The Legal 500

Within Arbitration, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,

Jeroen Ouwehand and Juliette Luycks are recommended for arbitration matters at Clifford Chance. The team demonstrates real strength in handling complex multi-jurisdictional work, and recently represented Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep in a dispute with the Government of Nigeria.

Within Asset finance and structured finance , Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance is ‘without a doubt the best in the field’ of asset and structured finance. Kees Westerman is ‘very strong’ and the team as a whole ‘has strong product knowledge and a global presence’. The team developed the first ever Dutch covered bond programme for ABN AMRO, and is working on a number of other covered bond programmes. Clients praise the team’s innovative practice which ‘established the Dutch Covered Bond law in July 2008’. Tineke Kothe is recommended, as is up-and-coming associate Rezah Stegeman.

Within Banking and finance, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance ‘has better knowledge of documentation and industry than most other firms in the Netherlands’ and offers both Dutch and English law expertise. The team boasts, ‘outstanding lawyers, all are very down to earth and available for all levels of transaction’, and acted for Barclays, ING Bank N.V. and Bank of Ireland in the acquisition financing of Ad van Geloven. On the lending side, the practice has advised BNP Paribas and ABN AMRO. Bas Boris Visser and Jelle Hofland have ‘an active approach to solving issues and good knowledge of the latest market developments’. Practice head Mark Huddlestone is singled out for particular praise by clients, with Angela McEwan and Jackie Jones also recommended.

Within Capital markets, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance’s capital markets team demonstrates ‘fast turn-around time, good liaison with their international partners, and day-and-night execution capabilities’. The team has an excellent market profile for its DCM capabilities, and is also heavily engaged on the equity side. The practice continued its role in numerous MTN programmes and stand-alone issues for leading arrangers and high-profile issuers such as Deutsche Telekom, E.ON, and Commerzbank. As for equity, the team has advised Barclays on its announced share exchange offer for ABN AMRO. Recent highlights include acting for Rabo Securities in connection with a proposed offering by a Euronext Amsterdam-listed issuer. Hans Beerlage and Thijs Alexander are highly recommended by clients.

Within Commercial litigation, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,

Jeroen Ouwehand heads Clifford Chance’s litigation practice. Recent highlights for the practice include representing various investors in the liquidation of shares in a Dutch subsidiary of Yukos Oil Company, Yukos Finance. The team has also recently represented Deutsche Bank, Barclays, and Harbourmaster in proceedings brought by the receivers of KPNQwest.

Within Corporate and M&A, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance’s practice focuses on high-end transactions, and demonstrates strength in complex international transactions. Recently the team, led by Charles Eijsbouts, advised Staples Inc. on its public offer for all outstanding shares in Corporate Express. The team is active advising Russian and other international clients, including RESO Holdings Limited, on the disposal of a 33% stake in Russian insurer RESO GARANTIA. The team is praised for its ‘excellent client contact, dedication, and co-ordination’. One client states, ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and I have enjoyed this pudding’. Gregory Crookes was recently promoted to partner, taking the total number to 12.

Within EU and competition, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance’s inter-practice co-operation is ‘seamless’ according to one source. The competition team is ‘professional and able to deliver high quality’. Recently the team, led by ‘strategic lawyer’ Geert van der Kils, advised European Directories on the competition issues surrounding the acqusition of Truvo Nederland , the publisher of the Dutch Yellow pages (Gouden Gids). The practice has a strong client portfolio that includes Vodafone, L’Oréal, and ebay. The team is praised for its ‘perfect technical support’.

Within Employment, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,

Head of employment at Clifford Chance Ruth van Andel is ‘highly respected by clients’. Recently the team has been advising Royal Shell Dutch on their multi-juristictional IT infrastructure outsourcing, as well as acting for a number of high-net-worth individuals. Other highlights include advising European Directories on employment and pensions aspects of the acquisition of Truvo Nederland. One client states ‘it’s the individual who makes the difference, and Ruth really does’.

Within Energy, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Tom de Waard, who specialises in M&A-related energy work, and Tjepco van Voorst Vader, who covers the regulatory side, head Clifford Chance’s energy practice. The team has advised a large European energy company on its intended acquisition of a Dutch energy company, and has also acted as project counsel for the Dutch law partnership between ENECO and ENECOGEN.

