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Firms in the Spotlight Real estate

Van der Feltz Advocaten

Van der Feltz Advocaten logo

Van der Feltz advocaten is a boutique law firm, based in The Hague, the Netherlands. They focus on Real Estate, Energy, Industrials, Government and Public sector. The lawyers advise and litigate on both public and private law matters, often operating at the interface of the two.

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Real estate in Netherlands

Houthoff

Houthoff continues to be a leading force for real estate matters in the Netherlands, assisting both international and domestic real estate developers, investors, construction companies and banks. The firm is known for its comprehensive practice, which covers all types of property, such as residential, retail, offices, industrial and hospitality. The team handles real estate transactions, development projects, acquisitions and joint ventures, and is headed up by Herman Lohman, who excels in complex real estate transaction mandates, including cross-border issues and redevelopments. He is joined by a team of notaries: Jan Cees Kuiken is the go-to for advising Dutch and international banks, pension funds and developers on transactions; Lucas Louwerier handles commercial and corporate real estate matters; and Dolf De Jong focuses on project development and corporation agreements for purchase and sale, as well as property law structuring. Anna Wijnans was promoted to partner in January 2023 and focuses on international real estate transactions as well as commercial tenancy law.

Practice head(s):

Herman Lohman


Other key lawyers:

Jan Cees Kuiken; Lucas Louwerier; Dolf de Jong; Anna Wijnans; Paul Asselbergs


Testimonials

‘Houthoff is able to offer a dedicated team with mainly one point of contact to maintain the overview. We choose Houthoff because they have the capacity to deliver all specific competences for very complex deals. A fast and pragmatic approach is essential and the team is well aware of that necessity. Furthermore they are capable (and Dolf de Jong specifically) of summmarising complex matters to the essence in a short and concise manner.’

‘Dolf de Jong is extremely good in context and overview, in combination with a commercial vision. He has created a very strong team, in his absence matters are also taken care of in a very professional way. We also consult Dolf when it concerns very complicated contractual matters as a counsel in combination with the team of lawyers.’

‘Houthoff was not just our legal counsel whilst investing in the Netherlands, but they really act as a partner and dealmaker. This is the extra and special touch which we are always looking for ’

‘The Houthoff team members are perfectly guided by their partner Herman Lohmann and every team member knows and understands exactly what to do. We experienced with them a very smooth and successful way of negotiating and closing several deals.’

‘The team is collaborative, practical and solution-oriented. They understand their client’s interests and wishes and ensure that these are taken care of on a legal level.’

‘Dolf de Jong is a very open, active and knowledgeable notary.’

‘The practice is locally embedded but has a distinctive reputation both nationally and internationally. The firm falls back on a strong and diversified team that masters all facets within the real estate sector. In addition, all these facets are brought together in a centralised consultancy. The practice is also capable of cooperating with other law firms regarding cross-border aspects of cases.’

‘Houthoff has always made us feel like the most important client they have and above all we have absolute trust in working alongside them. Their deep understanding of the real estate industry is second to none and they have a well structured team who clearly enjoy working together as well. We have always felt Houthoff provides a supreme level of service.’

Key clients

CBRE Global Investors


Unibail-Rodamco


Nuveen Real Estate


ASR Real Estate


Amvest


LCN Capital Partners


UBS


Clarion Partners Europe


Syntrus Achmea Real Estate & Finance


Delta Lloyd / Nationale Nederlanden


VolkerWessels


Wereldhave


NSI


PATRIZIA


Commerz Real Investmentgesellschaft


Heimstaden


Greystar


La Française


EDGE


Macquarie


Time Equities, Inc


Buysse & Partners /BPSA Smart Assets


State Street


Hannover Leasing


Credit Suisse


AXA IM


Dudok


Orange Capital Partners


Work highlights


  • Advising KEES on Project MARK, a residential and mixed-use development in Utrecht consisting of three low-rise buildings and three towers (Vertical Village).
  • Advised Greystar on the approx. €180m acquisition, from GGI, of 592 to-be-developed residential units in the Ensemble project in Amsterdam.
  • Advised Ontwikkelcombinatie KJ Plein (Amvest and Synchroon) on the development, sale and transfer of the major KJ Plein Project in the centre of The Hague.

Loyens & Loeff

The real estate practice at Loyens & Loeff is well known for its excellence in advising on the gamut of real estate issues. The team typically handles large projects and transactions and has increasingly been advising clients on ESG-related matters through improving sustainability of existing assets and ensuring new buildings are made with ESG in mind. The firm also handles large and small-scale acquisitions, and utilises its expertise in other areas such as energy, funds, securitisation and M&A to aid on multi-disciplinary mandates. Practice head Lonne Rooseboom leads the team specialising in transactions related to commercial real estate, turnkey projects and project development. Civil notary Wilfred Groen handles major real estate portfolio transactions and restructurings; Steven Lucas is the go-to for commercial and residential real estate transactions and litigation; and Jurriaan Van Der Stok is also a civil notary who advises on project development for developers and investors. Pauline Leegwater is a key contact for transactions involving the private equity sector, while Marjolein van Bekhoven is well versed in insolvency and foreclosure procedures related to transactions, as well as acquisitions and disposals.

Practice head(s):

Lonne Rooseboom


Other key lawyers:

Wilfred Groen; Bram Linnartz; Jurriaan van der Stok; Marjolein van Bekhoven; Pauline Leegwater; Mila Plasmans


Testimonials

‘Loyens & Loeff has a multidisciplinary team that worked very well together with the seller and other sellers advisors in the team. They brought great support, attention and knowledge to the table based on specific knowledge of local law but also their experiences from prior transactions. This supported the successful negotiation and the contracting phase. ’

‘Diversity of the team is a great asset. The team works very hands on and fast. They have an entrepreneurial view. ’

‘The real estate team is very capable in real estate law due to qualified and experienced colleagues and has a lot of knowledge and expertise in market conformity due to the many legal cases. In addition, they use their colleagues for specialized knowledge for sub-topics (e.g. tax, notary, risk etc.) so that they can service clients with a total package of advisory. ’

‘I have worked with Loyens & Loeff for over a decade now. The attorneys there are knowledgeable, hardworking and attentive. They are very collaborative — we have always incorporated the Loyens & Loeff attorneys into our company’s transactional team for any given project and they fit and and contribute wonderfully. Loyens & Loeff is among my very few favorite firms worldwide. ’

‘Wilfred Groen is a consummate expert on Dutch real estate law and related areas. Wilfred always manages to find creative solutions to help us accomplish our goals. He also offers practical guidance and advice, and is able to explain even the most complex legal detail in a way that the non-lawyers on my company team can understand and be conversant with the issue.’

‘The teams (real estate notary & real estate financing) possesses a broad spectrum of expertise, ranging from residential transactions to intricate commercial real estate deals. This breadth ensures that no matter how specific or diverse a client’s requirement may be, it can be addressed under one roof. At Loyens & Loeff, there’s a strong emphasis on collaboration. This ensures that clients benefit from multiple perspectives, leading to comprehensive solutions.’

‘One of the standout qualities is their commitment to excellence. They’re not just about meeting expectations but exceeding them. This dedication is palpable in every interaction and every piece of work they undertake.’

Key clients

The Blackstone Group


ABN AMRO Bank N.V.


Rabobank


ING Bank


Goldman Sachs


M7 Real Estate


Merck Sharp & Dhome


Patrizia Immobilien AG


Union Asset Management


AXA REIM


Hannover Leasing


Primonial


Monarch Alternative Capital


Highbrook Investors


AB Sagax


Keppel


DHG Group


Heimstaden


KKR


Real I.S.


Somerset Real Estate


Fortress Investment Group


Savills IM


AEW Europe


Marathon Asset Management


PingProperties


Orange Capital Partners


Bol.com


Brookfield


Work highlights


  • Advised AXA Real Estate Investment Management on the disposal of the logistic distribution centre locally known as DC I and DC II with a transaction value of €90,000,000.
  • Advised Marathon MCAP Global Finance on the disposal of the World Port Center in Rotterdam to MEAG with a transaction value of €193,000,000.
  • Advised easyHotel on the successful acquisition of the easyHotel Benelux portfolio from Xcentric Hotels, an affiliated business of Crossroads Real Estate.

Allen & Overy LLP

Allen & Overy LLP combines real estate, finance, public law, construction and tax expertise to advise clients on all aspects of real estate projects, transactions and financing. The team assists investors and banks in real estate deals, and it also handles real estate development projects and advises on public law-related real estate issues. Leon Hoppenbrouwer focuses on real estate and notarial law and is an expert in social housing matters. He also advises on commercial real estate transactions, sale and leaseback transactions, and property development. Zeeger de Jongh advises project companies on financing issues, while Jochem Spaans is a go-to practitioner for climate change and energy projects. Peter Tieskens is noted for his experience in acting for investors, developers and companies within the renewable energy sector.

