The Legal 500

Within Arbitration , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is currently representing Eureko Achmea in arbitration proceedings, and acted for Amsys (the City of Amsterdam) in injunction proceedings against Bombardier. Headed by Marnix Leijten, the team’s clients include Shell and the state of the Netherlands.

Within Asset finance and structured finance, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a second tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek provides an ‘efficient’ and ‘solutions-driven’ service to clients. The team has recently been involved in a number of high-profile transactions, including its continued representation of the Municipality of Amsterdam on its purchase and finance of metro cars and security equipment for the extension of the Amsterdam metro network. Other standout mandates included assisting the Export-Import Bank of the United States on the $139m acquisition financing of a Boeing 777 aircraft. Menno Stoffer heads a team that includes Berend Crans.

Within Banking and finance, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s leading banking and finance practice is highly rated in the market, with the team assisting an impressive client list that includes domestic corporates such as Royal Dutch Shell, international banks including Barclays and HSBC, and international investment banks such as Goldman Sachs. Recent standout cases include advising the state of the Netherlands on its €200bn interbank guarantee and €20bn recapitalisation schemes. Practice head Menno Stoffer leads a ‘proactive team’ which provides ‘pragmatic advice’ and ‘sharp legal analysis’.

Within Capital markets, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek provides ‘an excellent level of service’, from ‘a dedicated team’ that is ‘knowledgeable’ and has a ‘deep understanding of the relevant markets’. Recent highlights include assisting SNS REAAL on its emergency funding through the issuance of core tier 1 securities of €750m and €500m to the state of the Netherlands and Stichting SNS REAAL. Jan Willem Hoevers is an ‘outstanding adviser’ and an ‘out-of-the-box thinker’; Niek Biegman ‘gets things done’; and practice head Marnix Somsen is also recommended.

Within Commercial litigation , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s leading position in the market has been earned as a result of its regular involvement in the country’s most significant corporate and securities litigation. The team consists of experts across a variety of areas including banking, capital markets, insurance, IP, and regulatory enforcement. Recent standout mandates include defending Fortis in various securities claims, and representing Danone in threatened actions by shareholders relating to its takeover by Numico. Managing partner Mark Biesheuvel heads the litigation practice, and Marc Ynzonides is the lead partner for commercial and Supreme Court litigation. Berto Winters is recommended on the commercial side, and Harm-Jan de Kluiver has an excellent reputation for corporate litigation.

Within Construction , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a second tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s practice head Bommel van der Bend is a ‘very experienced lawyer’, ‘with all the necessary skills and knowledge to advise on a strategic level in complex tender procedures and contracts’. The group advised the Port of Rotterdam Authority on its large-scale reclamation project in the Rotterdam Harbour area. On the contentious side, the team represented Afval Energie Bedrijf Amsterdam in a dispute regarding the construction of a combined combustion and energy plant.

Within Corporate and M&A, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

‘Leading firm’ De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has one of the Netherlands’ most sought-after corporate practices and acted on many of the year’s standout deals. The team assisted transmission system operator, TenneT TSO, on three major acquisitions, and also advised Royal Friesland Foods (and branch companion Campina) on its intended merger. Praised for its ‘speed of delivery and knowledge’, the group is led by Lodewijk Hijmans van den Bergh, and includes recommended partners Arne Grimme, Martin van Olffen, Pierre Nijnens and Jan Willem de Boer.

Within EU and competition , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s competition team provides an ‘excellent level of service’ and is ‘at the top of the market in terms of legal skills, speed of delivery and knowledge of the business’. The group successfully achieved competition clearance in relation to Royal Friesland Foods and Campina’s €9.1bn merger. In the state aid arena, a team led by Jolling de Pree assisted the Dutch government on its emergency funding of domestic financial institutions. Chairman of the Dutch Association for Competition Law, Martijn Snoep’s ‘knowledge of the FMCG market is outstanding, and ensures that he provides a thorough and a high-quality service’. Erik Pijnacker Hordijk and managing partner Mark Biesheuvel are also recommended.

Within Employment , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

The ‘top-class’ team at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek ‘has the ability to put the law into context for the client’. It recently handled major reorganisations for clients including Getronics, Holland Casino, Sun Chemical and Philips, and the practice also spans traditional employment work, including Supreme Court litigation and corporate support. The team includes Evert-Jan Henrichs, the ‘concise and accurate’ Liesbeth Zwart-Sneek, and Harro Knijff, who regularly assists football players and other sports personalities.

Within Energy , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s leading energy practice is headed by the ‘on the ball’ Dieter Wolff, following former practice head Jaap de Keijzer’s move to the Dutch Competition Authority. The team consists of specialists across various areas, including Wolff, who handles energy-related M&A work; Elisabetta Aarts, who handles regulatory and contract advice; Berend Crans and Rutger de Witt Wijnen, who handle structured and asset finance in the sector; and Nicolien van den Biggelaar, who is recommended for energy infrastructure. Recent highlights for the cross-practice group include assisting TenneT with the acquisition of high-voltage networks owned by Essent, Nuon and Delta. Marnix Leijten is recommended for energy-related litigation.

Within Environment and planning, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek gives ‘speedy’ advice, which is ‘fit for purpose’, and exhibits ‘excellent’ industry knowledge. ‘Pragmatic’ practice head Nicolien van den Biggelaar ‘provides great service with respect to environmental and nature conservation law’. Standout instructions included advising the Port of Rotterdam in creating a new location for port activities in the North Sea. Clients include Gasunie, AkzoNobel and TenneT.

