The Legal 500

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

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘responsive and experienced’ team has ‘good insight into tactics’. Willem Van Baren heads the group, which represented Draka in ICC arbitration regarding claims made by a subcontractor.

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

Allen & Overy LLP, which has a ‘well-deserved reputation as a dealmaker’, ‘combines a truly 24/7 service with in-depth knowledge’. Gerard Kastelein advised ING on its €15bn SME securitisation and acted for GMAC on the $12bn divestment of its European mortgage business. Jennifer de Lange is ‘an expert derivatives lawyer that is detailed yet also practical’, while ‘her meticulous approach to transactions ensures confidence in the legal process at all times’.

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

Femke Bierman’s team at Allen & Overy LLP advised the lenders on the €1.8bn revolving credit and standby facility for Koninklijke Philips Electronics. The practice also acted for Jumbo Groep Holding on financing its acquisition of the assets and liabilities of Super de Boer. Niels de Ru was recently made a partner and Andrew Thomas is recommended. Ben Fox ‘adds a lot of value, and understands his customers’ needs’.

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

Allen & Overy LLP advises on both debt and equity matters, and acted for the Dutch state on its €2.6bn hybrid capital injection in ABN AMRO Bank, consisting of three tranches of mandatory convertible securities. It also advised ABN AMRO Bank on the demerger of its outstanding €1bn 4.31% hybrid capital securities, as part of the split of the former ABN AMRO Group. Tim Stevens and Niels van de Vijver head the team.

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

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘excellent corporate litigators’ consistently appear on the country’s most prominent cases, and earned a number of instructions relating to the nationalisation of Fortis and ABN AMRO. The team also acted for Arthur Del Prado in a corporate control battle over ASM International that led to the Supreme Court overturning the decision of the Enterprise Court and rendering a number of principal decisions on corporate governance issues. Willem van Baren heads the four-partner practice.

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

Allen & Overy LLP offers an ‘excellent and knowledgeable service’, and is currently advising Groningen on the tender for a DBFMO concession project for two greenfield tram projects. Practice head Arent van Wassenaer is highly recommended, and Coen Thomas is a ‘solid counsel with in-depth knowledge and a keen eye for the practicalities of each project’.

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

The ‘very professional’ 13-partner team at Allen & Overy LLP advised GMAC/Residential Capital on selling GMAC’s €8.8bn European mortgage business to Fortress Investment. It also advised Jumbo on the €552m acquisition of Casino’s majority interest in Super de Boer. The ‘excellent’ Annelies van der Pauw ‘is a dab hand in corporate matters’.

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

Allen & Overy LLP offers ‘no-nonsense, to-the-point advice’ that makes it ‘absolutely value for money’. The team represented Heineken in an EU appeal against a €220m fine. It has also been acting for Meneba in the pending cartel investigation into the flour industry, and represented the Ministry of Finance on matters regarding state aid to financial institutions. Paul Glazener has ‘a good feel for the political side of things’.

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

The two-partner practice at Allen & Overy LLP advised on a high-profile dismissal claim by the chairman of the board against a joint venture between the Dutch government and Transdev. Ferdinand Grapperhaus is ‘very strong in court and very knowledgeable’. Suzanne Sikkink, who recently made partner, is also recommended.

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

Allen & Overy LLP represents leading energy companies, such as Delta, Eneco, Noun and TAQA, and recently earned a place on Shell’s M&A panel. Recent work includes representing Delta in proceedings against the Dutch state regarding unbundling obligations that Delta argues are in breach of the European right to the free movement of capital. The group has been advising Eneco Wind on the procurement, construction and maintenance of offshore wind turbines. The group also advised Dana Petroleum on its acquisition of Petro Canada Netherlands. Paul Glazener leads the team.

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

Allen & Overy LLP handles a significant amount of environmental and planning work for energy clients, acting for Dong-Airticity joint venture to develop three wind farms, and advising Noun on the planning and zoning requirements for the underground gas storage in Zuidwending. Henry van Geen heads the team.

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

Allen & Overy LLP handles the full range of fraud and white-collar crime, notably including a focus on asset-tracing and cases in the Dutch housing corporation sector. Clients praise the practice’s ‘refined balance of knowledge, procedures and open, human behaviour’. Hendrik Jan Biemond has ‘superior intelligence without being haughty, is well informed, and able to calm emotional eruptions’.

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

Allen & Overy LLP is ‘top of the market when it comes to rates, but this is paid back in knowledge, experience and agility’. Herald Jongen ‘brings great experience to the table’, while Quinten Kroes is ‘very good in commercial contracts, IP, data protection, and privacy matters’. Recent highlights include advising T-Systems on its successful bid for the global outsourcing of Philips’ data centres.

