Houthoff > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Firm Profile

Houthoff
GUSTAV MAHLERPLEIN 50
1082 MA AMSTERDAM
Netherlands

Netherlands > Capital markets: equity Tier 1

Houthoff‘s equity capital markets practice is weighted towards complex cross-border transactions, with the firm working closely with corporate clients and international law firms. One of the main contacts at the firm is Alexander Kaarls, who has extensive experience of handling ECM matters involving US, Dutch and other European securities law issues. His ECM work is part of a broader corporate and securities practice. Another name to note is Jetty Tukker, who has a strong track record in some of the largest, high-profile IPOs in the Netherlands. In addition, she advises on SPAC and deSPAC transactions, as well as secondary offerings and securities-related regulatory compliance. The firm’s highlights included Tukker and others acting for the founder and majority shareholder of Meltwater on the company’s IPO on Euronext Growth Oslo in December 2020, as well as its subsequent envisaged listing on the main market of Oslo Børs. Senior associates Willem Liedenbaum and Emma Schutte are also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Alexander Kaarls; Jessica Terpstra; Jetty Tukker; André de Neve

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Houthoff’s team is dedicated, professional and has expert knowledge of Dutch market requirements.’

‘Jetty Tukker delivers a high standard of advice with a personal approach. She is a committed and dedicated adviser.’

‘Great ECM team.’

‘Jetty Tukker is extremely responsive and impressive. She really knows her field.’

‘Jetty Tukker is a pleasure to work with. She does not just oversee the full picture, but she also has a great eye for the details. Jetty gives you her full, undivided attention and assists you herself. Her engagement is exceptional.’

Key clients

Davide Campari-Milano N.V.

Meltwater B.V.

Qell Acquisition Corp.

The Vitol Group

Royal VolkerWessels

Lehman Brothers Treasury

BTG Pactual/PPLA Participations

DH Private Equity

TMF Group

DP Eurasia N.V.

Vimetco

Deutsche Bank

J.P. Morgan

Thoma Bravo

Petrobras

Work highlights

  • Advised, together with Goodwin Procter LLP, Qell Acquisition Corp. (a publicly listed special purpose acquisition company) on the proposed listing of Lilium as a Dutch N.V. on NASDAQ through a business combination with Qell.
  • Advised Foundation Trust Office Fugro on a refinancing of Fugro N.V. comprising of a €53.3m cornerstone investment and a €197.1m rights issue.
  • Ongoing advice to Fortenova on various matters, including the acquisition of 18.53% of the shares in Mercator (Slovenia’s largest retail chain listed on the prime market of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange) from Sberbank.

Netherlands > Construction Tier 1

The Rotterdam-based construction team at Houthoff is active in many facets of the industry, including construction agreements, litigation, public procurement, project development and financing. The team is headed by Michel Klijn , who is ‘is quick to respond with adequate and practical advice’, and is recommended for transactional and contentious matters. Dolf de Jong specialises in property, contract and notarial law. Counsel Sander van den Boogaart  focuses on project financing, PPPs and disputes, and acts for clients in the construction, infrastructure and energy sectors.

Practice head(s):

Testimonials

‘Houthoff combines in-depth knowledge and great dedication to provide their clients with high quality and yet very practical advice’.

‘Michel Klijn is very practical, down to earth and accessible’.

‘Michel Klijn is open about his considerations, which gives me, as a client, insight into opportunities and risks’.

‘Sander van den Boogaart has good legal and market knowledge, is modest, practical, works efficiently and delivers what is promised’.

‘Houthoff is a fast responding firm that always delivers excellent legal advice within the periods stipulated’.

‘Their advice is first class and very goal-oriented’.

‘Michel Klijn is quick, precise and very responsive’. 

‘I really appreciated their quick approach, the precise advice and their ability to find pragmatic solutions’.

Key clients

Egeria

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

Schiphol Airport

VolkerWessels

Bol.com

BAM

Goodman Group

Greystar

Attero

Dümmen Orange

HagaZiekenhuis (Haga Hospital)

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch National Railways)

Siza

FCC

ARUP

OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of ChemicalWeapons)

Waterschap Aa en Maas (Water control board Aa en Maas)

Work highlights

  • Appointed by FCC Construcción as its legal counsel on the A9 Badhoevedorp –Holendrecht PFI project.
  • Representing Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in the redevelopment of the Leidsenhage shopping mall in Leidschendam-Voorburg.
  • Advising Reggeborgh on the development of two residential towers in the middle of the city centre of The Hague.

