Aude MAY - Partner - DALDEWOLF

 

Legal500 2025 – EU Regulatory: Food  
DALDEWOLF‘s food and beverage practice is recognised by clients for being an ’outstanding team with very good knowledge of the industry‘, with expertise across nutrition and health claims, advertising, food supplements, and distribution networks. Food supply chain liability issues are another strength of the team under the leadership of Aude Mahy, who excels at the intersection of commercial and food law and handles a busy workload including advice on labelling issues and crisis management.
Practice head(s): Aude Mahy

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Testimonials

An outstanding team with very good knowledge of the industry. The cooperation is always very collegial, open, and reliable.

I have always been very much satisfied with the high quality and accuracy of the service they can provide in a timely manner. They are proactive and willing to understand the needs of the client.

Aude Mahy is an excellent food lawyer, being able to combine strong expertise with pragmatism and proactiveness, making her a precious partner for our company.

This firm has a specific and specialised approach in the food sector, providing unparalleled expertise. It offers support both on legal aspects and in interactions with the various administrations with a good command of technical and operational elements. It also offers unparalleled availability in the event of an urgent file and crisis management.

Beyond her perfect mastery of food regulations, Aude Mahy excels in field practice in contact with stakeholders and administrations involved in the cases. Her commitment, availability, and speed in dealing with cases is unmatched in the food sector.

Tremendous local insights and contacts to the Belgian ministry for food safety; and in particular for the specific area of FSMP that we deal with. At the same time, Daldewolf has an understanding of the European regulations and actively keeps us up to date.

Aude Mahy is the go-to Belgian lawyer for any food law matter, especially if it involves litigation in Belgium. She is a real expert in this field of practice. She has a strong reputation among the food industry and peers.

Aude Mahy is accessible, she has clear communication and delivers precise, sound, and pragmatic opinions. She is not easily distracted when it comes to litigation.

Legal500 2025 – Industry Focus: Food 
DALDEWOLF’s team garners praise for its ‘huge expertise in all food law matters‘. The group has an excellent track record in handling the full spectrum of advisory and contentious food and beverage matters. Key areas of instruction for the department include nutrition and health claims, labelling, advertising and product liability issues. The practice is led by the ‘strong‘ Aude Mahy, ‘an expert in food law‘ who has ‘perfect mastery of food regulations‘.
Practice head(s): Aude Mahy

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Testimonials

Huge expertise in all food law matters, proactivity and deep understanding of business needs and industry practice.

This firm has a specific and specialized approach in the food sector, providing unparalleled expertise. It offers support both on legal aspects and in interactions with the various administrations with a good command of technical and operational elements. It also offers unparalleled availability in the event of an urgent file and crisis management.

Beyond her perfect mastery of food regulations, Aude Mahy excels in field practice. Her commitment, availability and speed in dealing with cases is unmatched in the food sector.

Aude Mahy brought the necessary expertise in, could bring instant valuable advice and had all the knowledge on how to manage external stakeholders.

Aude Mahy has tremendous credibility with all relevant stakeholders, hence is able to support in building relationships and quickly resolving any issues that come up.

Aude Mahy is an expert in food law.

Aude is a strong lawyer and a pleasure to work with.

I have worked with Aude Mahy and I find her to be extremely competent, fast in responding, and altogether very pleasant to work with. She is my go-to lawyer for Belgium food law matters.

Chambers Europe – Regulatory: Agro/Food – Europe-wide – 2024 ‘Spotlight’
‘Aude Mahy leads DALDEWOLF’s food law practice team. She has considerable expertise advising clients at a Belgian and EU level, handling contentious and non-contentious matters, including those relating to food crisis management and labelling.’

 

Legal500 2024 – EU Regulatory: Food Belgium   
DALDEWOLF‘s ‘unique’ team combines expertise in food regulations with a deep knowledge of consumer, advertising, contracts, distribution, competition and intellectual property law. The group also has a strong record in crisis management relating to product bans and contamination, including cross-border proceedings and litigation before European and domestic courts. Food and beverages industry sector specialist Aude Mahy is singled out as ‘really an expert in her field,’ and is instructed by producers and operators across the supply chain, alongside retailers.
Practice head(s): Aude Mahy
Other key lawyers: Floriane Delbaere

Testimonials
‘Aude Mahy and Floriane Delbaere are very service-minded, have high responsiveness and sense of urgency, and a comprehensive understanding of both EU food regulations and regulations in neighbouring countries.’
‘Aude Mahy is brilliant.’
‘Aude Mahy is extremely well experienced in food and consumer goods law (industry and retail).’
‘Aude Mahy is a specialist in food law. She was very helpful in defending our case.’
‘Aude Mahy is an excellent expert in food law, totally dedicated to her clients, and very open to co-working with them on cases.’
‘Aude Mahy and her team have huge expertise in food law and dealing with Belgian food authorities. The team’s practice combines regulatory assistance and litigation. This is unique in Belgium.’
‘Aude Mahy is really an expert in her field. She is my go-to person for Belgium.’
‘Very high level of expertise in food regulation. Reactiveness, availability at any time, reactivity to provide documents, official opinions, and reports. Good teamwork. Efficient in negotiation with authorities, calm, good arguments, well prepared.’

