Geoffroy Galéa

My practice covers all aspects of business taxation, including income taxation, transfer pricing, VAT, and registration duties. My clients are businesses (and their executives) at all stages of their life cycle (from start-ups to multinational groups). I have a particular focus on businesses from the technology, real estate, and life sciences sectors. My experience in these sectors has allowed me to work on landmark real estate projects, so called “mega-deals” and the issuance of flagship pharmaceutical patented products.

I have developed expertise in both contentious and non-contentious matters.

My non-contentious expertise is particularly focused on advisory work related to M&A and business restructurings. This has included, for example, cross-border restructuring of a 100+ entities group; cross-border Business-Transfer Pricing Model Optimization involving several jurisdictions. In addition, I assist businesses’ executives in structuring their activities, assets, and investments. Through practical, creative, and pragmatic advice, I promote optimal tax risk management combined with (tax) value creation.

My contentious expertise is wide-ranging, from representing clients before the Ruling Commission or during a tax audit to defend high-profile cases before the highest Belgian or European Courts. This has included, for example, rulings on Innovation-related incentives, restructurings or transfer pricing; cross-border withholding tax issues; audits and litigations focused on innovation tax incentives; or various landmark cases in relation with property taxes.

Over time, I have developed particular experience in tax policy matters. This experience ranges from representing clients in strategic discussions with local and international Governmental Authorities or with the Press to proposing, drafting, or amending a law.

I am ranked in Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, International Tax Review and Leaders League. 

I am also a Professor (corporate taxation) at the ICHEC Brussels Management School, Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Fiscales and Assistant at the University of Liège. I am a permanent associate of Kluwer Wolters (i.e. Actualités Fiscales) and a Lecturer for the Ordre des Experts-Comptables et Comptables Brevetés de Belgique (OECCBB). I have authored numerous articles on Belgian and international tax topics. I frequently lecture and give speeches on Belgian and international tax subjects.

I hold a Master’s degree in law from the University of Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL), a Master’s degree in political sciences from the same university and post Master’s degree in tax from the Solvay Brussels School.

Before joining Fieldfisher, I gained extensive experience in various tax aspects in two top tier law firms.

I am a member of the French Order of the Brussels Bar and of the International Fiscal Association’s Belgian branch (IFA).

I am a native French speaker, and I speak Dutch and English.