De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has an outstanding reputation in international insurance matters, with its multidisciplinary team covering the full spectrum of work, such as M&A, capital raises, restructurings and the resolution of high-stakes disputes. On the regulatory side, the group has extensive expertise advising insurance companies on a myriad of issues applicable to their businesses, such as the developing legislation on ESG, as well as governance, solvency and liquidity. Practice head Dennis Horeman and counsel Eva Schram are among the advisers to Athora Netherlands on all litigation relating to the alleged mis-selling of investment-linked insurance products. Also noted for their dispute resolution expertise are Eelco Meerdink (who acts for companies and management teams in industries such as pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and technology, among others) and senior associate Gertjan Harryvan. Mariken van Loopik leads the financial markets regulation practice.

Berry van Wijk and Hans Londonck Sluijk co-head the insurance practice at Houthoff, which is widely hailed as a market leader among domestic and international insurance and reinsurance companies. The team is highly active in large and groundbreaking M&A in the industry, and it has also seen an increase in outsourcing transactions, as well as bankruptcies and Brexit-related mandates. On the contentious side, the group is prominent in high-end insurance litigation, including international coverage disputes, D&O matters and professional indemnity cases. The firm also fields a dedicated team of regulatory experts, which handles a wide ambit of issues for clients. Huib Lebbing and Lucas Dröge are representing global steel manufacturer Fasé & De Heer Crone in a cross-border dispute arising from a fatal workplace incident in Mexico. Counsel Roel Theissen (who is a prudential regulatory expert) is also recommended, as is senior associate Gijs Hamelijnck.

NautaDutilh provides excellent end-to-end support to clients such as Dutch and international insurance companies, reinsurers, intermediaries and corporates. Jointly led by Stijn Franken and Sjoerd Meijer, the team is seen as a first port of call across a wide range of high-profile and complex insurance disputes, such as multi-party (particularly consumer-led) claims, D&O cases, product liability matters and claims relating to insurance distribution. Elsewhere, the group is trusted to provide strategic support to insurance companies and intermediaries on business-critical contractual relationships, and it also has extensive expertise in regulatory issues. Franken and senior associate Erik Poorthuis (whose practice is split between the Amsterdam and London offices) are currently defending GSK against a product liability claim, where it is alleged that the client provided inaccurate information on the side effects of one of its medications.

Norton Rose Fulbright's insurance practice in Amsterdam is led by Jan Duyvensz, who is also the head of the dispute resolution department. Under his leadership, the insurance team is instructed in various types of cross-border litigation, including W&I claims arising from M&A, cyber-related cases and product liability matters. In addition, D&O and professional liability cases are among other areas of strength. Elsewhere, the group is increasingly sought after to advise on liability risks for directors and officers in relation to topical issues such as climate change. Other areas of expertise on the non-contentious side include regulatory issues, capital management, online marketing, restructuring and insolvency. Floortje Nagelkerke and others are assisting the Allianz Group with all the regulatory aspects of its acquisition of Rabo PGGM PPI. Associate Guido Bongers is also recommended.

Van Doorne‘s insurance practice, which is a cornerstone of the wider dispute resolution department, has an excellent reputation in financial lines matters; the team’s experience in this space includes areas such as cyber, D&O, professional indemnity and W&I. Beyond undertaking contentious work, the group assists clients with policy drafting and contracts with brokers, among other matters. The overall head of the insurance practice is Annemieke Hendrikse, who is well-known internationally for her expertise in D&O liability law and insurance law. Walter Hendriksen is also a well-respected name. Simone Hoogeveen and counsel Pieter de Jong Schouwenburg are noted for their extesive experience of professional liability litigation.

Dirkzwager‘s team is adept at covering all areas of liability and insurance law for Dutch and international insurance companies, as well as brokers. It is particularly well-known for its strengths in insurance litigation, where the caseload spans areas such as professional liability, corporate liability, product liability and D&O cases, among others. The practice is characterised by its international reach, with the firm having close ties to ‘best friends’ insurance firms and being affiliated with the TELFA and USLAW legal networks. Daan Baas, Harry Kruitwagen and Joost Bindels jointly lead the team.

