GUY BLOCK

Guy Block is Partner and Head of the Energy Law Department at Lawfort, a Belgian leading law firm specialized in Energy Law. Member of the Brussels Bar since 1988 and of the Paris Bar since 1997, Guy has been practicing in the field of the energy law for now more than 19 years, and acquired accordingly an extensive knowledge and experience in this area.

Guy particularly specialized in the liberalization of the electricity and gas markets both in European and in non-European countries. He notably assisted numerous Governments in the drafting of appropriate regulatory frameworks for the liberalization of their energy markets in line with the first and second European Electricity (96/92/EC and 2003/54/EC) and Gas (98/30/EC and 2003/55/EC) Directives. He also assisted numerous private operators in the drafting of energy supply contracts, in the erection and operation of power plants, in liquefied natural gas, in pipeline matters as well as in setting up of financial arrangements for the development of investments in the energy sector.

Along with the growing concerns for environmental protection and energy supply, Guy Block developed also an extensive experience in energy efficiency, renewable energy and the Kyoto Protocol. With regard to energy efficiency, Guy Block notably assisted a Belgian Government in the transposition into national Law of Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of buildings. He also advised several private operators in energy savings.

Turning to renewable energy, Guy Block notably assisted several Belgian Governments in the transposition into national law of Directive 2001/77/EC for the promotion of renewable energy, as well as of Directive 2003/30/EC for the promotion of the use of biofuels. In the frame of those missions, Guy block advised and assisted in the establishment of green certificates schemes. Guy Block also advised several private entities about the development of emerging renewable energy sources such as biomass and hydrogen and in the construction of power units fuelled by those types of energy.

Concerning the Kyoto Protocol, Guy Block notably assisted a Belgian federal Government in the transposition into national law of Directive 2003/87/EC for the establishment of a European emissions trading scheme and in the drafting of the inherent national allocation plan. He also advised several European and non-European Governments as well as private entities in the use of the Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms.

Besides his experience in advice and assistance to both public and private entities, Guy Block regularly organizes and takes part in international conferences devoted to the energy. Guy Block also published several articles and books in the field of energy law. He has notably just drafted with his Energy Law Department at Lawfort and numerous actors of the energy markets, a Treaty on Gas and Electricity which should be shortly published (Belgian Practical Law Repertory, Bruylant).

Furthermore, Guy acts frequently before the Belgian civil and administrative courts, Arbitration institutions and the European Court of Justice in Luxemburg. He is also acting as a national and international arbitrator before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Institute for International Arbitration (IAI), the Belgian Center for Arbitration and Mediation (CEPANI) and the arbitration service of the Walloon Commission for the Energy (CWaPE).

Guy Block has a Doctorate of Law (PHD), Master of Laws (LL.M.), Master degree in Transport and Certificate of English Law and a Law degree from the University of Lige. Guys Block can speak French, English and Dutch languages.