Four Decades for Justice
Lawrence J. Verhelst focuses his practice on representing corporate and sovereign issuers and financial institutions in U.S. and international finance and capital markets transactions, including high‑yield and investment grade debt offerings, equity offerings and liability management. Mr. Verhelst also advises clients in cross‑border mergers and acquisitions, as well as public disclosure, corporate governance and other general corporate matters.
Mr. Verhelst’s corporate clients have included Ahold Delhaize, AngloGold Ashanti, Atalian, AXA, Casino Group, Compagnie de Saint‑Gobain, Drax, Electricité de France, HEMA, INEOS, RELX, Sappi, Shell and Zodiac Aerospace. He has also represented underwriters and initial purchasers, such as Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley, in various offerings. In addition, he has extensive experience advising sovereigns, supranationals and agencies, such as the European Investment Bank, as well as mining companies, such as AngloGold Ashanti.
Mr. Verhelst’s notable capital markets transactions include:
- High-yield debt offerings for Atalian, Casino Group, Drax, INEOS, Labco, Sappi, THOM Group and Verallia
- Investment grade debt offerings for AngloGold Ashanti, the European Investment Bank, JPMorgan Chase and Shell
- Equity offerings for Electricité de France, Iliad and Transition (including Transition’s recent €206.5 million SPAC IPO, the first French SPAC dedicated to the energy transition industry)
Mr. Verhelst’s notable M&A transactions include representing:
- Delhaize in its $29 billion merger of equals with Royal Ahold
- Luxottica in its $49 billion business combination with Essilor
- Zodiac Aerospace in its $8.2 billion sale to Safran
- AngloGold Ashanti in its $370 million acquisition of Corvus Gold
Mr. Verhelst has been recognized for his work in capital markets by The Legal 500 UK.
Mr. Verhelst is an Editorial Manager of European Securities Law, an Oxford University Press publication which serves as a comprehensive practical guide to the regulation and operation of the securities markets in Europe.
Mr. Verhelst comes from Bruges, Belgium. He received an LL.B. summa cum laude from the University of Namur in 2011 (in French), an LL.M. magna cum laude from the University of Leuven in 2013 (in Dutch) and an LL.M., as a Fulbright Scholar and B.A.E.F. Fellow, from Harvard Law School in 2014.
Mr. Verhelst joined Cravath in 2014 and was elected European counsel in 2021. He is fluent in English, French and Dutch.
Mr. Verhelst’s notable capital markets transactions include:
- High-yield debt offerings for Atalian, Casino Group, Drax, INEOS, Labco, Sappi, THOM Group and Verallia
- Investment grade debt offerings for AngloGold Ashanti, the European Investment Bank, JPMorgan Chase and Shell
- Equity offerings for Electricité de France, Iliad and Transition (including Transition’s recent €206.5 million SPAC IPO, the first French SPAC dedicated to the energy transition industry)
Mr. Verhelst’s notable M&A transactions include representing:
- Delhaize in its $29 billion merger of equals with Royal Ahold
- Luxottica in its $49 billion business combination with Essilor
- Zodiac Aerospace in its $8.2 billion sale to Safran
- AngloGold Ashanti in its $370 million acquisition of Corvus Gold
Mr. Verhelst has been recognized for his work in capital markets by The Legal 500 UK.
Mr. Verhelst is an Editorial Manager of European Securities Law, an Oxford University Press publication which serves as a comprehensive practical guide to the regulation and operation of the securities markets in Europe.
Mr. Verhelst comes from Bruges, Belgium. He received an LL.B. summa cum laude from the University of Namur in 2011 (in French), an LL.M. magna cum laude from the University of Leuven in 2013 (in Dutch) and an LL.M., as a Fulbright Scholar and B.A.E.F. Fellow, from Harvard Law School in 2014.
Mr. Verhelst joined Cravath in 2014 and was elected European counsel in 2021. He is fluent in English, French and Dutch.
