Nick Hallemeesch

Associate, Brussels

Biography

Overview

Nick is an Associate in the BeLux Transactional practice and the Global Mergers & Acquisitions practice.

Nick advises listed and private companies on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions and corporate law, and has a particular expertise in corporate governance and shareholder rights. Nick has authored a monograph on shareholders' agreements, for which he was awarded the international Pierre Coppens Prize in 2020. He regularly publishes articles on company law, corporate governance and commercial contracts in both national and international legal journals. Nick is a lecturer at the Free University of Brussels (ULB), where he teaches international company law and corporate governance in the LL.M. in International Business Law.

Nick completed an LL.M. in corporate governance and finance at Harvard Law School. Prior to joining White & Case, he worked as a doctoral researcher at KU Leuven and as an assistant professor at China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing.

Bars and Courts
Brussels Bar
Education
Doctor of Laws (PhD)
KU Leuven
Master of Laws
Harvard Law School
Master of Law
KU Leuven
Erasmus
University of Montpellier
Languages
Dutch
English
French

Experience

Assisting Battery Ventures with the acquisition through its portfolio company AnalytiChem Holding GmbH of the Belgian based Chem-Lab Group, a Belgian leading group specialized in the production of tailor-made reagents.

Advising Cobepa SA on the sale of its majority stake in logistics company Hillebrand to Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL). Hillebrand is a global service provider specializing in ocean freight forwarding, transport and logistics of products that require special care.

Advising CR-CP Life Science Fund, a Hong Kong-based venture capital firm, on its investment (Series B) in Novadip Biosciences, a clinical stage company developing treatments to regenerate impaired tissue in patients with significant unmet medical needs.

Advising Cobepa SA on the acquisition of Corsearch, global leader in brand establishment and protection, based in New York, from US Audax Private Equity. Cobepa is investing alongside French private equity Astorg Partners. 

Advising global sponsor IK Investment Partners in connection with the acquisition of Innovad, a global supplier of animal health and nutrition solutions, in the context of a competitive auction process.

Advising Cobepa on the reinforcement of its shareholding in International SOS in the context of the acquisition of a minority interest by FFP, an investment company listed on Euronext Paris that is majority-owned by the Peugeot family.

Advising global growth equity investor Summit Partners on the acquisition of a stake in CluePoints SA, a Belgian fast-growing provider of clinical trial management software.

Advising Recticel NV/SA, a Belgian listed company, on the unwinding of the pan-European joint venture Proseat, and the subsequent sale of its participation therein to Sekisui, a Japanese listed company.

Advising E-Merge, a Brussels-based venture capital fund dedicated to internet and technology related businesses, on the sale of its participations in Spreedly Inc., an online payment platform.

Assisting PQ Licensing SA, the owner of the trademark "Le Pain Quotidien", in relation to various corporate matters (governance, MIP, equity increases, exits of shareholder, judicial reorganization).

Advising Air Water Inc., a japanese company, on its investment in Dohmeyer, a Belgian-based manufacturer of cryogenic tunnel freezers.

Advising Active Ownership Capital (AOC) in connection with its significant shareholding in Belgian listed company Agfa Gevaert NV. AOC is an active shareholders fund.

Publications

Belgian Chapter of Lexology Getting The Deal Through : Corporate Governance Guide, September 2022 (co-author)

"Mogen aandeelhoudersovereenkomsten afwijken van de statuten en omgekeerd?", TRV-RPS, 2020, 229-252. 

"Commentaar bij artikel 7:78 WVV" in Artikelsgewijze commentaar met overzicht van rechtspraak en rechtsleer, Mechelen, Kluwer, 2020, 56 p.

Aandeelhoudersovereenkomsten, Antwerpen, Intersentia, 2020, 337 p.

"Self-Dealing by Controlling Shareholders: Improving Minority Protection in light of Article 9c SRD", European Company and Financial Law Review, 2018, 197-235.

"Concurrentie aan de vennootschap door ex-bestuurders en hun vaste vertegenwoordiger", TRV-RPS, 2018, 425-429.

"Loyaliteitsplicht van meerderheidsaandeelhouders. Aard en misbruik van stemrecht herbekeken", Tijdschrift voor Privaatrecht, 2018, 323-391.

Awards and Recognition

2020 Pierre Coppens Triannual Award

2019 Triannual Award of the Association of Antwerp Notaries

2015 B.A.E.F. Scholarship for graduate study in the U.S.A. (merit-based)