Practice head(s):

Leon Hoppenbrouwers; Zeeger de Jongh; Jochem Spaans; Hilde van der Baan; Werner Runge; Pieter Tieskens


Other key lawyers:

Arwien Oemrawsingh; Marjet van Bezooijen


Testimonials

‘Able to provide swift and solid advice on complex multi-disciplinary (real estate) cases.’

‘Leon Hoppenbrouwers has very strong analytic skills. He’s able to oversee the entire playing field thus enabling you to stay ahead of your counterparty.’

Key clients

RED Company B.V.


Wisdom


Booking.com


KPN


Heijmans


Société Générale & Standard Chartered Bank


ING Bank N.V. & Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A.


Vattenval N.V.


Hembrug Zaandam B.V.


Park 15 Logistics


Sunrise Real Estate


Aedes


Work highlights


  • Advising Booking.com on the development of its new headquarters (72,500 sq. m.) in the Amsterdam City Centre and the subsequent sale and leaseback of the transaction.
  • Advised Heijmans on the acquisition of real estate developer Van Wanrooij for approximately €300m.
  • Advising Vattenfall on the sale of power plant Magnum located in Groningen Eemshaven to RWE, including drafting the (notarial) documents for the sale and transfer of the power plant.

CMS

CMS handles both domestic and international real estate transactions, project development, environmental and zoning issues, financing, lease transactions and security rights matters. Complex transactional work for the department includes real estate acquisitions, financing and development for investors, fund managers, developers, occupiers and asset managers. The practice has also been growing its ESG expertise, advising clients on the impact and regulatory expectations of ESG-related law. Arnout Scholten co-leads the practice with Femke Stroucken. Scholten specialises in complex real estate transactions, major refurbishments, area redevelopments and turnkey sale and purchase contracts. Civil notary Stroucken advises on transactions, project development and financing and is also skilled in ESG-related issues such as sustainable energy projects. Corporate real estate specialist Jan Peter IJspeert advises on project development, asset transactions and ESG issues. Also noted is Tijmen Brüne, who has recently been assisting with sale and leaseback matters. Hein van der Meer left the firm in January 2023.

Practice head(s):

Arnout Scholten; Femke Stroucken


Other key lawyers:

Jan Peter IJspeert; Tijmen Brüne


Testimonials

‘We have worked with CMS on several deals and we are very impressed by their service and expertise. Jan Peter IJspeert and Femke Stroucken stand out for their deal-oriented, practical and collaborative approach. They understand our business and objectives and provide us with clear and effective guidance. They are always available, reliable and committed.’

‘What I appreciate most is that Tijmen Brüne and his team keep in mind what the overall goal is. Which in our case is working together on (real estate) transactions. Tijmen is able to estimate whether certain risks, flagged during DD, are actual red flags or risks that can be accepted given the nature of the transaction. This results in a very smooth and efficient way of working. By working with Tijmen we are always certain that we do not lose valuable time on minor issues. Last, but not least, he is also a great person to work with. ’

‘I have been dealing with Femke Stroucken for over a decade and I have always been impressed by her overall depth and knowledge of the real estate sector combined with her strong commercial acumen and an exceptional degree of professionalism.’

‘Arnout Scholten is a good intelligent and experienced lawyer able to win negotiations. He does this smartly and steps away from personal things. He is creative, deal oriented and solution driven. He understands the balance between commercial and legal very well.’

‘Jan Peter IJspeert stands out because of his response time, and his tone of voice. His experience and negotiation skills really add value to the deal. In deals I leave it up to him to instruct his team or add knowledge from other sections. ’

‘CMS and especially Jan Peter and Femke have been excellent partners for our transactions. They are deal-driven, pragmatic and work well as a team. They always deliver high-quality advice and solutions, tailored to our needs and goals. We highly appreciate their responsiveness, professionalism and dedication.’

‘Arnout Scholten is able to act in a discussion without prior consultation because he is aware of our needs and requirements. Having legal assistance who is able to act like this is key for our relationship and makes it possible that CMS can think further than the actual question on the table.’

‘Tijmen Brune was our key contact. He kept track of the many workstreams, ensuring that the various contracts and structures were aligned and being worked on at the same time. Additionally, the other side of the transaction had a particularly tricky legal counsel, who was managed very well by Tijmen.’

Key clients

DIC Asset AG


Evolution RE


DHL


HANSAINVEST


Hana Alternative Asset Management (HAAM)


Savills Investment Management B.V.


Mirastar


Borghese / COD


Invesco


Nuveen


Swiss Life


CBRE IM


Synchroon


Catella


Delin


Aviva


M&G


Warburg HIH-Invest Real Estate


Capreon


Nordcapital


Work highlights


  • Advised CBRE Investment Management on behalf of an institutional investor on the acquisition of the Batavia building, to be developed at the Bio Science Park in Leiden, from developer Provast.
  • Advised German investment manager Catella Residential Investment Management on the sale by two of its funds of a 34-property Dutch/German residential portfolio.
  • Advised Invesco on three important transactions in the prestige residential, commercial and logistics spaces, with a combined value of €152.5m.

Dentons

The real estate team at Dentons handles a mixture of transactional, commercial leasing and disputes work for its varied client base of international and domestic companies. The practice has also been assisting international real estate investors in acquisitions and cross-border matters. Team lead Dirk-Jan Gondrie is specialised in real estate transactions and advises both Dutch and international investors on real estate sales, acquisitions, leasing and restructurings. Notable team members include Wendela Raas, who is known for her skills in commercial leasing matters; Paul Wanders, who handles both transactions and litigation; and Jeroen le Clercq, who is a key contact for landlord and tenant and rent disputes. Femke de Wolf assists the team in all matters. Further strengthening the practice, Rezan Ökten joined the firm in June 2023 from Houthoff.

Practice head(s):

Dirk-Jan Gondrie


Other key lawyers:

Wendela Raas; Paul Wanders; Jeroen le Clercq; Femke de Wolf; Bas van der Reep; Rezan Ökten


Testimonials

‘Great team! We are working with them for years already. Professionals with a lot of knowledge and experience. Great negotiators as well. Dedicated and always available to try and find the best solution for the client.’

‘Paul Wanders is professional, a good team player, sharp in litigation procedures, and always there for a short sounding board. Femke de Wolff works efficiently and practically with good legal knowledge.’

‘Dirk-Jan Gondrie has always been really effective on each deal we worked on. He took the time, as always, to explain and re-explain several points in order for us to have a crystal clear vision of the deal and agreement. He and his team have always provided us with strong recommendations against the risks we flagged. Dirk-Jan has strong soft skills that help us to have good relationships with sellers and thus, smooth transactions.’

‘True real estate experts with a good commercial mindset to make transactions happen.’

‘Wendela Raas is a great real estate expert, a go-to person to make a transaction go smoothly. She is determined to make it happen and doesn’t take no for an answer. Very reliable and has a commercial mindset.’

‘The team is very experienced and has a wide overview in the different market elements. Especially nowadays where it is very important to be knowledgeable on topics such as: indexation and bankruptcy. The team provides you with the best information to make the right decisions.’

‘Wendela Raas and Jeroen le Clercq are very keen in what they do and keep you informed with the latest case law. Especially now this is very important so you can choose the right strategy.’

Key clients

Accolade


Altera


Arrow Capital Partners


Blackbrook Capital


Bouwinvest


Castleforge


Cerberus


Cocon


CTP


Cushman & Wakefield


Delin Property


DSV


Edmond de Rothschild Real Estate Investment Management


EuroParcs


Hines


HVBM


Intermediate Capital Group


Iroko Zen


Palmira


Pathé


Pertinea


Patrizia


Savills Investment Management


Schroders Capital


Sonder Inc.


Unibail-Rodamco Westfield


Union Investment


Work highlights


  • Advising Hines on multiple logistic transactions in the Netherlands, including the acquisition of six fully occupied logistics assets in the Randstad area.
  • Advising Union Investment on high-profile real estate acquisitions and investments, including the recent acquisition of a large part of the MIX Amsterdam development from property developer MRP.
  • Representing real estate investors such as Unibail-Rodamco Westfield, Wereldhave and Patrizia in disputes with some of their tenants regarding the high lease indexation.

DLA Piper

DLA Piper focuses its practice on cross-border investments and transactions, often assisting real estate investors and project developers. Other work the firm typically handles includes large project development deals and assisting private equity firms in creating logistics platforms. Practice head Leen van der Marel is a go-to practitioner for real estate M&A as well as asset transactions. Property transaction specialist Rutger Oranje is well versed in the sale and purchase of property portfolios. Civil notary Daniëlle van Berkel was promoted to partner in May 2023; she specialises in complex transactions, portfolio sales and purchases, and real estate finance. Martin Daverschot joined the firm from Dentons in December 2022 and is a civil notary focusing on new building developments and renovations as well as apartment law. Hans-Mark Giezen is also noted for his work in lease and property investment transactions.

Practice head(s):

Leen van der Marel


Other key lawyers:

Hans-Mark Giezen; Rutger Oranje; Daniëlle van Berkel; Axel Visschedijk; Sven van der Meer; Max Radović


Testimonials

‘DLA has a strong real estate team. Their unique factor is their unlimited attention for detail and availability.’

