Dentons establishes Belgian employment practice

His arrival follows a series of strategic hires by the global law firm as it scales its Brussels hub, including the recent additions of compliance partner Isabelle De Smedt and energy practice head Cédric De Greef.

“Christophe’s arrival is another important milestone in the growth story of our Brussels office”, added Edward Borovikov, co-managing partner at Dentons. “Since we founded this office, we have consistently invested in bringing in market-leading practitioners who strengthen our ability to serve clients end-to-end. Christophe’s reputation, client relationships and entrepreneurial track record make him exactly that kind of addition”.

Christophe brings over two decades of experience across the full spectrum of employment law, from individual and collective dismissals, transfers of undertakings, and restructurings to data privacy, trade secrets, as well as compensation and benefits.

He earned his reputation building and leading top-tier employment practices in the Benelux after rising through the ranks at top firms like Clifford Chance, Deloitte and Loyens & Loeff. Most recently, he spent six years running his own company, DEL-Law – a specialised niche practice advising corporate clients, executive boards and international employers on complex labour matters, trade secrets, data privacy and compensation structures. Prior to this, he co-headed the employment and labour law practice at boutique firm DKW, driving client development as well as handling high-stakes workforce reorganisations and executive contract disputes.

Earlier in his career, Christophe spent eight years (from 2009 to 2017) at Bird & Bird in Brussels, where he also built the firm's Employment and Compensation practice from the ground up. Under his leadership, the practice grew into one of the market's most recognised teams.

Alongside his private practice, Christophe has served as a supplemental judge at the Brussels Labour Tribunal since 2010. He is also a prolific author and speaker, regularly publishing on data privacy in the workplace, stock options and labour law in major Belgian business media.

“Having built Bird & Bird's employment law department, and having then founded my own boutique employment law firm – a success reflected in its rankings – joining the team creating Dentons' Brussels office was a challenge I couldn't turn down,” he says.

Technical depth and care required
Beyond helping build a full-service Belgian firm, “returning to an international platform within a collaborative environment of real excellence held undeniable appeal” for Christophe. It also allows him to grow his own client base alongside Dentons'.

He describes his ambitions for leading the new division – to make Dentons Belgium a leading player in employment law, compensation, benefits, and privacy – as bold, but with his proven track record of scaling businesses, achieving this is highly possible.

At the top of his list is coaching associates on how important understanding clients and their needs, delivering quality service and follow-through are. “In principle, all lawyers should have comparable legal skills – though some are clearly more innovative and bold in how they interpret and apply the law. Service is the real differentiator,” he elaborates. As such, he teaches his mentees the value of listening, communicating clearly and professionally, precision and attention to detail.

“In a world shaped by AI, lawyers can no longer get away with stating the obvious or offering hollow answers, acting as free agents,” he adds, encouraging curiosity so the team can answer whatever questions clients raise.

“I push everyone to keep learning from every matter and to see themselves as active partners in our clients' HR management.”

Christophe’s mantra, “Nothing mediocre will satisfy you”, sums up this leadership style. “Finding practical, innovative solutions that clients can genuinely understand, paired with empathetic client care, always remains essential,” he explains.

A growth partner for private equity
Christophe views a robust employment desk as a direct growth engine for corporate and private equity clients, rather than an ancillary offering, particularly in complex M&A transactions. By managing workforce dynamics as a core component of deal strategy from day one, they protect their investment margins and accelerate the timeline for value creation.

Accordingly, the new practice will integrate directly with Dentons' existing corporate and deal teams, advising across the entire transaction lifecycle. “We hope to support our colleagues quickly and play an active role in business development,” Christophe comments, describing his team as skilled, solid and –above all – genuinely supportive of one another; “I know each of them personally, and I believe in their potential to grow.”

Christophe also brings extensive expertise across the deal cycle, including due diligence at the outset, warranty negotiations during the deal and post-closing reorganisation or harmonisation issues.

“Christophe is one of the most respected employment lawyers in the Belgian market, with a rare combination of technical depth, client-focused judgment and entrepreneurial drive,” notes Tom Geudens, co-managing partner at Dentons Belgium. “His arrival significantly reinforces our ability to support clients on their most complex workforce and HR-related matters, both in Belgium and cross-border.”