Do you want to resolve a dispute via a mediating lawyer or arbitrator? Are you in need of clarification of an inheritance issue or family dispute without a long, drawn-out court procedure? Are you a business looking to engage an accredited mediator to resolve a (hostile) takeover or a dispute between shareholders?
Nelissen Grade is the ideal mediation practice. Our lawyers get all parties round the table and seek a solution that does not recourse to the law courts. We do this constructively, keeping an open mind and constantly aiming for conclusive legal agreement.
Whether you have an argument with a neighbour, a pending divorce or a conflict with your partner, you need a fast, discreet solution to your dispute. Nelissen Grade shares this view and constantly thinks in terms of mediation rather than the expense and uncertainty of court proceedings. This approach brings positive results: more than 60% of our cases are resolved amicably and without the intervention of the courts. Listening, empathising, discussing and facilitating: our lawyers open the debate, elucidate the nuances and aim for a solution that is agreeable to all parties. Versatile, impartial, human and ultra-correct, so that all agreements are set out in writing in a clear and enforceable manner.
In recent years, mediation has become something of a buzzword for many service providers. Nelissen Grade is distinguished by its legal experience, knowledge and quality of service. Several of our lawyers are accredited mediators and they work closely with other law teams that have diverse fields of expertise. This way, we create sound and comprehensive legal agreements that provide long-term peace of mind.
As well as having accredited mediators, Nelissen Grade has an arbitrator with a wealth of expertise in civil and commercial matters. With arbitration, in contrast to classic legal proceedings, a dispute is brought before an arbitration court, thereby saving you a lot of time, money and stress. The decision after arbitration is binding and, just like a verdict or ruling, legally enforceable.
With a multi-disciplinary core team of over 50 lawyers, Nelissen Grade has sound expertise in diverse fields of law. Because no case is restricted to a single and purely legal subject matter, you can count on us taking a bird’s-eye view of your circumstances. Our expert teams devote their attention to your case – each within their field of expertise and educational background - and analyse it in breadth and depth.
Liability law and damages Travel law Sports law Criminal law and fraud Road traffic law Corporate criminal law
With more than thirty years of experience, Pascal Nelissen Grade is the undisputed flagbearer of Nelissen Grade Lawyers. Pascal Nelissen Grade has been vice president of the Leuven Bar Association since 2022 and will become President in the summer of 2024.
Pascal Nelissen Grade has been working for many years with dedication and commitment in the departments of criminal law, travel law, liability law and motor sport law.
Quick, efficient, accessible and proactive. Pascal Nelissen Grade combines legal ingenuity with a practical approach.
In criminal law, he has successfully represented defendants as well as victims before criminal courts, courts of appeal and assize courts. Not only does he represent private individuals, but also business owners and companies in complex cases within corporate criminal law. As a lawyer specialized in travel law, he assists various actors in the travel industry by representing them in various cases and (extra)judicial proceedings. Pascal Nelissen Grade is also the president of the Travel Litigation Commission and speaks often at seminars on travel law. With a well-considered approach and an eye for detail, Pascal Nelissen Grade handles cases within the area of liability law, both for the civil courts and for the criminal courts, such as the police court.
Finally, Pascal Nelissen Grade is specialized in the field of motor sport law. Passionate about this sport, he assists drivers and teams and participates in the drafting of sports regulations. In addition, he has intervened on several occasions before various (inter)national courts and the FIA.
Construction law Administrative law Legacies Mediation
Jan Stijns graduated in 1987 as master of law at KU Leuven. In 2009 he also graduated as bachelor in philosophy at KU Leuven.
Jan entered the association in 1987. He is specialized in family property law and has specific attention for patrimonial law (real estate) and succession planning / taxability. He is also specialized in the fields of construction law and administrative law.
Employment law and social law Civil law
Kris Maes graduated as master of law at KU Leuven.
He is a member of the Bar Association of Leuven and Dendermonde.
Kris provides assistance and advice to individuals and companies on the subject of (individual and collective) labour law and social security. He is especially interested in providing thorough and permanent assistance on the subject of HR management. He is regularly invited as a guest speaker in seminars.
In the event of litigation, he prefers to come to a detailed and balanced solution after clear negotiations. But when legal proceedings are required, he is prepared to go to any length.
Alexis Lefebvre started his studies at FUNDP in Namur and graduated as master of law at UCL in Louvain-la-Neuve. After his education, Alexis entered the association.
He is specialized in litigation and providing assistance and advice in the fields of tax law, on the one hand, and economic, commercial and contract law, on the other hand.
He is a member of the Bar Association of Brussels and Leuven.
Civil law Arbitration Travel law Liability law and damages Mediation
Frederiek Baudoncq is a member of the Bar Association of Leuven since 1998. From 1999 to 2005, he was part time assistant at the faculty of law of KU Leuven, department property and liability law.
He is (co) author of several books and contributions to books and articles and is a member of the editorial staff of three law journals. He completed the training to become a lawyer at the Supreme Court of Belgium, the Court of Cassation.
Intellectual property law, media law, GDPR and ICT Corporate law Mediation
Alexis Hallemans studied law in Namur (FUNDP), Belgium, at the Univeristy of Leuven and in Saarbrücken (Germany). He is a lawyer since 2003. He also obtained a LL.M degree European law in Germany and an additional Masters in intellectual property and IT law at the University of Brussels. He specializes in these subjects in which he has pleaded before the Court of Justice of the EU and the Constitutional Court in Belgium. He is recommended for these subjects in Belgium (Legal 500, Tier 2).
For several years now he is a Board member of the German, Belgian and Luxemburg Chamber of Commerce AHK DEBELUX. Alexis fluently speaks Dutch, French, German and English. This allowed him to develop a strong experience and track record in legally assisting international companies in Belgium, particularly German companies.
Alexis worked in large international law firms in Belgium and Germany (CMS Hasche Sigle) before joining Nelissen Grade as a partner in the department IP, IT and commercial law.
Personal and family law Arbitration Mediation
Joke Decabooter obtained her master law degree at the Catholic University of Leuven in 2011. During her master years, Joke mainly focused on civil law, specialising in family law, family property law and liability law.
After her studies, Joke immediately joined the Bar Association of Leuven, as well as our firm. Based on her interest in private law, she mainly focuses on support, procedures and advice regarding all aspects of family law, as well as settlements and divisions. Nationality issues also fall within her expertise.
In 2015, Joke obtained her notarial profession master at the Free University of Brussels. Since 2019 she is recognized as mediator in family matters.
From the 2019-2020 academic year, Joke will be affiliated with the Catholic University of Leuven as a law assistant at the Institute for Family Law.
Tax law Corporate law Wealth and succession planning
Karen Niesten obtained her Master's degree in Law at the Catholic University of Leuven (KUL) in 2012 and then completed an additional Master's degree in Taxation at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB).
In 2013, she joined the Nelissen Grade office and the Leuven Bar.
Karen also completed a management programme at Solvay Business School of Economics and Management in Brussels and attended courses in Dutch taxation and inheritance law at the University of Maastricht.
Karen focuses on leading and developing the expert groups for tax law and estate planning.
On the one hand Karen focuses on financial and tax advice, including estate planning. On the other hand, she performs dispute resolution and litigation in various tax fields for the administrative authorities and tax courts in Belgium. In cooperation with Frederiek Baudoncq, she also conducts proceedings before the Court of Cassation.
From her tax background, she also supports the corporate law department.
Liability law and damages Travel law Criminal law and fraud Road traffic law