The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, AKD is a second tier firm,

AKD’s ‘good-quality’ team focuses on serving US and Asia-based clients, acting as Dutch counsel to clients such as Berau Coal and Sumitomo Corporation on various bank lending arrangements. Practice head Vincent Bettonville is experienced in syndicated loan and security transactions.

Within Commercial litigation Other recommended firms

Within Construction, AKD is a second tier firm,

AKD has been advising on construction aspects of distressed real estate as well as large-scale PPP projects. Highlights included advising Breda regional authority on constructing a new public transport terminal and acting for E.ON regarding the Maasvlakte Power Plant 3 project. Marc Wintgens leads the team. Jean-Pierre van Eijck has strong experience in construction disputes and new hire Jelle Otten is an expert in private construction work.

Within Corporate and M&A, tier 4

AKD acts on domestic and cross-border transactions, and advised Intres on its merger with Euretco to form the biggest retail services company in the Netherlands. The team also advised Cogas Kabel on CIF's purchase of a 50% stake in the client. Erwin Rademakers acts for various Asian companies such as Mitsubishi Corporation, Panasonic and KEPCO. Nathalie van Woerkom and Carlos Pita Cao are also recommended.

Within EU and competition, tier 4

AKD has particular expertise in public procurement and state aid matters, and is increasingly handling merger control and cartel cases. Recent highlights include assisting Intres with a merger filing and acting for various Dutch provinces regarding a complaint concerning alleged state aid provisions. It also regularly advises postal service provider Sandd on competition law. Pieter Kuypers heads the practice.

Within Employment, AKD is a third tier firm,

AKD ‘partners with clients to look for solutions together’ in complex, sensitive employment law matters. Practice head François Defaix is ‘both personable and professional’. He advises clients such as GE International on issues including employee participation and work conditions. He also acted for WPN in filing a complaint against the Dutch state regarding ILO Convention provisions. Pieter Huys has ‘real business acumen, good analytical skills and is an experienced litigator’.

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

AKD advises private and public sector clients on the full scope of environment and planning matters, and is currently involved in a number of energy, infrastructure and regeneration projects. It is advising E.ON Benelux on contentious issues regarding the Maasvlakte Power Plant 3. Jos van der Velden, who leads the government and corporate practice, specialises in environmental law issues.

Within Insurance Other recommended firms

Within Intellectual property, tier 4

AKD’s broad IP practice recently acted for defendants in trade mark cases brought by Converse and Red Bull, and department head Peter Claassen represented Allposters in a copyright infringement dispute against a subsidiary company of Art.com. Trade mark specialist Huib Berendschot is ‘creative and quick to take action’.

Within Private equity Other recommended firms

Within Project finance and PFI, tier 4

AKD is advising on the redevelopment of Breda railway station, and acting for Volker Wessels, Park Strijp and the municipality of Eindhoven on a large-scale inner-city redevelopment, among other infrastructure and urban redevelopment projects. Marc Wintgens leads the team, which hired Harro Coppens from Stijl advocaten.

Within Real estate, AKD is a third tier firm,

AKD has been advising investors on various real estate transactions as well as acting for developers and government authorities on major urban redevelopment schemes such as the Tilburg railway project. Mark Wintgens leads the team, which made a number of hires including Jelle Otten, who joined from Boekel De Nerée.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, AKD is a second tier firm,

AKD’s practice head Barend de Roy van Zuidewijn remains busy acting as bankruptcy trustee in a number of proceedings, including that of Netherlands-based companies in CEG Group. The team is also Dutch counsel to Lehman Brothers Holdings in relation to the Lehman Brothers Treasury insolvency.

Within Shipping, aviation and transport, AKD is a first tier firm,

AKD is ‘one of the best’ for shipping and maritime law, and clients include P&I clubs, insurers, shipping and road cargo companies. Practice head Haco van der Houven van Oordt is ‘very user-friendly and an excellent lawyer’ on ship finance and ship arrests. The transport and trade team, which handles a significant volume of cross-border matters, includes ‘expert in transport law’ Taco van der Valk and Jos van der Meché, who ‘knows his subject matter inside out and is commercially minded’.