Netherlands > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 1

Houthoff’s arbitration practice is described as ‘highly specialised, well embedded in the Dutch arbitration community, and also very nice to work with’. Its caseload includes a steady stream of high-profile international work and it often co-counsels with large well-respected international firms. The team is led by Albert Knigge, Dirk Knottenbelt  and Bart van der Wiel . Knottenbelt focuses on corporate and commercial arbitration and Thomas Stouten is recommended for complex cross-border disputes relating to transactions. David Heems was recently promoted to partner, while long-serving partner Marielle Koppenol-Laforce  retired in mid-2021.

Practice head(s):

Albert Knigge; Dirk Knottenbelt; Bart van der Wiel

Other key lawyers:

Thomas Stouten; David Heems

Testimonials

‘Thomas Stouten is smart, collegiate and very pleasant to work with’.

‘Thomas Stouten has a good grasp both of the legal aspects and the commercial aspects underlying a case’.

‘Really friendly team, very responsive and great experience’.

‘Dirk Knottenbelt is a very experienced lawyer, very smart and with a great presence’.

‘Dirk Knottenbelt is a very nice and easy to work with’.

‘The team is very experienced in arbitration, especially with Dutch focus’.

‘The firm has a very convenient client-friendly billing system’.

‘The team is exceptionally efficient in co-counsel work’.

Key clients

Centerbridge Partners

Avery Dennison

Owens-Illinois, Inc.

Huntington Ingalls Industries

ING Group

LG Electronics

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)

Petrobra

TOTAL

Trafigura

Nationale-Nederlanden

Elliott Management

AIG

Allianz

Audi AG

Fiat Chrysler Automobile

Nexans S.A.

CBRE

Cargolux Airlines International S.A.

Volvo Trucks / Renault Trucks

ING

Achmea

Capgemini

Liander

InsingerGilissen

Nationale-Nederlanden

Allianz

Vitra

Asr

Republic of India

Eni

Trafigura

Petrobras Brasileo

Dommo Energia

Work highlights

  • Representing Petrobras in multiple actions in the Netherlands in the defence against the enforcement of an arbitral award, rendered in the United States under the AAA Rules.
  • Representing Eni in the defence against an application by GasTerra for the annulment of an arbitral award on gas price reviews.

Netherlands > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 1

The Houthoff dispute resolution team is ‘comprised of exceptionally quick and commercially minded lawyers who devise clever strategies and explain complex cases to clients in a user-friendly way’. The team is noted for its Supreme Court capability, and also handles corporate litigation and arbitration. Albert Knigge co-heads the team and has considerable experience in multiparty cross-border disputes and Dutch civil proceedings. Bart van der Wiel , who jointly heads the team, is recommended for finance, insolvency, and liability law; and Jan Willem de Groot is a name to note for Enterprise Chamber proceedings. David Heems was recently promoted to partner.

Practice head(s):

Albert Knigge; Bart van der Wiel

Other key lawyers:

Jan Willem de Groot; Rick Cornelissen; David Heems; Dirk Knottenbelt

Testimonials

‘Excellent cross-practices approach to litigation’.

‘Albert Knigge is valuable for his practical approach to complex legal issues’. 

‘Jan Willem de Groot is a superb advocate and very assured and prepared in court’.

‘Bart van de Wiel has a creative view on a dogmatic problem’.

‘Houthoff is our first choice for advice regarding appeal/cassation before the Supreme Court’.

‘Bart van der Wiel is approachable and gifted at making complex matters simple’.

‘Bart van der Wiel stands out as a great Supreme Court litigator’.

‘David Heems is an energetic and smart lawyer that get things done’.

Key clients

Achmea

Administrators in suspension of payments Steinhoff International Holdings Eni

AIG

Allianz

Asr

Audi AG

Avery Dennison

Capgemini

Cargolux Airlines International S.A.

CBRE

Centerbridge Partners

Dommo Netherlands

Elliott Management

Eni

Huntington Ingalls Industries

ING Group

InsingerGilissen

LG Electronics

Liander

Nationale-Nederlanden

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)

Nexans S.A.

Novamedia

Owens-Illinois, Inc.

