Allen & Overy LLP fields a globally integrated investigations team that is well placed to handle cross-border mandates for large international corporations and has considerable experience of concurrent criminal and regulatory investigations. The team, which includes former US and European prosecutors, is well equipped to go to trial in criminal proceedings against the Dutch Public Prosecution Service and in proceedings against regulators. Practice head Hendrik Jan Biemond has a broad expertise which includes fraud, market abuse, money laundering and corruption.
Fraud and white-collar crime in Netherlands
Allen & Overy LLP
Practice head(s):
Hendrik Jan Biemond
Testimonials
‘Hendrik Jan Biemond leads a very good team with complementary strengths’.
‘Hendrik Jan Biemond is very involved with sufficient eyes on the ball’.
‘Low barrier to communication and very easy to approach, with clear out-of-the-box thinking’.
‘Easy team to work with’.
‘Hendrik Jan Biemond is strategic, knowledgeable, a strong communicator and a team player’.
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek fields ‘a very knowledgeable team that is always available and delivers quality advice’. Offering experience in internal investigations, the practice also handles criminal investigations and given its international network, with offices in Brussels, London, Shanghai and Singapore, is well placed to handle cross-border work. Marnix Somsen focuses on regulatory and criminal enforcement matters, acting for corporations and financial institutions, while Patrick Ploeger specialises in criminal defence and litigation. Roan Lamp is a name to note for anti-bribery and fraud matters.
Practice head(s):
Marnix Somsen; Patrick Ploeger; Roan Lamp
Other key lawyers:
Geert Potjewijd; Marlies Heemskerk-De Waard; Angelique Groen-Boon
Testimonials
‘DBBW is very much open to set up collaboration with in-house legal, forensic departments and other disciplines without becoming dogmatic’.
‘The team is diverse in terms of seniority, gender and ethnicity’.
‘Marnix Somsen and Patrick Ploeger are very seasoned partners who are capable of dealing with the authorities and gaining trust from all related parties’.
‘There is no doubt that the client’s interests always comes’.
‘Marnix Somsen offers very solid and hands-on advice, with a pleasant personality’.
‘Marnix Somsen is fully engaged, has very relevant experience, and communicates clearly’.
‘Marlies Heemskerk-de Waard has provided very clear advice, is always available, and is very strong in her field’.
‘Capable of organising a stand out team in no time’.
Work highlights
- Counsel to ABN Amro in the criminal investigation and subsequent settlement with ABN Amro over anti-money laundering issues.
- Assisting Philips with an internal investigation in Brazil in relation to the so-called Car Wash bribery investigation.
- Representation of Uber in connection with regulatory and criminal investigations regarding its P2P taxi services in the Netherlands.
De Roos & Pen
Criminal law boutique De Roos & Pen fields a team of ‘national experts in their field’ with ‘a strategic approach to legal cases that helps to lay out a clear analysis of the situation and a path forward’. It acts for corporations and individuals on domestic and international cases. Niels van der Laan has notable experience of criminal defence and liability, and internal fraud investigations, while Lisa van der Wal handles economic and criminal tax law, and is well versed in sprawling international fraud cases. Associates Jantien Dekkers and Brendan Newitt are both recommended for financial crime cases, with Newitt also handling drug and cybercrime matters.
Other key lawyers:
Lisa van der Wal; Niels van der Laan; Thomas Felix; Brendan Newitt; Jantien Dekkers
Testimonials
‘De Roos & Pen excels in putting together best-in-class teams’.
‘They demonstrate flexibility and remain open and honest at all times’.
‘They’re committed to achieving the best outcome and deliver results based on solid strategies’.
‘The firm is very dedicated and thorough in its analysis of the issue at hand’.
‘The excellent legal mind of Niels van der Laan is what ultimately determines your chances of winning a case’.
‘Both Niels van der Laan and Brendan Newitt are pragmatic, tech-savvy advisors’.
