The Legal 500

AKD advises government authorities, including water boards, on planning matters for infrastructure and regeneration projects, and represents corporates including Bayer Crop Science, Akzo Nobel and ING Real Estate. It is ProRail’s preferred counsel for planning and environment matters. Practice head Jos van der Velden and Bart Roozendaal are recommended.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, which focuses on infrastructure projects, is advising Port of Rotterdam on gaining planning and environmental permits for the Maasvlakte 2 port development, and acting for BARD in judicial review proceedings regarding offshore wind farms. The practice successfully defended TenneT against objections to its Randstad 380kV electricity transmission project. Other clients include Tata Steel and Akzo Nobel NV. Practice head Nicolien van den Biggelaar ‘has excellent, in-depth know-how on environmental risks’.

Loyens & Loeff advises on planning and environmental aspects of large-scale infrastructure and commercial developments. It recently advised retail sector clients such as IKEA and Dirk van den Broek on permit and agreement matters relating to store expansions. It also advised Cargill on site developments. The team includes Henk Breeman, André van der Kolk and Remco Bäcker.

NautaDutilh handles contentious and non-contentious planning and environment matters for government authorities and corporate clients, particularly in relation to infrastructure and energy sector developments. It is representing a municipality in proceedings regarding environmental and planning issues for a waste power plant. It is also acting for the project manager of the Ziggo Dome concert hall development in judicial review proceedings. Erik Minderhoud is ‘a generalist who can link different issues and come up with solutions’.

Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV predominately acts for national, provincial and local government authorities. Practice head Liesbeth Schippers ‘overcomes bureaucratic hurdles with ease’, and recently represented the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment in litigation regarding offshore wind farms. ‘A leading lawyer for environmental matters’, Hans Besselink acted for the state in litigation over a major waterway expansion, and construction of a coal-fired power station.

Stibbe is ‘able to take industry objectives into account when providing advice’. It represented Eneco in successfully obtaining permits for large-scale wind farms, and advises various municipalities on planning and zoning issues regarding major development projects. Other clients include Merck, Electrabel and Nuon. Practice head Aaldert ten Veen is ‘valuable for strategic advice’. Senior associate Anna Collignon is also recommended.

Allen & Overy LLP focuses on energy sector developments, with recent work including securing emission allowances for the Sloe Centrale power plant and advising Sterigenics in an environmental breaches dispute concerning its sterilisation plant. Henry van Geen leads the team, which also includes counsel Jochem Spaans.

Boekel De Nerée’s Anne-Marie Klijn has ‘extensive knowledge and experience, is easy to work with; practical and sharp’. The practice acted for Rabo Real Estate on tall building issues concerning the De Rotterdam project, and advises the Ministry of Zoning Affairs on regulatory changes.

Clifford Chance focuses on environmental matters, and recently advised Royal DSM on its joint venture with Sinochem Group and Rotterdam World Gateway on the Maasvlakte 2 development. Jaap Koster leads the team.

Houthoff Buruma’s Marry de Gaay Fortman advises Tata Steel and Chevron on environmental issues, and represents McDonald’s on planning matters. Jan Frans de Groot’s focus is real estate and public sector work, and Robert Crince le Roy specialises in litigation. Associate Hanneke Ellerman has ‘a sharp legal mind’.

Lexence handles environmental and planning issues, including litigation on real estate and major infrastructure projects. Clients include real estate investors such as Wereldhave and Slokker Vastgoed. Arthur Kaspers heads the team, which includes Michael Klijnstra and newly promoted partner Aike Kamphuis.

Norton Rose LLP continues to develop its planning and environmental work, acting for project developers and construction companies, with a focus on the energy sector. It advised RWE on permits and consenting issues and acted for Boskalis on infrastructure and real estate developments, including litigation regarding alleged regulatory breaches.

‘Hands on and to the point’, Ploum Lodder Princen Advocaten en Notarissen recently advised Shell on environmental permitting and regulatory matters. It also advises on planning matters, representing clients such as BAM Vastgoed. Practice head Maayke Maas-Cooymans is ‘extremely thorough, proactive, business-oriented and very well informed’ on environmental matters.