The former secretary-general of the alliance between Herbert Smith, Stibbe and Gleiss Lutz, Olivier Clevenbergh, has teamed up with five partners from Benelux law firms to launch a new practice in Brussels.

Clevenbergh, who was managing partner of Stibbe's Brussels arm from 2005 to 2011, has launched new firm Strelia with a team of partners including former Stibbe colleague Jean-Pierre Fierens, who was board chairman and Brussels litigation head at his former firm.

The duo are joined by former NautaDutilh partner Benoit Malvaux and Jean-Francois Tossens, Henri Culot and Henri Tack, all of whom were previously partners at Belgian boutique Tossens & Prioux.

Tossens founding partner Andre Tossens has also joined as of counsel, while the new firm is rounded out by seven associates from Tossens, four from Stibbe and one from NautaDutilh.

The 19-lawyer firm, which will focus on M&A, corporate, tax, dispute resolution and commercial law, opened on 1 January.

Clevenbergh has said that the firm plans "to reach a headcount of 30 to 50 lawyers over coming years".

Clevenbergh told Legal Week: "After the alliance with Herbert Smith, Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe ended I decided I wanted to change direction and do something new. There is a gap in the Belgian market for a new, smaller and more flexible type of law firm, which is why several partners from various firms started Strelia. Clients expect something new in the market, so we have received a good response.

"We also intend to work internationally. We will not be part of a network but remain independent and also work with foreign firms which need assistance in Belgium, especially in M&A and dispute resolution matters."

Gleiss and Stibbe rejected Herbert Smith's proposal to merge in November 2011, leading to the formal dissolution of the alliance in December 2011.

Following the move, Stibbe announced last summer that it will open a Hong Kong office in September 2012, in a bid to expand its global presence.