‘Leen van der Marel and Sven van der Meer are always very committed and available. ’

‘Efficient approach. Clear team lead who involves colleagues when appropriate. Skilled in managing large transactions and various workflows.’

‘DLA exhibits a very high level of motivation and maintains a highly positive working attitude. Their approach is goal-oriented, and they refrain from introducing unnecessary elements into contracts. I always have one primary point of contact, while there is also a large team in the background that efficiently handles all requests within a short period.’

‘Sven van der Meer is readily available for calls and meetings, and his exceptional problem-solving attitude allows him to engage with the counterparty to reach mutually agreeable solutions. Throughout the entire process, he maintains a pragmatic and goal-oriented approach. Overall, it is an exceptionally smooth process, and I am extremely satisfied with the results.’

‘Seamless service across legal disciplines (attorneys, notaries and tax) and therefore very well placed to act on complex integrated projects involving more than one specialisation, such as sale and lease back and turnkey purchase transactions. The team is helpful and quick to respond. ’

‘Axel Visschedijk and Rutger Oranje have strong expertise in transactions and sale and lease back arrangements within the logistics sector. They are responsive, specialised in successfully closing complex negotiations and provide one stop shop legal advice on real estate transactions. ’

‘We have a very long and outstanding relation with the team. The cooperation is excellent, and the teams knows and understands our company and business very well. The legal knowledge is extensive, and they can assist us on a great variety of legal real estate and contract law matters. Meaning advising, litigation, drafting contracts and transactions. ’

Key clients

Abrdn


Ares Management Limited


Arrow Global


Aviva


Being Development


Carlyle


Corre


Corum Asset Management


GLP


HIH Invest Real Estate


Intervest Offices & Warehouses


Mirastar/KKR


NH Hotel Group


RED Company


Redevco


RJB Group of Companies


Schroders Capital


Segro


Urbz Capital


Work highlights


  • Advised RED Company and Redevco on a large-scale inner-city project development in Rotterdam.
  • Assisted Schroders Capital with the acquisition of a large office portfolio (50.000 sq. m.) with a value of €105m, located in Utrecht, from Klépierre.
  • Advised PowerField Netherlands on the raising of €135m in structured equity financing for the funding of construction and development costs in relation to solar, EV charging and storage projects.

Greenberg Traurig LLP

Greenberg Traurig LLP routinely advises clients on cross-border issues, including sale and leaseback deals. It also has a strong project development practice, where it mainly advises on the development of high-profile residential and office buildings. Logistics is another key area for the firm. David Van Dijk leads the practice and is an expert in commercial real estate matters, including investments, project development and real estate-related litigation. Alexander van Hövell is well versed in sale and leaseback transactions, acquisitions and property development, while Coco van Zuiden is known for her expertise in investment transactions. Another key name is Simone Wijngaard, whose expertise includes hotel investments and operations. Barbara Klootwijk and Eva Herdé were both promoted to partner in January 2023.

Practice head(s):

David van Dijk


Other key lawyers:

Alexander van Hövell; Coco van Zuiden; Simone Wijngaard; Karen Hilwerda; Barbara Klootwijk; Eva Herdé


 


Testimonials

‘They are extremely competent, think alongside their clients, are proactive and don’t only think legally, but also strategically and politically. ’

‘Special credit to Alexander van Hövell who is one of the best notaries the firm has. Alexander is sharp, proactive, well versed in protecting the interests of his client and objective if needed. ’

‘International firm with a lot of experience, availability of people and workforce, knowledge which provides a guarantee of excellent work. There is currently not another firm that has a better real estate practice.’

‘Coco van Zuiden is very pragmatic and solution orientated without losing sight of my getting the best deal. She is always available and helpful. Coco is very smart and efficient.’

‘Coco van Zuiden: very responsive and overall very accessible. Takes her time to explain certain legal issues. Furthermore, the Coco is very thoughtful on the commercial aspects of the deal as well and brings in good ideas. ’

‘Very pleasant to work with. Very professional level of work and at the same time very personal approach.’

‘Coco Van Zuiden managed the process from start to finish and lead the team through some tricky situations. She managed both our client but also the legal representatives on the other side ensuring a smooth closing. Great people person with deal management skills.

‘The Real Estate team is responsive, pragmatic and has good business acumen.’

Key clients

Tritax EuroBox


Tristan Capital Partners


W.P. Carey


Union Investment


C.V. Brightstone


BLVG


Patrizia


CCP 5 Long-Life Luxembourg


Perial Asset Management


ING Bank N.V.


IC Campus


MEAG


EQT Exeter


AEW


Pinnacle


Pontegadea


DWS


AT Capital


3W Real Estate


Pontegadea


Fidelity


P3


Work highlights


  • Advised Pontegadea on the acquisition of a DC in Venlo from Vestas for €105m.
  • Assisting MEAG with the acquisition of World Port Center in Rotterdam from Marathon for €193m.
  • Advised EQT Exeter on the forward-funding acquisition of a logistic development in Hulst.

Stibbe

The real estate transactions group at Stibbe is well positioned to handle large-scale real estate transactions, acquisitions, leases and property developments. The team acts for real estate companies, domestic and international property developers, financial institutions, private equity firms and governmental agencies. Boris Cammelbeeck and Maarten de Bruin co-lead the practice, with Cammelbeeck specialising in real estate transactions, including purchase, sale and financing deals, while de Bruin focuses on both the industrial and real estate sectors, handling both finance and tax issues. Real estate expert David Orobio de Castro is experienced in dealing with real estate projects, project finance and real estate and concession contracts. Ingmar de Groot, Jan van Oosten, and Johan Vrolijk are also integral to the team.

Practice head(s):

Boris Cammelbeeck; Maarten de Bruin


Other key lawyers:

David Orobio de Castro; Ingmar de Groot; Jan van Oosten; Johan Vrolijk


Testimonials

‘The Stibbe real estate team has great strength in depth. They have a wide array of capable practitioners both within the team itself and within related teams which makes them a very good option for one stop shop reliable advice. They have a very good understanding of our commercial needs.’

‘Boris Cammelbeeck is one of our lead advisors in this team. He has a calm and considered approach and has developed a very good understanding of our business needs.’

Key clients

AccorInvest


Aedifica


Blackstone


BPD


Breakthrough Properties


British American Tobacco


FedEx


Forum Estates


Genmab and Merus


Granite REIT


Great Grey Investments Datacenter (GGID)


Staedion


Inditex


KLM


Louis Vuitton


Mitiska REIM


Morgan Stanley


Municipality of The Hague


Neinver


Prologis


Q-Park


SEGRO


Tupla Vastgoed


Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)


Work highlights


  • Advised Blackstone Group on its equity investment together with Landmark in a portfolio of HighBrook Investors with a value of approx. €180,000,000.
  • Advised AccorInvest on the sale of its 40% equity stake in TGRE, the owner and operator of Hotel Sofitel The Grand in Amsterdam, to Schroder Real Estate Investment Management.
  • Advised SEGRO on (i) the sale of a non-core asset in Westzaan to Cabot (ii) the sale of part of the SEGRO Park Amsterdam Airport to SELP and (iii) its lease with DHL.

Van Doorne

Van Doorne‘s real estate practice combines expertise in real estate transactions, notarial real estate, real estate finance, tenancy law and tax to provide its clients with the full range of real estate services. The team is well versed in a number of real estate asset classes such as offices, logistics, residential, retail and healthcare. Civil law notary Annerie Ploumen focuses on real estate transactions, and co-leads the practice alongside property development and construction specialist Mark Moolhuizen, cross-border commercial real estate expert and civil notary Ariën van Heesen and M&A expert Steffen Alleman. Maarten Tinnemans joined the team in August 2022, further strengthening the practice with his skills in real estate transactions, transfer of real estate companies and security rights. Jordie Bakker is noted for his ‘keen commercial insight’; he handles issues involving turnkey real estate transactions, construction law and project development. Andy Furr is also a key contact.

Practice head(s):

Annerie Ploumen; Ariën van Heesen; Mark Moolhuizen; Steffen Alleman


Other key lawyers:

Maarten Tinnemans; Jordie Bakker; Andy Furr


Testimonials

‘Annerie Ploumen has succeeded in putting together a very effective team with good cooperation between notaries and lawyers with various real estate related areas of expertise.’

‘Maarten Tinnemans is very hands on with a focus on main commercial points, but without losing track of details. He takes ownership of getting a transaction closed. He manages his team very effectively.

‘We are very satisfied with Van Doorne’s team for their proactive, solution-oriented, and commercially savvy approach. What sets them apart is their ability to foresee challenges and take timely actions to resolve them, adding real value to our business objective. Overall, their capabilities make them a strong contender in the industry, and we are very pleased with their performance.’

‘I’m pleased with the team at Van Doorne, particularly Jordie Bakker for his expertise and proactive, solution-oriented approach. Jordie’s depth of knowledge sets him apart; he consistently anticipates challenges and provides effective solutions, making him an invaluable asset to our collaboration. Overall, we are very satisfied with his and the team’s performance. ’

‘Joride Bakker has a keen commercial insight and has a great ability to represent the interests of the client.’

