The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Netherlands > Real estate

Jan Cees Kuiken and Herman Lohman spearhead the Houthoff team which is 'very attentive and pragmatic, always reachable, very driven, and with high technical understanding'. Construction expert Michel Klijn, assisted by associate Sander van den Boogaart, are especially noted for 'thinking proactively to prevent problems instead of only solving them'. Lohman led the advice to AMVEST (a residential investment fund) and Ymere (an Amsterdam housing corporation) on the development of Overhoeks, comprising 1,800 residential units, a park, and commercial space.

'A major selling point' for Loyens & Loeff 'is that the team is huge and has the capacity to deal with the big transactions'. The team is also acclaimed for 'the breadth of its knowledge, its network, and 24/7 mentality'. Lonne Rooseboom leads a practice that includes Wilfred Groen and Steven Lucas, the latter is highlighted for his burgeoning practice and for 'successfully closing all transactions and winning in litigations'. Bram Linnartz, who is also the managing partner,  is considered a 'deal maker' and 'one of the best known real estate advisors in the Netherlands'. Linnartz led the team that advised Castlelake on the acquisition of five shopping centres throughout the Netherlands, a deal worth €156.5m.

The AKD team 'is highly regarded for its inventive expertise which also covers related corporate, environmental, public, and tax issues'. Lead partner Marc Wintgens continues to advise VolkerWessels and Taco De Lange heads a team advising Ontwikkelbedrijf Greenport Venlo.  Julian Versmissen is noted for being 'outstanding' in explaining transactions and Floris van Westrhenen provides 'excellent legal advice' together with 'deal-making and conflict-management' skills. Notary Aukje van Griensven is also a highlighted team member.

At Baker McKenzie, Cynthia de Witt Wijnen and Frenk Huisman handle transactions for clients such as institutional funds, international private investors, and multinationals and have a focus on property projects relating to renewable energy, logistics, and the TMT sector. The group's clients include Warburg HIH, LRC UK, TH Real Estate, and BNP Paribas. In a recent work example, the practice is advising Van Merksteijn International, the steelworks manufacturer on all aspects of the procurement of a new steel mill in the Eemshaven.

Hein van der Meer and Arnout Scholten are the senior members of the CMS  practice which serves domestic and international clients including developers, investors, and real estate funds, which benefit from the CMS global network. The team also advises on the planning, leasing, and finance aspects of projects ranging from office, leisure, and residential property developments to green and brownfield developments and upgrades. The team is acting for project company COD and developer Het Dok on complex transactions with the aim of developing the Het Dok neighbourhood which will provide 449 homes and retail premises.

Dentons is popular not only for its 'extensive knowledge of the real estate market and very pragmatic approach' but also because 'they are nice people to work with'. Dirk-Jan Gondrie is reported to be 'an exceptional and business-oriented lawyer' and Bas van Schouwenburg is 'also an amazing professional who has great knowledge of his field of expertise'. Managing partner Wendela Raas who heads the real estate team, Paul Wanders, Ines van Dijk, and senior associate Jeroen Le Clerq are also recommended. Altera Vastgoed, Breevast, Hines and Park Hotels and Resorts are among its clients.

DLA Piper is well rated for 'direct access to partners' who 'understand client objectives, translate this into tailor-made advice, and can act quickly'. Core partners are Monique Laenen, Rutger Oranje, Hans-Mark Giezen, and Leen van der Marel, who was made up in May 2018. It is well known for its cross-border capabilities and full service including corporate, tax, regulatory, and finance services. The team is advising the RJB Group of companies on the purchase of project Valley which will be developed by OVG Real Estate and will include 196 residential units, office space, commercial units, a sky bar, and 375 parking spaces.

