Jef Vermassen Sells Law Firm at 79, Continues Criminal Work
Jef Vermassen, one of Belgium’s most prominent criminal lawyers, has sold his law firm in Lede (East Flanders) to Fairway Partners in Law & Mediation, a Vilvoorde-based practice, at the age of 79. The transaction, announced on June 9, 2026, marks a strategic shift for the veteran lawyer — but not a retirement. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, Vermassen will continue to focus exclusively on heavy criminal cases and assize court proceedings.
A Legendary Career
Vermassen began his legal career in the 1970s after earning a doctorate in law, a licentiate in notarial law, and a licentiate in criminological sciences from KU Leuven. Over more than five decades, he has pleaded in 116 assize court cases, securing 16 acquittals — a remarkable record in Belgian criminal law.
His name became synonymous with some of the country’s most high-profile trials. He defended Freddy Horion, a six-time murderer, and represented victims’ families in cases against Ronald Janssen and Kim De Gelder, the perpetrator of the Dendermonde nursery attack. He also served as counsel in the parachute murder case involving Els Clottemans and represented survivors of the Bende van Nijvel attacks, as detailed on his Fairway profile.
Currently, Vermassen is representing the family of Erik Boone, a Ghent OCMW employee killed during a home visit in 2025.
The Acquisition
Fairway Partners in Law & Mediation, a multidisciplinary firm based in Vilvoorde (Flemish Brabant), will absorb Vermassen’s Lede practice. The firm’s staff will grow from 28 to 35 employees as a result. The Lede office will remain open, giving Fairway a physical presence in East Flanders for the first time.
According to the Fairway website, the merger brings together “two complementary law firms, from Vilvoorde and Lede,” united by a shared vision that “clients deserve the very best that legal practice has to offer.” The firm confirmed that Vermassen “remains active within FAIRWAY, passing on his wealth of expertise with full conviction to the next generations.”
Why Now?
The sale reflects a broader trend of scaling up and specialization in the Belgian legal sector. As reported by Denderjournaal, increasing legal complexity — driven by new legislation such as the new criminal code — makes it difficult for solo practitioners and generalist firms to keep pace with all developments. Law firms are increasingly merging to pool expertise and offer specialized services.
For Vermassen, the acquisition means relief from the operational and administrative burdens of running his own office. “For Jef Vermassen, the acquisition mainly means he is relieved of the operational and administrative responsibilities that come with running his own office,” Denderjournaal noted. This allows him to devote his full energy to the courtroom work that defined his career.
What Comes Next
Vermassen will continue operating from the Lede office under the Fairway umbrella, serving as Of Counsel — a senior advisor role that allows him to mentor younger lawyers while handling his own caseload. Fairway gains not only specialized expertise in criminal law and assize cases but also access to Vermassen’s decades of experience and unparalleled reputation in Flemish legal circles.
The transaction underscores a quiet transformation in Belgian legal practice: the era of the solo criminal law superstar is giving way to collaborative, multi-specialist firms. Yet for Vermassen, now 79 and showing no signs of slowing down, the essence remains unchanged. As he told HLN, he is simply getting “a better life” after 54 years at the bar — one focused on the cases that matter most.
For clients of the Lede firm, continuity is assured. The office remains open, the phone number stays the same, and the man himself will still be at the counsel table. The only difference is that someone else will handle the paperwork.