Petrobras

Stellantis

Fiat Chrysler Automobile

TOTAL

Trafigura

Vitra

Volvo Trucks / Renault Trucks

Sligro Food Group

Work highlights

  • Advised and represented in court a group of leading global investment firms in relation to the high profile offer to buyout the minority shareholders of Altice Europe by the French telecoms billionaire Patrick Drahi, holder of 78% of Altice Europe.
  • Defending Petrobras in a securities class action submitted by the mass claims vehicle Stichting Petrobras Compensation Foundation allegedly representing a worldwide class of holders of securities (US investors excluded) who claim to have suffered financial loss as a result of alleged fraud within the Petrobras group during 2004-14.
  • Advised and represented Volvo Trucks/Renault Trucks in its defence strategy against pending and upcoming cartel damages cases, following from European Commission fines for the exchange of information on gross prices for 14 years and the passing-on of costs of compliance with stricter emission rules.

Netherlands > Employment Tier 1

Houthoff is well regarded for its specialist experience in strategic issues, boardroom counselling and litigation. Advising both domestic and international companies, the firm has recently been involved in a number of large international reorganisations and acts for both employers and employees. The practice stands out for its pensions expertise and it also handles high profile dismissals and remuneration issues. Edward de Bock heads the team and has considerable experience in advising on the pension aspects of M&A and joint ventures. Rixt de Vries left for Tshukudu Advocatuur.

Practice head(s):

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Edward de Bock was a perfect advisor for a delicate employment matter’. 

‘Edward de Bock was at the same time strong, cool headed and sensitive to the client’s emotions’. 

‘I found Edward de Bock to be a perfect negotiator on my behalf, always taking care of my best interests as a client, in full respect of the mandate and values that we had discussed’.

‘Edward de Bock was supported by a strong technical team, which was very reassuring’.

‘I found that the firm had impeccable reactivity’.

‘Edward de Bock has huge experience, maturity and keeps a cool head and a sense of humour, while being a tough negotiator on the client’s behalf’. 

‘Naomi Dempsey is a strong technical expert’.  

‘Different specialties that work well altogether to deliver the most suitable and practical answers’. 

Key clients

Hearst Netherlands

Danone/Nutricia

Landal GreenParks

Tata Steel Nederland

Renewi

Royal IHC

Various large automotive import companies

Royal VolkerWessels

Unibail Rodamco Westfield

HEMA

Samsung Electronics Airconditioning

BNG

DAS Rechtsbijstand

Pensionfund ABN Amro

Work highlights

  • Advising TATA Steel in relation to a reorganisation.
  • Advising Danone in relation to all employment law aspects of a global reorganisation in the Netherlands.
  • Advising InsingerGilissen on the Dutch employment and codetermination aspects of a cross-border merger.

Netherlands > Environment and planning Tier 1

The sizeable team at Houthoff acts for corporate clients, project developers and governmental bodies on the full range of environmental and planning matters, including climate change issues, mandates of political or reputational sensitivity, and those involving interaction with the Dutch state. The practice group also handles contentious matters and has extensive experience acting in the Dutch Supreme Court, where practice head Jan Frans de Groot frequently litigates.

Practice head(s):

Jan Frans de Groot

Other key lawyers:

Marloes Brans

Testimonials

Marloes Brans is responsive and attentive to our enquiries.

Netherlands > Insurance Tier 1

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

Practice head(s):

Berry van Wijk; Hans Londonck Sluijk

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The team has an awful lot of experience in insurance. The laws, regulations, guidance by the regulator. Also how the regulator functions.’

‘Berry van Wijk has a level of experience in insurance that she has built over years.’

‘Houthoff combines thorough legal knowledge with a practical, solution-oriented working method. This makes it a law firm that clearly has added value.’

‘The lawyers we work with understand our corporate culture and also include aspects other than strictly legal aspects in their reflections (such as media imagery). This applies in particular to (the team of) Berry van Wijk.’

‘The team is flexible, knowledgeable and thinks in opportunities instead of impossibilities.’

‘Gijs Hamelijnck: Easy way of working, knowledgeable, proactive and positive.’

Key clients

AIG

Allianz

Aon

a.s.r.

