Hall Of Fame

Next Generation Partners

Rising Stars

Transport in Netherlands

AKD

The transport and trade group at AKD has experience of shipping, including specific expertise in ship arrests, judicial sales and charter party disputes, road, aviation and rail matters, particularly in carriage of goods disputes, as well as logistic matters relating to storage and the forwarding of cargo. The team has a strong contentious capacity, with shipping litigation expert Haco van der Houven van Oordt and Jos van der Meché specialising in disputes relating to terminal operations, warehousing and logistics. Annemieke Spijker specialises in multi-modal transport, road networks and warehousing, often litigating in logistics and international transport matters. The practice is led by Jan Kromhout, an experienced transactional transport lawyer who has a focus advising on contracts in relation to shipping.

Practice head(s):

Jan Kromhout


Other key lawyers:

Taco van der Valk; Pieter de Haan; Jos van der Meché; Haco van der Houven van Oordt


Testimonials

‘Immediate response, to the point, showing merits and risks of the matter.’

‘A practice characterised by excellence in expertise and ad hoc advice. A good combination of experienced lawyers with a young ambitious team.’

‘Jos van der Meché has a strategic and often creative approach, always focused on solving the case. Annemieke Spijker has a rapid response time, and is appreciated for her knowledge of the sector and her practical approach.’

‘The team maintains amicable relations with other firms thus avoiding unnecessary juridical escalations.’

‘Fantastic team and impressive clients.’

‘Strong quality team, responsive and good to cooperate with.’

‘Haco van der Oordt is the no.1 go to partner for maritime work at AKD. Very knowledgeable, quick and solution oriented.’

CMS

CMS fields a multi-disciplinary transport team, led by Petra Heemskerk and Herman Boersen, who focus on public procurement and tax law, respectively. The group is consistently involved in matters relating to the mobility and automotive sector, with clients including public transport companies, investors, parking management companies and car brand distributors. Its transport financing work relates to assets including ships, trains and aircraft. The team focuses on developments in electric transport, particularly in the automotive sector and related infrastructure requirements, and has broader experience in the aviation, shipping and rail network industries.

Practice head(s):

Petra Heemskerk; Herman Boersen


Key clients

All Nippon Airways (ANA)


Einride


Port of Rotterdam


Trevvel


BIOS Personenvervoer


Qbuzz


NS (Dutch Railways)


Transvision


RCI Financial Services (Renault Finance)


Qatar Airways


Strukton


RSR


Int. Transportbedrijf Van der Heijden


Mirastar Ltd


Work highlights


  • Advised Eewal Beheer, a subdivision of Kroymans Holding, on the acquisition of Rebel Mobility Services.
  • Advising and litigating for Qbuzz in permitting procedures with respect to the charging stations that are required for the electric busses of Qbuzz.
  • Representing All Nippon Airways in follow-on damages proceedings arising from the Air Cargo case.

NautaDutilh

The team at NautaDutilh leverages the wider firm’s banking and finance capacity to offer strong transport asset financing services, which includes advice on financing shipping and port logistics. The group also assists with acquisitions, restructuring, and the construction of new vessels, acting on behalf of both shipowners and banks. Erik Geerling heads the shipping and port transactional element of the team, supported by Renate Punt-Huizer and associate Romy Mattens. In relation to aviation, Teun Struycken offers specific experience in a range of finance transactions including leveraged leases, capital markets and engine financing. Kasper Krzeminski is at the helm of the group’s litigation and arbitration capacity and the group is further supported by the regulatory expertise of Jolize Lautenbach, who heads the firm’s public law practice.

Practice head(s):

Erik Geerling; Jolize Lautenbach; Kasper Krzeminski; Teun Struycken


Other key lawyers:

Renate Punt-Huizer; Romy Mattens


Testimonials

‘Erik Geerling’s asset finance team is excellent.’

‘Erik Geerling is a very experienced practitioner. We also work with Renate Punt-Huizer who is a good operator.’

‘We were dealing with a specialized issue in a very technical area and we impressed with the firm’s ability to guide us on the particulars of local law, while also listening and valuing the input of our subject matter experts.’

‘Jolize Lautenbach is a tremendous lawyer, very knowledgeable and practical. Her support and advice were greatly appreciated throughout the proceedings.’

‘Commercial. Takes process into own hands. Very pragmatic with no unnecessary theories. Very knowledgeable and experienced in ship-financing.’

‘Romy Mattens and Erik Geerling. Very good, practical and offer solutions without complicating things. Experienced quality lawyers and true business partners.’

