The Legal 500

Within Arbitration , tier 4

Bird & Bird LLP’s Olaf Trojan is currently defending Italia Holding against huge claims brought before the NAI. Eggo Jan Rietema and Jeroen van der Lee successfully represented Pretium Finance in proceedings over the unlawful termination of contracts.

Within Banking and finance Other recommended firms

Within Commercial litigation , Bird & Bird is a third tier firm,

The ‘thorough and skillful’ team at Bird & Bird LLP frequently handles disputes for telecoms clients such as Ortel Mobile, T-Mobile and Tiscali, as well as having a wider practice. Olaf Trojan has an ‘excellent grasp of legal issues and good business sense’, while Eggo Jan Rietema is ‘pragmatic and strong strategically’.

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

Bird & Bird LLP acted for Bosma Beheer on the sale of its stake in Vollebregt Fresh Holding, and advised Qumulus on its delisting from AIM. Other clients include Dun & Bradstreet International and FujiFilm. Harry Rek heads the corporate team, while Pauline Vos provides ‘strategic advice that proves essential in closing deals’. René Rieter recently returned to the firm from Greenberg Traurig LLP.

Within EU and competition , Bird & Bird is a third tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP picked up its first instructions from Mastercard, and was appointed as T-Mobile Nederland’s first choice for competition counsel. Other recent highlights include advising four fixed-telecom operators on an appeal against the decision allowing the KPN/Reggefiber joint venture to roll out a fibre-optic network. The ‘level of service is very good, especially the response times and commercial sense’ of Pauline Kuipers.

Within Employment Other recommended firms

Within Energy , Bird & Bird is a second tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP’s ‘small, direct team’ is recommended for its ‘quick responses and professional advice’ that is ‘above standard’. The group acts for energy industry associations and bodies, and recently advised EnergieNed on gas transmission tariffs. The team was appointed to E.ON’s panel following a competitive pitch on carbon capture storage and is currently involved in one of the largest CSS projects. Other new clients include Netherlands Oil & Gas Explorations and Production Association. Michelle de Rijke is ‘an authority in the field of regulatory affairs’.

Within Information technology , Bird & Bird is a second tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP won a number of impressive new clients such as Wehkamp – the largest online retailer in the Netherlands – and expanded its cyber-crimes practice into the public sector. Practice head Jeroen van der Lee advised PharmaPartners on various agreements, including the introduction of electronic patient files.

Within Intellectual property , Bird & Bird is a second tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP’s IP team is ‘excellent, proactive and good in developing litigation strategy’, and handles work spanning the life sciences, electronics, energy, food, and telecoms sectors. It continued to advise the European Central Bank on its patent invalidation action in an appeal relating to security devices within euro currency notes. Wouter Pors’ ‘strength is the quality and appropriateness of his advice, as well as industry knowledge, political sense, and knowledge of the playing field’, while Armand Killan is ‘proactive and responsive’.

Within Media and entertainment, Bird & Bird is a second tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP’s ‘overall level of service is splendid’, with ‘response times that are extraordinary’ and advice that is ‘thorough, swift and practical’. Pauline Kuipers is representing the foundation of Dutch regional broadcasters in a dispute regarding the uplinking and distribution of signals via satellite. Olaf Trojan has ‘excellent analytical skills’, is ‘proactive, involved, and well informed’, and ‘really delivers’.

Within Tax, tier 4

Bird & Bird LLP’s clients include Homburg Group, Spur Steak Ranches and BT, while it also recently won instructions from new clients Holmes Place Europe, Primus Telecommunications and Palace Group. Pieter Camps and Ernst Barten are the key contacts at the four-lawyer practice.

Within Telecoms, Bird & Bird is a first tier firm,

Bird & Bird LLP is representing BT, Colt, Verizon, Tele2, Atlantic Telecom, UPC and Pretium Telecom in enforcement and appeal proceedings against OPTA’s most recent market analysis decisions. Other highlights included advising clients such as Tele2, Online and Eurofiber on fibre-optic programmes. Practice head Marjolein Geus is a ‘leading specialist in her field’, and ‘has the right connections with regulators’.