Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV > The Hague, Netherlands > Firm Profile

‘This team has done outstanding work in the area, and does a lot to build communities among their clients such as data protection officers by organising expert meetings and knowledge events about the latest developments in the field.’

‘I’ve known Gerrit-Jan Zwenne for a long time as an academic and a lawyer. He has a can do mentality. His critical approach of supervisory authorities and his solid advice all make him stand out. He is extremely knowledgeable and competent as well as communicative.’

‘The uniqueness lies with Gerrit Jan-Zwenne. He is hands down the top authority on data privacy and data protection. True expertise shows if someone is able to explain it in a simple and effective way. No fuss no uncertainty, just practical advice and guidance with a business lens.’

‘Regarding Gerrit-Jan Zwenne: I appreciate not only his in-depth knowledge on privacy and data protection law, but also his practical approach and strategic thinking on very complex legal issues. In my view he is undisputed the most authoritative lawyer in the field. ’

‘Pels Rijcken has managed to build a top tier practice in data protection over the last couple of years that is particular know for its excellent knowledge and experience in the public sector.’

‘That’s Gerrit-Jan Zwenne without a doubt who combines a strong knowledge about privacy regulation with the capability to take positions that really help his clients to change the game. Because of his knowledge and sharp observations, he is uniquely qualified to lead disputes with the supervisory authorities, if necessary in court.’

‘Jeroen Naves is always easily accessible, thinks along with us, and steps in when necessary to go the extra mile, such as sharing his knowledge in meetings.’

‘Great litigation practice. Great lawyers with the capability to discern what is of relevance in the specific case. ’

‘Willem Heemskerk and Raimond Dufour are excellent lawyers who always look for a pragmatic approach and solution in the best interest of their client. They understand the needs of the client and “live and breath” litigation. ’

‘Pels Rijcken is the best of the overseas firms I instruct – they provide clear, well-thought-through advice, are very strong on strategy and the team is a pleasure to work with. ’

‘Willem Heemskerk is an impressive senior leader – he exudes a calm image but knows when to fight. Raimond Dufour is impressively across every detail of a matter – he is thorough, considerate and very bright. ’

‘The strength of this team lies in their understanding of the dilemmas that we may face and their capability to easily and quickly connect us with their colleagues in the public law team and provide sound advice that considers the perspective of both specialties. This sets them apart from other law firms.’

‘Peter van Kippersluis is intelligent, accessible and available. Always a pleasure to work with. He combines an intelligent and creative legal mind with an ability to understand complex financial problems and concepts. Capable of thinking outside of the box and of looking further than the legal framework and considering how to best weigh the interests at hand. His memos and pleadings in court are high quality.’

‘The unique feature of Pels Rijcken is its dedicated corporate and commercial Supreme Court litigation practice. We often engage them and they have delivered very good results over the years.’

‘Our main contact is Hans van Wijk, who we have always found very responsive, very knowledgeable and very sensible, and always available to give some quick high-level advice before going into more detail.’

‘Pels Rijcken’s team has unique expertise in acting for the state and other governmental institutions, and has an impressive track record. But there’s more: the team also has a comprehensive portfolio of commercial clients. Their level of technical skill, experience, and strategic ability makes Pels Rijcken’s litigation practice one of the top teams in the Netherlands.’

‘Hans van Wijk remains one of the best Supreme Court litigators in the Netherlands. Wemmeke Wisman is a seasoned and acclaimed trial litigator. Her strategic vision and ability to read judges is second to none, and I doubt there is anyone else in the market with so much courtroom experience. Furthermore, I am impressed by the work of Jerre de Jong and Paul Tanja from the team.’

‘Willem Heemskerk is one of the best for litigation. He wins cases because of his knowledge and strategies, but always with respect for others and he would never undermine them. Therefore he is a very mature lawyer, who handles cases with humour and respect.’

‘Gijsbrecht Nieuwland is very accessible and has a quick mind. He is able to clearly explain highly complex legal subject matters.’

‘The energy practice of Pels Rijcken is unique – they have up-to-date knowledge on all aspects of the changing and dynamic energy sector, which is super useful for clients.’

