The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Netherlands > Banking and finance: asset finance and structured finance

Clifford Chance provides highly specialised services across both asset finance and structured finance, with Hein Tonnaer the key name for the former while Pieter van Welzen heads up the latter offering. Key sectors for the asset finance team include aviation and energy, along with other aspects of transport and logistics such as shipping and data centres. On the structured finance side recent work has included both commercial and residential-backed securities transactions.

The structured finance team at Loyens & Loeff is especially prominent in the field of securitisation transactions, advising on mortgage and asset-backed transactions, as well as receivables-backed financing more generally. The practice is jointly led by securitisation specialist Mariëtte van ‘t Westeinde, whose key expertise is in operational lease securitisations, and Willem Jarigsma, who is particularly focused on asset-based lending and transportation finance.

As one of the premier teams in the Dutch asset and structured finance market, NautaDutilh counts several key market players among its client list, and is highly active in large-scale securitisation transactions. Other key areas of work for the firm include setting up and advising on whole loan platforms, as well as covered bond programmes. Practice co-head Michaëla Ulrici is highly recommended for the firm's securitisation mandates, while fellow co-head Arjan Scheltema is more notable in the covered bonds space.

Jeroen Bos heads the asset and structured finance team at Simmons & Simmons, and specialises in asset-backed transactions including supply chain financing, securitisation, and covered bonds, as well as acting for sellers and buyers on loan portfolio transactions. Elsewhere in the team, Rezah Stegeman has significant expertise in work pertaining to derivatives, focusing on trade documentation, clearing documentation and regulation. Also recommended is 'hands-on' associate Vincent Engel.

The team at Baker McKenzie is primarily focused on securitisation and structured finance, where the firm fields a dedicated and specialised team, along with a significant derivatives practice. Global securitisation head Philippe Steffens is highly specialised in securitisation, structured credit products and loan portfolio transactions and Corrine Schott focuses on derivatives. Recent work has included large-scale residential mortgage-backed securities transactions, collateralised loan obligation transactions, and restructuring of derivative swaps, as well as the drafting of documentation.

The team at Dentons was recently bolstered by the arrival of Jacqueline Bell, who had previously been practising as an independent consultant, in mid-2019. Bell is English law-qualified, and is highly experienced in asset financing matters across the aviation, offshore, and shipping markets, advising on all sides of such matters and heads up the firm's Amsterdam asset finance practice. The firm also houses a structured finance practice led by Marcel Janssen, who primarily acts for lender-side clients, receiving instructions from several of the largest Dutch financial institutions.

Hogan Lovells International LLP is strong on asset-backed securitisation and structured finance, with a particular specialism in covered bonds matters. Practice co-head Robert Masman is the key contact for structured finance and covered bonds work, while the dual English- and Dutch-qualified Wouter Jongen is the name to note for asset financing. Recent work has included large securitisation transactions, covered bonds programmes, receivables-backed financings and loan portfolio transactions.

With a strong presence in asset and structured finance, Houthoff's team acts for a wide range of prominent clients on the borrower and lender side of financing matters. The firm is particularly active in the infrastructure financing space, and has been involved on several such transactions in the last year. Practice head Loet Venrooy is strong across several aspects of banking and finance and Jessica Terpstra is another key figure within the team, particularly for international clients.

The asset financing team at Norton Rose Fulbright is particularly focused on the transport sector, with dedicated teams for aviation and ship financing. The ship finance team is led by Wouter Hertzberger and Mei Land Man, with the team acting for all parties on financing for individuals vessels, as well as refinancing and restructuring of shipping companies. Berend Crans heads the aviation side of the practice and Hertzberger also advises on structured finance arrangements for clients in the shipping sector and wider.

The team at Stibbe provides a strong service in asset and structured finance, acting for high-profile lenders, arrangers, borrowers, lessors and lessees.  Maarten de Bruin jointly heads the team and focuses on structured finance, while fellow team leader  Rein van Helden is particularly active in leveraged finance, bond transactions and syndicated lending. On the asset finance side, recent work has included acting for large borrowers in the energy and transport sectors, as well as commodity financing.

CMS is active across the asset and structured finance spaces, with a particular focus on cross-border work in combination with the wider firm network. Eduard Scheenstra heads the team, and has recently handled several matters dealing with various types of structured finance. At a more junior level, associate Jesler Hartman Kok is strong on asset finance, particularly ship finance, and is handling several of the firm's domestic mandates in this area.

The finance team at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is experienced in a wide range of structured financing work including synthetic leasing transactions, securitisations, tax and regulatory-driven structures, collateralised debt obligations and credit default swap transactions. On the asset financing side, the team covers all asset classes and has experience of US lease financing. The practice is headed by Menno Stoffer, while Niek Biegeman is a key contact for UK clients, operating out of the firm's London office and collaborating heavily with the Dutch team.