Atradius Credit Insurance

Aon

AXA XL

CNA

Cover Genius

Achmea/Centraal Beheer

Generali

HDI-Gerling

Marktplaats/e-Bay

Marsh

MS Amlin

NN Group (Nationale Nederlanden)

Swiss Re

Tokio Marine

Yarden

Zurich

Eli Global (Global Growth), Trier re Conservatrix

Swiss Re/Iptiq

Work highlights

  • Representing Nationale Nederlanden, a major international insurance company, in ongoing high-profile Dutch class actions concerning unit-linked insurances it sold in the Netherlands in which the insureds seek compensation for alleged mis-selling.
  • Advising the direct and indirect shareholders of the insurance company Conservatrix on M&A aspects, litigation and prudential regulatory aspects in relation to the developments at Conservatrix; including a putative personal liability of the UBO, an investigation into the causes of the bankruptcy, and ongoing current and future arbitration and commercial courts litigation.
  • Acting as defense counsel to Fasé & De Heer Crone BV, a global steel manufacturer, in cross-border proceedings following a fatal workplace incident in Mexico with several casualties relating to the welding of a steel-built storage tank manufactured by Fasé & De Heer Crone BV.

Netherlands > Investment funds Tier 1

Houthoff‘s investment management department has a strong profile among both leading fund managers and institutional investors. Led by Oscar van Angeren, the team handles the entire funds life cycle of a myriad of vehicles, including hedge funds, private equity buyout funds, funds-of-funds and real estate funds. Van Angeren is advising Man Group on its flagship Dutch fund Man AHL Diversified Markets EU, and also on Dutch regulatory matters. In addition, he is assisting Dutch real estate fund manager Hof Capital with forming a new investment fund known as HC Woningen. Sylvia Dikmans specialises in international tax planning, private equity and fund structuring, advising on both Dutch and Luxembourg tax law. Counsel Marthe Bollen is a recent hire from Robeco. Daan Horsthuis and Harm-Paul Plas joined Van Doorne in August 2021.

Practice head(s):

Oscar van Angeren

Other key lawyers:

Sylvia Dikmans; Marthe Bollen; Parmiss Mirshekar

Testimonials

‘They outperform other Dutch law firms with regard to their knowledge of investment funds/entities. They have highly qualified lawyers. They are quick, practical and have good knowledge. We agree beforehand on the deadlines. These are always met.’

‘Oscar is very experienced and knowledgeable and has been considered a top leader in his field already for many years now. So when you hire him you know you have authority on the case.’

‘Not only do they have many fund managers as their client but they also represent many institutional investors such as pension funds and insurance companies who invest in investment funds so they see both sides of the coin!’

Key clients

Man Group

CBRE Global Investors

Candriam Asset Management

Hof Capital

A.S.R.

GLP Pte Ltd

Kempen

Transport Industry Pension Fund

ABP (APG)

InsingerGilissen

Work highlights

  • Advising A.S.R. on a continuous basis on their Dutch real estate fund called A.S.R. Dutch Science Park Fund; this fund is one of the most talked-about and high profile new funds in the Netherlands in recent years.
  • Advising the London Stock Exchange-listed Man Group, one of the largest hedge fund managers worldwide on their Dutch flagship fund Man AHL Diversified Markets EU “MAHLDMEU” as well as on Dutch regulatory matters.
  • Advising Candriam Asset Management, one of the largest asset managers in Belgium, on the set-up of its investment / fund management structure in the Netherlands (including its Dutch AIFM/UCITS branch).

Netherlands > Real estate Tier 1

Houthoff’s real estate team handles a large number of high-end and high-profile deals across Europe. Drawing on strength from its finance, tax, corporate, investment management, public law and environment experts, the firm advises on the full life-cycle of real estate transactions. The team is led by Jan Cees Kuiken  and Herman Lohman  with Cees Kuiken advising Dutch and international banks, pension funds, investors and developers on projects and M&A, and Lohman handling cross-border transactions and restructurings. Dolf de Jong is a civil-law notary with experience in property and contract law, and Lucas Louwerier focuses on notarial real estate law.

Practice head(s):

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘We choose Houthoff because they have the capacity to deliver all specific competencies for very complex deals’.

‘A fast and pragmatic approach is essential for us and they are well aware of that necessity’.

‘Dolf de Jong is capable of summarising complex matters to their essences in a short and concise manner’.

‘Dolf de Jong is extremely good in context and overview’.

‘Great real estate practice in The Netherlands, with exceptional experience in real estate development transactions’.

‘Dolf de Jong has created a very strong team and in his absence matters are taken care of in a very professional way’.

‘Jan Cees Kuiken is an exceptional notary and not comparable with any other in the business’.

