Clifford Chance
Patrice Viaene's corporate experience extends across international and domestic M&A, energy, construction and large infrastructure projects as well as assisting entrepreneurs and venture capital investors in the tech sector.
Patrice has a particular expertise in the renewable energy sector and is a leading member of our worldwide Clean Hydrogen Taskforce.
- Advising Elia, one of the five leading transmission system operators in Europe, on the structuring and negotiation of the EPCI construction contract for the world's first artificial renewable energy island.
- Advising Kingspan, an Ireland based global leader in advanced insulation and building envelope solutions, on numerous transactions, including most recently on its acquisition of international French headquartered group Ondura Group and Danish manufacturer Troldtekt, as well as the acquisition of Belgian based roofing company Derbigum.
- Advising EuroAsia in connection with the development and construction of the flagship EuroAsia Interconnector project. This is a Project of Common Interest under the rules of the EU which will connect the electricity markets of Greece, Crete, Cyprus and Israel.
- Advising EuroAfrica (based in Cyprus) on the development of a 2,000 MW electricity interconnection between the national electricity grids of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece through 1396 km.
- DESFA, the Greek gas transmission system operator, on its conclusion of a long-term "umbrella" cooperation agreement with NER JSC Skopje for the development, construction and operation of a 123km gas pipeline interconnection project between Greece and North Macedonia.
- Advising ThyssenKrupp on its bid to construct the very first industrial power-to-power gas installation in Belgium (Zeebrugge) converting renewable electricity into green hydrogen through electrolysis.
- Advising Deliverect, a global scale-up that integrates and accelerates online orders for restaurants, on a number of transactions including on its Series A, B,C and D financing, raising a total of USD 240 million and making Deliverect a unicorn, as well as on its recent acquisition of Dubai-based company ChatFood.
- Advising various tech and ESG start-ups and scale-ups, including Resortecs, a scale-up active in sustainable textile recycling, Futureproofed, a climate tech start-up, and AYES, a startup that delivers computer vision-based solutions helping blind and visually impaired people to navigate safely.
News and client work
Contact details
- Clifford Chance, Brussels
- +32 2 533 5925
- Email me
- Follow me on LinkedIn
- Speaks Dutch, French, English
- Practice area M&A corporate
- Sector Consumer goods & retail, Energy & resources, Industrials, Private equity, Real estate, Sovereign wealth, Telecommunications, media & technology
Career and qualifications
- University of Ghent (licentiaat rechten) 2010
- London School of Economics (LL.M) 2011
- Admitted as a lawyer ('advocaat/avocat') in Belgium 2011
- Joined Clifford Chance 2011
- University of Leuven (post-graduate corporate finance) 2014
- Partner since May 2023
Awards and citations
- Pragmatic, efficient and business-oriented team. Special mention to Patrice Viaene, who has developed a perfect understanding of our company’s needs and leverages this on a regular basis to provide a custom-made service to us.’
Legal 500, Commercial, Corporate and M&A Belgium – Next Generation Partner - ‘The team has been always been available and well prepared, providing their advice with confidence. The team has more than once gone beyond its duty to provide us with the necessary comfort and advise us in making the right decisions. Patrice Viaene, is a very charismatic person and a true leader with outstanding legal and commercial knowledge. His business mindset, his efficiency, his competency in negotiations, his confidence in discussions with EU bodies and his ability to provide pragmatic solutions to complex problems are unique.’
Legal 500, Commercial, Corporate and M&A Belgium – Next Generation Partner - 'All individuals within the relevant team have shown outstanding legal capabilities and business acumen, the combination of which has resulted in intelligent and pragmatic advice. Furthermore, the team has been responsive and always prepared to help. Patrice Viaene, beyond his exceptional legal and commercial competences, has shown great leadership, and teamwork, with the coordination of the team being excellent.'
Legal 500, Commercial, Corporate and M&A Belgium – Next Generation Partner - 'Patrice Viaene knows what matters and what doesn’t for us. He is very effective at getting good resolutions and we always get positive feedback about him.'
Chambers Europe 2024, Corporate/M&A – Belgium, Up and Coming - 'Patrice's strong points are his excellent responsiveness and availability, strong commercial awareness and ability to tailor his advice to the client's business needs.'
Chambers Europe 2024, Energy – Belgium, Up and Coming - Rising Star
‘Very commercially focused team with an ability to break down the complex to the simple. The team I would liaise with most are Patrice Viaene and Audrey De Meyer. Both are exceptional calibre lawyers who always bring a solution driven mindset to any deal.’
‘Patrice Viaene – brilliant negotiating skills and always available. Patrice has the uncanny ability to motivate all stakeholders in a transaction to finding a solution.'
'Patrice Viaene is without doubt the most exceptional associate I have ever worked with.'
The Legal 500 2022 EMEA, Corporate/M&A
- Associates to watch
'Patrice Viaene is 'very driven and accessible,' according to clients, who highlight that 'in the middle of heated moments he is always ready and stays calm.' 'He offers substantial experience advising clients from the construction, technology and utilities operations industries.'
Chambers EMEA 2022, Corporate/M&A
- Associates to watch
Patrice Viaene enters the rankings this year on the back of impressive activity advising Belgian energy companies on construction mandates involving power plants and infrastructure projects. He also assists clients with negotiating joint venture agreements. One client enthuses that 'Patrice Viaene is a very intelligent person, with excellent communication and drive towards his team and clients,' and adds: 'He's very strong in breaking down complex problems into understandable, more digestible solutions.'
Chambers EMEA 2022, Energy
- ‘The individuals I worked with quickly became part of the team and were sincerely interested about the project, going the extra mile for its success. I wish to particularly mention Patrice Viaene who supported us in so many ways, and to highlight his business mindset and his ability to conduct balanced negotiations.’
The Legal 500 EMEA 2022, Energy - Key Lawyer
The Legal 500 EMEA 2022, Energy - Rising Star
IFLR1000 2021, Project Development - 'Patrice Viaene, as an up-and-coming talent, stands out for his bright and pragmatic solutions and for speaking a language that is aligned with his clients. Patrice is a truly talented lawyer who awaits a great career – he is a hidden gem.'
'Patrice Viaene clearly understood my business, and had a business mindset and balanced approach in negotiations.'
'I worked closely together with Patrice Viaene on several deals and have to admit that he is a very unique personality. Very rarely I get the opportunity to work with such a bright mind, while at the same time being very solution oriented. He always finds pragmatic solutions to rather complex problems. He has a true business mindset and is very balanced in negotiations, which I value the most.'
Legal 500 2021 - Rising Star
Legal 500 EMEA 2020, Energy - 'Senior associate Patrice Viaene 'stands out for his exceptional communication and interpersonal skills'.
'Patrice Viaene takes the lead within the team and I must say that he’s really business minded and is a ‘get things done’ kind of guy.'
Legal 500 EMEA 2020, Energy