Hogan Lovells has bulked out its Brussels trade practice with a trio of hires from Steptoe LLP, bringing over the firm’s EU trade practice head Renato Antonini, as well as Eva Monard and Byron Maniatis (all pictured).
The trio arrived at Steptoe in October 2021 from Jones Day, where Antonini was head of the firm’s Brussels international trade practice.
A Legal 500 leading partner in the Belgium customs and trade ranking and former head of Steptoe’s Brussels office, Antonini brings over 25 years of experience to Hogan Lovells, advising corporates, sovereigns, and associations on trade remedies, sanctions, WTO disputes, and customs law.
Also listed as a next-generation partner in the Legal 500, Monard brings expertise advising on EU and WTO trade matters, sanctions, customs, and sustainability-driven trade barriers.
Previously an of counsel at Steptoe, Maniatis began his career at Hogan Lovells in 2012 before moving firms, now focusing on compliance, international agreements, and dispute settlement.
Commenting on the hires, Jonathan Stoel and Ajay Kuntamukkala, co-practice area leaders of Hogan Lovells’ global trade and investment practice, said: ‘These hires in Brussels reinforce our commitment to clients navigating international trade and investment issues in Europe and globally. Against a complex geopolitical backdrop, our team is uniquely positioned to handle the most challenging cross-border mandates.’
Antonini added: ‘Hogan Lovells offers a global platform with the strength and depth to handle the most complex trade and regulatory mandates that corporates face in the current geopolitical context. We are very excited to join a team with such an outstanding reputation and culture, and to work alongside respected colleagues in the firm’s Brussels office and beyond, to help clients navigate the rapidly evolving EU trade and global compliance landscape.’
The hires bring Hogan Lovells’ Brussels trade practice to a total of four partners, and follows other hires in Europe this year, including a five-partner Milan corporate finance team from White & Case in January.
A Steptoe spokesperson said: ‘We are recognized as one of the world’s top-tier international trade practices, which is what drew them to us a few years ago. They are good lawyers who did good work for our clients while they were with us. We continue to attract other tremendous talent to the group, with significant growth this year, and we expect to have another record breaking year as the international trade environment continues to challenge and create opportunities for our clients.