‘Houthoff’s real estate practice is dedicated, diligent but also practical’.

Key clients

CBRE Global Investors

Unibail-Rodamco

Nuveen Real Estate

ASR Real Estate

Amvest

LCN Capital Partners

UBS

Gramercy Property Europe

Syntrus Achmea Real Estate & Finance

Delta Lloyd / Nationale Nederlanden

VolkerWessels

Wereldhave

NSI

PATRIZIA

Commerz Real Investmentgesellschaft

Heimstaden

Greystar

Egeria

Hannover Leasing

Kroonenberg Groep

Work highlights

  • Advised ASR Real Estate on the incorporation and structuring of ASR Dutch Farmland Fund and the contribution and transfer of thousands of farmland parcels to the new fund.
  • Advised Egeria Real Estate Development on the incorporation of a new acquisition and development fund including the management participation structure.
  • Advised Annexum and Portico Investments in relation to the purchase of 62 retail locations from Jumbo.

Netherlands > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

Houthoff offers clients ‘a combination of professional excellence and great soft skills’. The practice is known in the market for its high-profile insolvency work and its ability to act on all sides of distressed situations. It handles both domestic and international restructuring and insolvency work, litigation and often acts as court-appointed bankruptcy trustee. Christiaan Zijderveld  heads up the team and is active in the real estate, retail, and oil and gas sectors. Frédéric Verhoeven is recommended for the banking and finance aspects of cases, and is a founding member of the Dutch Restructuring Association (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Herstructurering). David Heems was promoted to partner.

Practice head(s):

Christiaan Zijderveld

Testimonials

‘I have had the pleasure to deal with the team in a cross-border insolvency dispute and what struck me most is the high level of knowledge and legal skills applied to the subject matter’.

‘Creative and constructive’.

‘David Heems offers a very thorough and personal approach’.

‘They are approachable and never tire of explaining complicated matters’.

‘They are tough when they need to be but never lose touch with the human side of things’.

‘People you can trust’.

‘Frédéric Verhoeven is knowledgeable, professional and well connected’.

‘Really impressed with the way the team has handled a complex case’.

Key clients

Steinhoff International Holdings N.V.

Fortenova Group

Dümmen Orange

Finqus

Lehman Brothers

Goldman Sachs

ING Bank

NPM Capital N.V.

CBRE Global Investors

Redwood Capital Management

Solarnow (Shell / Novastar JV)

Kroonenberg Groep

Imtech N.V.

Libbey, Inc

Indofin

Amvest

Attestor

Director of the Fortress group

Work highlights

  • Appointed as joint administrators in the suspension of payments of Steinhoff International Holdings N.V., a South African-based retailer with operations worldwide.
  • Continuing to advise the Fortenova Group, which is the continuation of what was previously called Agrokor, an Eastern European food retailer that went through a major restructuring process in 2017–2019.
  • Advising Finqus, a hive-down of DSB Bank, as DSB’s activities – roughly €7.8bn – were operationally restructured to it, requiring an intensive restructuring of the bank as well as a tailor-made regulatory process.

Netherlands > Tax Tier 1

Houthoff is highly reputed for international tax work, with its team being adept at handling issues arising from cross-border M&A, international corporate restructurings, finance transactions and refinancings, among other matters. The group includes Jeroen van Mourik, who has over 20 years of experience advising Asia and US-based clients on their investments and business operations in and through the Netherlands. Another key individual is Sylvia Dikmans, who is among the advisers to Apollo on its investment in and joint venture with Disney (21st Century Fox) in the Endemol Shine group. On the contentious side, Alexander van der Voort Maarschalk has a wealth of experience litigating tax cases before the courts in the Netherlands, including both chambers of the Supreme Court. Transfer pricing expert Rezan Ökten is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Jeroen van Mourik

Other key lawyers:

Sylvia Dikmans; Alexander van der Voort Maarschalk; Rezan Ökten; Chantal Presilli; Koen Bolink

Testimonials

‘The team is very versatile and can work with other departments at the firm to solve the issues we need help with in our Dutch operations.’

‘Sylvia Dikmans, who is leading partner and our primary contact in our business relationship, has put together a great team to cover all aspects of our operations in the Netherlands. The ongoing advice is much appreciated at national level, as well as at group level. The team is very good at keeping our attention on deadlines and communicates often and clearly about upcoming changes in legislation related to our business setup. These qualities are shared by the whole team.’

