).
• She began her career at Loyens & Loeff and set up Four & Five after becoming a partner at Ligé.
• Anneleen was Head of Legal Affairs at Clear2Pay, where she gained valuable practical experience in the technology sector.
• She is also a sought-after mentor for entrepreneurs at numerous business incubators, including Startit@KBC, Biotope (VIB), Darwin and Techtransfer (UA).
• Her tightly knit network is also valuable for the Four & Five as a whole and not least for its clients.
• Her native language is Dutch. She is fluent in French and English

‘The trick is to make complicated contracts manageable for the customer.’

Dimitri Coun is a real jack-of-all-trades who not only has a fluent pen, but is also good with numbers. This makes him a lawyer without equal.

The devil lies in the detail, as every lawyer knows. Dimitri tirelessly immerses himself in these details until all of the proverbial i’s have been dotted. He is a master in drafting watertight contracts. ‘The fewer words you need, the more likely it is that a contract will be watertight.’

His eye for detail is not the only thing that makes him a giant in his field. Dimitri is also truly excellent in translating these complex contracts into clear language for his clients. ‘Many of my clients don’t have a legal background. The trick is therefore to make complex contracts easily understandable for the client.’ Had we already mentioned that Dimitri is the most empathetic lawyer at Four Five?

An M&A lawyer must also maintain a balanced approach at the negotiating table. First and foremost, Dimitri represents the client’s interests, but a good lawyer also must not forget to adopt a pragmatic approach. ‘The trick is not to squabble over every point, but to quickly establish the playing field where you can make a difference.’

Outsiders described Dimitri as patient. ‘That’s great feedback, given that at home, I’m sometimes referred to as a ‘genuine Duracell bunny’ who is highly task focused. So it’s great that these two characteristics can co-exist side by side.’ Clients appreciate the fact that Dimitri invests a lot of time in developing and maintaining a relationship. ‘You can build a much closer relationship with a client by simply listening. Only that way can you truly understand the client’s needs.’

Dimitri also enjoys exploring the depths of transactional real estate. ‘That world has undergone rapid professionalisation, which means that even in the case of real estate transactions that take place in the form of a share deal or asset deal, a good M&A lawyer has now become indispensable.’

What you need to know about Dimitri:

• After obtaining his master’s degree in Law (KU Leuven, magna cum laude), Dimitri then specialised in Economic Studies and Corporate Law.
• Aren’t lawyers not all that good with figures? If that is what you thought, then you haven’t met Dimitri. Dimitri understands the ins and outs of valuation and ensures that those principles are correctly translated in the transaction documents.
• Before setting up Four & Five, Dimitri worked as a partner at Ligé and as a senior and director at Allen & Overy and EY.
• Dimitri demonstrates strong leadership skills and excels in training and supervising interns and members of staff and enabling them to become excellent lawyers.
• Dimitri speaks Dutch as his first language and has a very good command of written and spoken English.
• His focus at Four & Five is primarily on M&A, corporate acquisitions and transactional real estate.

‘We’re not only at our clients’ side at the important moments in their lives; we’re actually there for them every day.’

Tessa knows what a client wants, even before they realise that themselves. But doing that doesn’t mean you need to have superpowers. She’s actually extremely skilled at reading between the lines. ‘The better you know a particular client, the more successful that will be’, says Tessa. That’s why Four & Five works so hard to develop long-term relationships. ‘We’re not only at our clients’ side at the important moments in their lives; we’re actually there for them every day.’ ‘We’re not only at our clients’ side at the important moments in their lives; we’re actually there for them every day.’

Tessa feels at home in the entrepreneurial world. In that world, she advises national and international clients, varying from start-ups to established companies on corporate law and all manner of commercial contracts, including investment rounds, shareholders’ meetings and ‘corporate housekeeping’, but also international purchases and sales, distribution, franchise and general terms and conditions and all manner of cooperation and joint venture agreements.

Even M&A cases regularly find their way to Tessa’s desk, especially when they are taking place in a family context or involve an SME. ‘Those types of negotiations are often a bit more emotional’, says Tessa. The important thing is to explain each stage of the process properly and create a feeling of trust for all of the parties around the table.