‘Lisa van der Wal is extremely responsive, calm, knowledgeable and is a straight talker’.
‘Brendan Newitt is unique in his extraordinarily wide knowledge of different subjects; if he did not already tackle the problem in the past, he is able to quickly and deeply understand any new issue that comes up’.
Work highlights
- Representation of the President of the Central Bank in Curacao on tax fraud charges; the client was acquitted of all charges both by the Court in first instance and by the Court of Appeal.
- Represented a Dutch national involved in some of the offshore structures mentioned in the Panama Papers.
JahaeRaymakers
JahaeRaymakers is ‘a leading firm in fraud and white-collar crime, with expert knowledge and a very hands-on and approachable attitude’. Acting for both individuals and corporates, the practice focuses on risks, reputations and sanctions. Dian Brouwer is a name to note for fraud, corruption and insider trading cases, while Cathalijne Van der Plas is recommended for enforcement, and civil asset tracing and recovery, with a focus on financial crime. Jurjan Geertsma has vast knowledge of anti-money laundering legislation, alongside bribery and corruption issues. Han Jahae and Thom Dieben are other key practitioners.
Practice head(s):
Jurjan Geertsma; Thom Dieben; Han Jahae; Dian Brouwer; Cathalijne van der Plas
Other key lawyers:
Carel Raymakers; Madelon Stevens
Testimonials
‘Excellent team, highly recommended, with quick responses and intelligent legal advice’.
‘Dian Brouwer is a top-notch advocate in the fraud and white-collar-crime practice, very knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with’.
‘The practice of JahaeRaymakers operates at a high level; it is a relatively small but highly specialised criminal law practice with an excellent staff’.
‘I have worked with Han Jahae and Madelon Stevens and got to know them as driven lawyers with good strategic insights and good knowledge of the law’.
‘Dian Brouwer is truly an excellent partner and lawyer; his level of knowledge, experience, integrity, commitment and engagement is unmatched in the Netherlands’.
‘Jurjan Geertsma has been my go-to white-collar crime contact for years and will continue to be for the future’.
‘Cathalijne van der Plas is a key player; she is an expert in the field of private international law and cross-border enforcement matters’.
‘Highly skilled and reliable team advising on all aspects of reputation management from a legal angle’.
NautaDutilh
NautaDutilh fields ‘a deep bench of experienced white-collar crime practitioners that are very knowledgeable about Dutch criminal law’. Its corporate crime and investigations offering stands out for its forensic IT capabilities, utilising data analytics and IT specialists to assist in large international investigations. Practice co-head Marike Bakker is engaged by individuals and corporations to advise on regulatory enforcement, litigation and white-collar criminal defence matters. Francien Rense, who jointly leads the team, has notable expertise in enforcement, sanctions and anti-money laundering issues.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Marleen Velthuis; Léon Wijsman; Rob van der Hoeven
Testimonials
‘NautaDutilh’s lawyers in the fraud and white-collar crime department are very experienced and knowledgeable’.
‘Marike Bakker is one of the top lawyers in the field of white-collar criminal defence; she has loads of experience and knows what is important to her clients’.
‘Marleen Velthuis has excellent knowledge of corporate criminal law, and especially environmental criminal law’.
‘Francien Rense is one of their leading lawyers; she is highly regarded and respected by the prosecutors’.
‘Highly professional, fully dedicated, very thorough in their work, and great ability to work as part of multi-disciplinary teams in complex cross-border cases’.
‘Experienced professionals who are valuable advisors to their clients’.
‘Marike Bakker is a safe pair of hands that I would trust with the majority of the cases’.
‘Solid knowledge of the case file and a thorough understanding of the applicable law’.
Key clients
Royal Dutch Shell
Deloitte Accountants B.V.
NS (Dutch National Railway)
Baker Tilly
NAM
Liander
Nouryon
Airfreight Logistics S.a.r.L.
Nobian
Work highlights
- Advising Deloitte Accountants on various aspects of its audit of Steinhoff International Holdings NV.
