Dirk is Global Co-Head of M&A and Established Industries Sector Lead.
He specialises in public and private mergers & acquisitions, private equity and equity capital markets. His work on significant, cross-border transactions for Belgian companies, as well as his defence of them in hostile takeover situations, has earned Dirk a stellar reputation. He also has a wealth of experience in advising international clients and large private equity players.
All the leading legal guides commend Dirk for his outstanding work in his field: “He is brilliant.” (Chambers & Partners, 2023); “Dirk Meeus remains a force to be reckoned with. He loves a good game of strategy – he is excellent in auctions on the sell side and will assist in developing the best strategy/approach.” (Legal 500, 2023).
Dirk is admitted to both the Brussels Bar and New York Bar.
Expertise
Industries
Experience
Representative matters
Recticel on its successful defence strategy against the hostile takeover attempt by Greiner AG, which included the sale of its bedding business to the Portuguese group Aquinos and the sale of its engineered foam business to the American Carpenter group.
Waterland, the shareholders of the Sentia, a cloud consulting company, on the disposal of Sentia Group to Accenture, including the carve-out of certain activities of Sentia, notably its Danish businesses and certain data centers, prior to closing the deal with Accenture.
SFPI-FPIM, Belgium’s Federal Holding and Investment Company, on the sale of EUR2.17bn worth of shares in BNP Paribas.
TVH, The Thermote and Vanhalst families, on the internal restructuring and carve-out of the various business units of the TVH Group and the subsequent auction sale of a 40% stake in TVH Parts to D’Ieteren Group.
Published Work
- Van Gervan. D, Meeus. D, (1992) "Environmental law - Introduction of criminal liability for companies requires amendment of Criminal Code", I.C.C.L.R.,C - 161.
- Van Gerven, Meeus. D, (1992) "Convertible Bonds and Warrants under Belgian Company Law", I.C.C.L.R., 282.
- Hinnekens. P, Meeus. D, (1993) "Herkwalificatie van het inkomen van een bestuurder natuurlijke persoon : attractiebeginsel", A.F.T., 137.
- Meeus. D, "Protecting Minority Shareholders, the Belgian Perspective", Center For International Legal Studies, Salzburg, Austria.
Recognition
“One of the most senior M&A lawyers in Belgium and an important partner at domestic and international level.”
Chambers Europe, Corporate/M&A, 2018
“Dirk Meeus ‘brings gravitas to a meeting'.”
Legal 500, Belgium Corporate/M&A, 2018
Qualifications
Admissions
Stagiair, Belgium, 1991
Admitted to the bar, State of New York, USA, 1994
Admitted as advocaat, Belgium, 1995
Registered Foreign Lawyer, England and Wales, 2021
Academic
LLM, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1991
Law Degree, FNDP Namur and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL), 1990
Heidelberg University – Erasmus - 1989
Languages
Dutch, English, French
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.