Key clients

ABN AMRO Bank N.V.


Acta Marine


Airlines for America (A4A)


Anthony Veder Group N.V.


Atlas Air


Beequip


British Airlines


Carisbrooke Shipping


Chemship


Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A.


Credit Agricole Investment


Damen Ship Lease Holding


Damen Shipyards


Deme Offshore


Danish Shipfinance


easyJet plc


Fincantieri S.p.A


GVB (municipal public transport company of Amsterdam)


IATA


ING Bank N.V.


Jumbo Heavy Lift Company


Maas Capital


MPC Container Ships ASA


Nesec Shipping Debt Fund B.V.


NIBC Bank N.V.


TUIfly (airline) and TUI (touroperator)


Van Weelde Shipping Group


Vertom


Work highlights


  • Representing IATA and easyJet in litigation before the Industry and Trades Appeal Tribunal, against the Authority for Consumers and Markets, in which the ACM approved an airport charges system set by Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for 2022-2024 which are raised by 37% in that period.
  • Assisting NIBC Bank N.V. in relation to the financing of the instalment of Ballast Water Treatment Systems.
  • Representing GVB during the upcoming renewal of its in-house public transport concession (based on the EU Regulation 1370/2007 and the Dutch Public Transport Act).

Ploum

Ploum specialises in transport and logistics and advises shipping companies and logistic service providers. The group also has expertise in regulatory, corporate and administrative law, and with a notable focus on international customs and trade law. The multi-disciplinary team regularly advises on contract terms and conditions in logistics and shipping, supply chain management, value added logistics, warehousing, freight forwarding and maritime incidents, as well as handling any contentious issues arising from the same. The practice is led by Jikke Biermasz, who specialises in transport, customs, anti-dumping and trade-regulatory matters; Marijn van Tuijl, who is experienced in supply chain management, logistics and carriage of goods disputes; and Albert Wiggers, who focuses on M&A in the transport sector.

Practice head(s):

Jikke Biermasz; Marijn van Tuijl; Albert Wiggers


Testimonials

‘Ploum are a great firm to work with on all projects where we have sought specialist Dutch and EU input on complex international trade matters. Ploum are responsive, engaged and look at commercial challenges from all angles. They have a considerable depth in both legal and practical knowledge of cross border transactions.’

‘The people in this team are very professional and are familiar with the specificities of the industry we are in. This results in a great collaboration and result-oriented way of working.’

‘Jikke Biermasz has a strong knowledge of the industry and technical expertise on Customs matters. with a customer friendly approach she delivers high-quality advisory which enables her customers to get the most-favourable outcomes.’

‘Always easily accessible, flexible, thoughtful, excellent knowledge in all disciplines in the logistics sector and beyond.’

‘Jikke Biermasz is very professional and has a thorough legal knowledge. She is also very practical which is important from a business perspective.’

‘The team has extensive knowledge of Transport and Logistics. Not only the legal aspects, but they are also familiar with the day to day businesses of transport and logistics companies, including all customs formalities.’

‘Jikke Biermasz and Marijn van Tuijl are very dedicated to their practice and have extensive up to date knowledge of all aspects of customs law and transport and logistics related legislation.’

‘Very accessible firm, lawyers available at shortest notice, experts on (maritime) transportation- and commercial law and insurance matters with thorough understanding of the practical side of it.’

Key clients

Wintershall Noordzee


Base Logistics


Peinemann


AIG


DSV


Customs Support Group


Hutchison Ports Europe


HES International


Matrans


Maersk


Portbase


APM Terminals


Marlow Navigation


Sea-Cargo


Nedcargo


KGH Customs


Service Terminal Rotterdam


Van Traa Advocaten

Based in Rotterdam, Van Traa Advocaten has expertise across key transport sectors including maritime, aviation and logistics. Practice head Leendert van Hee specialises in dry shipping, road transport and logistics and is an arbitrator in Fenex-arbitrations. Managing partner Vincent Pool has strength in road carriage, logistics dry shipping and rail transport. His clients include insurers, major logistics service providers and multinational companies, with an emphasis on contentious matters. Jolien Kruit is recognised for her expertise in transport litigation, focusing on dry shipping and general average matters, and associate Nol van Hal is regularly instructed on shipbuilding, charterparty, maritime casualties and ship arrest matters and has specific industry experience in maritime insurance and offshore construction. Aviation insurance expert Robert Pessers regularly acts for major insurers as well as airlines.