Lexence is appreciated for its 'total commitment, successful outcomes, and good balance between quality advice and tariffs'. Tomas Steenmetser and Ferry van Schoonhoven specialise in commercial leases and attract international corporate clients, especially in the retail industries and referrals from international law firms. Bob Bekker handles a range of real estate transactions and developments and Michiel de Wit is also highly rated for his 'precision' and problem solving skills. The team advised Spuistraat 172 Real Estate and STAG Europe (Grafenau) as the sellers and tenants of the W Hotel in a sale and lease back transaction valued at €260m.

David Van Dijk heads the real estate and infrastructure group at NautaDutilh and led a large team that advised WP Carey International on its acquisition of a DIY portfolio owned by VNB Real Estate. This was achieved through a sale and leaseback transaction. The practice counts BAM, Cisco, Fluor and LaSalle Investment Management among its client roster.

Simmons & Simmons offers a broad range of expertise across real estate acquisitions and disposals, developments, project finance, leases and related disputes. The senior partners Luc Cohen and Rob Hendriks led a substantial team that is advising 90 North Real Estate Partners on the acquisition (in partnership with Dubai-based Audacia Capital) of two adjacent office properties under construction in Hoofddorp and will be state of the art HQs for ASICS and Danone. The matter, valued at €91m, also drew in financing and transactional expertise from colleagues in other European and the Dubai offices. Counsel Siemkje Batenburg is also a core team member.

Stibbe offers a comprehensive range of expertise in conjunction with its real estate skills including finance, tax, construction, planning, and procurement law. The team continues to assist Aedifica on all its acquisitions of care and nursing homes in the Netherlands and it advised Blackstone on all aspects of the sale of the Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel and Conference Center to InterGlobe. David Orobio de Castro heads the group and counsels David Meijeren and Boris Cammelbeeck are also noted practitioners.

Servicing a group of clients ranging from housing corporations to investment funds, institutional and commercial investors and developers, the team at BarentsKrans is 'powerful with broad knowledge and skills and a practical approach'. Jesse Zijlma and Jeffrey Koenecke, who 'know what they are talking about', head up a substantial and growing team whose clients include Amvest, Borealis Hotel Group, and IKEA. In recent work, Koenecke and Joost Huijgen advised Stichting Pensioenfonds Metaal enTechniek on the purchase and transfer of real estate in a variety of locations – the Terra portfolio which included three shopping malls. Partner Remco Bäcker and Nicole Soliana joined the team in January 2018 from Loyens & Loeff.

Real estate funds, investments, financings, and related tax are core specialisms of Clifford Chance's real estate practice. Highlight work includes advising ING Bank on the financing of a mixed student and residential housing development in the former Oudenrijn hospital building in Utrecht which had been acquired by KKR and Round Hill Capital through a joint venture. With a value of €33m, Liesbeth Buiter advised Credit Suisse on the acquisition of two properties from the Atrium Group. Jaap Koster and financing expert Hein Tonnaer are also core team members.

Paul Goedvolk, who heads the Eversheds Sutherland (Netherlands) B.V. team, advises national and international clients on commercial property matters together with refinancings and has a focus on the renewable energy market. Banking and finance partner Matthijs Bolkenstein and senior associate Annette Relou are notable practitioners. The team advised the Dutch subsidiary of Iron Mountain on the expansion of its data centre presence in Europe, through acquisitions in two locations.

Thijs Straatman, Wilfried Koster, Joost Hoekstra and Marinda de Smidt are the key team members at Straatman Koster Advocaten which specialises in construction and real estate. The team is advising Feyenoord Rotterdam  (Stadion Feijenoord) on the drafting of the co-operation agreement, option agreement and sale and purchase of land between Feyenoord and other parties and the municipality of Rotterdam. The project includes the construction of a new football stadium together with housing, office, and other facilities.

The Van Doorne practice handles real estate mandates across a broad range of sectors including logistics, residential and student accommodation, as well as distressed real estate assets. Team head Annerie Ploumen advised Aareal Bank on the financing of the new Hilton Hotel Schiphol which was acquired by Host Hotels & Resorts. The team, which includes newly made up partner Andy Furr, also advised the LIFE Group on its purchase of the Globe building and a parcel of land for development in the Hague from the Dutch Railways.