Aside from this, Tessa also advises clients on real estate matters, varying from development and acquisition projects to real-estate related agreements (such as rental, concession and EPC agreements). ‘Innovation and sustainability are also posing new challenges,’ says Tessa. ‘These can include the legal consequences of installing charging points and solar panels or the arrangements you need to put in place when providing a recharging station for electric vehicles?’

Tessa is known for a multi-disciplinary approach and for her calmness, even while conducting the most difficult of negotiations. She always seeks to establish sustainable solutions that are in her client’s interests but are also acceptable to the other parties involved. ‘That is the only effective way to create added value.’

What you need to know about Tessa:

• Tessa obtained her a degree in Law from KU Leuven (cum laude).
• After obtaining a master’s degree and an additional master’s degree in Taxation Law at KU Leuven, Tessa pursued additional studies in Economic Law at the universities of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and Louvain-la-Neuve.
• Before moving to Four & Five, she worked at Loyens & Loeff and Ambos.
• She was also a founding partner of Cresco in 2014.
• Tessa is highly solution focused, pro-active and patient.
• She is also in great demand as an expert at many different business incubators such as NOA and Start it @ KBC.

‘No entrepreneur benefits from being constantly confronted with oppositions.’

Maxime has been involved with Four & Five since day one. In recent years, her passion for technology and innovative players has only grown. ‘Technology touches everything within an organization. From how you work to how you commercialize products or services.’

Maxime also has a love for language, but doesn’t use it to gloss over the matter in hand. On the contrary. ‘Finding the right words that will cause all of the pieces of the contractual puzzle to fall into place is a very satisfying feeling.’

Maxime not only helps draw up general terms and conditions for mobile apps, but also drafts and negotiates important agreements for major IT projects. She also saw the European privacy legislation (GDPR) evolve from a compulsory requirement to a strategic subject of reflection within companies.

Together with her dedicated team, Maxime also assists technology companies and innovative businesses with their legal (and commercial) challenges. She has extensive experience in commercial tech-contracts, as applied in various sectors such as artificial intelligence, consultancy, data analysis, financial services, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, software (as a service), telecommunications, utilities and so on.

Strangling contracts are not for her. “No entrepreneur or organization benefits from constantly being confronted with opposition.” Thanks to her negotiating skills, she comes up with sustainable solutions. Compromises in the positive sense of the word. “Otherwise, you’ll just waste time and money constantly negotiating.”

What you need to know about Maxime:

• Maxime obtained her master’s degree in Law at the University of Antwerp (cum laude). After that she undertook additional in-depth studies in ICT Law at KU Leuven.
• After gaining experience at EY Law and Ligé Advocaten, Maxime was one of the first lawyers at Four & Five.
• Within a short time, she became one of the key people in the firm. She has been a partner at Four & Five since 2022.
• Innovation and technology come with new legal issues and these are areas in which Maxime is only too glad to contribute ideas.

‘I am known as a go-getter, a pit bull, a street fighter.’

‘Winning a case in court for a client, that’s a huge thrill. But the icing on the cake is knowing that you were able to make a difference for a client, to really help a client.’‘Ik sta bekend als een doorzetter, een pitbull, een straatvechter.’

‘Working as a lawyer and pleading a case in court is an art in itself. But what makes our profession so great is the fact that as lawyers, we act as a genuine business partner for our clients,’ explains Ahmed.

Throughout his career, Ahmed has built up a large international network. He successfully obtained various grants and studied at the University of Michigan Law School. He completed an internship at the Oh-Ebashi law firm in Tokyo, Japan and spent the next ten years representing multinationals, funds and banks as a lawyer at Loyens Loeff. After that, he spent five years as General Counsel at a London-based investment fund that held 6 billion euros of assets under management in Europe, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

‘The in-house experience I gained in London is worth its weight in gold. What a company doesn’t need are long memos and written advice, in which the lawyer doesn’t dare to express an opinion and lays the responsibility at the client’s door. Especially not in a situation involving litigation, in which the company is actually relying on the experience and knowledge of the lawyer.’ Ahmed is therefore known for his personal approach, for his no-nonsense way of working and for his commitment to each of his clients. Clients also value those qualities in him, which is why, as a young lawyer, he was named by the Legal500 series as a ‘Next Generation Lawyer’ and ‘Rising Star’ in his chosen field.

Ahmed explains that in barely 6 years, Four & Five has grown into a mature, innovative and multi-disciplinary law firm. ‘Many of our staff have in-house experience and are therefore perfectly able to assess what our clients’ needs are.’