Practice head(s):

Leendert van Hee


Other key lawyers:

Vincent Pool; Jolien Kruit; Nol van Hal; Robert Pessers; Richard Latten; Marc van Maanen; Thomas Giesbertz


Testimonials

‘Van Traa analyse a matter swiftly, but thoroughly and in detail. Their subsequent advice is as thorough and detailed, and they will provide solid solutions. Issues which may have initially been overlooked, are highlighted.’

‘I predominantly work with Marc van Maanen, and Thomas Giesbertz. Their reaction time to a new assignment or query is always swift, and within the day itself. Which is quite helpful if one has to support a client with immediate advice.’

‘Working with a multi-disciplinary team. Expertise not only in law and jurisprudence but also in underlying facts and technicalities of the case. Extensive network of specialists that can be called upon for assistance.’

‘Adjust their strategy accordingly. Able to switch to a more legal or factual approach whichever serves the case best. Excellent writing skills: to the point but also very thorough. Work diligently. Excellent communication skills also outside the legal domain and into the technical and corporate domain. Understands corporate demands.’

‘They are market leaders in the Netherlands for everything marine or transport related. Large team with all possible expertise available.’

‘Jolien Kruit is an absolute international authority on General Average. A pleasure to work with and you can trust her to achieve the best outcome.’

‘Wer have been closely working together for decades. My “go to” partners are Vincent Pool and Leendert van Hee.’

Key clients

KLM


KLM Cargo


Work highlights


  • Assisted several Dutch underwriters in the general average process following the stranding of the ‘Ever Given’ in the Suez canal.
  • Advised a heavy load transport company and liability insurers on a high impact event in Germany in which a tank fell of a trailer during road carriage within Germany destined to Denmark, leading to several complicated transport, insurance and liability related questions which concerned multiple parties.
     
  • Representing the parties interested in a large and highly valuable consignment of cobalt that was stolen from a Rotterdam warehouse, engaging an action against the warehouse operator and owners.

Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance has a strong following among aircraft manufacturers, airlines, helicopter companies, and aircraft operating companies for advice on aviation financing. The multi-disciplinary team is also able to leverage the wider firm’s corporate and M&A offering, as well as its global network of sector specialists, to provide full coverage in asset finance for aviation. The practice is led by Hein Tonnaer, who is a key part of the firm’s financial markets group and co-heads the renewables group, with a focus on project, asset and export finance.

Practice head(s):

Hein Tonnaer


Other key lawyers:

Angela McEwan; Mike Niekoop; Carlijn Tenge


Key clients

BBAM Aircraft Management LP


BOC Aviation Limited


Falko Regional Aircraft Limited


Milestone Aviation Group Limited


JP Lease Products & Services Co., Ltd.


Koninklijke Luchtvaartmaatschappij (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines)


Transavia Airlines C.V.


Airbus S.A.S.


Waterland Private Equity


SkyNRG BV


AXIS Specialty Europe SE


Royal Aero GmbH


Macquarie Aircraft Leasing Services (Ireland) Ltd.


SMBC Aviation Capital Limited


ABN AMRO Bank N.V.


Cox Ten Bruggencate Advocaten

Cox Ten Bruggencate Advocaten is well versed in advising on matters concerning carriage of goods by all transport modes, including brown and blue water, highways, air and rail, and has a particular focus on logistical warehousing and distribution. The team is experienced in maritime-related issues including ship arrest, collisions, general average and global limitation, and regularly acts for insurance underwriters. The firm has both advisory and dispute capacity, with experience in arbitration and mediation, as well as contentious litigation in Dutch courts. The practice is led by Carlijn ten Bruggencate and Joeri Cox; they focus on marina cargo insurance and logistical warehouse insurance, respectively.

Practice head(s):

Carlijn ten Bruggencate; Joeri Cox


Testimonials

‘Friendly, experienced and always advising with a practical approach, taking into account the culture of the client.’

‘Carlijn ten Bruggencate is a friendly, easily contactable, experienced lawyer and trusted advisor who always takes into account our company’s culture when advising us. She is hands-on, responds fast and accurately and always thinks at least one or two steps ahead.’

‘Very much a hands-on team with very specific and outstanding expertise. Thinking of the practical outcome instead of theorising too much.’

Key clients

MS Amlin


Nationale-Nederlanden


Axa XL


HDI


AIG


DMI


Allianz


Aon


Marsh


Loyens & Loeff

Loyens & Loeff has a particular presence in the shipping finance domain, assisting banks, including Rabobank, ABN Amro and ING, shipowners, operators and manufacturers on the financing of a variety of vessels. The practice is led by Ehsan Shirzadi, who is a member of the firm’s banking and finance group and specialises in general secured financing transactions and restructuring in the shipping space. The team is also active in a number of cross-border transactional and restructuring matters in the shipping space.

