Netherlands > Environment and planning > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

The ‘very knowledgeable, solution-oriented’ team at AKD is led by Jos van der Velden, Gerrit van der Veen and Klaas Meersma, who are based in Breda, Rotterdam and Amsterdam respectively. Van der Velden advises ProRail on all environment and planning matters. Henk Breeman was a new arrival in March 2018.

The ‘friendly, accessible and very knowledgeable’ Nicolien van den Biggelaar heads De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s practice jointly with counsel Arjan Kleinhout, who is ‘a flexible, service-minded, very strong analyst’. They acted for TenneT on the zoning aspects of the Interconnector Doetinchem-Wesel.

Houthoff’s department is very strong in contentious and non-contentious matters. Group head Jan Frans de Groot represented Hedwigepolder in a case against the Dutch state regarding the latter’s plan to expropriate and submerge the 300-hectare Hedwigepolder and convert it into estuarine nature.

NautaDutilh’s ‘punctual, knowledgeable and creative’ department is led by Anne-Marie Klijn, who advised the municipality of Amsterdam on the environment and planning aspects of the €4.2bn Zuidas development. Norbert de Munnik is ‘extensively experienced’; Berend Haagen ‘communicates complex material engagingly’.

Dong Energy and Emerald Kalama Chemical are among the clients of Norton Rose Fulbright’s practice, which is headed by infrastructure expert Daphne Broerse. Jan Jakob Peelen left to join Dentons Boekel in January 2018.

The ‘very effective communicators’ at Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV are ‘always impressive’, delivering ‘high-end solutions to complex issues at very short notice’. Planning expert Liesbeth Schippers leads the group; Hans Besselink is an environment expert. The team’s clients largely comprise the Dutch state and numerous municipalities.

Stibbe provides ‘very high-quality service’, and has ‘extensive business knowledge’. Group head Aaldert ten Veen acted for the wind farm Drentse Monden & Oostermoer on various contentious and non-contentious permit issues. Jan Reinier van Angeren, Tom Barkhuysen and Anna Collignon are noted administrative experts.

Involved in large projects and high-profile litigation, the team at Allen & Overy LLP counts VolkerWessels, Delta and Landesbank Baden-Württemberg among its clients. Group head Henry van Geen advised EdgeConneX Holding on the environment and planning aspects of its data centres near Schiphol.

Counsel Anne Marie Ferwerda is the key contact at HabrakenRutten; she joined from Houthoff in January 2017. She advised Unibail-Rodamco on the planning of the 116,000sqm Mall of the Netherlands. Henk Breeman, who was a new arrival in October 2017 from Loyens & Loeff, joined AKD in 2018.

Lexence’s ‘excellent’ practice is led by Michael Klijnstra, who has strong experience in advising private companies and public bodies. He handled various environmental matters for Slokker Vastgoed pertaining to its projects in Leeuwarden, Zwolle and Bodegraven. Cementbouw is another client.

Evides, Shell Nederland Raffinaderij and the municipality of Nissewaard are among Ploum’s clients. Group head Maayke Maas-Cooymans advised Boskalis on the environment and planning aspects of its Brouwerseiland project. Of counsel Jaap Feenstra is noted for his knowledge of EU environmental law.

Irma van den Berg is the key partner at Six Advocaten, which acts for public bodies and private clients across a wide range of projects. She and Hanneke Ellerman advised Bouwfonds Property Development on the zoning aspects of a 2,750-building development between Weesp and Muiden.

Real estate development boutique Stijl advocaten is ‘very experienced’, ‘efficient and effective’. Taco Hovius advised the municipality of Eindhoven on the zoning and administrative law aspects of its Brainport Industries Campus. He also acted for Cure Afvalbeheer on the zoning, environment and regulatory aspects of its Eindhoven biogas facility.

Zeeland Refinery, Klépierre and the municipality of Leidschendam-Voorburg are among the new clients of Straatman Koster Advocaten. Joost Hoekstra and Marinda de Smidt advised Schiphol Trade Park on the environment and planning aspects of a new 140-hectare business park. Christine Visser is also recommended.

Van der Feltz advocaten’s team has ‘in-depth knowledge of administrative law’ and a ‘strong sense of perspective’. Willem Bosma, who heads the group jointly with Jacques Sluysmans, assisted law firms including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Baker McKenzie with the environmental aspects of major M&A transactions.

Corporate partner Jaap Koster and finance expert Hein Tonnaer head the practice at Clifford Chance. Counsel Liesbeth Buiter advised Neinver on the environment, planning and zoning elements of its SugarCity outlet centre in Halfweg.

With experience in the public and the private sector, Bart Koolhaas leads DLA Piper’s team, which counts Sabic, Deme Group, Legio International and Welcome to the Future among its client roster. Associate Jaap Lameijer is also recommended.

Dentons Boekel’s ‘very proactive’ practice ‘never lets clients down’. ‘Convincing’ group head Valentijn Leijh advised Pinnacle on the redevelopments of the former Shell offices in The Hague and the former ING headquarters in Amsterdam. Dieuwke Kist is ‘a knowledgeable, practical, tactical’ associate. Jan Jakob Peelen arrived from Norton Rose Fulbright in January 2018.

‘Simply excellent’ boutique ENVIR Advocaten ‘covers all aspects of environmental and administrative law’. The ‘very hands-on, knowledgeable, practical’ Fleur Onrust is ‘a great pleasure to work with’ and Marieke Kaajan is ‘calm’ and ‘alert to various strategies’. The province of South Holland is a client.

‘Extensively experienced’ boutique Gijs Heutink Advocaten ‘understands planning issues at all governmental levels’; clients include Foc Assen and KNSF Vastgoed. Eefje van Bommel is ‘a remarkable communicator and efficient operator’ who is ‘well informed about legal and market developments’; Gijs Heutink is ‘a real gentleman with a fighting spirit’.

At Loyens & Loeff, Max Oosterhuis acted for the Port Authority of Antwerp in an administrative case regarding a planned power grid that would allegedly affect ship traffic at the Port. Other clients include OVG Real Estate. Remco Bäcker departed for BarentsKrans. Henk Breeman is now with AKD after initially leaving the firm to join HabrakenRutten.

Van Doorne’s team is frequently active on real estate developments and politically sensitive matters. Group head Cees Kniestedt represented Hornbach in various zoning negotiations and disputes; Rederij Kooij is an additional client. Associate Annet Blokhuis is also recommended.