Together with his team, Ahmed devises the overall plan in response to commercial and corporate-law disputes. What is more, they also work on post-acquisition claims, are enthusiastic experts in the law of attachment and the right of foreclosure and provide clients with peace of mind during recovery proceedings.

Ahmed worked as a teaching assistant at the Institute for Insolvency Law (KU Leuven) and is an expert when it comes to insolvencies and restructurings. Assisting creditors, levying execution against sureties or restructuring or selling distressed companies also form part of that.

What you need to know about Ahmed:

• Ahmed obtained his master’s degree in Law from the University of Antwerp.
• He began his career in the Litigation department at Loyens & Loeff and was a founding member of the Insolvency & Restructuring team.
• Ahmed regards his experiences at the University of Michigan Law School (class of 2013) as the best in his life.
• He specialises in corporate, commercial and insolvency law. Between 2015 and 2019, he was a teaching assistant at KU Leuven and delivered lectures on legal practice to master’s degree students.
• From 2018 to 2023, Ahmed was a Senior Manager and General Counsel at the LRC Group. In that capacity, he launched two Luxembourg-based funds and a licensed fund manager in Malta.

‘The best thing about innovative entrepreneurs? They push me to think differently’

Céline likes to build for the future. While others chase short-term gains, she focuses on building lasting frameworks that support entrepreneurs for the long haul. ‘It’s great to see a business model, a product and a person evolve,’ Céline believes. That outlook makes her a reliable partner for entrepreneurs who are looking to grow.

She is fascinated by technology: not so much the gadgets themselves, but the innovation that lies behind them. ‘Entrepreneurs who innovate call our current mindsets into question. I find it fascinating to be challenged that way.’ In an industry where everything moves at lightning speed — from market trends to legal challenges — Céline always keeps a calm head. Her catchphrase never fails to amuse the trainees at the office: ‘To every problem, there is a solution.’

On the outside, she appears relaxed, but inside, her brain is running at full speed. As soon as a problem pops up, she instantly shifts into solution mode. ‘Entrepreneurship in technology is not the same as setting up an ice cream shop, say. It’s complex, grows at pace, involves big risks and brings a whole host of legal challenges with it.’

When it comes to technology, Céline understands the nature of the beast. She knows that tech entrepreneurs usually need answers fast and plans ahead for just that. ‘You have to know which way the wind is blowing, and have the courage to stay pragmatic at the same time.’ That combination of deep knowledge and a practical approach is something clients appreciate enormously.

Céline also always makes sure that this knowledge is shared within Four & Five. When policymakers come up with new guidelines or change the law, she ensures that colleagues attend the relevant seminars and that this knowledge is shared in a manageable way. And that’s a role in which she feels completely at ease: ‘Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost.’

What you need to know about Céline:

• Céline obtained her Master of Laws (LLM) in corporate law from KU Leuven (cum laude) before taking an advanced master’s degree in corporate law.
• With postgraduate training as an administrator/liquidator under her belt too, she has a strong academic background.
• Before switching to Four & Five, Céline gained experience at Ligé Advocaten.
• Céline is known for staying calm under pressure and her ability to shift quickly from problems to solutions.

‘In recent years, I have experienced the true value of acting as a sparring partner.’

Pauline loves the multitude of clients she works with. The cases she loves to get stuck into the most are those involving companies with physical products and processes. From manufacturing businesses to logistics companies, and from traditional SMEs to big industrial movers, she adapts to different sectors without so much as a hitch.

Even so, there is one type of company that Pauline has a soft spot for. ‘I just love the dynamics at family businesses’, Pauline says. ‘You need to immerse yourself in the culture and get to grips with the emotional and generational aspects.’

In short, Pauline is an excellent sparring partner for entrepreneurs. ‘Entrepreneurs usually know exactly where they want to go, but are not entirely sure which path they need to take to get there. I like to challenge them, but the main thing I do is give them the structure they need to facilitate that journey.’ A trait that comes in handy in complex acquisition and investment cases.

Pauline always communicates clearly what parties can and should expect from each other. ‘As a lawyer, I like to know all the ins and outs of ongoing cases. I really get to the bottom of every case. Any unknown factor is a risk you can avoid.’