‘Iman Brinkman is a very involved practitioner, who is very interested and keen to advise. He is clearly enthusiastic about the area of law and his work – he also works quickly, is always available for questions and gives very thorough advice.’

‘We value our longstanding relationship with Iman Brinkman. His excellent knowledge of the energy markets and skilled support underpin our business.’

‘Pels Rijcken has strong knowledge of various forms of energy on a large-scale, the increasingly complex market situation, and of energy transition and can assist us in all these areas as well as in contracts with other business parties.’

‘Iman Brinkman is often involved with governments but he also enjoys working with the business community. He knows how to add expertise in other areas at the right time.’

‘The team is best in class for supporting local and central governments. It has a great sense of political sensitivities and how to deal with those in complex legal situations.’

‘Daniëlle Roelands-Fransen is a very sharp, responsive and realistic lawyer. Her hands-on and practical approach, combined with her ability to consider the interests of the many stakeholders involved in public-decision-making, make her highly recommended for any government work.’

‘The lawyers of Pels Rijcken are always very professional and up-to-date in their knowledge.’

‘The lawyers of Pels Rijcken have excellent knowledge and skills and understand the specific role they have as state advocate. Daniëlle Roelands-Fransen is an excellent lawyer with great knowledge and a practical approach.’

‘Pels Rijcken is the dedicated law firm for legal advice and procedures for the Dutch Government. They are a full-service law firm and they are competent over the full legal spectrum.’

‘Jelmer Procee and his team are always available and able to provide us with good legal advice.’

‘They are very knowledgeable and very well-informed about all relevant developments within the field and current affairs.’

‘Because they work a lot for governments, they are very well-informed re how things work within the municipality. This helps enormously in providing advice and preparing procedures.’

‘Pietr Stuijt stands out in passion for the field of law he’s working in and has excellent knowledge of this field. Great to work with because he always tries his very best to make you understand there strategy and is respectful to the client. Always look for an innovative solution if necessary and an excellent performer in a court room!’

‘The team has proven unique knowledge of the public procurement rules and is also the natural partner of the State of the Netherlands in legal procedures.’

‘Very knowledgeable, aware of all current case law and regulations and able to convey this perfectly in litigation documents, opinions and knowledge sharing sessions. Consultants with a very keen eye for political sensitivities.’

‘Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn is a very reliable firm. Their lawyers are top notch. Very professional, capable, reliable and communicative’

‘The firm is very professional. Lawyers in the procurement section understand very much their profession. They know exactly the do’s and don’ts of the State, they are very well informed of the latest changes on procurement field. Due to their enormous experience and fair advice, the State of the Netherlands (almost) never loses a case in court.’

‘I had the pleasure to work with Pieter Stuijt. he is a professional in his field. But most of all nice, patient, direct and fair. We also often laugh. He is aware of the real facts of life , which is also very important. Therefore, I and my colleagues like to work with them very much. ’

‘The fact that Pels Rijcken is a State Advocaten makes them very unique. What also makes them stand out from other law firms is their expertise and in-depth knowledge. I appreciate their competence and thoroughness when it comes to giving advice and helping out. My experience with them and our collaboration have been nothing but pleasant. This team delivers high-quality work and is always my first choice. ’

‘Pieter Stuijt is my contact. Half a word is enough for Pieter to understand issues. He is always available, always reachable, friendly, knowledgeable. I can only talk about him with praise. I am very happy that he is there when we need him. Mark Birnage is in construction law and he is always available, friendly and knowledgeable.’

‘The team has a broad knowledge of the law of the public sector and is a full-service firm with exceptional litigation skills.’

‘Georges Dictus has excellent knowledge of state aid law, whilst Marleen Botman has excellent knowledge of distribution of exclusive rights.’

‘Knowledge, speed and collaboration are key attributes of this team of, above all, friendly lawyers.’

‘Their strengths include commitment, knowledge (both juridical and contractual on IT matters), easy end professional contact, kindness in co-operation, strategic scenario thinking with their client and eyes on details.’

‘Jeroen Naves has actively contributed to the AI procurement clauses at the EU level. They have contributed to a better EU legal framework for procuring AI.’

