The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP, which has a ‘well-deserved reputation as a dealmaker’, ‘combines a truly 24/7 service with in-depth knowledge’. Gerard Kastelein advised ING on its €15bn SME securitisation and acted for GMAC on the $12bn divestment of its European mortgage business. Jennifer de Lange is ‘an expert derivatives lawyer that is detailed yet also practical’, while ‘her meticulous approach to transactions ensures confidence in the legal process at all times’.

Although Clifford Chance lost covered bonds expert Kees Westerman to Linklaters, the firm retains an ‘excellent practice’, and is a ‘very good law firm for derivatives’. The team acted for ABN AMRO on the €350m tap issue from Vesteda’s Residential Funding II programme, the first Dutch CMBS issuance since the financial crisis, and also represents Rabobank, JPMorgan and ING as clients. Pieter van Welzen and counsel Robert Masman offer ‘diligent and very thorough advice’.

NautaDutilh fields a ‘most experienced asset-backed security structuring team, which has in-depth knowledge and a hands-on approach that works excellently under pressure’. Consequently, its ‘good legal advice leads to successful closing of transactions’. Having advised ABN AMRO on establishing the Netherlands’ first structured covered bond programme, the team is now advising on establishing three more such programmes. The team’s expertise on Dutch RMBS provides clients with a ‘positive experience’. Willem Ruys and managing partner Michaëla Ulrici are recommended.

Baker & McKenzie Amsterdam N.V.’s Philippe Steffens has ‘excellent knowledge of securitisation and tax structures’, and ‘for unique situations, which require out-of-the-box thinking, Steffens comes up with very insightful solutions’. He recently acted for Credit Suisse Securities and Credit Agricole as joint lead managers on a €750m Dutch RMBS. The group was Dutch counsel to DBS Bank on financing for two Airbus A321-200 aircraft leased to Vietnam Airlines. Other clients include Deutsche Bank and Huntsman.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has been advising the City of Amsterdam on acquiring 23 subway trains plus spare parts, and representing Dutch Railways on its restructuring including terminating certain transactions in its US lease portfolio of rolling stock. Other recent highlights include acting for Vion and 76 subsidiaries on a €300m trade receivables securitisation transaction. Menno Stoffer is recommended.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s team, led by Thijs Flokstra, advised Deutsche Bank on the restructuring and launch of SNS Bank’s Hermes XV, a €2.9bn Dutch RMBS, and acted for ABN AMRO on Dutch aspects of a $16bn credit default swap. Clients report a ‘positive experience regarding collateralized debt obligations’.

Loyens & Loeff offers a ‘very good level of service, with short response times and direct access to the team’. The group advised Fortis Bank on establishing its covered bond programme, and the SPVs and security trustees on DSB Bank’s post-bankruptcy securitisation programmes. Marriëtte van‘t Westeinde is ‘knowledgeable and experienced in RMBS’.

Jaap Willeumier’s team at Stibbe counts ABN AMRO, American Express and Bayer as clients. Recent highlights include advising Vesteda Woningen on its €1.6bn securitisation of a portfolio of residential property, and BNP Paribas on a $3bn term loan facility secured against crude oil.

Boekel De Nerée advised Capita Asset Services on restructuring a €1.2bn CMBS loan, the first European deal to extend the maturity date of CMBS notes. Hans Sachse and Angelique Thiele are recommended.

Houthoff Buruma advised China Development Bank on a number of aircraft financings, Brocacef ABS regarding several asset-backed securities programmes, and FGH Bank and ING Real Estate Finance on financing for 2009’s largest acquisition of a real estate portfolio. Loet Venrooy is recommended.

Norton Rose LLP’s Gijs van Leeuwen and Wouer Hertzberger are active in the asset finance arena. The pair advised ING on various FPSO financings and three separate financings of semi-submersible drilling rigs, and acted for DVB Bank regarding financing for 11 Fokker F100 aircraft. Other clients include Calyon and Q Aviation.

Daphne Brinkhuis and Jan-Mathijs Hermans lead Simmons & Simmons LLP’s asset finance practice. The team recently advised AerCap on the leasing and financing of 15 aircraft, and Sumitomo regarding four aircraft.

Roel Botter’s team at Van Doorne advised Aareal Bank on the refinancing of its acquisition of the Invesco Europe Hotel Portfolio. It also acted for new client MultiLease on a €105m asset-based revolving credit facility, and Bank of America on the financing of rolling stock to be used by Arriva in the Netherlands.