Within Environment and planning, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Jaap Koster, who arrived last year from Houthoff Buruma, heads Clifford Chance’s environment and planning practice. The team of ten fee earners advises and litigates in relation to M&A, infrastructure and energy projects, as well as legislation regarding waste, emission rights and sustainability issues. The team advised CVC Capital Partner on environmental aspects pertaining to a majority stake in the Dutch supermarkets group, Schuitema.

Within Information technology, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance’s IT team has advised Shell on its multi-juristictional infastructure outsourcing. Vodafone Netherlands is a key client for the practice, as is Accenture Netherlands, which appointed the team as preferred partner for its outsourcing and contracting work. The team regularly advises on the IT aspects of M&A deals. Alvin Khodabaks is the heads the practice.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Clifford Chance’s intellectual property practice’s primary focus is on soft IP matters. The team, led by Alvin Khodabaks, acts for clients in the fashion and design companies, and represents Endemol in litigation relating to copyright infringement and unfair competition regarding the Big Brother format.

Within Legal market,

The Dutch legal market remains dominated by domestic players including De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, Nautadutilh and Houthoff Buruma. Some international firms have also established themselves, including Clifford Chance, whose banking practice remains a force in the market; while Allen & Overy LLP benefits from being the one firm to straddle the domestic and international markets.

Within Media and entertainment, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance’s Joachim Fleury demonstrates ‘depth of knowledge and excellent communication skills’, while the team is ‘internationally experienced and service-oriented’. The three-partner team counts Endemol, BBC, and AOL as clients. One client states ‘I instruct Joachim and his team on international matters because the triangle of London, Amsterdam and Düsseldorf works well’.

Within Mediation, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance has been involved in mediations in the energy and telecoms sectors.

Within Private equity, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance has a first-class reputation in the market for its private equity work. The team advised Candover and London Acquisition on an intended recommended cash offer for Stork, the Dutch industrial conglomerate. Another highlight was advising Gilde Buy Out Partners in relation to its intended public bid of Royal Econosto. Clients also include 3i, and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners. Charles Eijbouts heads the practice. Gregory Crookes and Sander Klassen were recently appointed partners within the team which is recommended for its ‘quality of legal structuring, availability and fast processing’.

Within Project finance and PFI, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance has a leading projects team, with includes star performers such as Jaap Koster, Theo Kliebisch and Mark Huddlestone. The team advised Coentunnel Company on reaching its financial close for the 2nd Coentunnel project, the largest PPP infrastructure project on the Dutch market. Another highlight for the practice was the advising lenders on the financing of the Sloecentraleproject. The team is ‘very responsive, has quick turnaround times and is proactive in sharing market intelligence’. One client states ‘Clifford Chance set the standard that needs to be matched by other firms’.

Within Real estate, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance has a wealth of talent in its real estate practice. Recent highlights for the practice include advising CVC Capital on the acquisition of a majority stake in Schuitema, owning and leasing over 450 supermarkets in the Netherlands. A team led by Helena Hoops and Jonne Buijtels advised Goodman UK Limited, Goodman France, Dollplace Limited and GPI Holdings Limited on the sale of Goodman Property Investors. Jaap Koster and Tjepco van Voorst Vader are recommended.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance’s team benefits from the strength of the firm’s banking practice, and has advised the Dutch Central Bank on the purchase by the government of the Dutch banking and insurance subsidiaries of the Fortis group. The practice has also advised a number of financial institutions across the globe in relation to the Dutch insolvency of Lehman Treasury.

Within Shipping, aviation and transport

Within Tax, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,

Clifford Chance is ‘particularly proactive in dealing with changes in tax law and adjustments to the complex Netherlands tax regimes’. The team is well positioned to cover every aspect of tax advice and Frank de Vos is ‘especially impressive, with an excellent grasp of deal structures and the ability to explain complex tax issues clearly’. The team recently advised Hertz in its €1.5bn international fleet financing, as well as advising Barclays on its announced share merger with ABN AMRO. Ate van IJlzinga Veenstra heads an ‘efficient team’.

Within Telecoms, Clifford Chance is a third tier firm,

Clifford Chance’s Joachim Fleury is described as ‘very good value for money, service-oriented, with excellent communication skills’. The team of ‘open-minded, internationally experienced lawyers’ advised Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile Netherlands Holding on the acquisition of Orange Netherlands from France Télécom.