‘Jeroen Naves and his team are efficient and short in their communication, and very approachable whenever needed.’

‘Pels Rijcken remains the top tier of Dutch civil law practice. The quality is excellent.’

‘Jeroen Naves, Bram Kleinhout and Meine Dijkstra provide excellent IT and civil advice.’

‘Jeroen Naves is available for questions, provides advice on time and gives in-house training.’

‘Jordi Bierens is very accessible and responds quickly.’

‘Arnoud Boorsma is an experienced litigator.’

‘They have a very strong practice in the media and entertainment sector.’

‘Sikke Kingma is an absolute expert on media-related issues. He also has a great personality.’

‘They are very approachable. Their knowledge and skills are fully up to date.’

‘They have a very capable team. They have a lot of knowledge and act very fast.’

‘The lawyers are very qualified and good communicators.’

‘They have ample experience in the field and the Dutch Telecommunications Act, acting on behalf of the government.’

‘Arnoud Boorsma is an experienced litigator acting on behalf of the government, in the field of telecommunication law, specifically frequencies. He is a respectful and worthy opponent.’

‘Pels Rijcken possesses excellent knowledge of general administrative and civil law, as well as specialised expertise in the telecom field. The team is highly motivated to get the best possible outcomes for us and is very accurate, efficient and professional in doing so.’

‘Arnoud Boorsma brings years of experience in the field of national supervisors and telecommunication law. That, combined with his outstanding speaking and writing skills, make him a great lawyer to have on our side.’

‘Very competent. Good communication. Fast.’

‘They know our business really well and are very competent.’

‘Distinguished by its deep expertise and specialisation in PFI practice.’

‘Fast, specialised, and concrete advice.’

‘Raimond Dufour’s assistance was essential, first to build the strategy in the early stages of the proceedings, and then throughout the arbitration, until the primary claims prevailed before the tribunal.’

‘The team is unique where high-level legal performance (such as the handling of cases in the Supreme Court) is combined with an outstanding quality of work in specific industry sectors such as the energy sector.’

‘Martijn Scheltema’s legal skills are matched by his ability to assess problems from the client’s perspective and to develop and advise a practical approach to cases submitted to him for advice or action. Iman Brinkman’s sound knowledge of civil law, commercial law and administrative law is of great value to himself and to the firm. He is a widely recognised expert in the energy sector.’

‘The team is very quick in responding to the client’s wishes and is open to considering input from the client. In addition, they have a deep bench to do research on all legal matters. They also diligently plan the work in accordance with the schedule of proceedings and therefore there is ample opportunity to provide input and review the submissions.’

‘I have worked closely with Willem Heemskerk and Raimond Dufour. They both have a wealth of experience and are very easy and pleasant to work with. Besides their extensive legal knowledge, they have a very good sense of strategy.’

‘The team excels in teamwork and client care. The team makes a great effort to acquire and apply knowledge about the specific subject the arbitration is about.’

‘Willem Heemskerk stands out because of his broad perspective on cases. As a client, you can lean on his experience in arbitration. Willem is very decisive on what’s good for the client’s position and he gives very good advice.’

‘Thorough, hands-on lawyers. Honest people.’

‘Pels Rijcken are extremely good in what they do, practical dispute resolution is a big part of their practice. Due to the climbing amount of disputes regarding the Covid-19 crisis I have seen the team evolve into smart attorneys focused on serving the interests of the State. This means navigating complex political interests and influences.’

‘I work mostly with Paul Tanja. He excels in corporate litigation and litigation before the Supreme Court/Court of Appeal. I prefer working with him because he is sharp but practical. He has all details in clear vision, but yet focuses on the big picture. His skill in finding exactly the right tone and approach with every opponent is something that is rare in attorneys belong amongst the best in their field of expertise.’

‘The healthcare team has an excellent knowledge of healthcare and its legal aspects. Like no other, the team is attentive to the public law playing field in which issues arise.’

‘The team has in-depth knowledge and extensive experience of the healthcare and life science sectors. They are really willing to think practically and come up with targeted solution directions based on in-depth legal knowledge and experience.’

