The Legal 500

Within Arbitration , NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh represents ‘top value for your euro’, and has ‘tremendous aptitude and experience that one can rely on to help with critical decisions’; Gerard Meijer and Toon van Mierlo’s team leaves clients ‘feeling strongly that they will be successful’. The group is representing Eureko in its multibillion-euro BIT claim against the Polish state. Senior associate Mirjam van de Hel-Koedoot joined from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek.

Within Asset finance and structured finance, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh fields a ‘most experienced asset-backed security structuring team, which has in-depth knowledge and a hands-on approach that works excellently under pressure’. Consequently, its ‘good legal advice leads to successful closing of transactions’. Having advised ABN AMRO on establishing the Netherlands’ first structured covered bond programme, the team is now advising on establishing three more such programmes. The team’s expertise on Dutch RMBS provides clients with a ‘positive experience’. Willem Ruys and managing partner Michaëla Ulrici are recommended.

Within Banking and finance, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh’s 22-partner practice ‘never seems to have a resourcing issue, has very good commercial judgement, and does not come across instances of insurmountable obstacles’. The team advised Deutsche Bank, HSBC, and Barclays on financing arrangements relating to Bain Capital Partners’ acquisition of the assets of The Dow Chemical Company’s Styron division. It also represented BNP Paribas on Dutch aspects of its acquisition of the operations of Fortis in Belgium and Luxembourg and its asset management activities in the Netherlands. Arjen Tillema heads the team, in which Erik Vermeulen and Elizabeth van Schilfgaarde are also recommended.

Within Capital markets, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

Petra Zijp heads the team at NautaDutilh, which is active in both debt and equity work. The group advised the underwriters on Delta Lloyd’s IPO. It also advised JPMorgan Securities and Credit Suisse as lenders and initial purchasers on UPC’s €640m issuance of senior notes due 2020, and the tender offer for outstanding senior notes due 2014. The group ‘understands the sector, is commercial, practical, and knowledgeable of the likely reaction of the regulator’. Jan Paul Franx is recommended.

Within Commercial litigation , NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh’s ‘lawyers are smart, well versed in the law, and practical; they communicate effectively with co-counsel, and are real fighters’. The firm’s excellent partners include Harmen de Mol Otterloo (‘very responsive and effective’), Bart Gerretsen (‘listens to clients, results-oriented’), Daan Lunsingh Scheurleer (‘fine judgement, communication skills, and intellect’) and Paul Olden (‘business-oriented and really delivers’). Jan Loorback retired from the partnership but retains an of counsel position, while Daniella Strik left to join Linklaters.

Within Construction , NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh’s Bernard ter Haar is representing the Municipality of Amsterdam on the €4bn Zuidas project, which consists of new infrastructure, and 2.48m sq m of offices, shops and housing. Other highlights included acting for the lenders to Coentunnel for the €600m construction of the second Coentunnel and Weststrandweg Ring Road. Counsel David van Ee is also recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ Hein Hooghoudt leads the team at NautaDutilh for which key highlights include advising Deutsche Bank on its acquisition of approximately 10% of ABN AMRO’s commercial banking activities in the Netherlands. It also advised De Dietrich Remeha Group on its €1.7bn merger with Baxi and acted for Unilever during the €1.28bn acquisition of Sara Lee’s personal care products business. The team is ‘a pleasure to work with – responsive, personable, flexible, and practical’. Joost den Engelsman and Martin Grablowitz are recommended.

Within EU and competition , NautaDutilh is a second tier firm,

NautaDutilh handles the gamut of competition and EU work, from cartel investigations to state aid work, but is particularly noted for its transactional competition practice. Charles van Sasse van Ysselt heads the team, which has a strong presence in the energy sector, acting for clients such as Eneco, InterGen and Nuon. Clients are ‘always satisfied with the services rendered’.

Within Employment , NautaDutilh is a third tier firm,

Warner Roeters van Lennep and Albert van der Kolk head the team at NautaDutilh, which advised the Municipality of Amsterdam on its high-level employment matters, including compliance, replacement of key personnel and the relationship with its works councils. It also acted for Deutsche Bank on employment issues arising from the acquisition of parts of ABN AMRO.

Within Energy , NautaDutilh is a second tier firm,

NautaDutilh is acting for E.ON, Electrabel and GDF Suez on a €750m carbon capture and storage project and for Delta on the development of a new nuclear power plant. Harm Kerstholt gives clients the ‘comfort to operate in the Netherlands’, while Jaap Jan Trommel is ‘very good at giving practical and realistic advice’. Senior associate Helen Koster proves ‘instrumental in negotiations’.

Within Environment and planning, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh is advising the Municipality of Amsterdam on all environmental and planning issues regarding the development of the €4bn South Axis project and the new urban districts of IJburg and Overamstel, and InterGen on the environmental aspects of two power plant projects. Erik Minderhoud and Norbert de Munnik lead the 15-strong team, which focuses on complex and large-scale projects and environmental permits for large industrial sites.