Education
-
LL.M., 2014, Harvard Law School
-
LL.M., 2013, University of Leuvenmagna cum laude
-
LL.B., 2011, University of Namursumma cum laude
Admitted In
- New York
- England & Wales
Rankings
The Legal 500 UK
- Debt Capital Markets (2023)
Deals & Cases
September 12, 2023
European Investment Bank’s $4 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented the European Investment Bank (“EIB”) in connection with its $4 billion registered notes offering. The purpose of the EIB is to contribute to the balanced and steady development of the internal market among Member States of the European Union. The notes were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on August 29, 2023.
Deals & Cases
May 09, 2023
European Investment Bank’s $4 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented the European Investment Bank (“EIB”) in connection with its $4 billion registered notes offering. The purpose of the EIB is to contribute to the balanced and steady development of the internal market among Member States of the European Union. The notes were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on April 25, 2023.
Deals & Cases
February 01, 2023
European Investment Bank’s $5 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented the European Investment Bank (“EIB”) in connection with its $5 billion registered notes offering. The purpose of the EIB is to contribute to the balanced and steady development of the internal market among Member States of the European Union. The notes were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on January 11, 2023.
Deals & Cases
September 13, 2022
European Investment Bank’s $4 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented the European Investment Bank (“EIB”) in connection with its $4 billion registered notes offering of a Sustainability Awareness Bond (“SAB”). The purpose of the EIB is to contribute to the balanced and steady development of the internal market among Member States of the European Union. The notes were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on August 30, 2022.
Deals & Cases
April 27, 2022
European Investment Bank’s $3 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented the European Investment Bank (“EIB”) in connection with its $3 billion registered notes offering. The purpose of the EIB is to contribute to the balanced and steady development of the internal market among Member States of the European Union. The notes were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on April 13, 2022.
Firm News
January 18, 2022
Cravath Announces New European Counsel
On December 14, 2021, Cravath elected Nicoleta D. Lupea and Lawrence J. Verhelst as European counsel of the Firm.
Lawrence J. Verhelst focuses his practice on representing corporate and sovereign issuers and financial institutions in U.S. and international finance and capital markets transactions, including high‑yield and investment grade debt offerings, equity offerings and liability management. Mr. Verhelst also advises clients in cross‑border mergers and acquisitions, as well as public disclosure, corporate governance and other general corporate matters.
Mr. Verhelst’s corporate clients have included Ahold Delhaize, AngloGold Ashanti, Atalian, AXA, Casino Group, Compagnie de Saint‑Gobain, Drax, Electricité de France, HEMA, INEOS, RELX, Sappi, Shell and Zodiac Aerospace. He has also represented underwriters and initial purchasers, such as Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley, in various offerings. In addition, he has extensive experience advising sovereigns, supranationals and agencies, such as the European Investment Bank, as well as mining companies, such as AngloGold Ashanti.
Mr. Verhelst’s notable capital markets transactions include:
- High-yield debt offerings for Atalian, Casino Group, Drax, INEOS, Labco, Sappi, THOM Group and Verallia
- Investment grade debt offerings for AngloGold Ashanti, the European Investment Bank, JPMorgan Chase and Shell
- Equity offerings for Electricité de France, Iliad and Transition (including Transition’s recent €206.5 million SPAC IPO, the first French SPAC dedicated to the energy transition industry)
Mr. Verhelst’s notable M&A transactions include representing:
- Delhaize in its $29 billion merger of equals with Royal Ahold
- Luxottica in its $49 billion business combination with Essilor
- Zodiac Aerospace in its $8.2 billion sale to Safran
- AngloGold Ashanti in its $370 million acquisition of Corvus Gold
Mr. Verhelst has been recognized for his work in capital markets by The Legal 500 UK.
Mr. Verhelst is an Editorial Manager of European Securities Law, an Oxford University Press publication which serves as a comprehensive practical guide to the regulation and operation of the securities markets in Europe.