Within Fraud and white-collar crime , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a second tier firm,

Headed by Marnix Somsen, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s fraud and white-collar crime team regularly assists Dutch multinationals and financial institutions in big-ticket litigation and investigations. Recent highlights include advising Royal Philips Electronics and Philips Pension Fund in a significant financial fraud matter. Patrick Ploeger and Martijn Snoep are recommended.

Within Information technology , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has a ‘highly focused IT team which adds value by finding practical and commercial solutions’. The team ‘works hard’, and ‘keeps abreast of developments in the global IT industry to bring international best practice to each transaction’. Lokke Moerel (‘understands the needs of the client and brings a high level of commercial sense to a transaction’); Judica Krikke (‘a good team player’); and Lieneke Viergever (‘an up-and-coming lawyer’) are all highly regarded. The group is highly recommended for outsourcing work, data protection and IT litigation.

Within Insurance , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a second tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s insurance team has ‘a good grasp of the law’, and includes ‘independent thinkers’ who are ‘tenacious’, and ‘client orientated’. Marina de Kort-de Wolde is the partner contact. Clients include Fortis and Royal Philips.

Within Intellectual property , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s IP practice is ‘absolutely top of the tree’, and ‘knows when an in-depth opinion is needed, or when a more practical approach is called for’. The group provides ‘high standards and good value for money’, and is highly recommended for its patent expertise. Recent highlights include advising Double Eagle Brands and Nolet in their joint venture with Diageo, and successfully defending PepsiCo in a trade mark action brought by G-Star. The team also represented RTL in a copyright dispute with the actors of the TV series Flodder. Trade mark expert Koen Limperg is ‘one of the very best IP lawyers’, and Tobias Cohen Jehoram and Joris van Manen are ‘very good in their fields of expertise’.

Within Legal market overview,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, NautaDutilh, Stibbe and Houthoff Buruma are among the domestic firms which demonstrate real strength across many practice areas, while Clifford Chance’s position in banking and private equity remains almost unrivalled. In a market where local firms generally dominate, Allen & Overy LLP has successfully bridged the gap between the domestic and international markets.

Within Media and entertainment, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek recently assisted copyright watchdog Brein in litigation against P2P file-sharing website The Pirate Bay and its alleged acquirer Global Gaming Factory, and also assisted Google in various matters including domain names and use of content. Clients include media and entertainment companies, TV producers, sportspeople and sports organisations, and motion picture companies. Joris van Manen is highly recommended.

Within Mediation , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a first tier firm,

At De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, Bommel van der Bend is recommended for mediation, particularly in the energy sector.

Within Private equity , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a third tier firm,

Clients value De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s ‘industry knowledge’, and ‘ability to translate difficult concepts into understandable language’. Clients include Silver Lake, Texas Pacific Group, ABN AMRO Capital and Rabo Private Equity. The team recently assisted Argonaut Ventures on a €50m minority investment in Cordys. Bernard Spoor is ‘pragmatic and client friendly’, and Kees Groffen is ‘very well connected in the industry’ and a ‘very skilled lawyer with excellent drafting skills’. Arne Grimme is also recommended.

Within Project finance and PFI, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a third tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek handles infrastructure, power, wind, and PPP projects, and recently advised BAM on the procurement of several large utility PPP projects in the Netherlands. The group also assisted Gasunie on the €375m project financing for the development of gas pipelines and compressor stations. Headed by Menno Stoffer, the team also includes the ‘dedicated’ Jan Marten van Dijk.

Within Real estate , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a second tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek advises clients across the full gamut of real estate matters including property acquisition, project development, planning, real estate funds, and real estate litigation. Recent highlights include advising TenneT on the extension of the national high-voltage grid throughout the Netherlands. Paul Kerckhoffs recently joined Loyens & Loeff.

Within Restructuring and insolvency , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a second tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s practice underwent some changes in 2009, with Jan Willem de Boer taking over as head of practice following Sijmen de Ranitz’s move to of counsel. The firm has a longstanding reputation as a top-notch restructuring and insolvency outfit, and receives a steady diet of big-ticket mandates from its impressive portfolio of banking and corporate clients. ‘Competent, practical and a good negotiator’, Berto Winters is highly regarded in the market.

Within Shipping, aviation and transport , De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a second tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has a prominent reputation in the aviation and rail sectors, and in Berend Crans has ‘one of the leading aviation finance lawyers in the Netherlands’. The team recently assisted the Export-Import Bank of the United States on the acquisition financing of a Boeing 777 aircraft leased by Cielo Leasing to KLM. Menno Stoffer is recommended and has recently represented LVNL, the Dutch Air Traffic service provider, on a number of matters.

Within Tax, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a third tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek recently advised Royal Friesland Foods and branch companion Campina on their €9.1bn merger, and assisted the Ministry of Finance on its €3bn emergency funding provided to AEGON. Dick Hofland is an ‘exceptional tax lawyer’, and Paul Sleurink is also highly recommended.

Within Telecoms, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a second tier firm,

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek recently assisted Royal KPN on its joint venture with Reggefiber on the roll-out of glass fibres in the Netherlands. Jolling de Pree, head of the firm’s competition and regulation practice, is regularly involved in telecoms-related matters. Clients include Nokia, Swift and TenneT.