VERKEER Archives - STUDIO LEGALE

Lauren Raeymakers obtained her Master of Laws degree with distinction from the University of Antwerp (UA) in June 2022. During her studies, she developed a particular interest in criminal (procedure) law and labour law.

She wrote her master’s thesis on the decriminalisation of abortion.

In September 2022, she took her oath at the Antwerp Bar and joined STUDIO | LEGALE, where she will join the team of STUDIO | PENALE Criminal Lawyers.

Ms. Raeymakers will further immerse herself in criminal (procedure) law during her bar internship.

She speaks and writes Dutch, French and English fluently.

Roxanne SLEECKX

Roxanne Sleeckx obtained her Master of Laws degree at the University of Antwerp in 2020. During her studies, she developed a mature interest in law. During her master years, she followed a major in company law and a minor in international and European law. She also developed a special interest in liability law. In October 2020, she joined the Antwerp Bar and the team of STUDIO | LEGALE Advocaten where she mainly handles cases in the field of civil law and liability law.

She is fluent in Dutch, French and English.

Jolien APPELS

Jolien Appels was awarded a Masters of Law degree cum laude in June 2017 at the University of Antwerp. In the master program she mainly focused on civil and criminal law. While writing her master’s thesis on ‘the future of the irrevocability of the gift’, she immersed herself in family patrimonial law. As part of the Erasmus project she studied for one semester at the University of Uppsala in Sweden, allowing her to develop her skills in legal English. In October 2017 she was sworn in as a lawyer at the Bar of Mechelen. A year later she made the switch to the Antwerp Bar to join the STUDIO | LEGALE team, where she mainly operates in civil and corporate law.

She fluently speaks and writes Dutch, English and French.

Koen DE BACKER

Koen De Backer was awarded a Masters of Law degree cum laude in 2017 at the University of Antwerp (UA). He combined this study with his job as secretary at the public prosecutor’s office of the Antwerp Court of Appeal, where he worked as head of the administrative support unit of Attorney-General of Antwerp. His 11 years of experience at the Public Prosecutor’s Office, where he closely followed developments in criminal procedural law and criminal law on a daily basis, enabled him to develop special expertise in this area. On 1 September 2017, he switched from the public prosecutor’s office to the legal profession as a lawyer, where he mainly handles cases in criminal and procedural law. He obtained the certificate for Criminal Cassation proceedings and he completed the Supralat training on providing assistance during police detention and in police interrogations. Furthermore, he is the author of various academic publications.

He fluently speaks and writes Dutch, French and English.

Jens VANHELLEMONT

Jens Vanhellemont started his Law Studies at the University of Antwerp (UA) after completing his bachelor’s Degree in Business Management (2013). During his master’s years he specialised in Criminal Law, the Law of Criminal Procedure and Company Law. While writing his master thesis (“The right to have witnesses questioned in the light of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights”), he studied Criminal Law and the Law of Criminal Procedure more closely. Jens Vanhellemont was awarded a Master of Laws degree cum laude by the University of Antwerp (UA) in July 2017. In September 2017, he was sworn in as a lawyer at the Bar of Antwerp and commenced his internship with STUDIO | LEGALE, where he mainly deals with Criminal Law and the Law of Criminal Procedure cases. He obtained the certificate for Criminal Cassation proceedings and he completed the Supralat training on providing assistance during police detention and in police interrogations.

He fluently speaks and writes Dutch, French and English.

Lieselotte VRINTS

Lieselotte Vrints was awarded a Master of Laws degree cum laude by the University of Antwerp in 2015. She studied for one semester at the Université Capitole I in Toulouse (France) in the context of the Erasmus exchange program. In 2015 she was sworn in as a lawyer at the Bar of Antwerp and joined the STUDIO | LEGALE team. She has a broad interest in law in general, in particular Civil Law and Liability Law. She finished the course of liquidator in bankruptcy successfully and has obtained the certificate for Criminal Cassation proceedings. She is a certified mediator in civil and commercial matters and followed a course in social affairs at the renowned bMediation (BBLC vzx and BCI) in 2020, which she successfully completed.

She fluently speaks and writes Dutch, French and English.

Joost PEETERS

Joost Peeters, co-founder and partner of STUDIO | LEGALE started his Law Studies at the University of Antwerp (UA) and graduated via the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) at the University of Rome (ROMA LUISS) prior to joining the Bar of Antwerp in 2001. He is specialised in Insurance Law, Company Law (legal assistance in various takeovers and share transfers), Business Law, (Commercial) Tenancy Law, Contract Law, and Traffic Law. He is liquidator/curator in bankruptcy proceedings and he assist companies that are in difficulties (mainly in cases governed by the Belgian Continuity of Enterprises Act). He was sworn in as Deputy Justice of the Peace in Antwerp and is also a Legal Assessor for the Belgian Architects’ Association and Administrator. Joost PEETERS is holder of the Special Training Certificate for Belgian Criminal Cassation Proceedings. He recently obtained the DPO (Data Protection Officer) Degree concerning the new GDPR at the esteemed DPI (Data Protection Institute). He is a certified collaborative negotiator and certified mediator in civil and commercial matters. He also followed a course in mediation in social affairs in 2020.

He speaks and writes Dutch, French and English fluently and can get by in Italian and German.

Christian CLEMENT

Christian Clement completed his Law studies cum laude at the Universities of Antwerp (UFSIA and UIA). He studied for six months at the German Universität Trier in the context of an Erasmus project. He acquired his love for the oral plea in general and in criminal cases in particular during his internship. He also completed a Company Law post-graduate programme. In 2003 Christian CLEMENT continued his practice independently, which consisted for the most part of criminal proceedings. He already defended numerous cases for the Court of “Assisen” for offenders as well as for victims and their families. He is co-founder and associate of STUDIO | LEGALE. He is a member of the Criminal Law Committee as well as the Legal Aid Mixed Commission of the Flemish Bar Council. He is also a member of the Criminal Law Committee of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE). Christian CLEMENT is holder of the Special Training Certificate for Belgian Criminal Cassation Proceedings. He is a Supralat-tutor for providing assistance during police custody and police interrogations.

He fluently speaks and writes Dutch, French, English.