‘Lawyers and notaries at Van Doorne are pragmatic, hands-on, no-nonsense. They are very pleasant to work with. They are also very responsive. ’

‘Steffen Alleman is specialised in real estate M&A. He is pragmatic, has tons of experience, he gets things done. Andy Furr is very intelligent and yet pragmatic.’

Key clients

AM


Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations


Retail Estates NV


MG Real Estate


Ahold


WSW


Melcombe


Dutch City Development


Xior


Orpea


Lone Star Funds


Lister Buildings


Amro Real Estate Partners


Hedin


Work highlights


  • Advising funds managed by Melcombe Partners on the acquisition of both existing (core) logistical facilities as well as in relation to (forward-funded) turnkey development logistics acquisitions.
  • Advised MG Real Estate on the development and subsequent sale – through a share transaction – of the MG Park Lelystad.
  • Advising the Taskforce Versnelling Tijdelijke Huisvesting on streamlining and speeding up providing temporary housing options, with a goal of building 37,500 temporary houses in 2023 and 2024.

AKD

With a large real estate practice, AKD utilises its size to advise on a wide array of real estate matters, from joint ventures to M&A. The team is well equipped to handle cross-border issues, often collaborating with the firm’s teams in Belgium and Luxembourg. The team is led by civil notary Sven Billet, who focuses on project development. Key practitioners include Taco de Lange, who is a well-respected notary and often assists international clients and investors, Frenk Huisman, who focuses on multidisciplinary and international transactions, and Marc Wintgens, who handles complex real estate negotiations and contracts for large construction companies, government bodies and hospitals. Floris Van Westrhenen is noted for his expertise in rental law and project development disputes. Joost Kil also assists with commercial real estate transactions. Wouter de Vries left the firm in January 2023.

Practice head(s):

Sven Billet


Other key lawyers:

Taco de Lange; Julian Versmissen; Frenk Huisman; Marc Wintgens; Floris Westrhenen; Joost Kil


Testimonials

‘I have been working with the practice of Sven Billet and have extensive experience with him and his team. He is able to process files quickly, accurately, expertly and in a warm atmosphere. This combination is exceptional at his level of performance.’

‘Lawyers and notaries that we consult have a personal touch and interest in our business and people. They are engaged and feel personally responsible for the good outcome of their advice.’

‘Frenk Huisman throughout our working relationship has proven to be a remarkable professional and trustworthy business partner to our company. Frenk has been instrumental in solving complex legal issues and his thorough understanding of complex legal concepts allowed for a clear and concise communication at all times. Frenk possesses excellent analytical skills which combined with his natural leadership have greatly contributed to our success.’

‘AKD has extensive experience and knowledge in the field of construction and real estate. They have a good understanding of demands and requirements of institutional investors and they have been a true partner in getting due diligence and transaction documentation over the line. AKD stands out in translating theoretical risk into real exposure which makes decision making on the institutional level easier and streamlines the transaction process.’

‘Frenk Huisman’s role as a partner was highly valued. His proficiency in explaining / educating Dutch legal regulations and concepts to our international investors fostered trust among our partners and facilitated pragmatic resolutions to legal disputes without compromising our legal standing or escalating our risk exposure.’

‘AKD has a skilled team that works hands-on and has short lines of communication with us as a client, making it very efficient in the case of an urgent matter. In more complex cases, the project team involved is expanded with the missing discipline, knowledge, skills and experience.’

‘Marc Wintgens is a seasoned lawyer with an undisputed reputation as a sharp negotiator. Marc was the practice head of the real estate and the construction team of AKD for many years and currently serves as a member of the board of management of AKD. He is the lawyer to go to! Not only is he an excellent lawyer, but he also knows the market through and through. No doubt: he is the best. Worth mentioning also is Joost Kil. ’

Key clients

Aldi


Univé


Panattoni


Zalando


Allianz Real Estate GmbH


Port of Rotterdam


Greystar Real Estate Partners


Goodman


Life Europe


VolkerWessels


A large number of Dutch housing companies (incl. Rochdale, Portaal, Staedion, Haag Wonen, Stichting Havensteder, Vestia Groep, Woonbedrijf, Ymere, ’thuis, WonenCentraal and Sint Trudo)


Philips


Green Real Estate


Several local government agencies including the municipalities of: Utrecht; Eindhove; Tilburg; Breda; and Westland


Several local government agencies including the Provinces of Limburg; Gelderland; and Zuid-Holland


M&G Real Estate


Kaan Architects


DW Partners


DSV


Prologis


Flow Real Estate


Profinn


Joint Owners of the Entrada Area


Prorail


Hercuton


Edge Technologies


Work highlights


  • Advising VolkerWessels on the Strijp-S development and construction project in The Netherlands.
  • Advising Panattoni on the acquisition and development of fourteen new logistic real estate projects.
  • Assisting EdgeConneX with all data centre investment and development projects in the Netherlands and related matters.

Clifford Chance

The real estate team at Clifford Chance is spearheaded by Liesbeth Buiter, who specialises in pan-European transactions for numerous real estate segments, such as healthcare and data centres. The practice has been active in advising on real estate issues within the logistics and energy sectors as well as residential developments. Managing partner and finance expert Titus de Vries often assists in real estate financial transactions, while Michiel Sunderman is a go-to for tax-related issues.

Practice head(s):

Liesbeth Buiter


Other key lawyers:

Titus de Vries; Mark Jan Arends; Michiel Sunderman; Lotte de Bruin; Stern Flik


Testimonials

‘Very strong real estate team. Pragmatic and responsive advice.’

‘I would highlight Liesbeth Buiter.’

Key clients

TotalEnergies


Prologis


Henley Investment Management


Tristan Capital Partners


Lübke & Kelber


Advario


Amundi


Obvion


Invest International


Invesco Real Estate


NPM Capital


NWI


Rabobank


URBZ Capital


Northwest Healthcare Properties (NHP)


Patrizia


PGIM / Orpea


Work highlights


  • Advised TotalEnergies on its exclusive negotiations with Alimentation Couche-Tard for the setting up of a partnership in Belgium and Luxembourg and the sale of its retail networks in Germany and the Netherlands.
  • Advised Prologis on the acquisition of a diverse portfolio of 128 logistics facilities and six new developments from Crossbay for €1.585bn.
  • Advised Henley Investment Management and its co-investment partner Invesco Real Estate on their acquisition of a commercial building in Amsterdam from Abrdn.

Lexence

Lexence is a ‘frontrunner in the field of retail lease agreements‘. The team routinely handles sales and leaseback matters as well as environmental law and construction-related real estate issues. Practice head Bas Martens specialises in real estate development, area development and construction disputes. Michiel de Wit focuses on the sale and purchase of commercial real estate; Vincent Boumans is a go-to for commercial leasing law issues; and Jan-Willem Raadgever advises on cross-border transactions and real estate development matters. Civil law notaries Jan Hockx and Arief van Rhee specialise in notarial commercial property development and commercial real estate law. Jip Spierings and Esther Vochteloo are also noted.

Practice head(s):

Bas Martens


Other key lawyers:

Michiel de Wit; Vincent Boumans; Jan-Willem Raadgever; Jan Hockx; Arief van Rhee; Stephan Westera; Jip Spiering; Esther Vochteloo


Testimonials

‘Vincent Boumans has excellent analytic skills, he’s always available and is very dedicated to get results for his clients.’

‘Good service, easy to contact and answers questions within deadlines. It has good contacts within the real estate fields, i.e. other legal firms, public notaries and the municipality of Amsterdam as well.

‘Arief van Rhee has been a public notary for many years. Hard working, client oriented, but always fair in his opinion. His client’s interest comes first.’

Key clients

Union Investment Real Estate GmbH


Merin (Blackstone company)


Mileway (Blackstone company)


Hansainvest


Forma Real Estate Funds


Schiphol Airport


Kroonenberg Groep


MEAG Munich Ergo


Besix


Hannover Leasing


DWS


Allianz


HONASSET GmbH


Logicor


CBRE IM


Work highlights


  • Assisting JYSK with the purchase and leasing of a plot for the implementation of a 25-hectare distribution centre building in the Flevokust Haven industrial park, in the city of Lelystad.
  • Advised Amsterdam Arena Poort Winkelfonds on the sale of two retail units in Amsterdam.
  • Advised CBRE IM on a prominent deal regarding the lease of a to-be-redeveloped property in the city centre of The Hague to the University of Leiden.

NautaDutilh

Full-service law firm NautaDutilh advises clients across a range of matters within commercial and residential real estate. With offices across the Benelux region, the team is active in energy transition and has continued to assist clients in large real estate transactions. Practice head and civil notary Kees Koetsier is the go-to for issues involving structuring and financing of real estate funds, corporations and commercial real estate. Construction expert David van Ee assists in development cases involving real estate issues, while David Wumkes is a specialist in notarial and real estate-related private law especially for energy projects. Ramon Pop is also noted. Arief van Rhee left the practice in April 2023.

