VanessaFoncke

Partner

Brussels + 32.2.645.15.58

Vanessa Foncke represents Belgian and foreign clients in a broad range of contractual and commercial disputes and negotiations in all stages of court and administrative proceedings. She also conducts internal compliance investigations on behalf of clients.

Vanessa has extensive experience in domestic and international commercial arbitration both as counsel and arbitrator. She is a member of the board of administration and of the executive committee of CEPANI, the Belgian institution for arbitration and mediation. In that capacity she also participates in the bi-annual meetings of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group II (Arbitration and Conciliation/Dispute Settlement). She is a member of an arbitration team recognized by Global Arbitration Review as one of the leading international arbitration law firms in the 2020 edition of the GAR 30.

Vanessa has experience across a broad spectrum of industries, including construction, distribution, heavy industry, telecommunications, energy, and real estate. She is ranked in Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, Who's Who Legal: Arbitration, and The Legal 500 EMEA.

Vanessa is a lawyer in the Flemish section of the Brussels Bar since 2004 and became a member of the Bar Council in September 2018 where she currently serves as secretary. She served on the board of the Brussels young bar association (Vlaams Pleitgenootschap) from 2010 to 2013. In 2016 she rendered the inaugural speech at the Brussels Bar for the judicial year 2016-2017. Vanessa is fluent in Dutch, English, and French and is proficient in German.

Experience

  • AIP acquires Aluminium BelgiumJones Day advised American Industrial Partners in the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Aluminium Belgium BV, the parent company which owns Aluminium Duffel, from Ecnavla 8 UK Ltd.
  • American Industrial Partners Capital Fund VII takes control of Aluminium Dunkerque companiesJones Day has advised American Industrial Partners Capital Fund VII, L.P. in connection with the acquisition of the Aluminium Dunkerque companies through the foreclosure on the shares of Liberty France Industries 1 SA, which were pledged to affiliates of AIP under mezzanine financing arrangements previously provided to Aluminium Dunkerque, due to ongoing payment and other defaults.
  • EIC acquires assets of CG Power Systems BelgiumJones Day advised Electrical Industries Company (EIC) in the acquisition of the production activities from the assets of the bankrupt estate of CG Power Systems Belgium.
  • Beerschot arbitrates various decisions taken following termination of football competition in light of COVID-19 crisisJones Day successfully represented KFCO Beerschot-Wilrijk NV, a Belgian football club in multiple arbitration proceedings before the Belgian Arbitration Tribunal for Sports against the Royal Belgian Football Association and the Pro League in relation to decisions taken following the termination of the Belgian football competition in light of the COVID-19 crisis, thereby facilitating its promotion to competition 1A.
  • Hansteen sells Belgian portfolio to Belgian real estate investorJones Day assisted Hansteen Holdings PLC in the sale of its Belgian real estate portfolio to a Belgian real estate investor.
  • Speaking Engagements

    • May 7, 2021
      Panel discussion, bi-annual conference of the Co-Chairs' Circle
    • November 26, 2020
      Presentation on "Selected Procedural Questions," CEPANI annual scientific colloquium on Arbitration and Fraud
    • November 19, 2020
      Panel discussion on "Digital hearings", organized by INCEUBRUX, the European incubator of the Brussels Bar
    • November 14, 2019
      Rendering table speech at the gala event on the occasion of CEPANI’s 50th anniversary
    • April 5, 2019
      Arbitrating the final argument in the 2019 Brussels Pre-moot running up to the annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition
    • March 21, 2019
      CEPANI / NAI panel discussion on "What are the users’ expectations in respect of searching the truth?"
    • November 15, 2018
      CEA40 / DIS40 panel discussion on "The interaction between state courts and arbitral tribunals - A story of love and hate"
    • September 14, 2018
      Young ICCA workshop on cross-examination in international arbitration, moderating panel discussion
    • June 27, 2018
      Arbit - CEA - UNIDROIT conference on "Cross-border commerial disputes", presentation on "Co-existence of stautory rules, mediation rules and best practices"
    • September 14, 2017
      2017 Dutch Arbitration Day on Advocacy and Evidence, panel discussion on "The role and future of advocacy in international arbitration"
    • May 11, 2017
      CEPANI40 / CFA40 conference on "Au secours, un Etat dans mon arbitrage! - Les particularités de l’arbitrage commercial impliquant des personnes de droit public", opening remarks
    • April 4, 2017
      Arbitrating the final argument in the 2017 Brussels Premoot running up to the annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition
    • January 12, 2017
      CEPANI conference on strategy in international arbitration
    • December 9, 2016
      ICC YAF conference on “Arbitrating intra-corporate disputes”, presentation on “Arbitrability of intra-corporate disputes: a comparative approach”
    • November 17, 2016
      Opening statement at the Brussels (Dutch speaking) Bar at the occasion of the new judicial year
    • October 20, 2015
      Cepani40 fall conference on "What counsel in arbitration can do, must do and must not do", closing remarks
    • June 18, 2015
      Studipolis (die Keure) seminar on “Arbitration – The new Arbitration Act in practice”, presentation on evidence in arbitration
    • May 5, 2015
      Moderating CEPANI40 debate evening on “The appointment of arbitrators: parties v arbitral institutions"
    • November 19, 2014
      OAB (Brazilian Bar Association) seminar on Bélgica: Centro de Arbitragem e Negócios no Coração da Europa, Belgium and CEPANI: your preferred arbitration hub and institution
    • November 19, 2014
      The new Belgian arbitration law, the 2013 Cepani Arbitration Rules and Brussels as place for arbitration, CNI (Brazilian Federation of Industry) round table discussion
    • November 18,2014
      The new Belgian arbitration law, the 2013 Cepani Rules of Arbitration and Brussels as place for arbitration, Lecture at Brasilia University
    • April 12, 2014
      CEPANI40 debate on "International Arbitration: a Belgian point of view - Last call for questions on the Cepani Rules…"
    • March 27, 2014
      Recent developments in cross-border dispute resolution, arbitration and collective redress, Colloquium Vlaams Pleitgenootschap
    • March 11, 2014
      CEPANI40 seminar on "Arbitration in practice", opening statement
    • February 20, 2014
      Consumer protection in the new Belgian Economic Code, Jones Day seminar on the new Belgian Economic Code
    • February 20, 2014
      Belgian Economic Code
    • February 17, 2014
      Interim and conservatory measures / emergency arbitration, Seminar on Belgium and Brussels, capital of Europe, the international arbitration hub
    • December 12, 2013
      Evidence in arbitration, Ghent University on the New Belgian Arbitration Law: essential provisions and impact in practice