Legal500 2024 – Industry Focus: Food in Belgium
DALDEWOLF assists clients in advisory and dispute matters along the whole food and beverage lifecycle, spanning advertising and market entries as well as national and EU-wide litigation. The firm combines in-depth expertise in regulatory issues with know-how in competition and IP law. It fields a sizeable client roster consisting of global players in addition to Belgium-based companies. ‘Top-performance support’ Aude Mahy leads the practice group and is highly regarded for her experience in food law which includes a number of high-profile matters relating to nutrition and health claims.
Practice head(s): Aude Mahy
Other key lawyers: Floriane Delbaere

Testimonials
‘The team has a clear, full, pragmatic approach. It is very constructive. The team’s competencies are expansive enough to be able to cover different topics within the scope but also able to challenge a larger scope when necessary.’
‘Very good collaboration and very constructive, oriented to results approach.’
‘Aude Mahy is a great lawyer.’
‘Aude Mahy understands and knows the food industry very well and is therefore familiar with all potential issues, which is a plus.’
‘Expertise in food regulation. Efficient in negotiation with authorities, calm, good arguments, well-prepared.’
‘Aude Mahy is a top-performance support, fast handling, high-level of knowledge in the sector, good networking also.’
‘Aude Mahy and her team are just excellent food lawyers. The team’s practice combines regulatory work and litigation. This is unique in Belgium.’
‘The firm’s strong points are the staff’s specialised skills in food law and their availability to help us solve problems. The collaboration and trust were essential to solve complex specific problems involving the client and the authorities.’

Aude is attorney-at-law at the Brussels bar (2004) and is a Partner at DALDEWOLF law firm, in charge of the Food Law Practice Team. She has developed a genuine combined expertise in food and commercial law, at both the European and Belgian level.

Aude has a proven track record in assisting food and beverages business operators, and representing them in court and before the authorities in matters relating, among others, to nutrition and health claims, labelling, advertising, food crisis management, food supplements, market practices, distribution networks, and liability issues in the food supply chain.

She is recognised as an expert in the field and her food law practice has continuously been ranked Tier-1 by Legal 500. Sought after speaker, Aude is also the author of numerous publications in food law and published the book “Dealing with food law in Europe, a practical approach” including a Belgian perspective (2022, available in English and French). She is a member of the Food Lawyers Network Worldwide and country correspondent for the European Food and Feed Law Review (Lexxion). She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Academy of European Law (ERA) and administrator of BFSO Legal, the Belgian Food Law Association.

Aude has obtained her Master’s degree of Laws (Lic. Jur.) at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in 2004 and holds a certificate in EU Food Law from the Michigan State University. In parallel with her position as attorney-at-law, Aude has been working as a teaching assistant in civil law (roman law) at the ULB between 2005 and 2009.

The very first EU and Belgian
Food Law Handbook

by Aude Mahy
(préface de Christian Vrydaghs)

Available in French and in English

MAIN AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Food & Beverage
  • Market Practices
  • Litigation
  • Food Crisis Management

ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS

  • Member of the Brussels Bar
  • Member of the Board of the Academy of European Law (ERA)
  • Member of the global Food Lawyers Network
  • Member of the European Food Law Association (EFLA)
  • Member of the Compliance Pro register
  • Member of the Marketing and Advertising Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
  • Belgian correspondent for the European Food and Feed Law Review (Lexxion)
  • Former teaching assistant at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Roman and Civil Law (2005–2010)

FORMATION

  • Certificate in International Food Law (EU Food Law), Michigan State University, USA (2011)
  • Master of Laws, ULB (2004)

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS

Books

  • Mahy, A.,  Dealing with food law in Europe – A practical approach, including a Belgian perspective, Brussels, Bruylant (Larcier), February 2023 (582 pages).
  • Mahy, A., Droit alimentaire – Approche pragmatique de la réglementation belge et européenne, Brussels, Larcier, collection “Droit actuel”, 2022 (592 pages).
  • “Quantitative Indication of Ingredients”, in Regulation 1169/2011 Food Information for Consumers – a short expert commentary!, meyer.rechtsanwalts GmbH, sept. 2019
  • “European Food Labelling Laws, Cases and Health Claims”, avec N. Conte-Salinas, in International food Law & Policy, (eds. G. Steier et K. Patel), Springer, 2017
  • « L’émergence de l’action en réparation collective : vers un nouveau risque (pour le secteur) alimentaire ? », with C. Verdure, in J. Englebert et J-L Fagnart, L’Action en réparation collective, Anthemis, Limal, déc. 2015, pp. 223-239.
  • « Actualités en droit alimentaire », collective book edited by E. Van Nieuwenhuyze and C. Verdure, Anthemis, Limal, déc. 2014, 250 p.
  • Managing Editor of “Advertising food in Europe – A comparative law analysis”, Lexxion Legal Publisher, Bruxelles, Berlin, 2014 (426 p.)

