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Dirk Van Liedekerke
Partner

Dirk Van Liedekerke

Languages
  • Dutch
  • French
  • English

Dirk Van Liedekerke is a lawyer specialised in European and national competition law as well as various other regulatory areas.

In his capacity as a competition lawyer, Dirk advises companies in all sectors, with a particular focus on digital fields (telecommunications, media, online platforms,…) and on the impact of European and national competition law has on their activities.

He assists companies in the context of investigations conducted by the European and national competition authorities, in dealing with complaints regarding breaches of competition law, in order to ensure their compliance. Dirk assists his clients in the preparation of responses to requests for information and statements of grievance. He also deals with requests for interim measures and intervenes in appeals against decisions of the competent authorities.

His practice also includes the preparation and submission of notifications to the European Commission and the Belgian Competition Authority in relation to mergers control.

Dirk has extensive experience in handling preliminary ruling proceedings in national and broader European law, both before the Court of Cassation and the Constitutional Court, as well as before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

He also has extensive experience in civil proceedings for damages and injunctive relief.

With twenty-five years of experience in these fields, he advises telecommunications operators on all aspects of the regulatory framework for electronic communications and intervenes in disputes between operators and regulatory authorities.

Before joining CMS in 2017, Dirk was a partner at Olswang.

He began his professional career at Coudert Brothers, following a position as assistant at the College of Europe in Bruges.

Dirk is highly recommended by the Global Competition Review, Chambers 2025 and Legal500 EMEA 2025.

He devotes himself primarily to his profession as a lawyer, taking care to do his utmost to resolve his clients' cases.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    "Van Liedekerke is an ’exceptional lawyer'"
    Legal 500, 2025
  • Quote
    "Dirk Van Liedekerke is a pragmatic competition lawyer with tons of experience."
    Domestic Competition law client, Chambers Europe, 2024
  • Quote
    "He [Dirk Van Liedekerke] is very good technically."
    Domestic Competition law client, Chambers Europe, 2024
  • Quote
    "He [Dirk Van Liedekerke] did a really good job in drawing attention to certain points."
    Domestic Competition law client, Chambers Europe, 2024
  • Quote
    "Dirk Van Liedekerke is a truly exceptional lawyer, combining encyclopaedic knowledge of the EU at large, great responsiveness and deep understanding of his client's business."
    Feedback from a client - Legal 500, 2024
  • Quote
    "Dirk Van Liedekerke is simply impressive. He is the best EU advocate I have worked with, on litigation and regulatory matters. What distinguishes him from his peers is the combination of second to none knowledge of EU law, strategic thinking and sound judgement as well as his ability to communicate with his clients in light of their needs and priorities. Besides this, he is the most reactive partner I work with."
    Feedback from a client - Legal 500, 2024
  • Quote
    "Dirk Van Liedekerke is a stellar EU law and litigation counsel. He works with two excellent associates: Matthieu Van Lierde and Alexis Laes, who are both strong lawyers with great client management skills."
    Feedback from a client, Legal 500, 2024
  • Quote
    "We highly value his knowledge of matters in EU law. His responsiveness and availability are unique."
    Telecommunications client - Chambers Europe, 2024
  • Quote
    "He has the talent to distil complex matters into simple, understandable and actionable legal advice. You feel in good hands with him."
    Telecommunications client - Chambers Europe, 2023

Relevant experience

  • Competition Law Investigations (cartels, abuse of dominance, etc.) : Dirk assists undertakings and associations of undertakings throughout their dealings with EU and national competition agencies, including the handling of complaints, dawn raids, responding to requests for information and statement of objections, interim measures, and appeals against enforcement decisions.
  • Merger Control : preparing and filing EU and national merger notifications.
  • Civil enforcement actions : Dirk has a wide experience with claims for damages and cease and desist actions in national courts related to competition law infringements.
  • Electronic Communications: vast experience in counselling undertakings on compliance with the sector specific regulatory framework and in handling public and private litigation (including appeals against decisions of the sector regulators).
  • Questions for preliminary ruling: Dirk has extensive experience in handling all aspects of questions for preliminary ruling both at national (Constitutional Court and ‘Cour de cassation’) and at European level (European Court of Justice).

Publications

  • Various annual reviews of EU Competition Law published in Common Market Law Review

Memberships & Roles

  • International Bar Association
  • Member of the Belgian Association of Competition Lawyers
  • Member of the Scientific Committee of the publication “Revue du droit des industries de réseau”

 

Education

  • 1994 - Bar admission 
  • 1990 - College of Europe, Bruges - Belgium (Advanced European Legal Studies)
  • 1989 - University of Ghent, UGent - Belgium (Master of Law)
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