The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Netherlands > Transport

AKD's transport and trade team has a global reputation in the international transport and offshore energy sectors, and has a strong reputation for its cross-border litigation capabilities. Clients include high-profile shipping insurance companies and terminal operators. Team co-head Haco van der Houven van Oordt is a litigation specialist with expertise in handling marine accidents, ship arrests and judicial ship sales. Fellow co-head, the 'top-notch' Jos van der Meché, is a key name for matters relating to terminal operations, logistics and insurance law. Stefanie Roose  and Annemieke Spijker are also noted.

Clifford Chance's financial markets group and corporate team assists major companies in the aviation industry, counting Air-France-KLM among its clients. Headed by Hein Tonnaer, Angela McEwan and Hans Beerlage, the department is particularly strong in financing, and in 2019 advised multiple aviation companies on over 20 aircraft deals. Tonnaer is recognised for his deep expertise in the aviation industry. He was instrumental in the assistance given to Goshawk Aviation with a $300m financing matter. Beerlage advised major client Air France-KLM on a new transatlantic joint venture with Delta Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways, and the acquisition of a 31% interest in Virgin Atlantic Airways

Drawing on 'top-level expertise' and offering a 'pragmatic' approach, Van Traa Advocaten provides a comprehensive service covering all aspects of transport law. Head of the transport, shipping and logistics department and stand-out litigator Vincent Pool handled a number of complex, high-profile disputes in the sector in 2019, including representing a leading logistics service provider against a multimillion-dollar container demurrage and detention claim. Head of the aviation team Robert Pessers is advising Malaysia Airlines following the shooting down of flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014. Robert de Haan, Olivier Böhmer, Jolien Kruit and Leendert van Hee are also key lawyers. Cargo specialist Richard Latten was a new arrival in 2020.

The 'pragmatic and very responsive' transportation finance practice at Loyens & Loeff brings 'great depth' in its advice to clients primarily on the lending side of shipping finance. Team co-head Gianluca Kreuze, a specialist in financing relating to shipping, aviation and rolling stock, led multiple financing matters in 2019 for the purchase and construction of ships. Aided by noted senior associate Ehsan Shirzadi, Kreuze also advised the Hong Kong-based Bank of Communications Financial Leasing on the cross-border financing (worth $60m) of two Dutch-registered aircraft that were subleased to KLM. The firm also handles regulatory and procurement matters for public transport entities.

NautaDutilh's transportation and logistics team has positioned itself as a powerful player in the shipping, aviation and transport industries, and covers all the practice areas relevant to the sector. The shipping branch of the team, with Erik Geerling at the helm, focuses on ship financing, as well as the construction, sale and purchase of new vessels. Teun Struycken heads the team's aviation wing, which specialises in financial transactions such as leveraged leases and engine financing. The team is also well represented in litigation by Kasper Krzeminski, who brings expertise in complex, cross-border commercial dispute resolution.

Norton Rose Fulbright distinguishes itself through its expertise handling ship and aircraft finance, its work for Latin America-based companies (including Aerovias de Mexico), and its specialism in ECA-backed financings. Team co-head Berend Crans, well recognised for his extensive experience in all aspects of aviation, acts for clients including the State of the Netherlands, which he advised on the public procurement for a new government aircraft and subsequent negotiations with Boeing. The team benefits from fellow co-head Wouter Hertzberger's specialism in asset finance for banks, shipowners and leasing companies, which constitutes a major source of work for the firm.

Stek's 'very responsive' aviation team provides all-round advice on the sector, specialising in multi-jurisdictional transactions relating to the lease, acquisition, sale and financing of aircraft and flight simulators. 'Very knowledgeable' team head Jeroen Timmermans acts for high-profile domestic and international clients, including Vueling and Atlas Air. Among several matters in 2019, he advised Mass Capital on the sale of two aircraft engines to Qantas. The practice also has experience in litigation, representing Corendon since 2017 in legal proceedings against Schiphol airport regarding slot allocation and airport charges. Laetitia Kunst is noted for her 'impressive depth of knowledge' managing aircraft sale and lease transactions.

The group at CMS positions itself at the forefront of next-generation initiatives including mobility-as-a-service, autonomous and electric shared cars, and has advised local governments on optimising traffic flow and public transport. Team head Petra Heemskerk is a specialist in procurement law, and has recently advised public transport (especially rail) companies on contentious and non-contentious matters. Ship financing has become a recent focus of the group, having advised on the construction financing of two superyachts; Jesler Hartman Kok and Jan Joris van Kampen, both specialists in this area, led the advice.

Simmons & Simmons primarily handles the financing of transportation projects and assets. Several recent matters demonstrate the firm's capability to handle high-profile work in the transport sector, including advising ING on its role as lead manager on Royal Schiphol Group’s debut €500m green bond. Other work includes transport team head Marieke Driessen advising a number of major international banks and insurers on asset financing related to the transport industry.