The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘excellent corporate litigators’ consistently appear on the country’s most prominent cases, and earned a number of instructions relating to the nationalisation of Fortis and ABN AMRO. The team also acted for Arthur Del Prado in a corporate control battle over ASM International that led to the Supreme Court overturning the decision of the Enterprise Court and rendering a number of principal decisions on corporate governance issues. Willem van Baren heads the four-partner practice.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a good choice for ‘cases representing more than average interests’, and its 160-strong litigation team is ‘first choice for bigger cases’. Highlights included successfully defending Inter Access in a shareholder dispute before the Enterprise Chamber that suspended the voting rights of the majority shareholder, and acting for Yukos Capital and Yukos International on proceedings worth $465m. Marnix Leijten has ‘in-depth industry knowledge, and a skill set that makes him the link between business and law’.

Houthoff Buruma’s team is representing Fortis in litigation arising from its nationalisation, and is acting for the bankruptcy trustees of DSB Bank on various litigation issues. Other clients on an impressive roster include BP, Goldman Sachs and ING. Robert Meijer is ‘highly knowledgeable and proves an invaluable asset to clients’, while Hans Londonck Sluijk has ‘broad experience on complex international insurance matters’, and Peter Drion is ‘very professional, provides good and accurate advice, and is always seeking business solutions’.

NautaDutilh’s ‘lawyers are smart, well versed in the law, and practical; they communicate effectively with co-counsel, and are real fighters’. The firm’s excellent partners include Harmen de Mol Otterloo (‘very responsive and effective’), Bart Gerretsen (‘listens to clients, results-oriented’), Daan Lunsingh Scheurleer (‘fine judgement, communication skills, and intellect’) and Paul Olden (‘business-oriented and really delivers’). Jan Loorback retired from the partnership but retains an of counsel position, while Daniella Strik left to join Linklaters.

Stibbe’s ‘professional and knowledgeable’ group is called on when ‘losing is not an option’. The team acted for ABN AMRO and Fortis Capital Company on two disputes, worth €2.5bn, against former parent companies regarding the redemption of hybrid securities, and represented RWE in a control rights dispute against Delta. Toni van Hees and Gertjan Boekraad have ‘excellent tactical capabilities’, while Fons Leijten is ‘particularly good’.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s lawyers are ‘very robust in their approach, and come up with coherent and innovative solutions’. Recent highlights include representing DB Schenker Rail Nederland in a €1bn dispute arising out of the allocation of pension fund assets, and defending Ecopetrol against €7bn damages claims relating to a lost exploration contract. Hub Harmeling is a ‘great strategic thinker who offers sharp analysis, practical advice, and has a good feel for human interaction’.

Loyens & Loeff houses a ‘well-motivated team with a lot of experience’ that is recommended for ‘big, complex, international business situations’. Jeroen van den Brande led the team that successfully represented the Municipality of Rotterdam against claims by Barclays and Achmea in the Amsterdam and Rotterdam district courts and at appeal in Amsterdam. Other clients of the ‘professional, dedicated, knowledgeable and to-the-point’ team include Heineken, Bayer, and RBS.

Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV is best known for representing government entities at the state, provincial and local authority levels, as well as organisations with public responsibilities. The firm has four partners covering Supreme Court litigation, and also has a strong reputation for handling civil and property disputes. Jurjen Lemstra is recommended for company law disputes.

Van Doorne focuses on insurance and liability work, though it covers a wide spectrum of commercial litigation. Maurits Kalff is ‘knowledgeable, and has a methodical and orderly approach’, while Walter Hendriksen ‘gives very clear advice that clients can trust 100%’. Jasper Leedekerken is a ‘strategic thinker who understands his clients’ needs and how to get results, as well as how to push the envelope’.

Baker & McKenzie Amsterdam N.V. is advising Eneco on litigation to overturn the act on independent grid management, and representing clients in Lehman Brothers and Indover Bank disputes. Frank Kroes is ‘particularly sharp and to the point’, while Jeroen Bedaux puts in an ‘excellent performance’, and is a ‘trusted adviser on high-profile litigation’.

BarentsKrans N.V. represents Verliespolis Foundation, which reached a €2.2bn dispute settlement with five of the six biggest insurance companies. The team also represented more than 150 European companies against the airlines involved in the air cargo cartel. Eric Grabandt is an ‘excellent Supreme Court lawyer’.

The ‘thorough and skillful’ team at Bird & Bird LLP frequently handles disputes for telecoms clients such as Ortel Mobile, T-Mobile and Tiscali, as well as having a wider practice. Olaf Trojan has an ‘excellent grasp of legal issues and good business sense’, while Eggo Jan Rietema is ‘pragmatic and strong strategically’.

Boekel De Nerée’s Michel Deckers focuses on corporate and commercial disputes, and is noted for his insolvency expertise. Lisette Bieleveld is recommended for e-commerce and IT disputes, while Paul Wanders is best known for handling professional liability and property cases. Clients include Cocon and Akron.

CMS Derks Star Busmann’s 14-partner dispute resolution group has a wide range of expertise and includes agricultural specialists such as Dominique van Dijk, and company and commercial law expert Christiaan Scholten van Aschat. Peter Soede heads the group, while Leonard Böhmer is the US government’s litigator in the Netherlands.

Clifford Chance’s Jeroen Ouwehand is representing Promneftstroy in a legal battle arising from the Yukos Oil bankruptcy. He is also acting alongside the firm’s French and German offices in defending EADS against a request for an investigation into the affairs of the parent company of Airbus regarding A380 delivery delays.

DLA Piper is ‘very good: always available, maximum flexibility, good quality, and good performance’. The firm is recommended for finance-related litigation and professional indemnity work, and won new clients including Capita CMGL, the state of Belgium and PPC Industries. Gerard Endedijk represented the Belgian government in litigation against former Fortis shareholders.

Lexence is acting for Stadgenoot in litigation regarding the construction of over 100 houses that was hindered by plans to build a mosque. It is also advising on a series of disputes arising from the DSB Bank bankruptcy. Bram Thomas Craemer and Chris de Bres are ‘knowledgeable and cunning strategists’.

Norton Rose LLP’s team picked up its first instructions from Deutsche Bank, Société Générale, and Fortis Private Equity, which practice head Yke Lennartz advised on a post-M&A and shareholder dispute regarding an investment.

Simmons & Simmons LLP is representing a former Fortis manager regarding damages claims brought by investors against the company and former managers, and is advising various Dutch pension funds on damages claims against asset managers. Bernard Verbunt leads the team and is recommended for his smooth handling of negotiations with counterparties.