- Advising Shell on the alleged international foreign (Nigerian) bribery case.
- Representing the Dutch national railways in a criminal investigation into alleged fraud during a public tender.
Stibbe
Under the leadership of Daan Doorenbos and Muriël Rosing, Stibbe’s corporate criminal law team continues to handle advisory work and litigation for large corporate clients and senior executives. The practice is ‘able to combine the strength of a large firm with niche capabilities in criminal law’ and is well versed in internal investigations and those brought by regulatory authorities, which are often international in scope. Doorenbos is recommended for financial crime matters, including money laundering and market abuse, while Rosing handles compliance, fraud and corruption matters.
Practice head(s):
Daan Doorenbos; Muriël Rosing
Testimonials
‘Without a doubt, Stibbe has the best white-collar crime team of all the large law firms in the Netherlands’.
‘They have a direct approach and are ready to fight for their clients if necessary, but are also willing to compromise if needed’.
‘Daan Doorenbos is likely the smartest and most educated white-collar crime lawyer around’.
‘Daan Doorenbos stands out by his flawless off-the-bat knowledge of the law’.
‘Muriël Rosing is outstanding, not only for her expertise, but also for her personal client-handling skills’.
‘They bring a wealth of knowledge, not just in internal investigations, compliance and other forms of services but especially in criminal prosecution’.
‘Muriël Rosing is an excellent white-collar and criminal law partner with keen eye for detail, bringing both excellent legal knowledge with pragmatic approaches to solving complex client cases’.
‘Daan Doorenbos and his team are top notch’.
Van Doorne
Van Doorne is ‘very pleasant to work with, delivers high-quality advice and is very dedicated to its clients and cases’. Its broad practice is well known in the market for enforcement work, internal investigations, representation and defence of clients in court, and compliance matters. Practice co-head Jan Leliveld has notable experience in fraud and bribery cases, sanctions, environmental matters and economic offences. Newly promoted partner and fellow co-head Vanessa Liem has considerable experience in multi-jurisdictional criminal and regulatory enforcement issues. Neyah van der Aa joined from Allen & Overy LLP.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Neyah van der Aa; Ed van Liere; Rutger ten Ham
Testimonials
‘Available when needed urgently, concise advise, exactly what you need exactly when you need it’.
‘Jan Leliveld is a smooth operator’.
‘Jan Leliveld has managed to build a very strong legal defence team in a very limited amount of time’.
‘The Van Doorne team is both highly skilled and nice to work with’.
‘High level lawyers, with an ability to handle large and complex cases’.
‘Vanessa Liem is a fantastic lawyer to work with; she is smart, highly involved, with great capabilities to handle sensitive situations’.
‘Ed van Liere is a very professional, skilled and devoted lawyer’.
‘Van Doorne has built a fine white-collar crime team’.
Wladimiroff Advocaten
Wladimiroff Advocaten ‘is one of the best boutique criminal defence firms specialised in white-collar defence around’. Based in The-Hague, the practice handles a wide range of fraud and white-collar crime matters, including international corruption and fraud investigations, and regulatory enforcement issues. Frans Sijbers is an experienced litigator with extensive experience in transnational fraud cases and tax litigation, while Gert-Jan Elsen is recommended for corporate criminal law cases. Jop Spijkerman is a name to note for bribery, fraud, environmental and money laundering issues.
Practice head(s):
Frans Sijbers; Gert-Jan Elsen; Jop Spijkerman; Alexander de Swart; Robbert de Bree
Testimonials
‘They have a great team with exceptional lawyers and are ready to go whenever you need them’.
‘Their client handling skills are outstanding and they give their clients the feeling they are the only client they have’.
‘Robbert de Bree is an outstanding lawyer that is able to combine a very high level of knowledge of the law with analytical expertise’.
‘Good reputation in the market, not afraid to take a firm stand where necessary’.
