Experience
Dries was admitted to the Brussels bar in 2018 and has since been active for international law firms. He is an experienced litigator and appeared regularly before the Belgian courts and arbitral tribunals in transport related matters. Since May 2025 he works for DWF's London marine team where he advises transport companies, (re)insurers and major policyholders, and assists them in complex and international disputes. Dries practices in English, Dutch and French, and has a passive understanding of German.
Dries is the author on several publications on transport related topics in national and international journals and often speaks at international seminars. He was part of the committee at the Belgian Department of Transportation who drafted the Belgian drone (“UAS”) regulation.
He graduated with a Master's degree from the University of Ghent, where he wrote his thesis on the legal position of unmanned aerial, nautical and ground vehicles (magna cum laude). He also represented the University of Ghent in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court and still chairs as an arbitrator for the yearly moot court.
Memberships
Bar of Brussels (Dutch speaking); CEPANI40
Testimonials
Legal 500 EMEA 2025: "leading associate" for transport
Legal 500 EMEA 2024: recommended lawyer for transport, aviation and insurance
Legal 500 EMEA 2023: "rising star" for transport and for aviation
Legal 500 EMEA 2022: recommended lawyer for aviation
Legal 500 EMEA 2021: recommended lawyer for aviation
Recent Cases
- Represented a leading international insurer in litigation before the Belgian courts concerning liability claims against its insured in the automotive sector. The case involved a large fire in the port of Antwerp, allegedly caused by a battery incident, which impacted a wide range of third-party assets. My role included attending court hearings, on-site inspections with the court-appointed surveyor, counterparties, and technical experts.
- Acted on behalf of a major international insurer to arrest a vessel heading to the Port of Antwerp. Urgent measures were taken to determine whether a shipment on board had been affected by contamination.
- Handled a technical dispute in relation to a defective engine on a marine vessel in the Netherlands, where the repairs were alleged to have caused further damage to the vessel.
- Managed a complex coverage dispute for a major insurer relating to business interruption losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The matter proceeded to arbitration under CEPANI rules, where I was responsible for drafting submissions, coordinating expert appointments, preparing witnesses, and presenting pleadings alongside a KC.
- Represented a prominent importer of fruit and its insurers in in relation to damaged cargo during maritime transport and storage by a subcontractor. This included overseeing subrogated recovery proceedings across multiple jurisdictions and participating in on-site meetings with the court-appointed surveyor.
- Led key aspects in advising a group of U.S.-based investors on the acquisition of a global logistics services provider. My involvement covered the full due diligence process.
- Represented major airlines and their insurer before the Belgian courts and court of appeal in relation to damaged cargo.