Image of Alexander Pirard

Alexander Pirard

Associate

Email

alexander.pirard@aoshearman.com

Phone

+32 2 780 2525

Offices

Brussels

V-CARD
Alexander has over 5 years’ experience in advising clients on complex environmental, regulatory and public law matters covering transactional, advisory and litigation work.

He assists clients on topics such as compliance with zoning and environmental laws, permitting and administrative enforcement, in a variety of sectors ranging from manufacturing and chemicals, real estate and energy to Belgian niche markets such as games of chance, lotteries and so-called ‘loot boxes’.

Alexander also closely monitors evolutions in Belgian and European regimes on foreign direct investment, and how transactional matters interact with administrative principles on public order and national interests. In addition, Alexander assists clients in public procurement related matters, and has a particular interest in how the principles of transparency and non-discrimination impact transactions involving public entities which fall outside the scope of public procurement, such as share purchase agreements.

Alexander has closely worked with our London office and assisted clients on international regulatory matters, including Brexit-related matters and product compliance in the European Union. 

Experience

Representative matters

  • The port of Zeebrugge, on its merger with the port of Antwerp, in particular for the aspects relating to environmental obligations and regulatory concerns under seaport legislation.
  • JERA on the landmark acquisition of a 100% interest in Parkwind NV, the largest offshore wind platform in Belgium and an offshore wind innovator in Europe, in particular for the aspects relating to permits and concessions.
  • Telenet on its joint venture with Fluvius, the Flemish utility grid operator, for the creation of a network infrastructure company in Flanders to enable the roll out of fibre based high speed internet. Parties involved were public entities, subject to requirements of transparency and equal treatment, with specific regulatory approvals/administrative supervision and administrative jurisdiction.
  • An industrial company on the “Capacity Remuneration Mechanism” (CRM) for the construction of new gas-fired power plants, and on the processes, procedures and appeals related to the required environmental permits. We assisted the client in the issues surrounding the environmental impact assessment (EIA), and the Appropriate Assessment in relation to the possible nitrogen deposition in Natura 2000 areas, and the impact thereof on the environmental permit decision.
  • CVC Capital Partners on the acquisition and (related financing) of Gaming1, the entertainment division of the Ardent group and the leader in the Belgian gaming and betting market, in particular for the aspects relating to regulatory requirements under Belgian gaming law and associated permits.
  • DC Green on the project development aspects of Green Energy Park, including negotiations with the data centre operator, in particular for urban zoning, planning, environmental and public procurement aspects.
  • Ackermans & van Haaren, the Maas family and management on their disposal of the Manuchar group, a leading Antwerp-headquartered distributor of chemical products in emerging markets, to US private equity firm Lone Star Funds.
  • Macquarie Capital in respect of its investment by way of subscription for a majority shareholding in, and advance of shareholder loans to, KevlinX Holding BV, which is developing the ‘KevlinX’ data centre in Brussels and is expected to be a holding company for future data centre developments in Europe, in particular for urban zoning, planning and environmental aspects.
  • Straco, an independent Belgian investment group, on the merger of CMS-Medina, a Belgian Medical Biology Laboratories group, with Biogroup, a French group of Medical Biology Laboratories, bringing together Belgium’s and France’s largest private groups for clinical blood analyses, in particular in relation to urban zoning, planning and environmental matters, including specific regulatory requirements for laboratories.
  • A stakeholder regarding an envisaged EU restriction on the use of lead in ammunition for hunting and outdoor sports shooting. Support related to interpretation of the proposed restriction and its exemptions, the procedural steps for stakeholders to comment on the proposed restriction, and EU principles that must underpin REACH restrictions such as the proportionality principle.
  • A gaming technology and services company as bidder on the Belgian national lottery's procurement of a contract for an online gaming system, online terminals, integration, communication network and multimedia solutions in Belgium.
  • A Waterland portfolio company on the sale of the leading Belgian-headquartered gaming company Napoleon Sports to a Romanian-headquartered gaming group.

Pro bono

  • Volunteering in the network of ToekomstATELIERdelAvenir, a non-profit for the integration and emancipation of Brussels’ socially most vulnerable teenagers and their entourage.

Published Work

  • Contribution with H. Van Peer, “Brexit Impact on Financial Law – Public Law Introduction” in O. Harrison et al, 2019, “Brexit, what does it imply for financial law?”, Brussels: Larcier-Intersentia

Qualifications

Admissions

Brussels Bar, 2018

Academic

BA, Law, KU Leuven University, 2015

MA, Law, KU Leuven University, 2017

MSc, European Politics and Policies, KU Leuven, 2018

Languages

Dutch, English, French
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.