‘Pels Rijcken’s team consists of excellent lawyers who are very skilled and pragmatic. As the state advocate, they perfectly know the working of a government and how to handle the political stakes.’

‘Pels Rijcken is very well known for their years of expertise and experience in handling government matters. They have their direct way of communicating with their clients. Pels Rijcken’s lawyers are excellent litigators. They take you through every step of the process and make sure to offer you all the existing possibilities and discuss the pros and cons so we can evaluate the most suitable approach. I also find it very important and appreciate that they aren’t only great advisors and litigators, but they are also very good at teaching and giving different trainings within our company.’

‘Marije Batting is very good at what she is doing. She is always up to date on legal developments and has the ability to think along and understand things not only in a strategic but also in a political way. Marije is very good at evaluating situations in a very critical/accurate manner. She is very approachable and always available. She always makes sure her clients receive the needed help and support and also provides the best outcomes possible.’

‘Sikke Kingma is an absolute expert on copyright law and a great lawyer.’

‘Sikke Kingma is one of the leading Dutch Supreme Court litigators in general, but also specifically renowned for his broad IP knowledge.’

‘All Pels Rijcken partners and associates are very good. We worked with Sikke Kingma, who is both practical and efficient, as well as highly skilled in the most technical legal aspects. Also worth noting that the junior associates are very skilled.’

‘The team we work with is very professional, has great knowledge and is very driven.’

‘Sikke Kingma is a reliable and professional lawyer. He has excellent writing skills but also verbal. His knowledge of IP is perfect, but he is also good in strategic and/or commercial matters.’

‘The team stands out compared to others due to its highly skilled individuals, excellent knowledge and quick responses.’

‘Peter Mauser is highly competent and I would like to highlight his ability to formulate a very balanced judgement in complex situations. His judgement never lets us down.’

‘Erika Wies is very approachable, has attention to detail and has great analytical skills. Erika is a professional who knows what she is talking about and is able to explain to others even though they are not legally trained. She can take the lead but always takes others into account.’

‘Ephraim Dekkers is approachable and is very dedicated. No matter what time or day, he is always willing to help and advise. Ephraim is reliable and always delivers. As someone who didn’t study law, I appreciate the way Ephraim is always willing and able to explain things to me. Also he takes my opinion and point of view seriously.’

‘I worked with Erika Wies. The quality of work was exceptional, with good input and thoughts as well as realistic options. Communication was quick and easy – I could contact her in the evenings and mornings if needed given the speed of developments. She was also able to bring in the expertise of other partners.’

‘Peter Mauser is a very amiable and skilled employment lawyer. A pleasure to work with and a valuable sparring partner for our business.’

‘Pels Rijcken has all the knowledge that is needed to advise us. They have a good position in our field of work and know our stakeholders and their interests.’

‘Pragmatic and very practical, with in-depth knowledge of the client’s needs and understanding of different aspects of the types of work within the company. Easily able to communicate at different levels, which makes them very easy to work with.’

‘Pels Rijcken is very skilled in the treatment of cases that affect the government. They are very well informed and especially active in transferring knowledge. Also they are quick and adequate in addressing legal issues. The way we cooperate is very pleasant.’

‘Floris Sepmeijer wants to know and understand all background information making him capable of understanding complex issues. It is easy to follow his advice. Reflects very adequately during court sessions.’

‘I believe that Maryse Mesu-Abbekerk is one of the absolute top real estate legal professionals. She works quickly and accurately.’

‘I think they are highly qualified, because they understand very well which interests and dilemmas we have to cope with. They don’t need extra explanation. Their approach is appropriate and ‘to the point’. My contact with Maryse Mesu-Abbekerk went very well.’

‘Good in public sector M&A and sensitive stakeholder situations.’

‘They show exceptional sensitivity for challenges on a governance and interpersonal level, in addition to the more technical legal challenges and typical M&A discussions. They are also highly skilled in the drafting of not only contracts, but also memos, tactical emails, and summaries. ’

‘Carel van Swaay misses nothing and is clear in what he sees and on recommending the best course of action therein. A perfect advisor.’

‘They have been building a strong M&A reputation in the Dutch market over the last few years.’

‘Carel van Swaay is very pleasant and very competent.’