Wim Vandenberghe
Wim is an EU regulatory partner in the firm’s Brussels office.
Wim focuses on EU regulatory counseling and public policy advice, providing creative and strategic solutions to clients facing regulatory complexity in Europe. He helps clients to understand better their challenges under EU product and sector regulations so they can maximize commercial opportunities while minimizing unnecessary risk.
His work occurs in the context of business strategy and transformation projects; cross-border M&A deals; commercial negotiations; compliance & risk management; government investigations & enforcement; supply chain liabilities and defective product claims.
Wim’s experience spans multiple industries, in particular life sciences, energy, technology, consumer and industrial goods sectors.
Within the life sciences sector (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, bio-tech, cosmetics and foodstuff), Wim assist clients during all phases of the product lifecycle, including product classification, marketing approvals, labelling and promotion, pricing and reimbursement, interactions with healthcare professionals and organisations, adverse event and other crisis matters.
Within the energy sector, guides to the legal profession have described Wim’s “wealth of experience in the regulation of fossil fuels and renewable energy” and “his expertise in EU energy liberalisation packages and issues relating to climate change”. He represents gas and electricity system operators, investors, power producers and large energy users.
Wim also helps clients to navigate the complex arena of EU product regulation in other sectors such as consumer products, industrial equipment, chemicals and pesticides, steel, semi-conductors, plastics, automotive parts.
This involves handling regulatory issues during different product and supply chain stages: from R&D and product launches (e.g. design and safety standards; chemical and ingredient restrictions; CE marking; government authorizations; labeling, packaging, advertising and marketing) to market access (e.g. compliance checks; transparency obligations; supply chain audits; barriers to trade) and end-of-life (e.g. waste and recycling duties; circular economy). He assists companies to translate all the regulatory requirements into company protocols, compliance guidelines and procedures (incl. GAP analyses) and coordinates with the various regulators and market surveillance authorities (incl. enforcement actions, recalls and withdrawals).
Wim is frequently asked to be a guest speaker and recent engagements include UC Berkeley; Florence School of Regulation; European Policy Centre; College of Europe; KU Leuven; IBC Legal Conferences; FX Conferences; Bloomberg; St. Gallen International Energy Forum; ERA; European Forum for In-House Counsel.