Simmons & Simmons has recruited a senior real estate partner and his team from Linklaters in Brussels, in a hire that means the firm has almost doubled its partner count in the Belgian capital since the start of this year.
Yves Moreau, who served as Linklaters’ global head of real estate between 2011 and 2017 and led its Belgian real estate practice, has joined the firm with a senior associate and three further associates.
Moreau's work has included AG Insurance on the €100m sale of its entire stake in AG RE Office Invest II SA, the owner of the City Center Offices building in Brussels. His practice spans corporate real estate, M&A and joint ventures, financing, construction, leasing and public procurement matters.
Simmons said Moreau's hire added an "established transactional practice in a key European market" and that he would complement its existing corporate, finance and tax capabilities in Brussels.
He is the fourth partner to join the firm in Belgium so far this year, after employment partner Stefan Nerinckx from Fieldfisher, tax partner Laurent Voisot from Deloitte and corporate partner Koen Vanhaerents, who joined from Baker McKenzie to lead the Brussels corporate practice. His hire takes the firm to 10 partners in the city, according to its website.
Eric Blomme, Simmons' Belgium country head, said Moreau’s arrival was “another important step in the growth of our Belgian offering”.
Moreau added that Simmons had “clear ambitions for the growth of its European real estate practice” and that its "strength across corporate, finance and tax provide a compelling proposition for clients".
The firm's roughly 1,000 lawyers grew revenue 12% to £690m in the year ending 30 April 2026 against an 11% increase in profit per equity partner to around £1.25m, driven by its focus on five sectors including asset management and infrastructure and construction.
The firm also grew its European real estate platform last year with a four-partner team hired in Frankfurt from Goodwin Procter ahead of the latter's closure in the city, as well as partner Michaël Lévy in Paris from Hogan Lovells.
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