Practice head(s):

Kees Koetsier


Other key lawyers:

David van Ee; David Wumkes; Ramon Pop; Redmar Warning; Boris Andriessen; Youri Jansen


Testimonials

‘Great knowledge of our concern and specifically of our business. They are able to communicate on the desired level.’

‘David Wumkes understands the legal playing field and the requirements of our business very well.’

‘Youri Jansen is a good and committed associate.’

Key clients

ABN AMRO


Achmea Real Estate


AG Real Estate


APG


Apollo / Lapithus


ASR Vastgoed


Atlassian


BAM


Batavia Biosciences


Borago Properties


Catella


Cathexis


Carrier


CBRE Group


Corio Retail


Cromwell


De Hoge Dennen


Deciem


European Investment Bank


Erasmus Medisch Centrum Rotterdam


Expeditors


Fluor


GAC


Gilead-Kite


Global Holdings Management Group


Gunvor Group Ltd


GVB


HAL Investments


Heitman


Hokanson Capital Inc.


ING Real Estate


Investcorp


Jane Street


Janssen Biologics


Janssen Vaccines and Prevention


Johnson & Johnson


Koolen Industries


Lindegas


Louwman Groep


ZEH / Delta


Mammoet Europe


Merlin Entertainment Development


Movares


Municipality of Amsterdam


Municipality of Rotterdam


Ministeries of Finance and Housing (the Netherlands)


Nationale-Nederlanden Bank


Neogene


Neste


NIBC Bank


RREEF


Ramphastos Real Estate


S4 Energy


Siemens


Shell


Shurgard


TotalEnergies


UBS Real Estate


UBM


Upfield


Van Wonen


Wooden City Karspeldreef


W.P. Carey


Yondr


Work highlights


  • Advised Achmea Dutch Retail Property Fund on the acquisition of two retail portfolios with a total deal volume of €390m.
  • Advised Neste as lead counsel on all legal aspects of its €1.5bn investment to expand its sustainable fuels production capacity.
  • Advised ERGO Group on the refinancing of the Maas Tower in Rotterdam.

Osborne Clarke

Acting for both developers and investors, Osborne Clarke has a well-rounded real estate practice, active in a variety of real estate matters. The team regularly handles residential issues, such as redevelopments, as well as commercial real estate matters, covering logistics, data centres, office and retail properties, among others. Practice head Bas Beenen is a specialist in civil law-related real estate issues including both commercial and residential. Berend Zwart focuses on the commercial side of real estate, assisting with buying, selling and leasing of properties, as well as project development. Cees Graafland works on real estate taxation; Casper Bos handles transactions; and Kim Hoefman is the go-to for acquisitions and disposals. Charlie van der Star is a key contact for renewable energy-related real estate issues.

Practice head(s):

Bas Beenen


Other key lawyers:

Berend Zwart; Cees Graafland; Casper Bos; Kim Hoefman; Charlie van der Star


Key clients

Amvest


Aegon Levensverzekeringen


Angelo Gordon / APF International


Athora Netherlands


Boelens de Gruyter


Borealis Hotel Group


Catella Real Estate Group


Garbe


Schröders (formerly: Cairn Real Estate)


Redevco


Westmont Hospitality Group


Wildstone Capital


Zinc Real Estate


Work highlights


  • Advised Amvest on the development of Koningin Julianaplein, a square next to The Hague’s railway station.
  • Advised Angelo Gordon’s net lease division on the sale and leaseback of several Dutch and Belgian properties from the pan-European industrial portfolio of the Group of Butchers.
  • Advising Ampyr on the acquisition of Netherlands-based SolarEnergyWorks’ solar business.

Simmons & Simmons

Simmons & Simmons acts for a range of clients, including developers, contractors, authorities, consortiums, lenders and investment companies. Its practice is divided into six areas: real estate M&A; project development; project finance and real estate finance; exploitation and leases; public tenders; and real estate disputes. The team is co-led by Luc Cohen and Rob Hendriks, with Cohen handling both contentious and non-contentious real estate issues, and Hendriks focusing on real estate M&A. Civil law notary Siemkje Batenburg assists with real estate transactions and commercial real estate matters. Real estate finance specialist Ivo van Dijk is also a name to note alongside Nick Braamburg and Bob van Els.

Practice head(s):

Luc Cohen; Rob Hendriks


Other key lawyers:

Siemkje Batenburg; Ivo van Dijk; Nick Braamburg; Bob van Els


Testimonials

‘Siemkje Batenburg and Luc Cohen are very advanced and entrepreneurial when it comes to understanding deals.’

‘Small and dedicated real estate team for a big firm which is one of the fastest responding firms.’

‘They are making steps on innovation matters.’

Key clients

Hines


90 North Real Estate Partners


SAS ATREAM / ATREAM Hotels Nederland SCI


Meijer Realty Partners


Savills Investment Management


Movement Real Estate


Van Deursen Groep


Davidson Kempner


Sidra Capital (UK) Limited


Triginta


SEDCO


Blackrock


L’Etoile Properties


Blauwhoed Projectontwikkeling


Certitudo Capital


ABN AMRO Bank


ING Bank


NIBC


Resonance Capital


DRC Capital


Metroprop


DM Equity


Globus Medical


Fletcher Hotels


Tristan Capital


Work highlights


  • Assisted Triginta with a transaction of a healthcare-related portfolio, consisting of the acquisition of all the shares in Mimamo Vastgoed and three asset transactions in relation to healthcare properties located in the Netherlands.
  • Assisted Audacia Capital (represented by 90 North Real Estate Investors) with the sale of the Danone HQ to a ME-based investor.
  • Assisted Wasco with the sale-and-leaseback transaction of an A-class logistics property on the Ecofactorij in Apeldoorn.

Straatman Koster Advocaten

Straatman Koster Advocaten is a specialised firm that focuses on real estate, construction and environmental law. The team handles a number of environmental, zoning and planning law cases and lease law issues. It also advises on PPP/PFI area development projects and real estate development projects across a number of real estate assets including office, residential, leisure and logistics. Practice co-heads Thijs Straatman and Wilfried Koster lead the department, utilising their expertise in real estate and construction law as well as project development. Joost Hoekstra is experienced in land acquisition and environmental issues, while Marinda de Smidt is known for her expertise in real estate contracts. Violet Acar and Marc Marcusse are also noted.

Practice head(s):

Thijs Straatman; Wilfried Koster


Other key lawyers:

Joost Hoekstra; Marinda de Smidt; Marc Marcusse; Violet Acar; Paul Heijnsbroek


Testimonials

‘Excellent team. Service is very good with a high level of knowledge on complex real estate matters.

‘Wilfried Koster and Thijs Straatman are outstanding. Very experienced with high level of knowledge of the real estate business.’

‘The firm has a combination of practical insights and theoretical knowledge.’

‘Violet Acar always knows what we want and works hard to achieve our mutual goals. She always responds quickly and efficiently when we need her. ’

‘Good and clear communication. The firm dares to take a position in the advice and clearly advise which direction they believe is the most feasible.’

 

Key clients

ABN AMRO N.V.


Amvest


Ballast Nedam Development


BPD


Duprofa Winkelfonds


Dura Vermeer


Emborion


Feyenoord (premier league football club)


Green Park Aalsmeer Gebiedsontwikkeling


Heijmans


HVC Warmte B.V. / N.V. HVC


JCDecaux Nederland B.V.


KIKX Development


Klépierre


Koninklijke Volker Wessels Stevin


Leiden University


Leyten Vastgoedontwikkeling


Moervast Development


Municipality of Almere


Municipality of Amstelveen


Municipality of De Bilt


Municipality of De Ronde Venen


Municipality of Gouda


Municipality of Leiden


Municipality of Nissewaard


Municipality of Rotterdam


Municipality of The Hague


N.V. Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Utrecht (OMU)


Ontwikkeling Maatschappij Lelystad Airport (OMALA)


Patrimonium


ProDelta Real Estate Development B.V.


Province of Utrecht


Province of Zuid-Holland


PWC


RED Company B.V.


Royal Properties Development


Schiphol Area Development Company (SADC)


Stedelink


Stedin


Stichting Hef Wonen


Stichting Hof Wonen


Stichting Intermaris


Transdev


Urbicoon Belgium


Vaanster


Vorm Ontwikkeling


Wereldhave


Zilver Wonen Obligatie Fonds


Work highlights


  • Advising the municipality of Rotterdam, Stichting Gebiedsontwikkeling aan de Maas (Heijmans Vastgoed NV) on the Feyenoord City project.
  • Advising HVC on several heat projects in the Netherlands, including large-scale geothermal projects.
  • Advising Ontwikkeling Maatschappij Airport Lelystad Almere (OMALA) on drafting sale agreements and all ancillary agreements for Lelystad Airport business park for logistics functions.

act Fort Advocaten

Specialists in corporate and real estate law, act Fort Advocaten is known for its work in the retail, hotel and leisure segments. The practice handles both contentious and non-contentious issues, and is jointly led by Pieter Twaalfhoven, Katinka Verdurmen, Dirk van den Berg and Mirre Vermeer, who excel in a broad range of real estate matters. Asmara Kalter assists the team with civil real estate law issues and commercial contracts.

