The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Netherlands > Banking and finance: lender or arranger side

Clifford Chance continues to be a formidable presence in the Dutch market, advising several of the jurisdiction's most prominent financial institutions, along with a host of tope-end international clients. Leveraged finance specialist Titus de Vries heads the team, in addition to working on syndicated lending matters. Other key names within the firm include English-qualified Angela McEwan, who leads on many of the firm's matters which overlap with the UK, counsel Jackie Jones, who focuses on trade and commodity finance, and Hein Tonnaer, who heads the firm’s renewables group and is heavily involved in project finance.

NautaDutilh is one of the Dutch market’s strongest firms for lender-side advice, with a strong track record in cross-border mandates, particularly those involving the US. Acquisition and corporate finance specialist Arjan Pors leads the team from Rotterdam, while Elizabeth van Schilfgaarde serves as a bridge between the Dutch team and the US, as head of the firm’s New York office, taking on a vital role in deals such as the $600m financing of Bruker Corporation by a leading US bank. David Viëtor is another key figure within the team, focusing on financial restructuring and distressed transactions.

Dentons continues to expand its presence in the Netherlands with the addition of Arno Voerman and Pien Kerckhart, from Van Doorne and Finnius respectively, alongside expansion at the associate level. The firm is particularly recommended for cross-border matters, with practice co-head Jacqueline Bell advising on English law in addition to trade and commodity finance, in addition to being able to draw on firm’s large international network. Fellow co-head Marcel Janssen is highly experienced in leveraged financing, export finance, and sustainable finance.

Lex Oosterling heads the finance team at DLA Piper, and is particularly experienced in acquisition and leveraged finance, as well as real estate financing. The firm is also highly active in the field of non-bank lending, with English-qualified Max Mayer acting for several private credit funds on their lending mandates, both as sole lenders and on combination financing deals with banks. Gerard Kneppers is another key name within the team, focusing mainly on the energy and infrastructure sectors; he frequently handles cross-border work, making use of his English and South African qualifications.

Loet Venrooy heads the finance team at Houthoff, with a practice that focuses heavily on cross-border deals, including financial restructuring as well as complex structured deals. Jessica Terpstra is another key figure within the team, and is particularly recommended for UK clients or deals involving UK law, as she splits her time between the firm’s London and Amsterdam offices. The firm expanded its mid-level offering in 2020 with the addition of counsel Sjors Panis. Counsels Jan Veeningen, who brings substantial in-house experience, and Jeroen Vossenberg are other names to note.

The Loyens & Loeff team continues to act for several of the Netherlands’ largest financial institutions including ING, ABN Amro and Rabobank, alongside several large global players. Kitty Lieverse heads the overall team, while Gianluca Kreuze is the key contact for acquisition and corporate finance matters, often handling large cross-border deals. Other key team members include Mariette Van ’t Westeinde, who is recommended for more specialised matters such as structured finance, and Kim Koops, who focuses primarily on secured lending.

Real estate financing and securitisation specialist Maarten de Bruin is one of the leaders of Stibbe’s financial team, which acts for many of the most prominent institutions throughout Europe and beyond, in addition to a robust domestic client base. Fellow practice co-head Rein van Helden specialises in financial restructuring, syndicated finance, and cross-border leveraged finance, such as the financing of Thermo Fisher’s acquisition of Qiagen, in which van Helden acted for a group of lenders including JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley. Senior associate Suzanne van Boheemen and counsel Robert Steeg are also noted.

Real estate financing is the key order of business at Van Doorne, and the firm represents a range of both domestic and foreign lenders in such deals, including refinancing deals as well as new facilities. Angelique Thiele leads the team alongside Stefan van Rossum, with Thiele primarily handling the real estate financing work, while van Rossum’s expertise lies in the field of financial restructuring, with a client list that includes several distressed debt investors as well as banks. On the leveraged financing side, Roel Botter is a key figure within the team, while associate Babette Vos is highly recommended for Pfandbrief-compliant financings and other German law-related deals.

AKD continues to represent a wide range of domestic and international banks in their lending work, including large global players such as JP Morgan. Vincent Bettonville chairs the practice, and is particularly recommended for cross-border matters, as he also leads the firm’s US desk as well as advising on Curacao law. Managing partner Erwin Rademakers is another key part of the team, and leads the firm’s Asia desk. Sanne Swinkels is a name to note at the more junior end.

Hogan Lovells International LLP continues to act for a wide range of both domestic and multinational banking clients, in addition to several non-bank lenders including asset managers and debt funds. The firm is also highly active in the field of syndicated lending, primarily representing groups of lenders in acquisition financing mandates. Wouter Jongen heads the team alongside Robert Masman, while Siddharth Saxena is a key name from the associate ranks.

Norton Rose Fulbright remains a worthwhile choice for Dutch banks seeking English law advice, as the addition of Anthony Pallett from Hogan Lovells International LLP allows the firm continues to offer English law advice from the Amsterdam office in spite of the departure of Paul Vine, who moved into consulting in late 2019. Practice head Wouter Hertzberger is highly recommended for asset and project financing matters, particularly those in the renewables sector.

Stek remains highly active in the Dutch lending market, particularly for domestic clients, frequently acting for several of the largest banks including ING, Rabobank, and ABN Amro. Key figures within the team include leveraged financing specialist Herman Wamelink, Maarten van der Graaf, who is frequently involved in matters with a cross-border nexus, Frans Haak and Sharon Kaufmann, who is highly active in the healthcare sector.

Bird & Bird is primarily active in the field of acquisition financing, and predominantly acts for Dutch banks in their offering of such finances. Additionally it handles energy and project finance, as well as financing deals for emerging markets. Roger van Buuren leads the group, having joined from Bond Advocaten in late 2019, and focuses on project finance, leveraged finance, and syndicated lending.

The finance team at CMS is frequently instructed by foreign banks operating in the Dutch market, frequently collaborating with the firm’s international offices to handle cross-border work. Eduard Scheenstra jointly leads the team alongside Marc van Zanten, while the firm expanded its capacity in this area with the hiring of syndicated lending specialist Etiënne Courbois, who joined as counsel in early 2020.

Heussen B.V. is frequently instructed as local counsel in cross-border financing matters, with a range of multinational clients including prominent banks and funds. Martijn Koot leads the team, and is particularly experienced in matters involving US or Canadian law, jointly leading the firm’s US desk. At the more junior end, dual-qualified senior associate Sandy van der Schaaf heads the firm’s German desk.

Lexence handles a wide range of financing matters, but is particularly recommended for work which involves the UK, as it offers in-house English law advice in the form of practice head Charles Destré, who is dual-qualified. The firm is particularly active in financing matters involving the real estate sector, alongside acquisition financing and regulatory work.

Financial law boutique Orange Clover Law continues to establish itself in the Dutch market, primarily handling local counsel matters for large international banks, though it also acts for some notable domestic clients such as ING and BNG. Kees Hooft heads the team, and is heavily involved in acquisition financing, while Anita Koster is one to watch at the junior level.