Practice head(s):

Ehsan Shirzadi


Key clients

ING Bank N.V.


ABN AMRO Bank N.V.


Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A.


Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation


LCI (Lease Corporation International) Aviation


De Poli Tankers Holding B.V.


Arklow Shipping UC


Seadrill


Vertom UCS Holding B.V.


Star Clippers


MEAG MUNICH ERGO Asset Management GmbH


Norton Rose Fulbright

The multi-disciplinary team at Norton Rose Fulbright is particularly active in the logistics and ship financing elements of transport, including offshore matters. Aside from its strong asset finance practice acting for banks, shipowners and leasing companies, the team also advises on restructurings, as well as green financing, investment and asset-based lending. The transport practice is led by Wouter Hertzberger, head of the banking group in Amsterdam who has experience of structured finance transactions and asset finance in shipping and projects more broadly. The firm’s restructuring capacity was recently bolstered by the arrival of Omar Salah from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek.

Practice head(s):

Wouter Hertzberger


Other key lawyers:

Omar Salah


Key clients

ABN AMRO


ANZ


Apollo


Green Shipping Fund


Banco Santander S.A


Bank of America


BNP Paribas


China Aircraft Leasing Company


FMO


HSBC


HES Hartel Tank Terminal B.V.


ING Bank


International Finance Corporation


ICTSI


Rabobank


Prow Capital B.V.


State of the Netherlands


Standard Chartered Bank


SMBC Aviation Capital Limited


DNB Bank


Macquarie Rotorcraft Leasing


Citibank


Work highlights


  • Advising Banco Santander in respect of its Atradius backed financing for €415m for the Green Shipping Fund, a Dutch based debt fund that provides credit to ship owners for investments in new and existing vessels or retrofits that demonstrate measurable emissions reductions.
  • Assisted Prow Capital B.V. in its capacity as the fund manager of the Green Shipping Fund in its first financing under its green shipping funding programme.
  • Advised the lenders to HES Hartel Tank Terminal B.V. on the financing arrangements and project documents (construction contracts, storage agreements and land lease agreements) for the realisation of a new tank terminal in the Port of Rotterdam.

Smallegange N.V.

Smallegange N.V. focuses on aviation and shipping matters with a strong corporate nexus. The team has an extensive roster of maritime clients, as well as working closely with several global insurance brokers on contentious matters including international arbitration proceedings. Julian Van De Velde, Willem Boonk and Robert Hoepel lead the team; they are key names for international shipping litigation, with specific experience of collisions, wreck removal, carriage of goods claims and ship insurance.

Practice head(s):

Julian van de Velde; Willem Boonk; Robert Hoepel


Key clients

Steamship Insurance Management Services Limited


Seatrade Group N.V.


Noord Nederlandse P&I Club


X-Press Feeders


Stek

Stek advises clients on the full spectrum of aviation-related matters both domestically and at an international level. The team specialises in transactional arrangements regarding leasing, acquisition and the sale and financing of commercial aircraft, helicopters and business jets. The team’s expertise is consolidated by experience in aviation regulation, specifically relating to Schipol airport. The firm acts for an impressive roster of aviation clients including airlines as well as financial institutions, which it assists with financing facilities. Jeroen Timmermans leads the team and has proficiency in all aspects of aviation law, including aircraft repossession and related contract issues.

Practice head(s):

Jeroen Timmermans


Key clients

Aircastle Advisor LLC


Atlas Air


Corendon Holiday Group / Corendon Dutch Airlines B.V.


easyJet


Fokker Services/Fokker Techniek


GEFA Bank GmbH


Investec Bank PLC


Netherlands Aircraft Company N.V. / Panta Holdings B.V.


Transavia Airlines B.V.


TrueNoord


Work highlights


  • Advised aircraft leasing company Aircastle in respect of the lease of fifteen new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft to Dutch operator KLM Cityhopper B.V.
  • Representing Polar Air Cargo LLC in third party indemnification proceedings brought by KLM, Martinair, Air France, Lufthansa and Thai Airways in civil damages claim proceedings in the Netherlands related to alleged cartel arrangements in the air cargo industry.
  • Advising Investec in respect of the granting of a finance facility to Dutch aircraft, engines and landing gears trading, leasing, and part-out company APOC for growth of its engine and landing gear portfolio.