Practice head(s):

Pieter Twaalfhoven; Katinka Verdurmen; Dirk van den Berg; Mirre Vermeer


Other key lawyers:

Asmara Kalter


Testimonials

‘Due to their niche position within the real estate and business practice, they have in-depth knowledge and extensive experience in the real estate market. They are extremely well informed about all new regulations and consistently deliver high-quality work. What really sets Fort apart is their quick response and their accessibility. All lawyers we work with are strong both substantively and socially. We are therefore extremely satisfied with our collaboration with them. ’

‘Pieter Twaalfhoven is extremely sharp, accurate, proactive and has the ability to come up with practical solutions that fit seamlessly with business operations.’

‘Katinka Verdurmen is a very qualified lawyer in the field of real estate and especially in lease law. Easy access and great sparring partner. Aware of latest knowledge.’

‘Qualified in real estate. Client friendly firm. Easy access and involvement from lawyers and partners. Can compete with the large law firms with their expertise. ’

Key clients

Amrâth Hotels & Restaurants B.V.


Nedstede Retail B.V.


Mirage Retail Group B.V. (Blokker, Intertoys, MINISO, BCC)


Metroprop B.V.


JD Sports Fashion B.V. / Sports Unlimited Retail B.V.


Corendon Hotels & Resorts B.V.


Wisdom Holding Netherlands B.V


De Vijf Heeren B.V.


CASA 23 B.V.


IHM Group Holding B.V.


Spring Real Estate B.V.


Blauwdruk Investeringen B.V.


Manhave Investments B.V.


Nespresso Nederland B.V.


SynVest Dutch Real Estate B.V.


Søstrene Grene


Vastwas B.V.


PATRIZIA Netherlands B.V.


Segesta Groep B.V.


Work highlights


  • Advised real estate investor Nedstede Holding on a large dispute related to the monthly rental payments with regard to Covid-19.
  • Advised Amrâth Hotels & Restaurants on the acquisition of the Airport Hotel Rotterdam, the Berghotel in Amersfoort and Hotel Bigarré in Maastricht.
  • Advised real estate developer De Vijf Heeren on a dispute regarding the execution of a building contract with Ballast Nedam with regard to a 154-metre residential tower in Rotterdam.

BarentsKrans

Zoning, environmental law, leasing, project development and real estate transactions all fall within the scope of BarentsKrans’ real estate practice. Sustainable energy is another primary focus for the team and is handled by Jesse Zijlma. Joost Huijgen and Leonoor Lieben co-lead the practice, the former specialising in contract and liability laws and the latter focusing on notarial real estate. Jeffrey Koenecke handles commercial real estate issues.

Practice head(s):

Joost Huijgen; Leonoor Lieben


Other key lawyers:

Jesse Zijlma; Jeffrey Koenecke


Testimonials

‘Things that characterise Barentskrans are: knowledge, reliability, advice and putting the client’s interests first.’

‘The BarentsKrans team works very professionally.’

‘I think the key strength of the BarentsKrans real estate practice is its personal approach. Contact is very personal and quick. It’s easy to get a quick advice on something or a collaboration on a big project.’

‘The real estate team is well established in the ‘niche sub-market’ we are operating in. The strong knowledge and continuous track record in the fast changing market (from a regulatory perspective) helps us to make the right choices. The team is flexible, highly accessible and is able to shift quickly from operational legal matters to high level, strategic legal advice. Particularly strong in market specific matters, so goes beyond general legal knowledge.’

‘Jesse Zijlma holds in-depth specific knowledge on the market we operate in and is always ‘ahead’ of the market knowledge. As a partner he is very accessible, delivers as agreed and thinks in the best interest of the client. ’

Key clients

GARBE Institutional Capital Netherlands


HILLGATE


Kavel Vastgoed


Kickersvoet


LSI


Rabobank


Van Omme & De Groot


Vereniging INretail


Work highlights


  • Advised Stebru on the development of the Maestro project, consisting of over 250 homes and a residential care centre on the site of the former Lozerhof nursing home in southwestern The Hague.
  • Advising Ecorus on the development, construction, management and operation of the second largest solar park in the Netherlands, Fledderbosch in Groningen.
  • Advised Pensioenfonds Metaal en Techniek on the sale of the Stadshart shopping centre in Zoetermeer, a shopping centre with 22,500 square metres of floor space.

Buren

The real estate team at Buren is known for its expertise in foreclosure auctions of real estate. Other areas covered by the team include development, redevelopment and financing, as well as purchasing and leasing. The team is jointly led by Gerbrand Schrickx, Kirsten Prick and Jonathan Gal. Schrickx and Prick are both civil law notaries focused on commercial real estate, while Gal handles real estate transactions, project development and leases.

Practice head(s):

Gerbrand Schrickx; Kirsten Prick; Jonathan Gal


Other key lawyers:

Astrid van den Broek-Temmerman


Key clients

Fresch Projectontwikkeling BV


Fiduciam Nominees ltd.


WoonHolland


Thuismakers BV


Cabot Properties


Waaijer Projectontwikkeling B.V.


SB Real Estate BV


Stichting Reinier de Graaf Groep


Equity Estate


Quion


Volksbank


Avest Group


Borghese Real Estate


Vesteda Investment Management


Tromm Vastgoed


RBR Real Estate


Mulan Project Development


Pike Vastgoed BV


Ten Brinke Bouw


Schouten & de Jong Projectontwikkeling


De Vries en Verburg


Metterwoon


Work highlights


  • Advised Fresch Projectontwikkeling on the acquisition, development and financing of several Dutch properties with the intention to redevelop and sell.
  • Advising Stichting Saffier on the intended development of a care facility in The Hague.
  • Advised Woonholland on the acquisition, development and financing of several Dutch commercial properties (residential homes) located in and around The Hague and Amsterdam.

Hemwood

Boutique real estate firm Hemwood assists clients with civil law-related real estate matters and stands out for its skills in environmental and planning matters. The firm has recently been strengthened by the addition of notary Monique Laenen as practice head, who joined the firm in September 2022 from DLA Piper. The arrival of Laenen and her team has enabled the practice to expand its offering to include notarial services alongside its traditional real estate offering. Eefje Van Bommel handles redevelopment cases, while Sonja Van Der Kamp works on commercial leasing and real estate transactions. Gijs Heutink is the go-to for area developments and transactions, and lease law expert Niels Van Tamelen is also experienced in litigation.

Practice head(s):

Monique Laenen


Other key lawyers:

Sonja van der Kamp; Eefje van Bommel; Gijs Heutink; Niels van Tamelen; Daniel Brand; Elsbeth Meijboom


Testimonials

‘Niche real estate law firm with an excellent team that values a personal approach. There is not one field in real estate law that they cannot tackle.’

‘Monique Laenen is a highly knowledgeable notary. Industry leader, well respected and known by the entire Dutch real estate industry. During difficult negotiations, Monique tries to find common ground between all parties to reach consensus.’

‘They are all specialists with a lot of experience, know our company and a few of the partners work for our company for a long time. Sonja van der Kamp knows what the needs of our company and business are. The quality of the advice is high but also to the point and pragmatic. ’

Key clients

Achmea Real Estate


Ahold


Amvest


APF International


ASR Real Estate


Bridges (Vermaat Groep)


Caransa


COD/Borghese


Coltavast


Cushman & Wakefield


Hoorne Vastgoed


KNSF Vastgoed


Multi Corporation


Montea


NEOO


NSI


RJB Group


Timeless


Urban Industrial


Wereldhave


Wonam


Ymere/Ymere Ontwikkeling


Zadelhoff


Work highlights


  • Assisting Montea with the acquisition of property, lease negotiations, development and contracting (mostly Triple Net).
  • Advising Centrum voor Zorg/Zadelhoff on a complex development of the former Amsterdam Slotervaart Hospital to health care/office space/residential.
  • Assisted Rijnenburg Consortium with the anticipated multipurpose redevelopment of the projected app. 6.400.000 m2 Rijnenburg Quarter in Utrecht.

NewGround Law B.V.

Founded in 2019, boutique real estate law firm NewGround Law B.V. has been increasing its capabilities to offer both contentious and non-contentious real estate advice. Environmental, planning, sustainable energy and administrative law are all primary areas of focus for the team. Civil law notary Cynthia de Witt Wijnen-Guman specialises in real estate transactions, while Renée Fennis assists both national and international clients in lease agreements and transactions. Candidate civil law notary Etiënne Dijkhorst joined the firm in April 2023 from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, further strengthening the practice.

