Bird & Bird adds top-ranked Brussels regulatory team from Fieldfisher

Bird & Bird has boosted its Brussels office with the hire of partners Claudio Mereu and Natalie Konings, EU regulatory specialists who join from Fieldfisher alongside a seven-strong team.

The group, which also includes four lawyers and two paralegals, will add weight to Bird & Bird’s well-regarded regulatory practice. The incoming team is consistently top-ranked for its work on EU environment regulations.

Mereu, who brings more than 25 years’ experience, focuses on EU regulatory law with an emphasis on advisory, advocacy and litigation for chemicals and biocides clients. Konings also advises on biocides and chemical regulation, particularly in the cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices sectors.

Bigger picture

The hires come as Brussels continues to gain importance as a hub for regulatory work. Travers Smith announced plans earlier this year to open in Brussels while winding down in Paris - making Brussels its sole European outpost - while Gibson Dunn last week hired competition partner Adam Dawson from Baker Botts.

For Fieldfisher, the move marks the second major regulatory exit from its Brussels office this year. In January, Squires took a seven-lawyer strong team, led by partners Peter Sellar and Gerard McElwee.

What they said

Anne Federle and Paul Hermant, co-heads of Bird & Bird Belgium, said: "Claudio and Natalie’s arrival will significantly boost our strong EU regulatory expertise, not only in Brussels but internationally.

"We’re seeing increased interactions between chemicals and our other sectors, for example in life sciences, food and automotive, so their combined expertise will be a great complement to the existing expertise of our international teams."