‘I very much appreciate the technical tax skills and the responsiveness of Sylvia Dikmans.’

‘Alexander van der Voort Maarschalk is an impressive (tax) Supreme Court litigator. He is committed and intelligent. He really understand the needs of a client.’

‘Rezan Okten is an excellent transfer pricing specialist with an eye for business operations. He combines academic excellence with drive, passion and thorough understanding of enterprises.’

‘The Houthoff team is multidisciplinary, practical and responsive. Also the team can distinguish well for its clients between what is important and what is not.’

‘Jeroen van Mourik is knowledgeable and transparent and has the ability to explain complex tax structures in a simple manner.’

Key clients

Apollo Global Management

Disney

Veon Ventures

TMF

Volker Wessels

Attestor Capital

Petro Rio

Renault Nissan

Stryker

ASR

Heimstaden

BC Capital/Dummen Orange

Work highlights

  • Advising Apollo Global Management LLC on its investment in and joint venture with Disney (21st Century Fox) in the Endemol Shine group.
  • Assisted Swedish resident real estate company Heimstaden with acquisition of a very big portfolio of 10,000 residential units, thereby becoming one of the largest private residential investors in the Netherlands.
  • Advising listed company Crystal Cruises on all legal and tax aspects of the operational support company for the luxury river cruise business in Europe.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: Borrower side Tier 2

Houthoff‘s team covers a broad cross-section of transactions for borrower clients, including those relating to real estate developments and investments,  as well as financings and refinancings of large infrastructure investments. In 2020, André de Neve acted for Urban Industrial on a sale and leaseback transaction with PostNL, which included the financing of the acquisition of the mail sorting centres. Elsewhere, illustrative of the firm’s broad work portfolio, Jessica Terpstra (who divides time between London and Amsterdam) recently advised L. Catterton on the Dutch financing aspects of its acquisition of Birkenstock. Loet Venrooy heads up the practice.

Practice head(s):

Loet Venrooy

Other key lawyers:

Jessica Terpstra; André de Neve

Testimonials

‘Houthoff’s first-rate bank lending team has deep sector knowledge and a very strong and loyal client base built up by very commercial, pragmatic and client-focused partners and very stable teams. For the Netherlands, we feel they have few peers. They are very responsive, knowledgeable and have a good breadth of team members below partner who are extremely responsive, give excellent advice and always meet deadlines.’

‘Loet Venrooy, heading the practice, has a unique experience in advising on borrower-side financing work. He is a great problem solver and his knowledge of how to get things done is unparalleled. Loet moreover offers his clients an unparalleled degree of specialisation. Jessica Terpstra is admirable for her technical expertise and her wide spanning knowledge in the lending sphere, which is one of the best in The Netherlands. Her pragmatic and sharp advice is another key success factor for Houthoff’s finance team.’

Key clients

KBC

Municipality of Amsterdam

ABN AMRO Bank

ING Bank

Rabobank

Credit Suisse

NIBC Bank

BNP Paribas

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Deutsche Bank

Petrobras

Royal VolkerWessels

Attestor Capital LLP

ASR

Work highlights

  • Advising Egeria Real Estate Development and FLOW Real Estate on the financing of the redevelopment of the Strawinskyhuis, located at the Zuidas in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
  • Advising Tristan Capital Partners on the acquisition of a portfolio of approximately 700 residential units in the Rotterdam area, the Netherlands.
  • Advising Tristan Capital Partners on the acquisition of a portfolio of logistical assets throughout the Netherlands.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: lender or arranger side Tier 2

Houthoff‘s excellent reputation in complex cross-border transactions sees it regularly attract referral work from international (particularly US) law firms. Loet Venrooy leads the team in Amsterdam, which is widely recognised for its strong capabilities across the full spectrum of finance transactions, including those involving acquisition finance, structured finance, project finance and syndicated and bilateral loans. The group particularly excels in real estate finance transactions and real estate loan transfer transactions. In addition, it is notably active in the financing and refinancing of large infrastructure investments. Jessica Terpstra works in both the London and Amsterdam offices.

Practice head(s):

Loet Venrooy

Other key lawyers:

Jessica Terpstra; Jan Veeningen; Jeroen Vossenberg; Sjors Panis

Testimonials

‘Houthoff is an outstanding firm with strong market knowledge and specialised teams for issues including structured finance, restructuring, corporate loans and regulatory compliance. For the Netherlands we believe they have few peers. They are very responsive, knowledgeable and have top-rate partners who are commercially minded and able to see things from the clients’ point of view.’