The team at Greenberg Traurig LLP serves both local and international clients who benefit from access to its global network. The group advises investors and asset managers as well as developers and corporate owners. In a recent highlight, it acted for Amundi on its acquisition of the Atrium office building, thought to be one of the most valuable properties in the Netherlands. Peter Jansema and Jan Kees Brandse are the key contacts.

Specialist real estate firm Hemwood (formerly Gijs Heutink Advocaten)   serves investors and developers on industrial, commercial, and residential projects, providing the full range of expertise including zoning, planning, and environmental matters. Gijs Heutink, Sonja van der Kamp, who joined from Dentons Boekel, and eefje van bommel are the key contacts; Niels van Tamelen and Anique Bergers Kemp have also joined from Dentons Boekel. The team's work includes advising urban developers Borghese Real Estate on the development of around 700 short stay student apartments close to the University of Groningen.

The real estate group at Kennedy Van der Laan is made up of 'young and very motivated lawyers who are different to the other big firms; their approach is unconventional and so are their legal solutions.' Nico Jacobs and Richard Jan Roks head the team and senior associate Anne-Christine Keuning is identified as a 'skilled negotiator who is positive and efficient in getting deals done'. The team has an established clientele in the hotel, leisure, and healthcare sectors. Recent highlight work includes advising Marriott Hotels International on a range of new hotel projects and also advising Nike Europe on the development of its new European HQ to accommodate more than 2,000 employees.

In addition to its well-established government clientele, Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV assists national and international corporates, developers, and pension and investment funds on the gamut of real estate transactions. Alain de Jonge and Maryse Mesu-Abbekerk are two of the senior partners in a substantial team, while René Spit is leading the advice to the Dutch Central Government Real Estate Agency on the structured sale of a former prison to AM. Valued at €84.5m; the site will be developed into one of the biggest residential new builds in Amsterdam.

At Six Advocaten, department head Leon Burgersdijk and Benno Den Teuling 'are great to work with' and the team is appreciated for being 'very professional but also have an informal approach and down to earth attitude'. Of late it has advised real estate funds on sales and acquisitions and advised owners and developers on a variety of projects involving commercial, student housing, and hotel real estate.

The Stijl Advocaten lawyers are considered 'highly specialised with an in-depth knowledge of real estate, zoning, and environmental matters'. In recent work, it is advising Cure in respect of a plant for handling unsorted household waste without prior treatment. The work spanned advice on the establishment of a joint venture, state aid, procurement law, environmental permit zoning, and plan issues. Team heads Truke den Uyl-Slagter 'is an excellent lawyer with excellent intuition' and Taco Hovius is 'very smart, commercial, and an excellent litigator'. Michiel van Driel 'is a true specialist in his field – a seasoned real estate transaction lawyer and an equally strong litigator', while Vincent van Oijen handles a range of real estate-related disputes and whose 'skills and knowledge are top notch'.

Hague-based specialist firm Van der Feltz Advocaten handles real estate, construction and all connected areas such as zoning and environmental issues and related disputes. The team advised Vorm Ontwikkeling regarding the development of 140 new houses in the Municipality of Kaag en Braassem and also assisted the Municipality of Voorschoten regarding the redevelopment of 330,000 square metres of glasshouses into a nature area with housing estates. the matter also involved disputes regarding the zoning plans. Marc Houweling, Willem Bosma and Willem van der Werf are noted team members.

Russell Advocaten B.V. provides day-to-day advice to both local and overseas clients in a range of sectors and has a track record advising embassies on matters including sales, acquisitions, and leasing matters. It also advises on disputes over leases and easements. Reinier WL Russell and Jan Dop offer a blend of corporate and real estate expertise.