Angela McEwan, who is qualified in England and Wales, heads the global financial markets group at Clifford Chance, and has an excellent track record in borrower-related matters involving corporate lending, acquisition finance and project finance, among others. Elsewhere, clients including Dutch and international corporates, as well as private equity firms, seek the advice of the team in transactions relating to leveraged finance, syndicated finance, real estate finance, bond/loan financing and infrastructure finance. In a recent highlight, Titus De Vries assisted PostNL with the completion of a five-year €200m sustainability-linked revolving credit facility, replacing the former €400m multi-currency revolving credit facility, highlighting the firm’s uptick in ESG-related instructions. Nienke van Stekelenburgh, Jelle Hofland and managing partner Folko De Vries are among other key individuals at the firm.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s finance and restructuring practice is widely recognised as one of the strongest in the Netherlands. On the borrower side, it has a standout reputation for handling multifaceted cross-border financing transactions for clients including state-owned enterprises, private equity sponsors, and highly leveraged and distressed corporates. Primarily, the team’s expertise is seen in matters involving acquisition finance, leveraged finance and project finance, as well as big-ticket refinancings and complicated restructurings. Practice head Ferdinand Hengst and newly appointed partner Bas Boutellier 'are very strong individuals for complex and international finance transactions'. Head of the firm’s London practice Niek Biegman is another name to note.

Hogan Lovells International LLP has an outstanding track record in public bid M&A finance transactions across the Netherlands, and is also well-positioned to handle matters involving real estate finance, asset-backed finance and structured finance. The team’s advice is primarily sought after by Dutch and international corporates, as well as private equity sponsors. In a high-profile matter, English and Dutch law qualified partner Wouter Jongen led the advice to Egeria on the financing of its acquisitions of Elastofirm and Social Blue. Robert Masman co-heads the practice with Jongen, which also includes counsel Dylan Goedegebuure and senior associate Siddharth Saxena.

Willem Jarigsma, who divides his time between the firm's London and Amsterdam offices, leads the banking and finance practice at Loyens & Loeff, which handles a broad cross-section of transactions on the borrower side. The team includes transportation finance head Ehsan Shirzadi, who has particular expertise in Dutch ship financing and leasing transactions, and Kim Koops, head of the real estate practice and the main contact for a number of leading sponsors, including Blackstone. Gianluca Kreuze handles the firm’s acquisition and corporate finance work, but is also experienced in asset-backed transactions. Elsewhere, boosted by its strong presence in the Belgian market, the firm is well-positioned to handle project finance transactions with a strong nexus to the energy sector (onshore and offshore windfarms, FPSOs and biofuel terminals).

Arjan Pors heads NautaDutilh’s finance practice in the Netherlands, which has a strong reputation in real estate finance and project finance transactions, as well as acquisition finance and corporate lending matters. The team represents listed companies and private entities, in addition to Dutch and foreign sponsors, and is frequently engaged to work alongside international law firms on the Dutch aspects of cross-border transactions. In a high-profile matter, the firm advised Bain Capital Private Equity on the financing for its acquisition of a majority stake in House of HR. David Viëtor and Diederik Vriesendorp are among other key individuals at the firm, as is the managing partner of the New York practice Elizabeth Van Schilfgaarde given the collaboration between the two offices.

Stibbe combines its stand-alone advisory and transactional capabilities to act for a number of borrower clients. The team’s workload covers an array of financing matters, including those pertaining to acquisition finance, corporate lending, project finance, real estate finance and debt refinancing, to name a few. Recent highlights reflect the integration of Marieke Driessen, who is dual-qualified to practice English and Dutch law and has more than 20 years of experience in the field. In a matter that gained extensive press coverage, Driessen, alongside co-heads Rein Van Helden and Maarten de Bruin, led the advice to 3G Capital on the financing of its $7.1bn acquisition of a controlling interest in Hunter Douglas. In a recent development, van Helden has relocated to the firm’s London office.

Led by Marc van Zanten and Eduard Scheenstra, the banking and finance team at CMS has a standout reputation in the real estate space, but it is also noted for its focus on international financial institutions, renewable energy, and the hotels and leisure sectors. In addition to real estate finance, the group is well-placed to handle transactions involving acquisition finance and leveraged finance, project finance, and is often called upon in restructuring matters. In a recent highlight, counsel Etienne Courbois and senior associate Jenny Noordermeer advised VIA Outlets B.V. on its issuance of €600m senior unsecured fixed-rate green bonds, as well as on a revolving credit facility and the subsequent restructuring.

With the growth of Jacqueline Bell's English law practice in the Netherlands, Dentons has experienced an increase in domestic and multi-jurisdictional borrower-side work. Marcel Janssen leads the banking and finance team, which is prominent in real estate finance and project finance transactions (particularly in ESG investing matters and loans with a green/sustainability component), as well as export, trade and commodity financings. Further reflective of the team’s varied workload are the specialisms of senior associates Gerard Koster and Todd Crosby; Koster focuses on asset-based transactions (receivables finance and supply chain finance) and Crosby is a restructuring expert.