‘I consider Jessica Terpstra to be an extremely good and clever lawyer providing accurate legal advice in an efficient and pragmatic way. Her broad knowledge of the sector makes her one of the most remarkable practitioners in the banking and finance sector in the Netherlands.’

Key clients

KBC

Municipality of Amsterdam

ABN AMRO Bank

ING Bank

Rabobank

Credit Suisse

NIBC Bank

BNP Paribas

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Deutsche Bank

Petrobras

Royal VolkerWessels

Attestor Capital LLP

ASR

Work highlights

  • Advising ABN AMRO Bank N.V. in respect of a sustainability linked revolving credit facility for CBRE European Industrial Fund.
  • Together with Bracewell LLP, the firm acted as counsel to Credit Agricole as agent to the lenders in the successfully completed exit financing for McDermott International, Ltd.’s emergence from bankruptcy.
  • Advising the lenders to the PMC project, the first of its kind in the Netherlands, on amendments and waivers relating to PMC metal purifying project in the Netherlands.

Netherlands > Commercial, corporate and M&a Tier 2

Noted for its capacity in ‘complex cross-border transactions’, Houthoff supports on M&A, joint venture and strategic alliance endeavours, especially those within the food, energy, finance and technology sectors. Practice head Alexander Kaarls  is frequently instructed on deals involving publicly traded companies and enjoys a particularly notable reputation among US-based entities; his team also consists of company law, corporate governance and multijurisdictional M&A specialist Willem de Nijs Bik, as well as Maurits de Haan, an up-and-coming partner who stands out for his work on private acquisitions, public takeover bids and MBOs, among other transactions.

Practice head(s):

Alexander Kaarls

Other key lawyers:

Michiel Pannekoek; Willem de Nijs Bik; Bram Caudri; Alexander Kaarls; Maurits de Haan

Testimonials

‘Houthoff is a business partner with economics intelligence and technical skills reducing risks for the clients in running business.’

‘Collaboration spirit, ability to put in place the right atmosphere with a foreign client so that you feel like you have been working with them for years!’

‘Dutch efficiency, good value for money for high quality output. Diverse team.’

‘Bram Caudri, efficient quick and fair. A great lawyer always available when you need him even on weekends or holidays.’

‘The team has the ability to listen to what is needed and move the project forward and get it right. I have worked with Houthoff for 12 years and they have always done an excellent job from projects where I call them on Friday night as I unexpectedly need something by Monday morning to much longer projects.’

‘The team has excellent knowledge in this area, but also has a practical approach, thinks along with the customer. Furthermore, the team is fast, available and easy to reach’

‘The corporate team at Houthoff helped on a complex cross border transaction across several European countries and the US. The team has a unique experience of these transactions. They are smart, fast and very professional. And it is a pleasure to work with them! Looking forward to the next deal with them.’

‘Alexander Kaarls has a unique expertise in complex cross border transactions. He has seen many and always knows the best way to navigate these very challenging legal and cultural environments. And he is a remarkably pleasant lawyer to work with.’

Key clients

Siemens

Van Oord

Sligro

Royal IHC

Vitol Group

Eurofiber

Veolia

BC Partners

Antin Infrastructure Partners

Waterland

IK Investment Partners

Hearst

Renewi

KKR

(Robert) Bosch

Work highlights

  • Advised Stryker (NYSE: SYK), together with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, on its takeover bid for all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Wright Medical Group N.V. (NASDAQ: WMGI) for $30.75 per share, or a total equity value of approximately $4.0bn and a total enterprise value of approximately $5.4bn (including convertible notes).
  • Advised Altice’s significant minority shareholders on Patrick Drahi’s public offer for all shares in Altice Europe’s capital.
  • Assisted VDL Groep B.V. with its planned public offer for all shares in the capital of Neways Electronics International N.V.

Netherlands > Energy: regulatory Tier 2

Houthoff’s full-service energy and utilities practice has notable experience in transactions, projects, commercial contracting, litigation and regulatory matters. It acts for a range of energy clients, including energy companies and their shareholders, suppliers, producers, investors, banks and government bodies. Kirsten Berger   leads the team and is recommended for commercial contracting, including power purchase agreements (PPAs) and heat supply agreements. Marc Van Beuge is recommended for dispute resolution and projects work in the traditional and renewables sectors.

