The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP represents leading energy companies, such as Delta, Eneco, Noun and TAQA, and recently earned a place on Shell’s M&A panel. Recent work includes representing Delta in proceedings against the Dutch state regarding unbundling obligations that Delta argues are in breach of the European right to the free movement of capital. The group has been advising Eneco Wind on the procurement, construction and maintenance of offshore wind turbines. The group also advised Dana Petroleum on its acquisition of Petro Canada Netherlands. Paul Glazener leads the team.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek fields some ‘excellent energy lawyers’. Rutger de Witt Wijnen advised Gold Standard Foundation on establishing the first-ever appeal mechanism in carbon transactions, while Elisabetta Aarts acted for TenneT – the state-owned electricity grid – on its €1.1bn acquisition of E.ON’s 10,700km German extra high voltage electricity transmission grid. Marnix Leijten represented GasTerra in two $1.5bn arbitrations against Eni regarding the pricing of natural gas destined for Italy. Other clients include Centrica, GDF Suez and Shell.

The ‘well-seasoned team’ at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is ‘very professional, with accurate response times and good in-depth knowledge’. The group acts for oil and energy companies such as Shell and Total, as well as network operators such as Enexis and Zebra. It is advising Essent on its tie-up with RWE, and in litigation against the legislation requiring ownership unbundling of networks. The group is advising Vopak and Gasunie on a LNG terminal in Rotterdam. Richard Norbruis leads the seven-partner team.

Bird & Bird LLP’s ‘small, direct team’ is recommended for its ‘quick responses and professional advice’ that is ‘above standard’. The group acts for energy industry associations and bodies, and recently advised EnergieNed on gas transmission tariffs. The team was appointed to E.ON’s panel following a competitive pitch on carbon capture storage and is currently involved in one of the largest CSS projects. Other new clients include Netherlands Oil & Gas Explorations and Production Association. Michelle de Rijke is ‘an authority in the field of regulatory affairs’.

Clifford Chance handles a broad range of work in the energy sector, from corporate law to litigation. It advised Sembcorp Industries on its acquisition of Cascal, and represented Promneftstroy in a dispute arising out of the Yukos Oil Company bankruptcy. The eight-partner team also represents E.ON, Shell and Kuwait Petroleum International.

Loyens & Loeff is recommended for corporate, regulatory and tax expertise in the energy sector, and pays ‘impressive attention to client care’. Corporate and regulatory expert Max Oosterhuis led the team advising Alliander, the Netherlands’ largest energy distribution company, on its acquisition of Endinet. The group also represents Centrica Energy, Gaz de France and Nexen Inc.

NautaDutilh is acting for E.ON, Electrabel and GDF Suez on a €750m carbon capture and storage project and for Delta on the development of a new nuclear power plant. Harm Kerstholt gives clients the ‘comfort to operate in the Netherlands’, while Jaap Jan Trommel is ‘very good at giving practical and realistic advice’. Senior associate Helen Koster proves ‘instrumental in negotiations’.

Norton Rose LLP is recommended for ‘its market knowledge and being a pleasure to work with’. The team advised RWE on its merger with Essent, as well as on its bid for a 2,000MW wind power project. Other notable work includes acting for clients such as Petrogas and Osaka Gas on M&A transactions and tax structuring, serving as lead litigation counsel to the Netherlands’ only nuclear power generator, and serving as project counsel on Italian and Bulgarian solar power projects. Weero Koster leads the five-strong department, which continues to represent GazProm and Vattenfall/Nuon.

Stek’s Jan Erik Janssen has ‘excellent knowledge of the industry, is down-to-earth, and has a strong team around him’. The group acted on a number of multimillion-euro disputes between RWE Energy/Essent and various contractors, and represented all Dutch regional gas and electricity grid operators in proceedings against the government regarding the new tariff regime for electricity and gas.

Stibbe offers ‘excellent lawyers, good service and high-quality work’. Martin in de Braek advised the Province of Gelderland, Nuon’s largest shareholder, on Vattenfall’s €8.5bn acquisition of Nuon, while Fons Leijten and Egbert Vroom represented RWE in a €9.3bn dispute with Delta regarding RWE’s acquisition of Essent.