Practice head(s):

Cynthia de Witt Wijnen-Guman; Charles van Rijckevorsel; Anne-Marie Klijn; André Gaastra; Erwin Noordover; Renée Fennis; Etiënne Dijkhorst


Other key lawyers:

Sabrine Zebeda


Testimonials

‘This practice is a boutique law firm in real estate. The partners are all practitioners who came from high quality law firms. They have a small client base but they have a few very big clients. Due to it being a concise law firm there is a direct working relationship with the lawyers involved in a transaction. ’

‘Renée Fennis is the go to partner. She is knowledgeable, sociable, deal and solution driven and is also willing to lead her client even if that means contradicting her client. Cynthia de Witt Wijnen is a very client driven lawyer. Anne-Marie Klijn is a very skilled lawyer. ’

‘Cynthia de Witt Wijnen is very committed, experienced and has extensive knowledge, is great in negotiations, and always on top on things.’

‘Etienne Dijkhorst is an inspired notary and lawyer with a wealth of experience. Etienne and his team are always there for you. The big difference is the personal approach and the fact that partners are closely involved.’

‘Cynthia de Witt Wijnen-Guman is an outstanding personality with great management and leadership skills. She combines exceptional sensitivity and commitment with expert knowledge and specialist skills for instance relating to the hospitality industry and for cross-border transactions.’

‘A boutique firm that can handle real estate transactions with great care and attention for the matter, personal and tailored. The team is experienced and has good knowledge of market standards. They also have experience in the field of asset management and litigation, which makes it easy to switch to relevant experts in those fields, if necessary.’

‘Etienne Dijkhorst is experienced and well qualified, always on top of things and very service oriented. He is pragmatic and knows how to get the job done, always communicating in a pleasant and constructive way with other counsel involved.’

‘Cynthia de Witt is a very talented individual with very good communication and negotiating skills. Renée Fennis is also very appreciated, professional and always providing good advice on difficult negotiations.’

Key clients

AEW Europe


BEOS AG


BNP Paribas Real Estate Investments


Bouwinvest Real Estate Investors


Deka Immobilien Investment GmbH


Fleura Onroerend Goed B.V.


Informa Europe B.V.


Ofi Invest


Swiss Life Asset Managers Deutschland GmbH


Verdion GmbH


WestInvest Gesellschaft für Investmentfonds


Klépierre Vastgoedontwikkeling B.V.


Miro


AXA Real Estate Investment Managers Nederland B.V.


Patrizia


Warburg-HIH Invest Real Estate Benelux B.V.


HANSAINVEST Hanseatische Investment-GmbH


Work highlights


  • Advised Deka Immobilien Investment on the €566m sale-and-leaseback of the international headquarters of Booking.com in Amsterdam.
  • Advised Deka Immobilien Investment on the €217m sale of the office building De Resident to the Dutch government.
  • Advised Bouwinvest Residential Fund on the €33.5m sale of 118 residential properties to Daelmans Vastgoed.

Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV

The real estate team at Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV collaborates with the firm's environmental and planning department and construction practice to assist governmental entities with the full range of real estate issues and projects. Such matters include area development, transformation and development of properties, leasing and sustainability issues. The practice has also been increasing its private client base. Tenancy law specialist Aemile van Rappard chairs the team and is supported by a strong team, including Maryse Mesu-Abbekerk, who focuses on leasing, acquisitions, contracts and project development, and Floris Sepmeijer, who works on rental law and ground leases.

Practice head(s):

Aemile van Rappard


Other key lawyers:

Maryse Mesu-Abbekerk; Myrte Berkvens; Floris Sepmeijer; Jonne Fluitsma


Testimonials

‘Pels Rijcken is very skilled in the treatment of cases that affect the government. They are very well informed and especially active in transferring knowledge. Also they are quick and adequate in addressing legal issues. The way we cooperate is very pleasant.’

‘Floris Sepmeijer wants to know and understand all background information making him capable of understanding complex issues. It is easy to follow his advice. Reflects very adequately during court sessions.’

‘I believe that Maryse Mesu-Abbekerk is one of the absolute top real estate legal professionals. She works quickly and accurately.’

‘I think they are highly qualified, because they understand very well which interests and dilemmas we have to cope with. They don’t need extra explanation. Their approach is appropriate and ‘to the point’. My contact with Maryse Mesu-Abbekerk went very well.’

Key clients

Van der Vorm Vastgoed B.V.


Municipality of Amsterdam


The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA)


Dutch State (all Ministries)


Provinces of Noord-Holland and Gelderland


Municipality of Rotterdam


Canopy Investments B.V.


Police


The State Forestry Commission (Staatsbosbeheer)


Port of Amsterdam


The Central Government Real Estate Agency


Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management


Domus Magnus (since 2023 Domus Valuas)


Stichting Zorggroep Florence


Work highlights


Six Advocaten

Boutique firm Six Advocaten focuses on real estate, construction, regulatory and procurement law. On the real estate side, it handles litigation, transactional and advisory work for its clients. The team is adept at handling regulatory issues related to landlord and tenancy law as well as leasing, project redevelopment, and sales and acquisitions. Team lead Femke Borst is a go-to for landlord and tenancy-related issues, and she is also well versed in mixed-use lease contracts and qualification of use matters. Jeroen Kist is popular among German and Austrian clients in property transactions and property management.

Practice head(s):

Femke Borst


Other key lawyers:

Jeroen Kist


Testimonials

‘One of the first “boutique” law firms in the market. Really approachable firm, top notch quality and in depth knowledge of the sector. ’

‘Femke Borst is our go to person for tenancy law. Very down to earth, approachable lawyer who has in depth legal knowledge. Nonetheless Femke maintains a commercial view and really understands the broader interests at stake.’

‘What makes Femke Borst stand out from others is that she has an enormous knowledge of tenancy law. She knows every aspect of this field and she is extremely strong in translating very well into practice. Femke knows how to convert the needed knowledge into the right process. I would always recommend her when it comes to tenancy law related matters. In my opinion she does an extraordinary job and delivers high quality results. Besides this, she is also very good at negotiating.’

‘SIX law firm is already long involved in our business making their (historical) knowledge and the ‘fit’ within our business a key factor of their engagement. Their expertise in the field of the advice we are looking for is great.’

‘They are nice personalities understanding what our business is asking for and needs, making their advice fit for purpose. Femke Borst for example is very pragmatic, able to discuss topics on the phone and provide you with hands on advice which results in being able to act and react fast.’

‘Six fields an experienced, hands on, partner driven team with good overall knowledge of the market and market practice, both from a domestic and from an international perspective – they understand the type of work product international clients like to see and we gladly engage them for real estate matters.’

‘Very good knowledge of all related issues for building permits and developments. Not only one way discussion but me as client and legal advisor working on strategy as team.’

‘We like to work with Femke Borst. She has a profound knowledge of landlord and tenant law, and wider real estate law. She is also very service minded and a great person to work with.’

Key clients

De Lelie Vastgoed


CBRE Global Investors


Amvest Development RE


NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT


Paribus Immobilien Assetmanagement GmbH


Work highlights


  • Advised and litigated on behalf of CBRE Global Investors in matters relating to lease, construction and development, zoning, and other regulatory matters.
  • Advising Amvest on a redevelopment project in Tilburg, which involves the demolition of a building block and the realisation of a new housing block with care facilities.
  • Assisted Alpha Packaging with the negotiations and drafting of the A –B and B – C sale and purchase of an industrial property in the south of the Netherlands.

Baker McKenzie

Baker McKenzie uses its international presence to specialise in cross-border real estate deals. In particular, the practice is known for advising inbound investors. The team also handles energy-related real estate matters, data centre deals and real estate finance. Leading the practice, Paul Goedvolk is a civil notary and commercial property, real estate finance and project development expert. Kathinka Driessen is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Paul Goedvolk


Other key lawyers:

Annette Relou; Kathinka Driessen


Testimonials

‘They are dedicated, persistent and have an international knowledge which can be decisive when negotiating with international parties. Tone of voice differs from the situation and that is an asset too. Special acknowledgement to Kathinka Driessen and Paul Goedvolk.’

‘Very strong and reliable team in all our real estate matters.’

‘What I like about Baker’s real estate practice is the fact that they, although they’re part of a large company, have short communication lines and are very direct in their communication. They’re also very competent and know how to construct a deal. ’

Key clients

Bank Hapoalim


Commerz Real


Kosmos Development


TW Residential


Woon-Winkel Fonds


Zenzo


Orpea Group


Group Aaron B.V.


Work highlights


  • Advised ORPEA on the sale and lease back transaction concerning a portfolio of 32 retirement homes and one office building located in the Netherlands.
  • Assisting Group Aaron on the acquisition, financing, redevelopment and disposal of multiple properties located in the Netherlands.

Boels Zanders Advocaten

The real estate team at Boels Zanders Advocaten largely serves the south of the Netherlands in real estate issues involving retail, leisure and domestic housing. The practice is also known for its skills in assisting German clients. Based in Venlo, Louis Einig and Harm Heynen lead the practice, the former focusing on property development and the latter on tenancy law. In Eindhoven, Ward van Loo specialises in public procurement and state aid law.

Practice head(s):

Louis Einig; Harm Heynen


Other key lawyers:

Ward van Loo; Wouter van de Wier


Testimonials

‘Teams within the law firm work together whenever needed (e.g. real estate and restructuring & insolvency), they quickly work towards the best approach for the issue, taking into account every perspective.’