Articles

Conferences and seminars

  • 22 February 2025, Lunch at Stephanie’s in the premises of DALDEWOLF, “New Offences and Enforcement Rules in Belgium” (link).
  • 17 October 2024, FoodSecurity vzw/asbl, “Turn every complaint into an opportunity: Effectively handling sensitive complaints in 2024” (link);
  • 20 juin 2024, Gondola, “Feeding the Future” (link);
  • 23 – 24 May 2024, ERA, Annual Conference on EU Law in the Food Sector 2024, Chair speaker (link);
  • 19 March 2024, Guest lecture, Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, on the topic of nutrition and health allegations
  • 22 February 2024, Lunch at Stephanie’s in the premises of DALDEWOLF, “Overview case law in European and Belgian food law” (link)
  • 15 December 2023, BFSO Legal, “Plants and food supplements: between food safety and legal insecurity” (link)
  • 27 October 2023, At the UIA Congress in Rome, Aude MAHY was invited as a speaker on a panel addressing one of the main themes of the congress, entitled: “Challenges related to food, the environment and energy: how can lawyers help find solutions for individuals and businesses?” (link)
  • 15 October 2023, “Recent Jurisdiction of the ECJ”, 17th European Food and Feed Law Conference (link)
  • 25-26 May 2023, Annual Conference on EU Law in the Food Sector 2023 (link)
  • 25 April 2023, Seminar at the University of Antwerp as part of a specialization module on ‘Importation’, focusing on customs requirements and the rules on food and hygiene standards (link)
  • 28 March 2023, “Meeting with the authorities”, BFSO Legal, On the question: “Crisis management: are we better prepared than we were 10 years ago? Who is responsible for what? What is the role of the health authorities in the event of environmental incidents? (link)
  • 21 March 2023, Guest lecture, Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, on the topic of nutrition and health allegations
  • 27-28 October 2022, “Recent Jurisdiction of the ECJ”, 16th European Food and Feed Law Conference (link)
  • 16-17 June 2022, “Information to the consumer: nutrition-, origin-, and green labelling: developments under the Farm to Fork strategy”, Adria Food Law Conference (link)
  • 19-20 May 2022, “Recent developments in the alcoholic sector”, ERA Annual Conference on EU Law in the Food Sector 2022 (link)
  • 19 May 2022: “EU legislative, policy and case law update” (modératrice du panel), Annual Conference on EU Law in the Food Sector 2022, Academy of European Law (ERA), Bruxelles
  • May 2022: “Current developments in food law: have you kept up with everything?”, Breakfast at Stefany’s, DALDEWOLF (webinar)
  • 22 March 2022, Seminar at the University of Louvain as part of the Master of Laws programme, covering topics such as food crises linked to clear labelling and borderline-ingredient issues, OBA operators’ projects relating to the sustainability of the production system, and the role of competent authorities in the context of online sales of food supplements.
  • 17 March 2022, Guest lecture, Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, on the topic of nutrition and health allegations
  • Feb. 2021: Latest developments on origin labelling, BSFO Legal (en ligne)
  • Oct. 2020: Chair of the Annual Conference on EU Law in the Food Sector 2020, ERA (online)
  • July 2020: “Sustainable nutrition food labels and claims: What’s next with the F2F?” – conférence en direct, hébergée par Competere.eu (https://www.competere.eu/food-labels-farm-to-fork/)
  • April 2020: Trade secrets in the food sector, Breakfast at Stefany’s, DALDEWOLF, avec Valentin de le Court (webinar)
  • March 2020 : Breakfast at Stefany’s DALDEWOLF, “Actualités en matière de publicité pour les denrées alimentaires » (webinar)
  • Nov. 2019: ICC – “When food Law Meets Customs”, Dusseldorf, Allemagne
  • Nov. 2019 : Alimento, “Formation additifs alimentaires”, Charleroi
  • Sept. 2019: DALDEWOLF & Food Security asbl, “Food Crisis: How to react? Legal issues and Beyond”, Study Day, Brussels
  • April 2019: ERA Annual Conference in food law, “Latest development of the FIC – FoP schemes”, Brussels
Aude MAY - Partner - DALDEWOLF

Aude Mahy

Avocate - Advocaat, Partner, Co-Managing Partner

Economic Law
Food & Beverage 

French, Dutch, English, Spanish