‘Robbert de Bree is smart and powerful in his approach’.
‘Extensive, well-balanced team’.
‘Jop Spijkerman is easy to work with’.
AKD
AKD has considerable experience in corporate fraud and white-collar crime issues, including money laundering, sanctions, compliance, cybercrime and internal investigations. The practice has particular strength in environmental matters and related criminal investigations. The team is headed by Frits Schneider, who has ‘a commanding knowledge of the law and court procedures’ and is recommended for financial crime issues, corruption investigations and medical criminal law. Bilal Chababi left the firm in July 2021.
Practice head(s):
Frits Schneider
Testimonials
‘Frits Schneider is an excellent example of an experienced lawyer with the power of embracing a case as such that no time is wasted’.
‘Absolute stand out is the capability to adapt and quickly shift gear when needed, even in the most complex cases’.
‘Frits Schneider is a one-of-a-kind person, combining solid procedural and legal knowledge with empathy and clear views on all aspects of the matter at hand’.
‘Very precise and practical’.
‘A small but dedicated team’.
‘Frits Schneider knows how to develop and work on a strategy’.
‘We were impressed by the professionalism of the team that handled our case’.
‘They know very well the terrain and offered legal solutions that went beyond our expectations’.
Work highlights
- Advising a company manufacturing strategic, possibly dual-use goods on compliance issues around exportation to blacklisted countries.
- Advising a business which did not acquire the correct permits to transport explosive gases used in the fight against Covid-19.
- Advising a dustbin lorry manufacturer which provides lorries to a major Dutch municipality in relation to suspected bribery payments made to a public official.
Florent
Florent stands out for its focus on civil fraud and asset recovery, and its focus on representing the victims of fraud and white-collar crime. The ‘top-notch, creative and commercial’ team has considerable experience in cross-border asset recovery, fraud litigation, and financial fraud investigations work, and also handles the prosecution of civil fraud cases. The team is headed by insolvency law and international asset recovery specialist Kees Van Der Meent.
Practice head(s):
Kees van de Meent
Other key lawyers:
Jurgen van den Heuvel
Testimonials
‘The practice is rather boutique, but has extensive experience in asset attachment and debt recovery’.
They are extremely customer-oriented and they have great insights in the praxis of the Netherland system’.
‘They act truly in interests of the client and are extremely cost efficient’.
‘The easy going culture and approach of the firm has been, and still is, a very important strength’.
‘The quality of the partners and their drive to assist their clients always exceeds expectations’.
‘Each of them are specialists in their field and respected for their opinions and approach’.
‘Kees van de Meent is a giant in asset recovery and bankruptcy-related fraud’.
‘Kees van de Meent has a unique practice combing fraud and insolvency knowledge and experience in complex multi-jurisdictional matters’.
Houthoff
Houthoff is well known in the market for handling a large number of domestic and international investigations for companies, trustees in bankruptcy, and governmental organisations. It often assists larger international firms with cases and is adept at handling politically sensitive matters. Vincent Affourtit is recommended for cross-border investigations and enforcement proceedings, and acts for corporations and financial institutions. Hans Londonck Sluijk is experienced in compliance, fraud, and regulatory enforcement, and also directors’ and officers’ liability issues.
Practice head(s):
Vincent Affourtit
Other key lawyers:
Frank Mattheijer; Hans Londonck Sluijk
Key clients
Vestia
Bovemij
Royal FloraHolland
Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance
Work highlights
- Advising Vestia on various matters relating to the unwinding of its EUR 20bn derivatives portfolio, including a corporate investigation process, leading to Vestia initiating proceedings against and negotiations with several parties involved, such as banks and auditors.
- Representing the bankruptcy trustees of DSB Bank in a several hundred-million-euro civil claims against the DNB and conducting an investigation into the causes of the bankruptcy of DSB Bank commissioned by the bankruptcy trustees.
- Assisting the Supervisory Board of Dutch insurance company, Bovemij, in a substantial investigation following a whistleblower’s report addressing compliance issues directly involving the institution’s Executive Board.