‘We have worked together with Ward van Loo for a long time. It is very helpful in cases that he is not only a very skilled lawyer but is fluent in English and German.’

‘Boels Zanders is a very good law firm. They pair excellent legal skills and good communication skills . Their drafting and litigation abilities are top notch. They are not only proficient in Dutch and English but also in German.’

‘Ward van Loo is an excellent lawyer. His engagement is outstanding and he has a lot of knowledge and experience regarding public procurement and construction law. He understands his clients and is always acting in their interest. He is a smart and reliable sparring partner and a keen litigator. ’

Key clients

Toychamp Netherlands BV


McArthurGlen European Development Ltd


Designer Outlet Centre Roermond BV


Heineken Nederland BV


Outlet Rosada BV


Residence 32 Bv


La Bergère Group (LBG)


Beter Bed Holding BV


Volker Wessels


Stichting Wonen Limburg


Stichting Maasvallei


Stichting Dichterbij


Stichting Woonpartners


Work highlights


Eversheds Sutherland

Eversheds Sutherland is particularly known for handling real estate matters involving renewable energy, such as solar projects and large data centre development projects. The team also collaborates with its corporate, banking and finance teams to advise on other real estate matters such as restructurings and acquisitions. Natascha Geraedts and Max van Drunen co-chair the practice. Geraedts is a go-to for planning and environmental matters and van Drunen leads on renewable energy and sustainability issues.

Practice head(s):

Natascha Geraedts; Max van Drunen


Other key lawyers:

Omar Saeed; Lynn Kombrink


Testimonials

‘This firm has very good sector knowledge in real estate and energy. It understands the commercial and legal needs of their client very well. ’

‘Max van Drunen has good sector knowledge, understands the commercial and legal needs of their client and is very responsive.’

‘The team is very professional, attentive and helpful. ’

Key clients

CyrusOne


SEGRO Netherlands


Bob W


U. Vastgoed


Work highlights


  • Advised U. Vastgoed on the sale of the plinth of the CoolTower, a 154-metre-high tower in the centre of Rotterdam.
  • Advised Statkraft on the establishment of real rights for solar park Masterveldweg in Winterswijk, the largest solar park in the province of Gelderland.

Kennedy Van der Laan

Kennedy Van der Laan covers a wide array of real estate issues, notably zoning and environmental law, procurement, leasing and real estate M&A. The team has also been increasing its expertise in circular buildings and sustainability. Richard-Jan Roks and Eline Goemans jointly lead the practice, with Roks advising on construction and procurement issues within the healthcare sector, and Goemans handling all project-related real estate work, including litigation.

Practice head(s):

Richard-Jan Roks; Eline Goemans


Other key lawyers:

Loes ter Meer


Testimonials

‘Kennedy van der Laan is a renowned law firm and very good in terms of work. Service is fast and advice is tailor-made.’

‘Eline Goemans is one of the best real estate lawyers I know and have worked with. She is very good in terms of content and, if necessary, she can litigate well. Eline is a good advocate, is very sharp in court. In short, she’s a top lawyer.’

‘Without the input and guidance of Kennedy van der Laan we would not have achieved the very favourable result in our negotiations. They provide clear and solid guidance on an area of Dutch law that was changing over the past few years.’

‘We received solid guidance on Dutch real estate law and ensured that we were able to get an outstanding issue concluded in a short period of time.’

‘Eline Goemans is a very experienced lawyer with a good knowledge of the law and the ability to provide simple but practical advice.’

Key clients

A&O Hostels


Schiphol Airport


AEW Europe


Raiffeisen Bank


Sofidy


Esset


AviaRent Invest


Primonial REIM


Amerborgh International


Via Outlets


Fairtree Capital


Valentino Nederland B.V.


Future Proof Shipping B.V.


Landal Greenparks


Accor


Mövenpick


Clink Hostels


HR Hotel Group


PPHE Hotel Group


Leonardo Hotels


De Alliantie


Eigen Haard


Omnia Wonen


Sligro


Vodafone Ziggo


Nike Europe


Swarovski


Weboma


Geldmaat B.V.


UPS SCS (Nederland) B.V.


Atlas Edge


Staedion


Rochdale


Work highlights


  • Assisting Future Proof Shipping with an innovative project to build and operate a fleet of more than 10 zero-emission inland and shortsea vessels.
  • Assisting Nike Europe with lease and construction agreements in the Netherlands, as well as the redevelopment of its EMEA headquarters in the Netherlands.

Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s real estate team combines real estate and finance expertise to assist clients with real estate project financing and refinancing, acquisitions and divestments. Practice head Daphne Broerse advises on the sale, purchase and lease of real estate for a range of clients, including property developers and property funds.

Practice head(s):

Daphne Broerse


Other key lawyers:

Annemarie Ver Loren van Themaat-Creutzberg


Testimonials

‘The team is responsive and client-friendly.’

‘Proactive approach and practical hands-on advice with a clear joint interest to close the deal.’

Key clients

Hotel Exploitatiemaatschappij Keizersgracht 384 B.V (Dylan Hotel)


InterContinental Hotels Group B.V.


Macquarie Capital


Dijkhuis Vastgoed Management B.V.


Hamburg Commercial Bank


CBOE


Sandvik Santrade Ltd


ING Bank NV


BNP Paribas


Bancroft Capital


BAAK Consortium


Sunrock


Rabobank


Attero


Craven B.V.


MEET Strukton


Damen


Dura Vermeer Divisie Infra BVlBU Grote Projecten


Work highlights


  • Advised AIG on the financing of several distribution centres in the Netherlands, in particular on the legal matters regarding land rights and the lease of the buildings.
  • Assisted Hamburg Commercial Bank with real estate financing of nine office buildings in the Netherlands with a total of 69,200 sqm.
  • Advising a client on the financing of the sale of a hotel.

Russell Advocaten B.V.

Known for advising embassies with real estate issues, the real estate practice at independent firm Russell Advocaten B.V. is equipped to advise on numerous issues, such as leasing, purchasing and disputes. Another key area for the firm is retail real estate. Managing partner Reinier W.L. Russell chairs the practice and has a broad practice that includes real estate.

Practice head(s):

Reinier W.L. Russell


Testimonials

‘Reinier W.L. Russell has helped us with negotiating our lease of our building. They have thoroughly negotiated the contract for us and provided great feedback. In addition, the firm followed up with advice on how to negotiate a long term contract.’

‘Their knowledge of the industry is profound and invaluable to our clients looking to get started in the Netherlands.’

‘I love working with Reinier W.L. Russell because you know where you stand so quickly. Straightforward, a very good trait for a legal advisor.’

‘Fighting spirit, availability, sense of urgency. Great strategic partners.’

‘They know what they are talking about, they do not beat around the bush. They always pick up their phone and we feel like a number one client. ’

Work highlights


Taylor Wessing

Full-service firm Taylor Wessing makes use of its international network to assist foreign and national clients in cross-border projects. Practice co-heads Huub Stroom and Hendrick Jan Schimmel both specialise in real estate. Stroom advises a range of clients - including real estate funds and supermarket chains - on property law matters, while Schimmel takes the lead on corporate real estate transactions such as the purchase and sale of commercial real estate.

Practice head(s):

Huub Stroom; Hendrik Jan Schimmel


Other key lawyers:

Fabian Stevens; Remco Schoe


Testimonials

‘Taylor Wessing have a strong and knowledgeable team. If deadlines need to be met, they can swap or add team members to meet the deadline.’

‘Cooperation between the team. If someone is on holiday or unavailable for one reason or another, someone will take over with a good level of knowledge.’

Key clients

Invesco


Signal Capital


Novaxia


Lidl


AM


BPD


Amundi Real Estate


AXA


DELA


FRV (Foolen&Reijs Vastgoed)


Janssen de Jong


Heijmans


Holland IMMO Group


Bakkers|Hommen Waerdevast


1Box


Proptimize


Built to Build


G&S& (formerly G&S Vastgoed)


Victory Group


Garbe


KLM


Work highlights


  • Advising Holland IMMO Group on the purchase and transfer of the Heuvel Parking garage in Eindhoven.
  • Advising Victory Group on the purchase and all legal aspects regarding the acquisition and financing of the ABN AMRO headquarters on the Zuidas in Amsterdam.
  • Advised Novaxia on the acquisition of several prime office buildings in the Netherlands for around €120m.

Van der Feltz Advocaten

Based in the Hague, Van der Feltz Advocaten is a boutique law firm with a joint construction and real estate practice, which assists in contentious and non-contentious real estate matters. Recently, the team has been assisting clients with sale and leaseback transactions. Marc Houweling leads the team handling all real estate matters. Brim Tonino focuses on public procurement, leasing and property law.

Practice head(s):

Marc Houweling


Other key lawyers:

Brim Tonino


Testimonials

‘The team is professional and a true partner in various transactions. They are also able to support in cross-border transactions.’

Key clients

Municipality of Zoetermeer


Work highlights


  • Advising the Municipality of Zoetermeer on the legal aspects of moving and rebuilding the Nelson Mandela Bridge.