The Legal 500

Widely regarded as a leading player with a broad-based practice, Houthoff Buruma has been busy acting on large restructurings and refinancings. The team acted for housing corporation Vestia in negotiating an agreement with a syndicate of banks regarding the winding down of its multibillion-euro derivatives portfolio. The group also advised on various major transactions, including commercial property lawyer Herman Lohman acting for Credit Suisse Euroreal on its €140m sale of its Amsterdam office. Jan Cees Kuiken, who mainly represents international clients, recently assisted Unibail-Rodamco on the €110m sale of its retail development in Eindhoven.

Loyens & Loeff is a leading name in real estate law, and has the useful adjunct of the firm’s leading tax practice. Practice head Wilfred Groen, who focuses on transactional work, recently acted for ABN AMRO on the sale of a prominent office building in Amsterdam. Bram Linnartz has particular experience in German real estate fund structuring and led on the sale to Deka of ‘The Rock’ building in Amsterdam. Paul Kerckhoffs’ clients include Unilever, Schiphol Airport and Dutch National Railways.

Allen & Overy LLP’s core strength lies in complex, high-value transactions and financing. Henry van Geen leads the team, which advised JPMorgan Chase and a group of US investors on the $432m financing of the acquisition of the High Tech Campus Eindhoven. It also acted for Booking.com on a major office lease transaction in the ‘Bank’ building in Amsterdam. Leon Hoppenbrouwers, who joined as a partner from AKD, is an expert in transactions, social housing and urban redevelopment.

Boekel De Nerée is highly regarded for its real estate finance expertise. London-based Angelique Thiele recently advised Landesbank Berlin on a €52.5m project financing and assisted Maarsen Groep with the €140m refinancing of an urban redevelopment scheme in Rotterdam. Paul Wanders advised Union Investment on the acquisition and delivery of a hotel complex in Amsterdam’s business district. Practice head Wendela Raas specialises in commercial tenancy law.

CMS advises clients such as Bouwfonds on commercial and residential property purchases, and acted for VolkerWessels on the purchase and sale of the ‘Anna van Bueren’ building project in The Hague. Practice head Frank Leyendeckers is expert in planning, environment law, regeneration schemes and other projects. Hein van der Meer focuses on property development and transactions.

Clifford Chance leverages its financing expertise to advise on real estate transactions and projects. Recent mandates include acting for ABN AMRO and NIBC on part financing of the €425m acquisition of the High Tech Campus Eindhoven. Other clients include Heijmans, BlackRock, Royal DSM, and Carlyle. Jaap Koster handles project development and transactions.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s practice head Annemieke Wessels recently advised on real estate fund structuring and also assisted Bouwinvest Dutch Institutional Residential Fund with its divestment of certain property portfolios. Koos de Blécourt represented Philips in its sale of the High Tech Campus Eindhoven, which was the biggest single-asset real estate deal in the Netherlands to date. Other clients include Shell, TenneT and ASR REIM.

Real estate is a core focus for Lexence, which represents government authorities, project developers and investment funds. Recent work includes advising on large-scale project developments such as Greenport Venlo and acting for CBRE on a major urban leasing transaction. The team also advised project developers regarding the high-profile sale of the Mint Hotel. Taco de Lange leads the team, which includes commercial leasing expert Tomas Steenmetser and project development lawyer Menno van Groningen.

NautaDutilh continues to act on transactions for funds, banks, developers and public sector clients. David van Dijk heads the firm’s Benelux real estate group, which includes notaries Arief van Rhee and Kees Koetsier. The practice advised NUON on an office development and acted for the investor consortium acquiring the High Tech Campus Eindhoven. It also advised CBRE on a number of asset and development sales.

Stibbe recently advised Q-Park on its refinancing and acted for ING REIM on selling certain international real estate activities to CBRE Group. The team also assisted Uni-Invest Holding with debt restructuring and the sale of loans. Other key clients include Vesteda, Blackstone, Amvest, and VolkerWessels. Practice head Joop Janssen focuses on project mandates, while Maarten de Bruin leads on transactions and financing.

AKD has been advising investors on various real estate transactions as well as acting for developers and government authorities on major urban redevelopment schemes such as the Tilburg railway project. Mark Wintgens leads the team, which made a number of hires including Jelle Otten, who joined from Boekel De Nerée.

DLA Piper’s Rutger Oranje and practice head Monique Laenen have experience in distressed real estate matters. The practice also recently advised on financing the Project De Hallen urban redevelopment scheme.

Daphne Broerse leads Norton Rose LLP’s team, which has a strong focus on project development. It advises BMW and InterContinental Hotels Group on real estate issues, and recently acted for Luzac College on property acquisition and leasing arrangements. Other key clients include TBI Concessies, Rotterdam World Gateway and Laing Investments.

As well as representing the state and local government, Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV also acts for investment funds, developers, housing corporations and corporate occupiers and landlords. Drawing on its experience in the public and infrastructure sectors, the practice represented Almere Hart in a dispute with Unibail-Rodamco regarding the city of Almere development plan and also litigated for WSW regarding Vestia’s distressed portfolio. Tenancy law expert Alain de Jonge is recommended along with Maryse Mesu-Abbekerk, whose clients include not-for-profit organisations.

Simmons & Simmons LLP’s Frenk Huisman has experience in commercial real estate matters, with a focus on investments and project development work. The practice continues to advise the municipality of Maassluis on a city expansion project and acted for Cordea Savills on transactions and fund management issues.

Niche real estate practice Straatman Koster Advocaten has been assisting with commercial and PPP developments. For example, Wilfried Koster advised on the new Feyenoord Rotterdam football stadium. Maaike de Wit and Bas van Schouwenburg are ‘good negotiators’.

Van Doorne advises clients such as University of Amsterdam and Aberdeen Property Investors on various real estate matters. The team also acts for a number of hospitals on financings. Mark Moolhuizen and Annerie Ploumen are the key contacts.