Netherlands

AKD welcomes Harm Kerstholt as partner in its energy practice in the Netherlands. Harm brings over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and large-scale sustainable projects, including offshore wind, solar energy and hydrogen. With Harm’s arrival, AKD adds a strong transactional component to its energy practice, which is already renowned for its expertise in permitting, grid connections and litigation, giving the team a significant boost. Harm has witnessed first-hand how profoundly the energy sector has changed over the past decades. “Where the market was once stable and fossil-driven, it is now open, volatile and fully focused on sustainability,” he says. “Decentralised generation, grid congestion, hydrogen projects and the growing demand for electricity all require a new approach. In this dynamic landscape, it is crucial that deals and collaborations are both legally robust and flexible. With my experience I help clients seize opportunities and manage risks, ensuring that investments deliver maximum return.” His expertise and leading market position are internationally recognised, with top rankings in prestigious legal directories such as Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500. Clients describe his approach as pragmatic and results-oriented, with a strong focus on collaboration and clear explanations of complex matters. “Alone, we go fast; together, we go further. I look forward to working with the AKD team in the coming years to strengthen our reputation as the undisputed ‘go-to firm’ for strategic deals, projects and disputes in the Benelux energy sector,” says Harm. “We are delighted to welcome Harm to our team,” says Carlos Pita Cao, managing partner of AKD. “The energy sector is in the midst of a fundamental transition. For our clients this means that transactions and projects are becoming increasingly complex and strategic. With Harm on board, we are strengthening our ability to support clients in this area. His experience is an excellent match with our firm’s focus on the further expansion of our energy practice.” In recent years, AKD has played a leading role in a wide range of energy projects and transactions. The firm advises clients in the Netherlands and Belgium on the full spectrum of energy law. Within a single integrated team, the firm combines project development, transactions, permitting, financing and energy disputes. This approach makes AKD a true ‘one-stop shop’ for project developers, investors, financiers, grid operators, public authorities and energy companies navigating the energy transition. With over 500 lawyers, tax advisers, civil-law notaries and support staff in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, AKD is a leading Benelux law firm. For our clients, we are the gateway from, to and in the Benelux. Rashida Ishaak [email protected] +31 6 11 18 97 09 AKD Wilhelminakade 1 3072AP Rotterdam www.akd.eu  

Amsterdam, 6 March 2025 - AKD welcomes new partner Michiel de Wit to its Real Estate team at the Amsterdam office. With Michiel on board, AKD is able to further deepen its services for international investors, particularly in the fields of Asset Management and ESG. Michiel is a renowned expert in Asset Management and commercial lease law. Having a strong international focus, he has been a trusted legal adviser to institutional real estate investors, German and Anglo-Saxon investors in particular, with dealings in the Netherlands for over 20 years. With his in-depth knowledge of commercial lease law and hands-on experience in Asset Management and ESG, he handles advisory and litigation work for his clients. Michiel has a reputation for effectively negotiating opportunities and legal challenges raised in these areas or to translate them into commercial advantages. His expertise is, accordingly, widely recognised: the Legal 500 commends him as a Leading Partner for Real Estate. What sets Michiel apart, in addition to his legal expertise, is his engaged and strategic approach. "My clients do not just expect legal certainty, they also expect strategic sparring. I help them optimise their real estate portfolios, from an ESG and energy perspective as well, and seize opportunities that go beyond the standard approach. 'Dare to challenge' and 'get the deal done' are not just slogans - they embody my way of working", adds Michiel. With Michiel joining the firm, AKD forges ahead in expanding its international real estate practice. Carlos Pita Cao, Managing Partner of AKD, stresses the strategic value of this appointment: "We are delighted to welcome Michiel as a partner. The real estate sector is becoming increasingly complex, with rising international investments and legal challenges in the areas of sustainability, energy and ESG. Michiel understands better than anyone how to turn this dynamic into strategic opportunities and how to implement those. His experience dealing with international investors makes him a key player in AKD's ambition to remain the leading real estate firm in the Benelux." Boasting one of the largest real estate teams in the Netherlands and Belgium, AKD continues to invest in offering high-quality legal services to national and international real estate market parties. With the addition of Michiel to our 85+ team of real estate specialists, we are able to offer clients even more comprehensive and deeper legal advice on real estate, energy and ESG.

Osborne Clarke - Netherlands has advised the shareholders of Oaky, an award-winning hotel upselling SAAS platform, on the sale of Oaky to Plusgrade, a global leader in ancillary revenue solutions. This strategic combination brings together two proven solutions, united as one, to deliver the most powerful upsell experience in hospitality. The best, made better. Erik Tengen – President of Hospitality Upsell: "Osborne Clarke was the very first counsel we engaged with and we experienced a true full circle as Herke, Wouter and Levi supported us through our acquisition. We continue to be the biggest fans of OC and would highly recommend them to anyone who's looking for professional, hard-working lawyers who are also really nice people". Herke Van Hulst – lead partner: "Since Oaky's incorporation, Osborne Clarke has been closely involved as trusted advisor working with the amazing team of Oaky and its investors, having also assisted in Oaky's Series A financing round. It was therefore an absolute pleasure working with the team again on this exciting milestone. We wish Oaky and Plusgrade all the best in their next chapter of their exciting journey." The Osborne Clarke core team consisted of Herke van Hulst, Wouter Kok and Levi Schutz (Corporate M&A) and was supported by Angela Saldanha, Saliha El Morabit (Corporate M&A), Job van der Pol and Sjoerd Waagmeester (Tax), Jim Margry, Maartje Tan (Employment), Joanne Zaaijer (GDPR), Gianna Hendriks and Coen Barneveld Binkhuysen (Commercial Contracting and IP).

Mirjam van de Hel-Koedoot has been appointed as President of the Dutch Arbitration Association (DAA), an appointment that highlights her dedication and expertise in the field of arbitration. As a partner within our Dispute Resolution team, Mirjam brings a wealth of experience in both national and international arbitration proceedings. Her new role gives her the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the further development of arbitration in the Netherlands and beyond. The DAA is a professional association that brings together lawyers, in-house counsel, academics, arbitrators, and staff of arbitration institutes, all with a shared interest in arbitration in the Netherlands. The association plays a key role in promoting arbitration as a reliable method of dispute resolution and in strengthening the position of the Netherlands as a preferred location for both national and international arbitration. We wish Mirjam every success in her new role and look forward to the impact she will make.