Hogan Lovells hires leading Brussels trade trio from Steptoe

Hogan Lovells has hired a leading team of EU trade lawyers in Brussels from US firm Steptoe, boosting its position as one of the market’s top regulatory players.

Renato Antonini, Eva Monard and Byron Maniatis join Hogan Lovells’ Brussels office. Antonini, regarded as one of the top names in international trade, was previously managing partner of Steptoe’s Brussels base and brings more than 25 years’ experience across industries from chemicals to energy and financial services.

Monard has been hailed by Chambers as "probably the best trade lawyer of her generation", while Maniatis, who began his career at Hogan Lovells, leaves Steptoe as a counsel and steps up to partner as part of the move.

Brussels momentum

International firms have been continuing to expand in Brussels - a key hub for regulatory and trade law given its proximity to EU institutions. Bird & Bird added a top-ranked regulatory team from Fieldfisher earlier this month, while Squire Patton Boggs picked up a seven-lawyer group, also from Fieldfisher, earlier this year.

Hogan Lovells has long been known for its regulatory strength, with deep roots in the two key regulatory hubs on each side of the Atlantic, Brussels and Washington DC, through its respective legacy firms, Hogan & Hartson in the US and Lovells in the UK.

The hires take Hogan Lovells’ Brussels partner headcount to 10, alongside 21 other lawyers in the office, according to its website.

What they said

Antonini said: "We are very excited to join a team with such an outstanding reputation and culture, and to work alongside respected colleagues in the firm’s Brussels office and beyond, to help clients navigate the rapidly evolving EU trade and global compliance landscape."

Global trade and investment co-heads Jonathan Stoel and Ajay Kuntamukkala added: "These hires in Brussels reinforce our commitment to clients navigating international trade and investment issues in Europe and globally. Against a complex geopolitical backdrop, our team is uniquely positioned to handle the most challenging cross-border mandates."