The Legal 500

Loyens & Loeff fields a large tax team with specialists in a broad range of tax matters, including litigation, employment and European tax law. The firm is also valued for its strong relations with tax authorities. Key contacts include Ronald Wijs, who leads on fund formation and investment management arrangements, and Patrick van Oppen for transfer pricing issues. Marc Klerks advised Carlyle on aspects of its joint venture acquisition of AlpInvest Partners.

Baker & McKenzie Amsterdam N.V. is ‘always responsive, provides clear and practical advice, and understands client needs’. Its international network of offices is attractive to global clients, which the firm assists with a range of matters including advice on tax aspects of transactions. Practice head Herman Huidink acts for multinationals and investment funds. Antonio Russo leads on international tax and transfer pricing issues, while ‘true professional’ Erik Scheer advises on indirect taxation. The team hired Juliana Dantas from Loyens & Loeff and Eric Westerburgen from Ernst & Young.

‘High end, very dedicated and professional’, Allen & Overy LLP advises on deals, structured finance and other tax advisory matters. Olaf van Der Donk and counsel Jochem Kin ‘stand out for their knowledge and ability to reach solutions’. Godfried Kinnegim, who gives ‘spot-on tax advice and invaluable technical insights, and is a fantastic negotiator’, recently advised KPN and Bilfinger Berger on tax aspects of M&A. Other clients include NUON, 3i, Jumbo and AEGON.

Clifford Chance’s clients include LyondellBasell, Deutsche Bank and NIBC Bank. Corporate tax expert Michiel Sunderman is ‘very creative, finds practical, effective solutions and thinks outside the box’. Frank de Vos and Amsterdam team head Ate van IJlzinga Veenstra focus on international tax matters pertaining to financing, capital markets and investment funds.

DLA Piper’s broad tax practice mainly advises multinationals, particularly US-based companies. Roderik Bouwman heads the team, Boris Emmerig focuses on corporate and wage tax litigation, and Daan Arends specialises in VAT and indirect tax matters. Paulus Merks returned to Amsterdam from the New York office.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s ‘advice is always very appropriate and high level’. Paul Sleurink heads the team, which also includes newly made-up partner Frank Pötgens. Dick Hofland is ‘very creative and has deep technical skills, brilliant analytical ability and strong, practical business sense’. The team has advised clients including Intel, Ahold, Philips, and Cabot Corporation on tax aspects of transactions.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s tax team works closely on corporate and finance transactions, and is particularly noteworthy for its expertise in structured finance. Recent highlights include advising on tax aspects of securitisation, capital markets and M&A matters, with clients including Gas Natural, Sara Lee, Rabobank International, and Toyota Motor Finance. Machiel Lambooij leads the team.

Norton Rose LLP ‘understands the way clients work. Further, the advice given is clear and thorough, and very much solution-oriented’. The team is able to advise on Dutch and international tax structures. Practice head Gesina van de Wetering represents numerous Turkey-based clients, and is ‘proactive and strong, both commercially and as a tax adviser’.

Bird & Bird’s practice head Pieter Camps ‘demonstrates a good understanding across all tax matters’. The team’s expertise includes IP transfers, restructurings and cross-border employment tax. Clients include Shere Group, Netafim, Numisma, and Primus Telecommunications.

Peter van Langeveld co-chairs Greenberg Traurig LLP’s global tax group, which is ‘entrepreneurial and client-oriented’, and advises various multinationals on issues such as compliance, litigation, transfer pricing and transactions. Pim Schouwenaar gives ‘proactive advice and is always available to assist’, and Thomas van der Vliet is ‘very personable and supportive’ on international tax matters.

Hamelink & Van Den Tooren is particularly good for international tax law, and is ‘a strong, business-minded firm; creative and clearly value-for-money’. Private equity and private wealth tax planning specialist Jan van den Tooren and fund and M&A expert Servaas van Dooren are ‘smart, responsive and always looking for practical solutions as opposed to problems’.

Linklaters’ practice head Olaf Kroon advises on tax in relation to corporate transactions, with a particular focus on private equity deals. Kroon also advises on tax optimisation of investment funds and capital market transactions.

NautaDutilh advises on tax aspects of corporate and finance transactions. Department head Chris Warner is ‘extremely experienced, efficient and gives very clear advice’. Edward Rijnhout was promoted to the partnership.

Simmons & Simmons LLP’s team provides ‘excellent service’ and advises on tax aspects of M&A, financing and investment fund structuring. Clients include OAO Lukoil, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Nova Capital, Deutsche Bank, and Banca IMI. Peter Flipsen is ‘extremely well informed and connected, and has a very practical and business-friendly approach to dealing with corporate tax issues’. René van Eldonk leads the team.

Stibbe’s ‘technically excellent’ tax group advises on transactions, fund structuring and other issues, and also handles litigation. Practice head Michael Molenaars and Jeroen Smits acted for NYSE Euronext on its proposed merger with Deutsche Börse. Other clients include Swiss Re, ING, Apollo, and Warburg Pincus.

Van Doorne’s practice head Ewout van Asbeck is ‘intelligent, proactive, hardworking, and shows commercial understanding’. He focuses on corporate tax matters, including international tax structuring. The team supports the M&A, finance and real estate departments on many matters, and recently advised on tax aspects of private equity deals for Action and Uni-Invest.