Bio

Laurent Ruzette advises Belgian and foreign leading corporates and listed companies on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, business reorganizations, and corporate governance matters. Laurent has assisted several clients on transformative moments in the lives of companies. Amongst other experiences, he advised Solvay in connection with its global spin-off of its specialty activities and the dual listing of Syensqo on Euronext (closed on December 8, 2023). He also recently advised Solvay on its negotiated settlement with Bluebell Capital Partners to end their One-Share Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) campaign relating to Solvay (announced on September 6, 2022). In 2019, he advised the Walloon Government in the investigation of contested privatizations by municipality-owned Nethys (including the sale of a majority stake in TMT operator VOO SA to Providence Equity). He subsequently advised Nethys in the renegotiation and legal challenge of the contested sale of VOO SA to Providence Equity, and in connection with the competitive sell-side M&A process run for the sale of a majority stake in VOO SA and the negotiation of the sale of 75% in VOO SA to Orange Belgium (closed). During the Great Financial Crisis (2008), he represented BNP Paribas in the bail-out and restructuring of Fortis, and decade-long litigation brought by minority shareholders contesting the bail-out. Laurent is also active in enforcement and litigation and works closely with the firm’s leading litigators in respect of crisis management, investigations, and litigation. Laurent joined the firm in 1996, became counsel in 2004, and became a partner in 2012.