Member Profiles

Catherine has over 20 years experience working for the Aviation sector. From 2003 until 2016 she has been the co-head of a global law firm’s international Aviation Group. Since 1 January 2017 she launched a new niche firm called “Erkelens Law” which focusses on the Aviation sector. Catherine has developed a strong client base and leading reputation working for companies operating in or dealing with the Aviation & Aerospace sector, and was responsible for several landmark litigations with international impact.

Tom was admitted to the Brussels Bar in 2012. Prior to joining the bar, he held various management and legal positions in the financial industry. Currently, Tom advises companies and financial institutions on all aspects of banking and financial law, corporate law and general contract law. Tom has a broad experience in dealing with a wide range of corporate and commercial law matters, with a particular focus on M&A, restructurings, corporate finance transactions, shareholder issues, corporate governance and property transactions. Tom’s practice also covers banking, insurance and the regulation of financial markets. He has been counsel to many complex and high-profile transactions, involving Belgian companies as well as foreign multinational companies.

Van Aerde & Partners is a solid team of outstanding lawyers. They are available for legal advice, mediation, negotiations and the drafting of contracts, as well as for litigation and the defence of clients’ interests before any court, judge, arbitrator or other authority anywhere in Belgium. The lawyers of Van Aerde & Partners are renowned for the first-rate quality of their services.

Dieter's focus is on intellectual property related litigation. His experience covers a variety of subject matters, including complex patent disputes, trademark infringement proceedings and litigation over copyrighted work of all kinds (audio-visual productions, tv-formats, original fashion and other designs, publications etc.). He also assists clients in proceedings on other, related subjects: unfair competition, freedom of speech, contractual disputes, etc. His transactional expertise includes drafting and negotiating a wide range of license and other collaboration agreements, and assisting companies with the intellectual property aspects of corporate transactions (IP due diligence). In addition to traditional IP work, Dieter advises clients who operate in a creative and innovative environment (in particular in media & entertainment and life sciences) on other legal issues affecting their business. Such advice includes informing clients of the impact of the regulatory framework in which they operate, clearing proposed advertising campaigns, weighing privacy and personality rights against freedom of speech, safeguarding the protection of confidential know how, etc. Dieter studied law at the University of Ghent and subsequently obtained an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law at the George Washington University in Washington DC (LL.M.). He authored various contributions to legal journals, and is often called upon by newspapers and radio stations to comment on intellectual property related news items. He is recommended by legal directory LEGAL 500.

Patrice Vanderbeeken is a member of the Brussels Bar Association since 1999 and a Founding Partner, co-head of the Intellectual Property & IT law department, at Pierstone Brussels. He is fluent in Dutch, English, French and German. Expertise Patrice enjoys a reputation as a prominent technology lawyer recognised by Chambers (since 2009) and the Legal 500 for TMT, association work and data protection. He has extensive experience in IT and IP law, with a focus on the following areas: Data Protection (IT) Contracts Distribution Standardization Copyright Licensing Patrice has a vast experience in data protection advising international clients in the aviation, hospitality, life sciences, finance and TMT sector on various questions including extra territorial applicability, international transfers, website policies, agreements (DPA, joint processing,…) and internal regulations. He and his team are regularly performing privacy audit and compliance schemes at international levels. Patrice is also well rounded in copyright and data licensing questions. Patrice is well recognized for his work in distribution contracts and related (pre-)litigation. He has written various articles on the subject and has litigated some high profile cases regarding newly set principles of law on assignment of contracts, territorial scope, etc.. Patrice is also strongly recognized for his data protection and general corporate assistance to international associations, for which he has been praised in the Legal 500. His 20 years of experience in IP and TMT allow him to better understand the associations’ needs in term of articles of association and contracts (data protection, website, R&D, consultancy, licensing, IPR policy, etc.), standardization (IEEE, ITU-T, Cenelec, …) and subsidies (Horizon 2020, Life, etc.). Professional Experience Since 2013: Founding Partner at Pierstone Brussels Since 2012: Board Member at Licensing Executives Society Since 2015: Board Member at Fonds Joseph Maisin pour la Recherche contre le Cancer 1999-2013: Attorney at Law at Nautadutilh, including secondments at the tech transfer of the University of Louvain and at GSK Vaccines 1998: Legal Assistant to the German Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union S. Alber 1997-1998: Intern at Janssen Inc. (Johnson & Johnson) 1996: Intern at BNP Paribas Fortis Patrice is also an Active Member of the Europe India Chamber of Commerce and the Belgo-Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Patrice has developed a particular interest in India and its culture and is therefore heading the Pierstone Indian desk since his participation to Prince Philip’s mission to India in 2010 during which he organized a seminar with the Indian Merchants’ Chamber in Mumbai on the Benelux as the gateway to Europe. Education As a former external advisor to the technology transfer office of a leading university and GSK Vaccines’ US general counsel, Patrice has gained an excellent understanding of both the industry’s and the academics’ perspective with regard to technology and life sciences contracting (privacy, R&D and licensing). He has also developed extensive knowledge in EU and regional Research Framework Programmes. He has been trained at the Universities of Leuven (1997 – Masters in Law), Namur (1995), Passau (1998) and at the Vlerick Leuven Ghent management School (1999 – MBA) which are strongly recognised in the QS and Times Higher Education rankings. Patrice also has followed the masterclass of the Institute for Pharmaceutical Business Administration