Ive Van Giel has been a lawyer since 2004 and joined the ranks of Agio Legal (formerly Ligé Advocaten) as an associate in 2021. He is an expert in real estate development, real estate transactions and litigation, with a focus on public and administrative law in the broadest sense.
Ive guides the projects of real estate developers, SMEs, investors, public authorities (including cities and municipalities, provinces and the Flemish Region), non-profit and private individuals from A to Z.
He has over 18 years of experience in (inter)national law firms in guiding the most complex and challenging projects in all sectors: (mixed) urban development projects, infrastructure projects of (upper) local level, residential, subdivisions, SME developments, renewable energy (wind turbines, solar panels, etc.), retail, logistics, leisure, hotels, care, industrial, etc.
Within the Agio team, his specialisation extends to all aspects of public and administrative law: environmental law (including urban development, environment, environmental permits, spatial planning, administrative and criminal enforcement), expropriation law, government liability, government contracts, public-private partnerships, domain law, concessions, public procurement, energy law,…
Ive worked on numerous complex real estate transactions, with an eye for private law, public law (decision-making, competition, public procurement regulations, etc.) and also tax consequences (VAT, etc.).
He also advises municipalities in the context of, among other things, the application of the Local Government Decree to municipalities, autonomous public enterprises, municipal externally privatised agencies, etc.
Ive also advises on PPP agreements and also has experience in conducting proceedings (administrative supervision – Council of State – etc.) in the context of public procurement. He therefore has a particularly broad view of all possible aspects relevant to the Municipality in the context of its policy and its implementation, in terms of the topics covered by the lots in which it participates.
His approach is solution-oriented and pragmatic, with an eye for the diversity and complexity of interests, always trying to avoid litigation. In the event of a dispute, Ive has all the skills to defend your interests before the various administrative authorities, as well as the administrative and judicial courts (including the Council for Permit Disputes, Council of State, Constitutional Court), European, civil, criminal and corporate courts).
Ive serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Construction Law and Real Estate, regularly publishes in academic journals and is frequently invited as a speaker.
He has been appointed by the Minister of the Environment as an expert on space within the Regional Environmental Permitting Committee since 2017 and also holds the certificate of cassation lawyer in criminal cases.
Ive is listed as a “key lawyer” in Legal 500 EMEA 2021 under Tier 3 (Environment), with his clients particularly appreciating his “no nonsense approach” and pointing to his extensive knowledge of environmental regulations, as well as professional approach with prompt and clear communication. His work is also listed as a “work highlight” of his former firm in Chambers Europe 2021 under Band 4 (Real Estate). Legal 500 and Chambers are the world’s most renowned legal directories for lawyers and law firms.
Diplomas and courses
Certificate in cassation lawyer in criminal cases
Licentiate in law, University of Antwerp (magna cum laude)
Candidate in law, University of Antwerp
Work experience
2021: Attorney-at-law at Agio Legal (formerly Ligé Advocaten)
2017 – 2021: Lawyer at PwC Legal
2005 – 2017: Lawyer at DLA Piper
2004 – 2005: Lawyer at Goossens Sebreghts Jacqmain
Languages
Mother tongue: Dutch
Fluent in English and French
Conferences and seminars
Speaker and author at the study day 20 years of TBO on 8 November 2022
Participation “Colloquium on Expropriation in Flanders after the Expropriation Decree” on 22 October 2021
Participation “Webinar: Authorisation of wind turbines in the Flemish Region” on 4 May 2021
Presentation “Tension of Accelerated and Qualitative Area Development & Taxation” on 19 November 2020 (Spryg Real Estate Academy)
Presentations “VAT on property rentals – contractual consequences” (PwC/PwC Legal seminars for public authorities) (2019)
Frequent speaker on administrative law topics for Kluwer, Larcier, Intersentia, Confocus, notarial study circle Kempen and Limburg and Confederatie Bouw, SPRYG Real Estate Academy, among others
Publications
See extensive publication list with more than 30 relevant publications in scientific journals and standard works (https://agio.legal/nl/publicaties)
Additional information
Member of the Bar of the Province of Antwerp since 2004
Chairman of the Municipal Commission for Spatial Planning (GECORO) of the Municipality of Rijkevorsel since 2014 (which also integrates the environmental council)
Planning expert within the Regional Environmental Permit Committee(GOVC) since 2017
