Jean-Pierre De Bandt

Around 1992 Ivo Van Bael and Jean François Bellis left the partnership, thus reducing the name of the law firm.

Since 1996 "The Alliance of European Lawyers" was looking to fit into the evolving market of internationally active law firms.

[5] At the time of the merger with Linklaters, De Bandt, van Hecke & Lagae was the largest firm of solicitors ("avocats-advocaten") in Belgium, with more than 200 full-time lawyers.

After having reached the age cap (for partners of Linklaters) he left the partnership and practices law as an independent lawyer.

He was chairman of two foundations at the University of Namur: Further he was: He is a director of the Poelaert Foundation which aims at promoting a full renovation of the Palace of Justice in Brussels, called Poelaert by the name of its architect, which at the time of its inauguration (1886) was considered as the largest building in the world and is one of the architectural masterpieces of the late 19th century.