Sophie Van Besien
Sophie advises public bodies and private companies on the entire spectrum of national and EU competition law and regulatory compliance.
Sophie advises public bodies and private companies on the entire spectrum of national and EU competition law and regulatory compliance.
Sophie has a wealth of knowledge and experience in EU and national competition law. She advises on complex international and multi-jurisdictional merger control proceedings, as well as investigations into cartel and abuse of dominant positions. She also focuses on state aid and damage claims.
Sophie has built up extensive international experience and industry knowledge in technology, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, postal and telecommunications, metals and mining, consumer products and retail, as well as financial services. With this valuable set of skills and knowhow, she advises clients on the application of EU directives and general regulatory compliance issues. In addition, she represents clients before national competition authorities, the European Commission, national courts, and the European Courts in Luxembourg.
Sophie graduated in law from Ghent University in 2007. She also obtained a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) from Columbia University in 2009. Sophie was admitted to the Brussels bar in 2007 and to the New York bar in 2010.Prior to joining Stibbe in 2019, she was an associate in the Brussels and Washington D.C. offices of a global law firm and a senior lawyer in EU competition and regulatory and, subsequently, director at one of the most prominent Belgian state-owned companies.
