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Thomas De Meese

Partner
Partner
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Areas of Focus

Overview

Thomas De Meese serves as co-managing partner of the firm's Brussels office and has been a member of the Brussels bar since 1993. He focuses on competition and unfair competition, telecommunications, media and technology law, and gambling regulatory matters. Thomas' experience includes day-to-day counselling on distribution issues, technology licensing, patent pools, joint bidding, standard setting, dominance issues, and the activities of trade associations. He has developed and implemented pan-European antitrust compliance and training programs for multinational companies. He represents parties in competition investigations and merger proceedings with both the Belgian Competition Authority and the EC Commission. Thomas regularly litigates competition cases before national courts.

Thomas assists clients on e-commerce and Internet-related issues such as ISP-liability, data protection, online services, distance selling, and e-advertisement. He regularly drafts and negotiates complex telecommunication agreements such as MVNO deals or interconnection agreements. He is involved in complex litigation in the media and telecommunications sector. He regularly represents one of the main players in the field of internet, telephony, and interactive digital TV in Flanders in contentious and non-contentious matters.

Thomas has inter alia successfully represented gambling software vendors and online and land-based bookmakers in litigation against government-owned incumbent operators.

He frequently speaks at professional and academic conferences and has published several articles on e-commerce, commercial communications, and competition law.

Career & Education

    • College of Europe (Bruges), M.A., magna cum laude, advanced european studies
    • University of Antwerp, J.D., magna cum laude
    • College of Europe (Bruges), M.A., magna cum laude, advanced european studies
    • University of Antwerp, J.D., magna cum laude

    • Belgium
    • European Court
    • Belgium
    • European Court

  • Professional Activities and Memberships

    • IBA

    Professional Activities and Memberships

    • IBA

    • Dutch
    • English
    • French
    • German
    • Dutch
    • English
    • French
    • German
His ability to provide strong, to-the-point advice and his in-depth knowledge of our business have been instrumental in guiding us through complex legal matters.

— Chambers Europe, 2025

Thomas's Insights

Firm News | 4 min read | 04.14.25

Crowell Earns Top Rankings in Legal 500 EMEA 2025

The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) 2025 edition has recognized 18 practice areas and nine lawyers in Crowell & Moring’s Brussels and Doha offices. In addition, Crowell is one of only two firms in Qatar to receive Legal 500’s “Client Satisfaction” distinction.

View All Insights

Representative Matters

  • Represented a broadcaster in appeals against a decision by the BCA to clear the acquisition of another broadcaster by a competitor.
  • Represented a cable operator in the EU merger proceedings regarding the creation of a video streaming platform.
  • Represented a retailer in several investigations by national competition authorities.
  • Represented a manufacturer as a defendant in an infringement investigation by the European Commission.
  • Represented complainants in follow-on damages litigation.
  • Represented a cable operator in various appeals against decisions of the telecommunications regulator.
  • Represented online and land-based bookmakers in litigation against government-owned incumbent operators.

Thomas's Insights

Firm News | 4 min read | 04.14.25

Crowell Earns Top Rankings in Legal 500 EMEA 2025

The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) 2025 edition has recognized 18 practice areas and nine lawyers in Crowell & Moring’s Brussels and Doha offices. In addition, Crowell is one of only two firms in Qatar to receive Legal 500’s “Client Satisfaction” distinction.

View All Insights

Recognition

  • Ranked in Chambers Europe for Competition law (Band 1) and for his TMT industry knowledge.
    • “His ability to provide strong, to-the-point advice and his in-depth knowledge of our business have been instrumental in guiding us through complex legal matters.” (2025)
    • “With Thomas De Meese, I will get good advice and it will not take weeks to come back to me.” (2024)
    • “He is very practical and understands our business really well.” (2022)
    • “straight to the point and giving very practical answers” (2021)
    • “an important figure in the firm's domestic competition law practice” (2020)
    • “combines ‘both legal and business knowledge with an excellent feeling for the sensitivities of our specific business’” (2019)
    • “knows telecoms work inside out,” “helpful and responsive,” “an ‘outstanding’ lawyer, who offers ‘excellent support’” (2018)
    • “a well-known practitioner with extensive experience in the media and telecoms sectors,” “singled out for his work in the areas of competition, technology and gambling legislation” (2017)
    • “sources note his ‘responsiveness and hands-on, customer-friendly approach’” (2016)
    • “has ‘a very open approach, which means we feel comfortable approaching him’,” and is regarded as “a very intelligent and well-prepared lawyer” (2012)
  • Member of the Legal 500 EMEA Hall of Fame for IT and Telecoms and Industry Focus: Media and Entertainment and Leading Partner for Competition: Belgian Law.
    • “All round business savvy partner” (2025)
    • “Thomas De Meese is one of the best competition lawyers I have worked with in telecoms and media.” (2024)
    • “Thomas De Meese thinks with you as an in-house counsel and gives practical guidance, indicates the risks associated with potential decisions, but also gives alternatives and evaluates the likelihood of the associated risks.” (2021)
    • “has vast expertise in BCA merger reviews, as well as investigations into abuses of dominance and cartels” (2020)
    • “highly regarded for his expertise in competition law” (2019)
    • “highly regarded” (2018)
    • “put[s] things in perspective,” “an expert in TMT-related privacy issues” (2017)
    • “excellent preparation, response time and accurate advice” (2014)
    • “extensive knowledge,” “a hands-on, no-nonsense approach and a drive for excellence” (2013)
  • Awarded in 2015 by Global Law Experts as “TMT Sector Competition Lawyer of the Year” in Belgium
  • Recognized in 2017 by Leaders League as a Leading Partner in ICT.
  • Recognized by Who’s Who Legal for TMT.

Thomas's Insights

Firm News | 4 min read | 04.14.25

Crowell Earns Top Rankings in Legal 500 EMEA 2025

The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) 2025 edition has recognized 18 practice areas and nine lawyers in Crowell & Moring’s Brussels and Doha offices. In addition, Crowell is one of only two firms in Qatar to receive Legal 500’s “Client Satisfaction” distinction.

View All Insights

Insights

Firm News | 4 min read | 04.14.25

Crowell Earns Top Rankings in Legal 500 EMEA 2025

Firm News | 2 min read | 03.25.25

Chambers Ranks Crowell & Moring Lawyers and Practices in 2025 Europe Guide

Publication | 02.19.25

Applying Antitrust and Competition Law in the Digital Space

Firm News | 3 min read | 12.20.24

Global Competition Review Recognizes Crowell & Moring’s Antitrust & Competition Group in 2025 “GCR 100”

View All Insights