Mr. Verhelst comes from Bruges, Belgium. He received an LL.B. summa cum laude from the University of Namur in 2011 (in French), an LL.M. magna cum laude from the University of Leuven in 2013 (in Dutch) and an LL.M., as a Fulbright Scholar and B.A.E.F. Fellow, from Harvard Law School in 2014.
Mr. Verhelst joined Cravath in 2014 and was elected European counsel in 2021. He is fluent in English, French and Dutch.
Mr. Verhelst’s notable capital markets transactions include:
- High-yield debt offerings for Atalian, Casino Group, Drax, INEOS, Labco, Sappi, THOM Group and Verallia
- Investment grade debt offerings for AngloGold Ashanti, the European Investment Bank, JPMorgan Chase and Shell
- Equity offerings for Electricité de France, Iliad and Transition (including Transition’s recent €206.5 million SPAC IPO, the first French SPAC dedicated to the energy transition industry)
Mr. Verhelst’s notable M&A transactions include representing:
- Delhaize in its $29 billion merger of equals with Royal Ahold
- Luxottica in its $49 billion business combination with Essilor
- Zodiac Aerospace in its $8.2 billion sale to Safran
- AngloGold Ashanti in its $370 million acquisition of Corvus Gold
Mr. Verhelst has been recognized for his work in capital markets by The Legal 500 UK.
Mr. Verhelst is an Editorial Manager of European Securities Law, an Oxford University Press publication which serves as a comprehensive practical guide to the regulation and operation of the securities markets in Europe.
Mr. Verhelst comes from Bruges, Belgium. He received an LL.B. summa cum laude from the University of Namur in 2011 (in French), an LL.M. magna cum laude from the University of Leuven in 2013 (in Dutch) and an LL.M., as a Fulbright Scholar and B.A.E.F. Fellow, from Harvard Law School in 2014.
Mr. Verhelst joined Cravath in 2014 and was elected European counsel in 2021. He is fluent in English, French and Dutch.
Education
-
LL.M., 2014, Harvard Law School
-
LL.M., 2013, University of Leuvenmagna cum laude
-
LL.B., 2011, University of Namursumma cum laude
Admitted In
- New York
- England & Wales
Rankings
The Legal 500 UK
- Debt Capital Markets (2023)
Deals & Cases
September 12, 2023
European Investment Bank’s $4 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented the European Investment Bank (“EIB”) in connection with its $4 billion registered notes offering. The purpose of the EIB is to contribute to the balanced and steady development of the internal market among Member States of the European Union. The notes were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on August 29, 2023.
Deals & Cases
May 09, 2023
European Investment Bank’s $4 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented the European Investment Bank (“EIB”) in connection with its $4 billion registered notes offering. The purpose of the EIB is to contribute to the balanced and steady development of the internal market among Member States of the European Union. The notes were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on April 25, 2023.
Deals & Cases
February 01, 2023
European Investment Bank’s $5 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented the European Investment Bank (“EIB”) in connection with its $5 billion registered notes offering. The purpose of the EIB is to contribute to the balanced and steady development of the internal market among Member States of the European Union. The notes were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on January 11, 2023.
Deals & Cases
September 13, 2022
European Investment Bank’s $4 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented the European Investment Bank (“EIB”) in connection with its $4 billion registered notes offering of a Sustainability Awareness Bond (“SAB”). The purpose of the EIB is to contribute to the balanced and steady development of the internal market among Member States of the European Union. The notes were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on August 30, 2022.
Deals & Cases
April 27, 2022
European Investment Bank’s $3 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented the European Investment Bank (“EIB”) in connection with its $3 billion registered notes offering. The purpose of the EIB is to contribute to the balanced and steady development of the internal market among Member States of the European Union. The notes were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The transaction closed on April 13, 2022.
Firm News
January 18, 2022
Cravath Announces New European Counsel
On December 14, 2021, Cravath elected Nicoleta D. Lupea and Lawrence J. Verhelst as European counsel of the Firm.
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