The Legal 500

Within Arbitration , Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP’s Willem van Baren is ‘a top arbitrator! He is knowledgeable, hardworking; not arrogant but friendly and a pleasure to work with’. He leads this ‘quality’ team, which has increasingly focused on international matters, recently representing PPG Industries and Tekelec International in commercial agreement disputes.

Within Asset finance and structured finance, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP handles asset management and asset-backed securities work, frequently acting for borrowers. It advised the Dutch state on restructuring the illiquid assets back-up facility it provided to ING Group, in order for it to complete the sale of ING Direct USA. The team also advised Delta Lloyd on securitisations, including the first publicly placed Dutch RMBS in 2011. Gerard Kastelein leads on securitisations, covered bonds and derivatives work, whereas Ellen Cramer-de Jong focuses on investment fund structuring.

Within Banking and finance, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP advises lenders and borrowers on a range of transactions and regulatory issues, and recently acted for a consortium of lenders on financing Gilde Buy-Out Partners’ acquisition of holiday park operator Roompot. It also advised on acquisition financing for Oranjewoud’s takeover of Strukton Group and 3i’s buyout of Stork’s technology business. Femke Bierman leads the team and focuses on leveraged finance.

Within Capital markets, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP has capabilities in both debt and equity transactions, and its team is well regarded for ‘understanding clients’ ways of working, and being efficient’. It advised on TNT Express’ IPO, and advised Hyva on a $375m senior secured notes issuance, which was partly financed through a high yield bond. Niels van de Vijver is ‘a walking encyclopaedia; a brilliant lawyer’. Tim Stevens focuses on equity offerings and Annelies van der Pauw handles IPOs.

Within Commercial litigation , Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP ‘stands out for its client focus and to-the-point advice’ in major corporate, commercial and financial litigation, with recent instructions including shareholder disputes and international sanctions cases. Highlights included successfully representing ASMI at the Supreme Court to overturn a previous judgement regarding shareholder mismanagement. It also successfully defended the state against two multibillion-euro class actions brought by Fortis shareholders following the 2008 government bailout. Willem van Baren leads the team, which also includes the ‘pragmatic’ Brechje van der Velden and Arnold Croiset van Uchelen, who has ‘exceptional diplomatic skills’.

Within Construction , Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP’s team, led by Arent van Wassenaer, is heavily involved in PPP and PFI developments and is advising APM Terminals on construction aspects of the Maasvlakte 2 port project and the Aqaba terminal in Jordan. The practice is also acting on bids for major transport infrastructure developments – representing the Ministry of Public Works on the A4 highway tender and advising the municipality of Groningen on the RegioTram project. Counsel Coen Thomas focuses on procurement and construction law.

Within Corporate and M&A, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘excellent’ 13-partner team handles a high volume of significant transactions. Highlights included acting for Talpa on its joint acquisition (with Sanoma) of ProSiebenSat.1’s Dutch TV operations. It also advised Crucell and Draka on their billion-euro public takeovers. Justin Steer is ‘very knowledgeable, down-to-earth, practical and solutions-oriented’. Tim Stevens and Maarten Muller are also recommended, as is recently promoted counsel Jetty Tukker.

Within EU and competition , Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP represented Nestlé in an abuse of dominance case against Mars, and advised Talpa Media on merger control issues regarding its acquisition of TV assets from SBS. The practice also advised UPS on state aid matters, including pension subsidies, and represented the Dutch Ministry of Finance in an appeal against the EC regarding ING’s restructuring. The team includes Paul Glazener and Kees Schillemans.

Within Employment , Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP handles cross-border employment matters for Dutch and European clients. Practice head Ferdinand Grapperhaus ‘combines in-depth knowledge with a down-to-earth attitude and broad industry knowledge’, and recently handled compliance and governance matters for IKEA. The ‘objective and focused’ Suzanne Sikkink acted for TNT on the demerger of its Express business and for Wolters Kluwer on multijurisdictional outsourcing projects.

Within Energy , Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP handles transactional and regulatory matters in the conventional and renewable energy spaces. Highlights included Paul Glazener advising Nuon Energy on competition aspects of the sale of its Belgian operations to Eni, and Karine Kodde advising Vattenfall on the sale of Nuon Exploration and Production to Tullow Oil. Werner Runge advised lenders on financing the BARD Group and Typhoon Offshore wind farm development. Other clients include Delta, Eneco and TAQA. Counsel Coen Thomas is recommended for his ‘knowledge, pragmatic approach, friendliness and good value for money’.

Within Environment and planning, Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP focuses on energy sector developments, with recent work including securing emission allowances for the Sloe Centrale power plant and advising Sterigenics in an environmental breaches dispute concerning its sterilisation plant. Henry van Geen leads the team, which also includes counsel Jochem Spaans.