As a partner at Four & Five, Pauline focuses on all aspects of service. Lawyers are trained to pay attention to every last detail: every clause and every comma could make a difference. ‘You’ve got to apply that same precision to the customer experience clients get at Four & Five,’ according to Pauline. ‘From the initial phone call to any aftercare they may need: the fine detail of these interactions matters just as much as the fine detail in legal documents.

What you need to know about Pauline:

• Pauline obtained her Master of Laws at KU Leuven with a specialisation in economic law, and took a postgraduate degree in international business law at Paris-Pantheon-Assas University.
• She amassed five years of experience at Cresco Business Law before making the switch to Four & Five.
• Pauline specialises in corporate law and has a particular fondness for family businesses.
• Pauline has a keen eye for detail, not only in legal case files, but in her contact with clients too. This is something she and the marketing team are absolutely committed to.

‘A good M&A transaction always takes note of the bigger picture’

Michaël assists companies and entrepreneurs in their most strategic transactions: from buy- and sell-side M&A deals to exit strategies for founders and investors, both nationally and internationally. His approach is practical, results-oriented and always bespoke to the unique needs of each client, ensuring they receive the support they need at every step of the process.

Michaël discovered his passion for M&A transactions early in his career. ‘It combines a lot of things I love: strategy, complex issues and helping entrepreneurs at crucial moments,’ Michaël explains.

As a M&A lawyer, he builds bridges between the world of business and the legal reality, so that every transaction is not only legally sound, but also commercially profitable. In doing so, what matters most to him is that all parties feel positive about the outcome. Whether it’s lawyers or entrepreneurs he’s dealing with, he speaks their language.

A wide range of clients in different sectors value Michaël as a trusted advisor and dealmaker: from entrepreneurs preparing for their first exit and investment vehicles building on their buy-and-build portfolio to multinationals planning their fifth acquisition and SMEs looking for a dedicated legal partner. Michaël is ready to bring ideas to the table and create value every day.

One key principle for Michaël is that advisors are not central to the deal and are there to facilitate the transaction, not to play the lead role in it. The entrepreneurs and their story take centre stage.

Michaël makes a difference through his ability to cut through the noise and get to the core issue, his creative approach and his determination to successfully complete a transaction. ‘Sometimes you have to think outside the box to really make a deal work,’ Michaël adds. He likes to look for structures and solutions that may not be immediately obvious to others.

What you need to know about Michaël:

• Michaël obtained his Master of Laws at the University of Antwerp and further deepened his knowledge through an advanced master’s degree in notarial law at KU Leuven, a postgraduate degree in corporate law at VIVES Business Academy and a course in private equity and venture capital at Bocconi University.
• Before joining Four & Five, Michaël gained experience as a Corporate/M&A lawyer at an international law firm.
• He is known for his ability to break down complex transactions into terms that all parties involved can understand, and for building long-term relationships with clients.
• Michaël is a passionate athlete but also loves good food and a good glass of wine

‘We bring perfection to daily progression’

When Steven used to dream of the legal profession, he saw himself pleading a criminal case in a wood-clad courtroom, clad in togas. It wasn’t until he was taught by Koen Geens at KU Leuven that he became enamored with corporate law and all its derivatives. “We don’t think about it enough, but it’s still improbably fascinating that on paper we work out legal structures that shape entrepreneurship and effectively impact it. I still find that very powerful.”

“Entrepreneurs want progression and rely on the experts for perfection. That’s where we as lawyers can make a difference.”

Steven discovered during his career that his strength lies in reassuring and guiding entrepreneurs. He loves giving entrepreneurs confidence. According to Steven, that starts with the basics. “The legal structures through which founders have to swim can be extremely intimidating and complex. It’s a matter of translating the principles and dynamics behind those structures and showing how they relate to the company’s mission. Nothing energizes me more than seeing the anxiety give way to insight and then the drive to take the next steps.”

Steven therefore sees himself as someone who wants to create clarity. One of the most important tasks of a lawyer is to fully understand his client’s position. “That way, you can not only give better advice, but also ensure that different parties—think of an investment agreement—grow closer together.”

What you need to know

• Steven got a taste for corporate law during his studies at KU Leuven.
• Touched by entrepreneurship during his career as an attorney at Monard Law and others.
• Built experience in the intersection of law and technology as M&A and investment counsel at the Cronos Group.
• Steven is a lover of the spoken word. Delightfully clear is an adage that is right up his alley.