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

Van Doorne is a ‘very good law firm that offers top services on a very professional level for decent hourly rates’. Maurits Kalff and Annemieke Hendrikse are ‘specialists in D&O, insurance and liability law’. Walter Hendriksen and Eva Schutte ‘stand out from the crowd in professional liability’, while Pieter van Regteren Altena is a ‘skillful and experienced lawyer that aims for solutions that serve the client’s best interest’. Clients include Chubb, ACE, and Hiscox.

Within Intellectual property , Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP’s Paul Reeskamp is advising IMAX in trade mark infringement proceedings regarding the Formula 1 and F1 brands, and acting for Novartis in a dispute over alleged infringements of MedImmune patents. He is also advising Novozymes as plaintiff in patent litigation regarding enzyme technology. Other clients include TomTom, Warner Bros, Wrangler and Diageo.

Within Legal market overview,

Leading Dutch firms such as De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, NautaDutilh, Stibbe, and Houthoff Buruma frequently compete with the local offices of international players such as Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy LLP. Howrey LLP closed its Amsterdam office after the intellectual property team left to set up Hoyng Monegier LLP in conjunction with former Howrey LLP colleagues in Brussels, Madrid, Paris, and elsewhere. The new firm opened in January 2011 and is not yet ranked but is widely expected to do well, thanks to the number of market-leading IP partners such as Willem Hoyng, who enjoys a ‘phenomenal reputation’.

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

Allen & Overy LLP is representing Q-Music radio station on the reallocation of broadcasting permits, and acted for Dutch cable operator UPC Netherlands on its new obligations to allow resale of its analog cable subscription. The firm acts for clients across the media and entertainment industry, including Sony BMG, Amazon and Sanoma. Eric Keyzer is ‘well known for his great representation of artists’.

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

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘very responsive’ team includes ‘strong negotiators’ who acted for Bencis on seven deals, including the sale of Catalpa to Providence, and also continued to represent longstanding clients including 3i and NPM Capital. Karine Kodden is recommended for larger and more complex deals.

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

Allen & Overy LLP’s clients receive ‘excellent service from senior partners’. The group recently advised Eneco/Evelop on the development and project financing of four potential offshore wind farms, and acted for consortiums bidding on the A15 and A12 PFI road projects. Practice head Werner Runge is a ‘highly experienced and pragmatic lawyer for project finance documentation and negotiations’, while of counsel Bart Meesters displays ‘knowledge of design, build, finance, maintain and operate contracts in a Dutch setting; strong negotiating power; and good output’.

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

Highlights for Allen & Overy LLP’s team included advising RBS on relocating its Dutch headquarters, acting for the arrangers on the €735m refinancing and debt restructuring of Q-Park – which involved security and properties in 13 jurisdictions – and advising a consortium on acquiring a €95m commercial real estate portfolio. Henry van Geen is the key partner.

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

Allen & Overy LLP focuses on restructuring work, and is advising the arrangers on the €735m restructuring and refinancing of Q-Park. Its lawyers ‘are on the ball, know what is happening in the market, and execute well’. Practice head Rob Abendroth is ‘knowledgeable and experienced’, while Andrew Thomas displays ‘industry knowledge and negotiation skills’.

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

Allen & Overy LLP’s Willem van Baren was instructed by Turkish Airlines and its insurers to handle matters arising from the Boeing 737 crash at Schipol Airport in 2009, and advised on the sale of four ex-KLM Boeing 737 aircraft.

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

Olaf van der Donk’s team at Allen & Overy LLP is ‘always timely and very practical’. Van der Donk recently advised Jumbo on acquiring a majority interest in Super de Boer and the subsequent sale of 80 Super de Boer stores, while newly promoted partner Godfried Kinnegim acted for Multi Corporation on the €1.3bn sale of a real estate portfolio. John Brouwer is ‘extremely knowledgeable’, and is ‘always coming up with new solutions, and clearly documents all steps taken’.

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

Allen & Overy LLP is selected for the ‘most strategic and important cases’, and acts for KPN, the Netherlands’ incumbent fixed-line operator and dominant mobile operator, as well as the country’s second-largest cable operator, UPC. Work for KPN included advising on the auctions for 2.6GHz frequencies and winning two appeals annulling decisions by OPTA, the telecoms regulator. Peter Eijsvoogel ‘not only has excellent legal skills, but is also very knowledgeable in respect to market developments and the technical aspects of the telecoms market’. Eijsvoogel, Bas Braeken and Quinten Kroes are appreciated for their ‘professional knowledge and dedication’. Kees Schillemans joined from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.