The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP’s litigation team is described as ‘very swift, down to earth, effective and no-nonsense’. Willem van Baren leads the highly rated team that includes leading Dutch law professor and former Justice in the Court of Appeal, Rieme Jan Tjittes. The team successfully defended Dutch luxury car manufacturer Spyker against the Dutch Securities Markets Regulator, the AFM, in the first Dutch annual reporting processes litigated before the Enterprise Chamber. Other key mandates include representing the airline industry through the Board of Airline Representative in a case against the Dutch State, regarding the legality of a newly introduced tax on airline tickets. One source praises the team’s ‘pitbull mentality and strategic view’. Marieke van Hooijdonk is singled out by clients.

Managing partner Mark Biesheuvel leads De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s litigation practice. Marc Ynzonides is recommended for commercial and Supreme Court litigation. The team has been involved in some of the most high-profile litigation cases in the market, including, representing the consortium of Fortis, Royal Bank of Scotland and Santander in relation to the €72bn takeover of ABN AMRO. The team has also been given instructions by clients such as Royal Dutch Shell, and Danone, the latter of which the team, led by Harm Jan de Kluvier, represented on threatened actions connected to the €12bn takeover of Numico. On the commercial side, partner Berto Winters is recommended. Jan de Bie Leuveling Tjeenk is noted for being ‘very skilled and excellent in supreme court proceedings’.

Houthoff Buruma is consistently highly recommended for its supreme court expertise and insurance litigation. Recently the team advised Dexia and Aegon on alleged damages from stock leasing. A team led by Dirk Knottenbelt acted for trustees in the KPNQwest bankruptcy in both the Netherlands and the US. Hans Londonck Sluijk is the head of practice. Pieter van der Korst is recommended for being ‘dedicated, available, focussed and eager for results’. Rob Meijer is highly recommended by clients.

Bart Gerretsen and Harmen de Mol van Otterloo lead Nautadutilh’s thriving litigation practice. The team is recommended by one source for its ‘mass litigation expertise’, and also possesses a Supreme Court sub-department, led by Robert van Galen. The team has a proven track record of representing clients in the banking sector and successfully represented ABN AMRO in Enterprise Chamber litigation. Other highlights include representing British American Tobacco in the first smoking health case in the Netherlands. Clients recommend Daan Lunsingh Sheurleer as an ‘inspiring leader’, and Ianika Tzankova is described as ‘young, but close to brilliant’.

Stibbe’s litigation practice receives high praise from some of its competitors. The team acts for foreign multinationals, banks and financial institutions, and has recently seen a number of antitrust instructions. The ‘responsive’ team has represented ASM International in proceedings before the Enterprise Chamber on a dispute with activist shareholders Hermes, Fursa and Centaurus. The team has also represented Fortis in a contractual dispute with a former joint venture partner. Toni van Hees and Fons leijten co-head the practice. Jeroen Kortmann was promoted to partner in 2008.

Hub Harmeling leads Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s disputes practice. The team successfully represented Bundesliga footballer Deigo Ribas da Cunha in a contract litigation with Nike resulting from the transfer of sponsorship from adidas. The team also defended Elopak, a leading liquid food products packaging manufacturer, in litigation with one of its business partners. Jan Willem van der Staay is recommended.

Loyens & Loeff offers ‘dedication, involvement, knowledge, and above all creativity’. The commercial litigation team deals with agency, distribution and franchising, product liability and mass tort claims, pharmaceutical law, and purchase contracts and negotiations. The corporate team handles all types of corporate disputes including corporate governance issues and litigation relating to financial reporting. Standout instructions include successfully defending the Municipality of Amsterdam against Barclays and Residex in a litigation worth €90m. Jeroen van den Brande is recommended for his ‘excellent support in the negotiation process’.

Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV’s Jurjen Lemstra is recommended for disputes work, and is highly praised in the market. The team represented Hermes before the Enterprise Chamber in the ASMI case. Lemstra also defended Shell Compensation Foundation in proceedings before the Appelgate Court of Amsterdam.

Van Doorne’s litigation team acts for liability insurers in almost all material D&O liability cases pending in the Netherlands. Pieter Regteren Altena and Maurits Kalff receive high praise from clients for their ‘responsiveness and ability to think broadly and creatively about the mechanisms for dispute resolution’. Jasper Leedekerken was recently promoted to partner, taking the total number to ten. The team recently assisted a high-profile client in relation to a considerable number of asbestos claims.

Eric Grabandt leads the commercial litigation team at BarentsKrans N.V., while William Schonewille heads up financial litigation. Highlights have included the Bank of America vs VEB and Dutch Antilles vs Lightning Casino. The team has a strong reputation in commercial liability litigation.

Bird & Bird LLP’s litigation practice benefited from the arrival of Olaf Trojan from Simmons & Simmons in 2008. The team has a good reputation for litigation among its industry sector clients, but is also engaged elsewhere. Eggo Jan Rietema regularly advises Capgemini, and the team has also been involved in private enforcement proceedings for a group of high-profile fixed line operators against KPN. Marjolein Geus and Eggo Jan Rietema are recommended.

Boekel De Nerée offers its clients ‘speed and experience’. Led by Michel Deckers, the team has represented Deutsche Post International in a post-closing litigation regarding breach of warranties on takeover. The team is commended for its knowledge of clients’ ‘internal structure and previous transactions’. Lisette Bieleveld is recommended.

CMS Derks Star Busmann’s Leonard Böhmer is the US government’s litigator in the Netherlands. The team is led by Peter Soede and also includes agricultural specialist Dominique van Dijk. The team is committed to using mediation where possible.

Jeroen Ouwehand heads Clifford Chance’s litigation practice. Recent highlights for the practice include representing various investors in the liquidation of shares in a Dutch subsidiary of Yukos Oil Company, Yukos Finance. The team has also recently represented Deutsche Bank, Barclays, and Harbourmaster in proceedings brought by the receivers of KPNQwest.

At DLA Piper, the arrival of practice head Gerard Endedijk from Kennedy Van der Laan has augmented the team’s insurance and finance capabilities. The practice maintains a strong reputation for professional indemnity work, and acts for nearly all the major accountancy firms. The team is described as having a ‘hands-on mentality’ and ‘an excellent balance of price and performance’.

Lexence N.V.’s disputes team is led by Chris de Bres. The team has advised clients in the media and consumer electronics sectors, as well as leading food retailers. The team also represents non-profit organisations such as housing corporations, health care institutions, and local governments.

Yke Lennartz is the lead partner at Norton Rose LLP. The team has had a raft of instructions from financial institutions over the past year, and is regularly involved in post acquisition litigation. The team also represents a number of energy and media sector clients.

Simmons & Simmons suffered from the loss of Olaf Trojan to Bird & Bird LLP in 2008. Michiel Gorsira has also left the firm. The team, now led by Jan-Willem Bitter, is principally engaged in financial and energy-related litigation.

Van Diepen Van der Kroef Advocaten’s 20-lawyer team is recommended for litigation and regularly represents clients before the Enterprise Chamber.