Within Fraud and white-collar crime , NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh represents major financial institutions on fraud and white-collar crime cases, as well as acting for professional football teams, and various national and international governmental and civil organisations. Joost Italianer, Bert Fibbe and Arjen Tillema are highly recommended. Rob van der Hoeven was promoted to partner.

Within Information technology , NautaDutilh is a third tier firm,

NautaDutilh advised a major Dutch bank on contracting with two IT suppliers regarding the supply of infrastructure for its new savings systems. Clients include ABN AMRO, Fiat and France Telecom. Piet Sippens Groenewegen leads the team.

Within Insurance , NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh offers a ‘high level of expertise, high standards and client-driven service’. It successfully represented British American Tobacco in the Netherlands’ first product liability claim for damage to smokers’ health. Stijn Franken is a ‘specialist in insurance law and product liability’, and Eric van Niekerk is an ‘absolute expert in the field of insurance law’, while Tjitske Cieremans has ‘great expertise and knowledge of the business’.

Within Intellectual property , NautaDutilh is a second tier firm,

NautaDutilh ‘gives commercial, practical advice rather than just a summary of the law’. The team is representing Document Security Systems in patent invalidation proceedings brought by the European Central Bank regarding a patent for a security feature, and is defending Ziggo in summary proceedings brought by BREIN to block subscribers from accessing a torrent filesharing site. Charles Gielen, ‘the guru of Dutch IP law, is down-to-earth and a pleasure to work with’.

Within Legal market overview,

Leading Dutch firms such as De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, NautaDutilh, Stibbe, and Houthoff Buruma frequently compete with the local offices of international players such as Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy LLP. Howrey LLP closed its Amsterdam office after the intellectual property team left to set up Hoyng Monegier LLP in conjunction with former Howrey LLP colleagues in Brussels, Madrid, Paris, and elsewhere. The new firm opened in January 2011 and is not yet ranked but is widely expected to do well, thanks to the number of market-leading IP partners such as Willem Hoyng, who enjoys a ‘phenomenal reputation’.

Within Media and entertainment, NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

Piet Sippens Groenewegen’s team at NautaDutilh represented Ziggo, the largest Dutch cable and internet provider, in multiple proceedings against the media authority regarding the composition of analog TV and radio packages. It is also the preferred legal adviser to public broadcaster NOS, which it is advising on regulatory and competition matters.

Within Mediation , NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

Bart Gerretsen is NautaDutilh’s key name for mediation work.

Within Private equity , tier 4

NautaDutilh acted for Silverfleet Capital on the acquisition of German Kalle Nalo Group from Montagu Private Equity, and advised NPM Capital on purchasing half of Cyrte Investment’s stake in Bol.com. Gaike Dalenoord and Joeroen Preller lead the team.

Within Project finance and PFI, NautaDutilh is a second tier firm,

NautaDutilh’s team largely focuses on energy, utilities and PPP projects. The practice, led by Erik Geerling, advised lenders on the €700m second Coentunnel PPP. On the energy and utilities front, Arjan Pors advised the lenders on the €745m Gate Terminal financing.

Within Real estate , NautaDutilh is a second tier firm,

NautaDutilh advised ING Real Estate on transferring the Rhea portfolio of 39 prime office buildings, and on the sale and transfer of the Courthouse portfolio. The team is currently advising the Municipality of Amsterdam on the €4bn Zuidas development. The team provides ‘quick and good advice’, and includes top partners such as Bernard ter Haar and Kees Boodt. The group was strengthened by the recruitment of David van Dijk, formerly head of real estate at Boekel De Nerée.

Within Restructuring and insolvency , NautaDutilh is a first tier firm,

NautaDutilh secured groundbreaking decisions for Yukos and its Dutch subsidiaries in bankruptcy proceedings, and continues to act for clients such as ABN AMRO and the Dutch central bank. Robert van Galen ‘sees the whole picture and unswervingly responds in the clients’ best interests’, while Barbara Rumora-Scheltema is ‘extremely thorough and very industrious’.

Within Shipping, aviation and transport , NautaDutilh is a third tier firm,

NautaDutilh regularly advises on finance transactions in the transport sector, and has a particularly strong reputation for ship finance. Highlights included acting for Rabobank on newbuild financing, and on the leasing of the CBC aircraft fleet. Erik Geerling’s team offers ‘excellent service’.

Within Tax, tier 4

Chris Warner’s team at NautaDutilh acts for clients such as ABN AMRO, Mittal Steel, and Credit Suisse. The group advised Bank of Nederlandse Gemeenten on updating its €80bn debt issuance programme, and acted for Apollo on the $2.2bn bankruptcy restructuring of Lyondell.

Within Telecoms, NautaDutilh is a third tier firm,

NautaDutilh is the preferred legal provider for Vodafone, which Paul Waszink is advising on appeal proceedings against OPTA’s market analysis decisions. He is working alongside Piet Sippens Groenewegen in multiple proceedings regarding the allocation of frequency licences.