The Legal 500

Within Arbitration Other recommended firms

Within Asset finance and structured finance, Simmons & Simmons LLP is a third tier firm,

Daphne Brinkhuis and Jan-Mathijs Hermans lead Simmons & Simmons LLP’s asset finance practice. The team recently advised AerCap on the leasing and financing of 15 aircraft, and Sumitomo regarding four aircraft.

Within Banking and finance, Simmons & Simmons LLP is a third tier firm,

Simmons & Simmons LLP advised on the €1.8bn facility made available to Enexis by 136 Dutch provinces and municipalities. It also acted on the refinancing of National Amusement Inc in 2009, and on the repayment of financing and release of security in 2010. Daphne Brinkhuis heads the team.

Within Capital markets, Simmons & Simmons LLP is a third tier firm,

‘Excellent for debt and equity matters,’ the team at Simmons & Simmons LLP advised DUNIA Capital regarding the update of its €500m notes issuance and alternative investments programme. It also advised investment banks Kempen & Co and Petercam Bank on the €12m equity offering by Pharming Group, a Euronext Amsterdam-listed biotech company, which increased its outstanding share capital by more than 60%. Daphne Brinkhuis and Michiel Wurfbain head the team.

Within Commercial litigation , Simmons & Simmons LLP is a third tier firm,

Simmons & Simmons LLP is representing a former Fortis manager regarding damages claims brought by investors against the company and former managers, and is advising various Dutch pension funds on damages claims against asset managers. Bernard Verbunt leads the team and is recommended for his smooth handling of negotiations with counterparties.

Within Corporate and M&A, Simmons & Simmons LLP is a third tier firm,

Simmons & Simmons LLP advised Refresco on 3i taking a minority share in Refresco Group for €84m. It also acted for Bankas Snoras on selling its 29.9% shareholding in Spyker Cars. Jean-Pierre van Leeuwe heads the six-partner team, which is full of ‘sharp minds’ and is ‘absolutely best value for money’. Willem de Nijs Bik recently moved to Houthoff Buruma.

Within EU and competition , tier 4

Simmons & Simmons LLP is representing the European Commission in the General Court regarding an appeal against a fine issued in the Dutch brewery cartel case. It is also acting for Nedri in the first EC cartel investigation into the prestressing steel industry. Marco Slotboom heads the team.

Within Employment , Simmons & Simmons LLP is a third tier firm,

Practice head Joris Oster recently joined Simmons & Simmons LLP from Allen & Overy LLP. The group advised Merck & Co on downsizing its Dutch subsidiary, Organon, and represented Organon in complex individual dismissal cases. It also acted for Avaya on its acquisition of Nortel’s electronics services department.

Within Energy Other recommended firms

Within Fraud and white-collar crime , Simmons & Simmons LLP 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 Other recommended firms

Within Intellectual property , Simmons & Simmons LLP is a second tier firm,

Since the 2009 relaunch of Simmons & Simmons LLP’s IP practice, the team has picked up instructions from prominent clients such as GlaxoSmithKline and Nokia Siemens Networks. The team has a ‘hands-on mentality, and is always looking for ways to best serve clients’, taking time to learn a client’s business so they are ‘able to efficiently interact’. The ‘business-oriented, responsive and proactive’ Bas Berghuis van Woortman defended Microsoft in litigation and European Patent Office proceedings relating to MS Word software, and represented Bayer Healthcare in proceedings regarding the enforcement of its anti-TNF alpha antibody technology.

Within Mediation , Simmons & Simmons LLP is a first tier firm,

Simmons & Simmons LLP’s of counsel Jan Willem Bitter has a particular focus on mediation in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Within Private equity , tier 4

Leo Verhoeff’s team at Simmons & Simmons LLP advised Fortis Private Equity on acquiring a majority shareholding in TurboNed, and acted for Refresco Group regarding 3i’s minority participation. Other clients include Apax Partners and Lazard.

Within Real estate , Simmons & Simmons LLP is a third tier firm,

Managing associate Frenk Huisman took over as head of the real estate practice at Simmons & Simmons LLP upon his return from his secondment to Abu Dhabi. The group acted for the Municipality of Maassluis on developing a new city district, and advised on a number of multi-storey developments in Abu Dhabi.

Within Restructuring and insolvency , Simmons & Simmons LLP is a first tier firm,

Simmons & Simmons LLP’s practice head Gerhard Gispen is representing Citibank as agent and lender on the KPNQwest insolvency, as well as acting for the court-appointed receiver of Yukos Oil Company. Christiaan Zijderveld ably provides support.

Within Tax, tier 4

Simmons & Simmons LLP does ‘an excellent job of overall project management for all of Europe’ and ‘consistently meets high expectations’. The group advised the selling shareholders of Essent, and acted for VERBUND-International Finance on updating a €3bn MTN programme. Peter Flipsen is recommended for his ‘knowledge of OECD developments, commitment and follow-through, and relationship with tax authorities’.