Stibbe Brussels proudly announces the promotions of Guan Schaiko (Environment & Planning) and Pieter Nobels (Banking & Finance) to partner. The new appointments will take effect on 1 July 2022.
Guan Schaiko (37) started his career at Stibbe in 2011 in our Environment & Planning practice. He has considerable expertise in planning and environmental law, particularly in EU regulatory (waste, chemicals, and impact assessments), nuclear law, and nature conservation. He assists public authorities, property developers, and the industry with the regulatory aspects of project development, land use initiatives, and nature conservation. In addition, he has a specific expertise and interest in ESG and the protection of fundamental rights. Guan is the author of several publications in the field of planning and environmental law as well as human rights. He is also a core member of the editorial staff of the law journal Milieu- en Energierecht (MER), which focuses on environmental and energy law.
Pieter Nobels (34) joined Stibbe in 2011 and has since then grown into a recognised specialist in the field of complex banking and finance matters. He advises companies, financial institutions, and public authorities on a wide range of Belgian and international financial transactions. Pieter is a debt capital markets expert who specialises in corporate and government bonds, structured finance, securitisations, and derivatives. Major Belgian companies often call upon him to assist them with the issuance and offering of bonds, including green bonds. Pieter also advises clients on financial regulation matters, such as M&A transactions in the financial sector. He is regularly involved in mergers and acquisitions of credit institutions, insurance companies, and payment services providers.
The partner appointments of Guan and Pieter follow the recent promotions to counsel of Stefanie François and Bastiaan Schelstraete in the Environment & Planning practice and Pieter-Jan Leemen in the Banking & Finance practice.
Wouter Ghijsels, Managing Partner of Stibbe Brussels: “We are proud to appoint Guan and Pieter as partners and to give them the opportunity to continue to grow within our firm. Together with the recent counsel promotions in these practice groups and the strong teams of young, talented lawyers in two practice areas where complex laws and regulations are a day-to-day reality, we can help clients future-proof their business. With topics such as climate change and sustainability becoming increasingly important, Guan’s promotion will further reinforce our Environment & Planning practice in view of future challenges and the transition to a sustainable economy. Pieter’s specialised expertise in structured finance and financial regulation is very relevant in an increasingly complex world and will undoubtedly further strengthen our recognised Banking & Finance practice."
