The Legal 500

Houthoff Buruma is acting for Noord/Zuidlijn, a consortium of contractors involved in building the diaphragm walls for an underground train project in Amsterdam, and advising the International Criminal Court on its new premises in The Hague. The team is expert in procurement, and recently advised the owner of the Sluiskil Tunnel, which links Ghent to the port of Terneuzen, on procurement and infrastructure issues. Jan Michiel Hebly and Johan Rijlaarsdam are the key contacts.

NautaDutilh’s Bernard ter Haar is representing the Municipality of Amsterdam on the €4bn Zuidas project, which consists of new infrastructure, and 2.48m sq m of offices, shops and housing. Other highlights included acting for the lenders to Coentunnel for the €600m construction of the second Coentunnel and Weststrandweg Ring Road. Counsel David van Ee is also recommended.

Boutique construction practice Rozemond Advocaten is well respected for its work on behalf of a range of contractors, engineers, architects, and municipalities. Rob Bleeker is a ‘good construction lawyer’.

Stibbe acted for the OptimA15 and OptimA12 consortiums bidding on the A15 and A12 road projects, respectively, and for MAB Bouwfonds and OVG on the €300m development of “The Rotterdam” building in downtown Rotterdam. On the contentious side, the group represented Vesteda in various disputes, including a completion dispute concerning 120 houses, warehouse space, and parking areas. Joop Janssen and David Orobio de Castro regularly act on large projects.

AKD is the principal legal adviser to Heijmans, AM Vastgoedontwikkeling and Janssen De Jong (three of the largest construction companies in the Netherlands), as well as major engineering company Grontmij. The team, led by Marc Wintqens, is advising three parties on the Strijp S inner-city redevelopment. Richard Avezaat joined the group.

Allen & Overy LLP offers an ‘excellent and knowledgeable service’, and is currently advising Groningen on the tender for a DBFMO concession project for two greenfield tram projects. Practice head Arent van Wassenaer is highly recommended, and Coen Thomas is a ‘solid counsel with in-depth knowledge and a keen eye for the practicalities of each project’.

Hans Nicaise at Boekel De Nerée recently advised New Babylon on the €450m redevelopment of the Babylon complex, and acted for City Theater on its €50m redevelopment, and for Coen Hagedoorn on an €100m new housing development. Jelle Otten was promoted to partner.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s Bommel van der Bend and Nicolien van den Biggelaar are particularly noteworthy for their contentious construction practice and involvement in large infrastructure and energy projects. The team successfully represented ProRail in arbitration regarding a rail link, and acted for Port of Rotterdam on a new North Sea location for port activities and industries.

Pieter Stuijt and his team at Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV handle the bulk of government building and procurement law disputes as well as numerous projects, and advised on the southern branch of the high-speed railway line and the A4 motorway.

Van Doorne picked up instructions from Decathlon and Struik Foods Europe, and acted for Meander Medisch Centrum on the contract for a new hospital in Amersfoort. Mark Moolhuizen is a ‘pleasure to work with, always there and a fast worker’, while associate Joris Bal is ‘always very well prepared’.

CMS Derks Star Busmann’s clients include construction firms, developers and investors, including BAM, OVG and Delta Lloyd. It is acting for OVG Projectonwikkeling on €500m worth of construction contracts for projects in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Hein van der Meer and Marjolein Pesch provide ‘advice that is to the point; and have pleasant attitudes’.

DLA Piper is advising OMRIN Afvalsturing Friesland and Reststoffen Energie Centrale on the construction of one of the Netherlands’ first residual waste treatment facilities. Other clients include Triodos, Lloyds Fonds and ING. Rutger Oranje leads the four-partner team.

With Kennedy Van der Laan, ‘one gets one’s answers personally, and not from a junior, at charge-out rates that are reasonable’. The group represented a municipality in court proceedings regarding a public procurement procedure for a large road. Richard Jan Roks is ‘skilled, fast, and approachable’.

Ingomar Souren leads Kneppelhout & Korthals NV’s seven-lawyer team, which acts for contractors, engineering companies, architects and government. Jan Willem Langeler focuses on contentious matters, while Pieter de Boorder acts on major infrastructure projects.

Loyens & Loeff has ‘excellent response times and is very commercially aware’. The group advised NS Poort on a passenger tunnel at the Amsterdam Central Railway Station. Other clients include BAM Wegen, MAB Development and the Municipality of Amsterdam. Leen van der Marel is ‘excellent in every respect’.

Clients appreciate Norton Rose LLP’s ‘ability to translate specific legal issues into practical, hands-on advice’, and regard Daphne Broerse as someone who, ‘time and time again, outperforms the competition’. The group has been advising the Coentunnel Construction Company on the second Coentunnel.

Van Diepen Van der Kroef Advocaten’s team handles a broad range of construction work, but particularly real estate developments. Ab de Groot leads the team.