The Legal 500

Netherlands

Commercial, corporate and M&A

Commercial, corporate and M&A - ranked: tier 5

AKD

Transport, technology, agribusiness and healthcare are sectors of particular expertise for AKD’s practice. Lennart Crain arrived from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek in January 2017; he and Zabdaj Pollen acted for IOI on its sale of a 70% stake in IOI Loders Croklaan to Bunge for €297m plus $595m. Erwin Rademakers, Nathalie van Woerkom and practice head Carlos Pita Cao are also recommended.

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Construction

Construction - ranked: tier 1

AKD

The ‘creative’ team at AKD has ‘in-depth knowledge’, provides ‘practical solutions’ and ‘really adds value’. ‘Outstanding negotiator’ Marc Wintgens is ‘a real thought-leader’; he advised VolkerWessels on the 450,000sqm Strijp S redevelopment. The ‘very calm, experienced’ Teije van Dijk, the ‘very strong’ Paul Welten, ‘efficient expert’ Jelle Otten and ‘problem-solver’ Marlies Pierik are recommended litigators.

Leading individuals

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EU and competition

EU and competition - ranked: tier 4

AKD

AKD’s department is ‘excellent’ and ‘to the point’. Brussels-based practice head Pieter Kuypers is acting for Dutch conservation organisation Vereniging Natuurmonumenten on proceedings brought before the EGC regarding allegations that various Dutch nature conservation organisations received illegal state aid. The team includes counsel Kees Jan Kuilwijk and senior associate Joost Houdijk.

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Employment

Employment - ranked: tier 4

AKD

AKD’s ‘top-notch, always available’ department is led by Pieter Huys, who represented Den Breejen in a high-profile case regarding work permits. ‘Pragmatic’ senior associate Henrike van de Laar ‘explains things simply’; François Defaix and Hans van Mens are also recommended. Suzanne Bos arrived from HVG Law LLP in October 2017.

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Environment and planning

Environment and planning - ranked: tier 1

AKD

The ‘very knowledgeable, solution-oriented’ team at AKD is led by Jos van der Velden, Gerrit van der Veen and Klaas Meersma, who are based in Breda, Rotterdam and Amsterdam respectively. Van der Velden advises ProRail on all environment and planning matters. Henk Breeman was a new arrival in March 2018.

Leading individuals

Next generation lawyers

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Insurance

Insurance - ranked: tier 4

AKD

Best known for its wide-ranging maritime insurance capabilities, AKD’s practice is headed by Jos van der Meché and Haco van der Houven van Oordt. Litigation associates Robert Hoepel and Vivian van der Kuil are often active in the energy industry. Pieter den Haan is also recommended.

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Private equity

Private equity - ranked: tier 4

AKD

The team at AKD is led by Nathalie van Woerkom, who acted for De Hoge Dennen Capital PE on the sale of Temployment Participaties to Pay For People. François Koppenol is also recommended. Financial institutions expert Lennart Crain joined from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek in January 2017.

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Project finance and PFI

Project finance and PFI - ranked: tier 3

AKD

The ‘very bright, creative’ team at AKD ‘really adds value’. ‘Down-to-earth, inventive’ practice head Marc Wintgens is ‘an outstanding negotiator’ and ‘a real thought-leader’; he advised Erasmus Medical Centre on the renovation and new construction of the Eread Building and the Sophia Hospital. Taco de Lange and Jelle Otten are also recommended.

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Real estate

Real estate - ranked: tier 2

AKD

AKD’s ‘very bright, creative’ department is led by the ‘inventive, down-to-earth’ Marc Wintgens, who is ‘an outstanding negotiator and a real thought-leader’; he is advising VolkerWessels on all aspects of the Strijp S redevelopment. Jelle Otten is ‘wise, enthusiastic and vastly knowledgeable’; Taco de Lange is ‘highly knowledgeable and well-connected’. Julian Versmissen is also recommended.

Leading individuals

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Restructuring and insolvency

Restructuring and insolvency - ranked: tier 2

AKD

Noted for its cross-border capabilities, AKD’s deparment is led by Barend de Roy van Zuidewijn, who acted as the bankruptcy trustee for Atlantic Marine Services. Paul Peters acts as the bankruptcy trustee for Royal Imtech.

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Tax

Other recommended firms - ranked: tier 1

AKD

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Transport

Transport - ranked: tier 1

AKD

Widely known for its longstanding maritime expertise, AKD’s ‘first-class’ team is noted for its ‘innovative, tailor-made approach’. The ‘strategic, client-oriented’ Haco van der Houven van Oordt, who co-heads the group with Jos van der Meché, is ‘a brilliant advocate’ and ‘very experienced in ship arrests’. Pieter den Haan, Jan Kromhout, Sebastiaan Moolenaar and Annemieke Spijker are also recommended.

Leading individuals

Next generation lawyers

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Netherlands: Banking and finance

Borrower side

Banking and finance: Borrower side - ranked: tier 3

AKD

AKD’s ‘very thorough’, ‘quick’ department often handles cross-border acquisition finance matters across jurisdictions that include Germany and the US. Department head Vincent Bettonville acts for Benson Elliot Capital Management on various finance matters. The team includes Erwin Rademakers and Jasper Verhoog, who has been promoted to partner.

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Netherlands: Dispute resolution

Commercial litigation

Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation - ranked: tier 4

AKD

AKD’s ‘bright’ and ‘responsive’ practice ‘really makes a difference’. Group head Patrick Haas is leading advice to Spanish investment bank Banco Mare Nostrum and one of its directors on a number of liability claims brought before the Amsterdam District Court. Barend de Roy van Zuidewijn and of counsel Marc Goethals are also names to note.

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Netherlands: Industry focus

Food and beverages

Industry focus: Food and beverages - ranked: tier 1

AKD

Barbara Mutsaers is the key partner at AKD, and is well known for her expertise in food law, including nutrition and health claims, product liability and recalls. Alongside Eveline Sillevis Smitt, administrative food law expert Erik Dans represented Plukon Food Group in proceedings against the Dutch state regarding new food hygiene regulations. Huib Berendschot is recommended for IP, advertising and labelling matters.

Leading individuals

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Netherlands: Intellectual property

Patents

Intellectual property: Patents - ranked: tier 5

AKD

Peter Claassen leads the team at AKD; he is supported by Huib Berendschot and Martin Hemmer, who represented Samsung in pan-European patent enforcement proceedings against numerous companies regarding Samsung’s printer cartridges. Senior associate Eliëtte Vaal is also recommended.

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Trade marks, copyrights and design rights

Intellectual property: Trade marks, copyrights and design rights - ranked: tier 4

AKD

AKD ‘manages large IP projects very efficiently’. Martin Hemmer represented Bär Software in copyright and database rights cases against companies such as Pearson. ‘Strategically inventive’ group head Peter Claassen is ‘an impressive negotiator’; the ‘very skilled’ Huib Berendschot is ‘business-oriented’. Other clients include Samsung and Forax.

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