Pierre-M. Louis
FR
EN
ES
NL
Pierre-M. Louis specializes in network industries regulations – that is the electricity, railways and natural gas sectors, three industries where the network operator has been unbundled pursuant to EU legislation.
Pierre's fields of specialization
The simultaneous coverage of these three industries allows for unique cross-fertilization and experience. Pierre has been involved in virtually all fields of the new organization of these sectors, such as:
Dealing with legacy situations
The practical aspects of directive implementation and unbundling (corporate governance, sharing of previously common assets, including IT)
Relationships with access-seekers
Relationships with the regulators, including appeals of decisions before the specialized chamber of the Brussels Court of Appeal and the State Council
Tariffs, including tariff litigation
Relationships with EU-level trade organizations
Power exchanges
Preparing drafts of statutes and decrees implementing EU directives
Pierre has worked in assignments involving all aspects of public support to the renewable energy sources sector : windmills (including off-shore parks) and photovoltaic panels.
Pierre also has a wide Belgian and EU competition law expertise (including State Aid); he has represented and advised corporate clients in the television broadcasting (both free-to-air and pay-TV), satellite and pharmaceutical sectors, among others.
As a former clerk to the President of the Court of Justice of the EU, Pierre has an excellent knowledge of general EU law, with an emphasis on directives implementation and free movement.
Publications
“A question of unbundling”, Competition Law Insight, 23 septembre 2008, p. 13
“Third Energy Package Proposed by the European Commission – A Few Selected Issues”, Bloomberg European Law Journal, novembre 2007, p. 23 (with Anna Urazinska)
“Transmission System Operator: A Few Key Issues Arising From the Full Ownership Unbundling Proposed by the European Commission”, Bloomberg European Business Law Journal, Q3 2007, Vol. 1, Issue 3, p. 546
“Le nouveau règlement d’exemption par catégorie des accords de transfert de technologie : une modernisation et une simplification”, Cahiers de Droit européen, 2004, p. 377
‘La communication des informations financières selon les directives européennes’, Légicom, n° 19 – 1999/3, p. 27 (with Pierre van Ommeslaghe)
‘La modification du règlement (CEE) n° 4064/89 relatif au contrôle des opérations de concentration entre entreprises : une double extension du principe du guichet unique’, ‘La Bourse noir sur blanc’, 1998, n° 21, p. 25
‘Le concept de passeport européen dans la directive 93/22/CEE du Conseil, du 10 mai 1993, concernant les services d’investissement dans le domaine des valeurs mobilières’ in ‘La réforme des marchés et des intermédiaires financiers’, Bruxelles, 1997, p. 39
semper discens
Experience
1987
J.D. (‘Licence en droit’), Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1987, magna cum laude
1987
1988
LL.M in economic law (‘Licence spéciale en droit économique’), Université Libre de Bruxelles, magna cum laude
1988
1991
Pierre was admitted to the Brussels Bar
1991
1997
He was a tutor with the Institut d’études européennes of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Institute for European Studies of the Brussels Free University) from 1997 to 2022
1997
Pierre has been placed in Band 2 on the list of “Ranked Lawyers” in the chapter Energy-Belgium of the Chambers and Partners 2016 Europe Guide, with the following comment : “Pierre (…) is considered a ‘pioneer in Belgian energy law’ by his peers. He is an expert in network industries”.
Pierre has been listed as a ranked lawyer by Chambers and Partners 2015, in the chapter “Belgium – Energy”, with the following comment : “Sources praise Pierre (…) for his regulatory expertise in the electricity and natural gas sectors. One source stated : ‘In terms of regulatory he knows the industry inside out'”.