Simmons & Simmons
The crime, fraud and investigations group at Simmons & Simmons offers a broad range of defence services, including advice on bribery and corruption, money laundering, extradition and international sanctions. The practice is well versed in corporate and criminal investigations, and often defends clients in the courts. The team is headed by experienced litigator David Schreuders, who focuses on financial and economic criminal law, and also compliance and regulatory matters. Associates Georgianna Verhage and Nosh van der Voort are also recommended.
Practice head(s):
David Schreuders
Other key lawyers:
Georgianna Verhage; Nosh van der Voort
Testimonials
‘They were very pro-active and focussed on the specifics of the task at hand and how this related to me’.
‘A real understanding and genuine interest in the case and not just trying to do a routine job’.
‘Committed, smart and professional’.
‘Knowledgeable and up-to-date’.
‘They are excellent in teaching you difficult legislation so that you, as a victim, understand where you are in the process and which position you can take’.
‘David Schreuders helps you see your possibilities as victim’.
‘Nosh van der Voort is outstanding, clever, and makes difficult legal positions clear to you’.
Key clients
Delta Airlines Inc.
Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten
First Caribbean International Bank
BMO Asset Management
Barclays
BlackRock
Unilever plc
RTL Group SA
Stichting Hippo Mundo Charity
Hertel Leipzig GmbH
Work highlights
- Acting for Delta Air Lines in several matters concerning corporate criminal liability in the Dutch Supreme Court and lower courts.
- Acting for a (former) KPMG partner in a matter concerning bribery and corruption.
- Acting as defence counsel for CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank in a criminal matter in the Dutch Caribbean.
Sjöcrona van Stigt
Based out of Rotterdam and The Hague, boutique corporate criminal defence firm Sjöcrona van Stigt is ‘very dedicated and provides personal and high-quality legal support in a very effective matter’. It continues to receive a number of instructions from the Dutch Antilles and has seen an uptick in advisory work both nationally and internationally. Thijs Kelder heads up the firm’s cassation practice and is recommended for economic and environmental crime matters. Enide Perez is a name to note for fraud defence, including money laundering, corruption and tax fraud.
Practice head(s):
Arthur van Stigt; Boudewijn van Eijck; Enide Perez; Hans de Jong; Sabine ten Doesschate; Marlies van Strien; Caroline de Sitter; Thijs Kelder
Testimonials
‘A highly specialised criminal law practice with excellent staff’.
‘The cooperation and experience with them from my perspective as a legal professional is excellent’.
‘I got to know them as driven lawyers with good strategic insight and good knowledge of the law’.
‘The approach is beyond the professional legal expertise you would expect from a boutique firm’.
‘Know how to handle complex and politically sensitive cases’.
‘Enide Perez is really sharp in criminal law’.
‘Enide Perez knows that her clients can be nervous and knows how to give them confidence’.
‘Sabine ten Doesschate has deep knowledge of EU and The Netherlands legal environment and the ability to understand the client’s perspective and current situation’.
Work highlights
- Acting as defence lawyers for numerous construction, waste processing, chemical and other companies in various cases regarding environmental regulations and incidents on petrochemical sites.
- Defending individuals and corporations in several (cross-border) fraud and corruption cases, as well as in criminal cases regarding liability for incidents in numerous healthcare institutions.
Hertoghs advocaten
Boutique firm Hertoghs Advocaten has offices in Amsterdam, Breda and Rotterdam, and is known in the market for defending fraud cases and tax litigation. Particular areas of focus include money laundering, corruption and forgery, and the team acts for high-net-worth individuals and companies. Managing partner Anke Feenstra handles white-collar crime cases, bankruptcy, tax fraud and sanctions issues.
Practice head(s):
Anke Feenstra; Angelique Perdaems; Judith de Boer; Mariëlle Boezelman; Peter van Hagen; Roelof Vos
Testimonials
‘Hertoghs advocaten is a boutique niche tax firm of the highest standard in the Netherlands’.