Within Fraud and white-collar crime , Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

‘A top player in the field’, Allen & Overy LLP handles cross-border matters such as international sanctions, drawing on resources internationally as necessary. The practice is acting for a European bank in a major investigation regarding an alleged sanctions violation. Clients also include multinational and Dutch corporations. A noted specialist, Hendrik Jan Biemond ‘combines experience as a lawyer with the practical knowledge gained as a former public prosecutor to give tailor-made advice’.

Within Information technology , Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP’s team is led by Herald Jongen, who focuses on IT sector transactions, outsourcing and contract matters. It advised Facebook on its acquisition of Dutch software design company Sofa, and Wolters Kluwer on outsourcing. Other clients include T-Systems, Citibank and Logica. The practice lost counsel Quinten Kroes, who joined Brinkhof in 2011.

Within Insurance , Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP advises on corporate governance matters, regulatory issues and litigation for insurers, brokers and financial institutions. ‘Pragmatic, to the point and quick in response’, Brechje van der Velden and Willem van Baren are defending AEGON subsidiary Spaarbeleg in a consumer class action regarding its KoersPlan insurance contracts.

Within Intellectual property , tier 4

Allen & Overy LLP’s Amsterdam team is being led by Brussels-based Geert Glas after former practice head Paul Reeskamp joined Klos Morel Vos & Schaap. The practice recently acted for Dolce & Gabbana in trade mark infringement proceedings.

Within Legal market overview,

The Dutch legal market is saturated with law firms, with major local players such as De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, Houthoff Buruma, NautaDutilh and Stibbe competing closely with international firms such as Allen & Overy LLP and Clifford Chance. Firms are increasingly looking to gain an international foothold or focus on niche areas such as intellectual property in order to establish points of difference to compete in a highly competitive market.

Within Media and entertainment, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP’s Eric Keyzer is ‘one of the best’. He advises on film, TV and music rights, and acted for Dutch artist Jereon van der Boom, EMI Music and Volendam Music. The team also advised Talpa on its joint bid to acquire Dutch TV operations from ProSiebenSat.1.

Within Private equity , Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP’s clients include Gilde, Bencis Capital Partners and NPM Capital. Karine Kodde led advice to 3i on certain disposals and acquisitions, including a majority stake in Dutch retailer Action and the €525m auction sale of Hyva. The practice also advised Parcom on its joint public offer with Glide Buy-Out Partners for Gamma Holding, and AlpInvest’s management on its joint bid with Carlyle for AlpInvest Partners.

Within Project finance and PFI, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

‘One of the most experienced firms for PPP projects’, Allen & Overy LLP ‘delivers high-quality’ work for project lenders and sponsors. Recent matters include advising pension fund PGGM on its joint venture with construction company Royal BAM Group to develop PPP infrastructure projects, and acting for a consortium in its A15 PFI road project bid. Practice head Werner Runge is ‘very pragmatic’, of counsel Bart Meesters has ‘great knowledge on all areas and good negotiation skills’, and associate Zeeger de Jongh is ‘very talented, very smart and provides clever solutions’.

Within Real estate , Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP is recommended for cross-border real estate financing and development, as well as commercial and residential property transactions. The practice advised on the merger of real estate funds Vastned Offices and NSI, and acted for City Inn on the acquisition, financing and development of the €130m Mint Hotel in Amsterdam. Henry van Geen leads the team and has experience in the infrastructure and commercial sectors.

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

Allen & Overy LLP is noted for its technical and practical advice to lenders, shareholders and corporates on restructurings. Practice head Rob Abendroth is an expert and recommended along with Andrew Thomas, who has ‘inside knowledge of banking; is practical and hands-on’, and associate Sigrid Jansen, who ‘looks for a consensus but is tough when required’.

Within Shipping, aviation and transport , Allen & Overy LLP is a third tier firm,

‘A very professional firm with in-depth knowledge of all related legal matters’, Allen & Overy LLP recently advised KLM on regulatory issues. Ben Fox is ‘a good drafter, pragmatic in terms of legal issues, and very strong in process management’. He acts for banks, shipping, transport and aviation companies on financing matters.

Within Tax, Allen & Overy LLP is a third tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP advises on tax aspects of M&A transactions and infrastructure projects, including Johnson & Johnson’s takeover of Crucell and PGGM’s joint venture with Royal BAM Group. Practice head Olaf van der Donk focuses on M&A, while John Brouwer handles financings and Godfried Kinnegim has international tax planning expertise.

Within Telecoms, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP draws on its regulatory, commercial and litigation expertise and remained involved in appeal proceedings regarding telecoms regulator OPTA’s market analysis decisions. Peter Eijsvoogel advised KPN on frequency auction bidding. Corporate lawyer Justin Steer ‘never loses track of relevant legal aspects’. Quinten Kroes joined Brinkhof, and senior associate Bas Braeken moved to Stibbe.