Loet Venrooy heads the banking and finance practice at Houthoff. The team has a varied workload for borrower clients, and is frequently engaged by international law firms on a number of these mandates. Real estate finance transactions and real estate loan transfer transactions generate a significant amount of work for the firm, which is also renowned for its position in the financing and refinancing of large infrastructure investments (including wind power projects). The group includes project finance head Jessica Terpstra, who splits her time between London and Amsterdam, and corporate and structured finance expert André de Neve.

The banking and finance practice at Lexence is well-known for its skills in structuring complex financing transactions, sought after by borrower clients who require assistance covering both the Dutch and wider European market. The team combines transactional and regulatory expertise to advise on matters involving asset finance, real estate finance and acquisition finance, as well as corporate lending. Practice head Charles Destrée combines his strength for borrowers with expertise in restructuring.

Recently promoted partner Axel van der Staak heads the banking and finance practice at Osborne Clarke, which is well-placed to handle sizeable mid-market borrowing transactions for high-calibre clients. The team has a particularly strong reputation for real estate finance transactions, with a nexus to the renewable energy and retail sectors, and it also generates a large flow of work through acquisition finance, general corporate lending and restructuring matters. Other key individuals include senior associate Peter Van Der Horst and associate Marlinde Klein Ganseij.

Van Doorne‘s borrower-side practice is well-placed to advise Dutch and international investors, public sector entities, and companies active in the transport, energy and retail sectors, among others. Real estate and development finance is a particular strength for the team, due in large part to the specialisation of Angelique Thiele. She leads the practice alongside the firm’s restructuring and insolvency head Stefan van Rossum, whose expertise includes leveraged finance, project finance and asset-based lending. Further reflective of the team’s abilities, Roel Botter has a strong track record in Dutch healthcare finance transactions.

BarentsKrans' team covers a broad spectrum of finance work on the borrower side, acting for a mixture of startup companies, large multinationals and private equity investors. With the experienced Jason Van De Pol at the helm, the group tackles mandates involving acquisition finance and leveraged finance, as well as real estate finance and project finance, in both a Dutch and international context. Elsewhere, asset-based finance transactions and complicated restructurings are handled by the firm.

Banking and finance boutique Bond Advocaten has a specialist focus on project finance and real estate finance, but is also active in transactions involving acquisition finance, asset finance and syndicated loans. The team acts for Dutch and international corporates, private equity investors and investment funds. In a key development, the arrival of Robert Steeg from Stibbe in March 2022 has expanded the firm’s expertise in structured finance transactions. He co-heads the practice with Jan-Joost van Rijsbergen and Joannes de Bont.

The team at Eversheds Sutherland (Netherlands) B.V. is well-regarded for real estate finance transactions, project financings in the renewable energy space, and for advising borrower clients on their refinancing issues. Practice head Pim van Leersum has notable experience in leveraged finance transactions, although more recently international corporates have turned to him for his expertise in real estate finance transactions. Other key individuals in the group include associates Sharon Edoo and Burcin Oral.

Greenberg Traurig LLP‘s finance and restructuring practice has experienced significant recent growth, with Thijs Elseman and Jack Schrijver joining in April 2022 from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek and Dentons, respectively. Schrijver has notable experience of real estate finance, an area that generates a significant amount of work for the firm. The team is led by Sabine Schoute, whose expertise spans further areas such as leveraged finance and acquisition finance, syndicated lending and corporate finance, as well as project finance and restructurings. It is a strong draw among corporate borrowers, real estate investors and private equity sponsors.

Drawing on its European network, Heussen B.V. is a go-to firm for advice on cross-border finance transactions. Foreign and multinational clients seek the firm's expertise across an array of industries, more recently in the fashion, mining and hospitality sectors. The Netherlands-based team is well-versed in matters involving trade finance, structured finance and commodities finance. The group is led by Martijn Koot, whose expertise includes acquisition finance and leveraged finance, as well as syndicated lending and asset-based lending. Other key individuals include Tim Schreuders and Sandy van der Schaaf.

Orange Clover Law has continued to strengthen since its formation in 2014, attracting both direct instructions from clients and referrals from international law firms on a number of finance transactions. Kees Hooft leads the team; his transactional experience covers acquisition finance, real estate finance and project finance, asset-based finance and financial restructuring, among other areas. Borrower clients include a mixture of public and private-listed corporates, private equity houses and investment funds. Alex Gonzalez focuses on financial regulatory services.

Stek's transactional expertise makes it a go-to for borrower clients such as large corporates, private equity houses and sponsor-held portfolio companies. The team is in a unique position to advise on healthcare/hospital finance transactions, although other drivers of activity include acquisition finance, leveraged finance and general corporate lending matters. Elsewhere, project finance transactions with a nexus to the energy sector are handled by the group. Maarten van der Graaf, Frans Haak, Sharon Kaufmann and Herman Wamelink head the practice, which also includes counsels Marleen Veenstra and Guy Pegels.