The Legal 500

Linklaters

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Netherlands

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Managing partner Martijn Koopal leads Linklaters’s banking and finance practice. The team recently assisted Rabobank International with the €400m financing of Eriks Group. Highlights also include assisting HgCapital on its €345m facility in connection with the secondary buy-out of Fabory group. Clients include ABN AMRO, Fortis, ING, and Rabobank. Paul Kuipers recently joined the team from Simmons & Simmons.

Capital markets

Within Capital markets, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Philip Charlton and Pim Horsten co-head Linklaters’ capital markets practice. The team has been active in a large number of high-profile debt and equity transactions including assisting ING with several transactions, such as advising them on their €10bn capital injection by the State of the Netherlands. The team has also advised Rabobank on its €25bn Euro-Commercial Paper and Certificate of Deposit Programme. Wim Hazeleger is recommended.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Pieter Riemer takes the lead in Linklaters’ four-partner team. Last year the practice advised Royal Bank of Scotland Group on its €71.1bn consortium bid for ABN AMRO. Recent mandates include assisting Heinz in their acquisition of Wyko from Unifine. The team also acted for CapVest in the acquisition of the Drie Mollen Team. The team benefited from the arrival of Bert Jan Kuck from Allen & Overy LLP in 2007, and Henk Arnold Sijnja was recently promoted to partner. Peter Goes is also recommended. The team receives good feedback from clients for working seamlessly within its international network.

Energy

Within Energy

Private equity

Within Private equity, tier 4

Pieter Riemer and Peter Goes co-head Linklaters’ private equity practice. The four-partner team recently assisted Royal Bank of Scotland in its commodities trading joint venture with Sempra Energy. The team also recently assisted Dubai International Capital.

Tax

Within Tax, Linklaters LLP is a third tier firm,

Stef van Weeghel leads Linklaters’s tax team. He joined the firm in 2007 to launch and run the practice. Since joining, the practice has developed well and attracted a number of high-profile clients such as Royal KPN, Ranstand Holding, Citigroup, ABN AMRO, Tommy Hilfiger, and ING. Highlights include assisting Ranstand on its €3.5bn acquisition of Vedior.


What we say worldwide

Please choose another Linklaters LLP office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

United Arab Emirates

Offices in Dubai

Belgium

Offices in Brussels and Antwerp

China

Offices in Shanghai and Beijing

Germany

Offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, and Dusseldorf

Algeria

Spain

Offices in Madrid

France

Offices in Paris

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Indonesia

India

Italy

Offices in Rome and Milan

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Jordan

Cayman Islands

Lebanon

London

Offices in London and London

Luxembourg

Offices in Luxembourg

Libya

Morocco

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

Oman

UK Overview

Philippines

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Portugal

Offices in Lisbon

Qatar

Russia

Offices in Moscow

Scotland

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Tunisia

US

Offices in New York

Vietnam

Legal Developments in Netherlands

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • State aid risks involved in real estate transactions and public-private partnerships

    Private undertakings that engage in commercial transactions with public authorities located in the EU should be more aware of the risk of unlawful state aid. This is especially true for construction or development companies, as well as real estate funds, when participating in projects with public authorities involving the sale and/or finance of buildings or land. In many of these transactions the risks of state aid are either ignored or overlooked. In general, state aid is forbidden and any unlawful state aid including interest is to be recovered from the recipient undertaking. The recipient undertaking therefore bears the risks of unlawful state aid. Hence the importance for undertakings to determine whether a risk of state aid exists in relation to commercial transactions with public authorities. If so, appropriate steps should be taken to seek compliance with rules on state aid or to notify such aid to the European Commission.
    - Boekel De Nerée
  • Distributing dividends in the Netherlands

    Several questions arise when your  Dutch subsidiary distributes dividends. Below we set out numerous issues, on a non-exhaustive basis, that have to be addressed in the process of distributing dividends.
    - Boekel De Nerée
  • Employee participation and works councils in the Netherlands

    Companies going through global reorganisations often have to deal with local rules and regulations relating to employee participation. Observing these rules and regulations is often of major importance to avoid any delay in the implementation of business decisions. This article describes some of the main aspects of the consultation process relating to works councils in the Netherlands. It covers the special provisions that apply to entrepreneurs employing at least 50 people.
    - Boekel De Nerée
  • Privatising environmental resources

    Anne-Marie Klijn, Joyeeta Gupta and Anita Nijboer discuss current investments in greenhouse gas reduction projects, and consider whether there is enough supervision of these contracts in the Netherlands and worldwide.
    - Boekel De Nerée
  • Price fixing on transfer of shares and the (non-performing) trustee in bankruptcy

    When entering into a joint venture, a great deal of attention can be devoted to the exit. For many hypothetical situations, the parties wish to lay down how the price of the interest to be transferred when a party exits is fixed. In practice, a substantial degree of flexibility is required in fixing the value of the interest to be transferred. Parties want to make the ‘reward' for the exiting partner depend on the circumstances of the exit. If, for example, a partner is being ousted on account of negligence, then this is a good reason to apply a discount to the real value of the interest involved.
    - Boekel De Nerée
  • Real estate funds under pressure: new round, new opportunities?

    Many reports have recently appeared in the media about downward revaluations of real estate portfolios. Although it is not exactly clear how big the decline in value has been, there seems to be a consensus in the market that the value of real estate has decreased considerably since autumn 2008. As a result, real estate investors have seen the value of their assets go down. This may also have far-reaching consequences for private, non-listed real estate funds. Because the financial crisis has now affected the economy as a whole, the risks have further increased. As commercial tenants are having more and more difficulty keeping their businesses going at the same level, rental income may be wiped out completely or in part. Real estate funds may have to endure a very rough period because of these developments. This may provide cause for financing banks to impose additional requirements on funds, under the threat of terminating credit or enforcing security interests.
    - Boekel De Nerée
  • Grote bouwprojecten niet in gevaar

    Als het aan de voorzieningenrechter van Utrecht ligt, kan op basis van een onder de oude Wet op de ruimtelijke ordening verleende vrijstelling gewoon een bouwvergunning worden verleend, ook als deze pas onder de per 1 juli 2008 in werking getreden nieuwe Wet op de ruimtelijke ordening (Wro) wordt aangevraagd. De Arnhemse voorzieningenrechter oordeelde op 22 april nog anders (FD 23 juli, in Recht en belastingen: 'Grote bouwprojecten dreigen te stranden'), maar daarvan is op 17 juli afstand genomen.
    - Lexence
  • Labour Law

    As a foreign employer in the Netherlands, it is important to know that there are many legal provisions that protect the interests of the employee. These are, among others, provisions regarding holidays, minimum wages, working hours and employment of disabled employees. As a consequence, you are not entirely free in concluding employment agreements. In this article, mr. Jan Dop will discuss the definition, contents and termination of an employment agreement, as well as matters relating to sickness of employees and discrimination. He will also give practical information on working conditions, pregnancy and parental leave.
    - Russell Advocaten
  • Private enforcement of competition law: a Dutch perspective

    T he European Commission (The Commission) plays hardball with respect to breaches of antitrust rules by companies. The fight against cartels remains a key priority for the Commission and record fines (for example with respect to elevator companies and car glass producers) have been frequently imposed.
    - Boekel De Nerée
  • Parent company protection

    This article discusses how to ensure that your Dutch subsidiaries do not contaminate the parent company with liabilities in times of financial crisis.
    - Boekel De Nerée