‘As a Belgian tax law firm, we appreciate the technical expertise in all tax litigation areas, but also the professionalism of the firm, and the great follow-up and availability’.
‘The team offers expertise, knowledge and thoroughness’.
Loyens & Loeff
The ‘professional, knowledgeable, proactive and committed’ corporate criminal defence practice at Loyens & Loeff is led by senior associate Susanne van Breukelen. It is well known for assisting clients with internal investigations and inquiries by regulatory authorities, and also offers clients advisory and compliance expertise. Areas of focus include bribery, corruption, money laundering and regulatory matters.
Practice head(s):
Susanne van Breukelen
Other key lawyers:
Céline van Asperen de Boer
Testimonials
‘A young and highly ambitious team’.
‘Lots of energy and dedication’.
‘Susanne van Breukelen has the rare combination of being young, ambitious, very intelligent and still a very nice person’.
‘Loyens and Loeff belongs in the ranks of large firms that specialise in white-collar crime’.
‘Susanne van Breukelen is a good criminal lawyer with very solid knowledge’.
‘Céline van Asperen de Boer worked for the Financial Markets Authority where she gained very relevant knowledge that clients can benefit from’.
‘A great team that we enjoy working with’.
Lumen Lawyers
Lumen Lawyers was established in October 2019 and has ‘a stellar team’ with ‘in-depth knowledge, a practical approach and an international mindset’. It acts for corporates, executives and other individuals in relation to corporate criminal law and internal investigations. Dutch Public Prosecution Service alumnus Aldo Verbruggen heads the practice and specialises in financial and economic criminal law.
Practice head(s):
Aldo Verbruggen
Other key lawyers:
Jasmijn Dorant
Testimonials
‘Highest standard of technical knowledge, with an understanding of the corporate world and its demands’.
‘Practical approach and understanding of how government agencies work’.
‘The place to go for complex matters requiring sophistication as well as for resolving more day-to-day matters in a quick and strategic manner’.
‘This team will not let you down and are prepared to think out of the box’.
‘Aldo Verbruggen has empathy and takes an approach which fits my personality.’
‘Although Lumen Lawyers was quite recently established, it offers a unique combination of seasoned professionals with a huge experience in fraud and white-collar crime.’
‘Aldo Verbruggen brings a wealth of experience, both as a public prosecutor and lawyer.’
‘The team is very much specialised in their field which makes them a valued counterpart.’
Norton Rose Fulbright
Norton Rose Fulbright fields ‘a strong team in the Netherlands that benefits from the global capabilities of the firm’. With considerable experience in international internal investigations, the practice also handles fraud, anti-bribery and corruption, antitrust, sanctions and white-collar crime matters. The team is headed by Sharon Oded, who splits his time between Amsterdam and London, and acts for multinational corporations and financial institutions on regulatory and compliance issues.
Practice head(s):
Sharon Oded
Other key lawyers:
Britt van Breda; Diederik Tijssen
Testimonials
‘Sharon Oded is a very good lawyer with credibility and experience’.
‘Britt van Breda is a younger lawyer with a promising career’.
‘Sharon Oded is very knowledgeable and experienced’.
‘Sharon Oded understands the issues and always tries to find creative and pragmatic solutions’.
‘Sharon Oded is definitely an asset to have in a team, especially when negotiating with authorities’.
‘Britt van Breda also stands out for being very easy to work with and client driven.’
‘Always available, clear billing, and the team members stand by their word’.
‘Sharon Oded is extremely knowledgeable, always available and quickly presents solutions to new circumstances’.
Key clients
SBM Offshore N.V.
Shell
Signify
Danone / Nutricia
Coca Cola European Partners
AFI Europe
NXP Semiconductors
Unilabs
SHV Energy
Deliveroo
Rabobank
Thales
Hyva
AIG