Noted for its international focus, the team at Ekelmans Advocaten - Insurance & Corporate has many years of experience handling a wide variety of of liability and insurance law issues for clients. It provides a range of services to large and niche insurance companies, such as advice on compliance with financial regulations, assistance with privacy-related questions and policy wording. In addition, with the group comprising of seasoned Supreme Court litigators, it is also a strong choice for complex insurance claims; areas of expertise in this space include professional liability, fraud, D&O and personal injury. Hanco Arnold leads the team, which also includes Frank Schaaf, Jan Ekelmans, Astrid van Noort and Daan Spoormans.

Clients turn to the team at Loyens & Loeff due to its strengths in insurance-related M&A, insurance (including civil liability) litigation and arbitration, and regulatory advice. Portfolio transfers and reorganisations are other drivers of work. Kitty Lieverse and Merel van Asch (who was promoted to counsel in January 2021) are the key contacts at the firm, where contentious work includes coverage disputes and matters concerning the duty of care owed by insurance companies and insurance intermediaries. Van Asch recently led a team which successfully represented AON in several legal proceedings that primarily centred on the duty of care that arose in relation to various legal policies.

Insurance and complex liability matters are a core area of specialism at Van Traa Advocaten, which acts for the world's leading insurance companies and brokers, multinational corporates and state-owned enterprises. One of the main contacts at the firm is personal injury expert Derk-Jan van der Kolk, whose recent work included advice to Ajax Amsterdam on legal questions arising from the brain damage sustained by football player Abdelhak Nouri, following his collapse during a match against Werder Bremen. Van der Kolk is also acting for the largest agricultural insurance company in the Netherlands in claims arising from a thunderstorm, where so-called supercell hailstones caused severe damage to households across the south east of the country. Robert de Haan primarily undertakes advisory work on issues such as cargo, logistics liability and events, among others. Robert Pessers leads the highly-regarded group, which also includes Peter Drion and Arian Lengton.

Bird & Bird's liability and insurance team is led by qualified Supreme Court litigator Evelyn Tjon-En-Fa, who has experience of handling jurisprudence-shaping cases in the Netherlands. Under her leadership, the group undertakes contentious (litigation and arbitration) and non-contentious work, with a focus on matters connected with the high-tech, chemicals, infrastructure and construction industries. On the contentious side, notable workstreams include mass claims, policy coverage disputes, W&I and D&O cases. Elsewhere, the team is sought after for advice on the drafting of insurance policies, cyber policies, commercial/outsourcing matters and data protection. In a key development, Johan Polet joined from Simmons & Simmons in December 2020.

Led by Victor de Vlaam, Hogan Lovells International LLP's team in Amsterdam is seen as a go-to for particularly complex insurance and reinsurance transactions, such as cross-border M&A and portfolio transfers of life and non-life products, in addition to advising on market admissions, restructurings of insurance companies and regulatory issues. Reflective of the firm's strengths in the insurance arenaa, in 2020, de Vlaam, Robert Masman and associate Janelle de Ruiter were among the advisers to NN Group and NN Life on three transactions to transfer the full longevity risk associated with circa €13.5bn of pension liabilities in the Netherlands. Danielle du Bois-Buné joined from Allen & Overy LLP in May 2021.

Ploum‘s insurance practice, which sits within the firm’s dispute resolution department, generates mandates from a broad cross-section of clients, notably insurance companies, insured parties, brokers, loss adjusters and municipalities. Its contentious work includes professional liability (particularly matters involving accountants) and D&O liability claims. Health, safety and environmental matters are also seen as a key area of strength; Natalie Vloemans, who leads the insurance team, has expertise in HSE and petrochemical industry claims. Elsewhere, construction-related insurance matters are another driver of activity. Maurice Verhoeven and Vincent Terlouw are other key individuals in the group.