Practice head(s):

Kirsten Berger

Other key lawyers:

Marc van Beuge

Testimonials

Deep sector knowledge combined with a very good sense for commercial solutions.

I would like to mention in particular Kirsten Berger and Marc van Beuge – both are truly outstanding experts in this area.

Both Marc van Beuge nd Kirsten Berger have displayed a deep knowledge of the energy markets and have been a tremendous asset in supporting us.

Marc and Kirsten were always there when needed, offering valuable advice, being the sparring partner I and my team needed during the journey from start to finish.

Key clients

Porthos (EBN, Gasunie, Port of Rotterdam)

Engie

Corre Energy

Petrogas

Huntsman

Plastic Energy

NOGEPA, VEN, VGN, VLNG

Sungrow

Twence

Van Oord

Uniper

Varo

DCC

Climeworks

Work highlights

  • Acing as project counsel to Porthos (an EBN, Gasunie and Port of Rotterdam joint venture), which aims to construct and operate the first large-scale, commercial, open access offshore carbon capture and storage facility in the Netherlands, using depleted gas fields on the Dutch continental shelf.
  • Acting for the energy industry producers and suppliers association, Energy Netherlands (VEN); the Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association (NOGEPA); the Netherlands Gas Storage  Association (VGN) and the Netherlands LNG Shippers Association (VLNG); in appeal proceedings before the Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal against regulator ACM’s so-called ‘GTS Method Decision 2022-2026’ – which forms the basis for the (gas transmission) tariff regulation of the Dutch gas transport system, GTS.
  • Co-counsel (jointly with Arthur Cox) to Corre Energy on the development of a first-of-its-kind, large-scale electricity storage facility to be located in salt caverns in Zuidwending, and involving the use of advanced compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology.

Netherlands > Energy: transactional Tier 2

The team at Houthoff offers clients a full-service energy and utilities practice, which handles transactions, projects, and commercial contracting and regulatory matters. The group has considerable experience in M&A transactions and restructurings in the traditional and renewable energy markets; it also stands out for its niche expertise in the waste to energy sector and its experience in the development of storage projects, including CCS facilities. Practice head Kirsten Berger acts for energy and industrial companies on projects, joint ventures, and financial matters.

Practice head(s):

Kirsten Berger

Other key lawyers:

Jacques Kröner; Marc van Beuge

Testimonials

We had very comprehensive support from the Houthoff team in relation to our commercial business.

Kirsten Berger is available, commercially savvy and technically excellent.

Kirsten Berger is an excellent negotiator and provides clear analysis on complex matters.

Key clients

Porthos (EBN, Gasunie & Port of Rotterdam joint venture)

ENGIE

Corre Energy

Petrogas

Huntsman

Plastic Energy

NOGEPA, VEN, VGN, VLNG

Sungrow

Twence

Van Oord

Uniper

Varo

DCC

Climeworks

Work highlights

  • Acting as project counsel to Porthos, an EBN, Gasunie and Port of Rotterdam partnership, which aims to construct and operate the first large-scale, commercial, open access, offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility in the Netherlands, using depleted gas fields on the Dutch continental shelf.
  • Advising energy sector investment company, Kistos, on the proposed de-SPACing transaction with Tulip Oil Holding (as seller) regarding the acquisition of all the shares in Tulip Oil Netherlands, the joint owner of various interests in offshore gas fields on the Dutch continental shelf.
  • Co-counsel (with Irish law firm Arthur Cox) to Corre Energy regarding the development of a large-scale electricity storage facility.

Netherlands > EU and competition Tier 2

In its capacity as defence counsel, Houthoff‘s team has increasingly been active in private enforcement actions arising from cartel investigations by competition authorities. In addition, the group is sought-after for advice on abuse of dominance cases and multijurisdictional merger filings. State aid work is also a driver of activity. The department is led by Weyer VerLoren van Themaat, who mainly acts for international clients and has over 30 years of competition experience. He is leading the firm’s advice to Imperial Brands Plc on a longrunning ACM investigation into alleged price-fixing of cigarettes by cigarette manufacturers in the Netherlands via third parties. Rick Cornelissen is advising Nexans on its defence strategy against various cartel damages actions, which have arisen from the European Commission’s decision to fine producers of high voltage power cables for their alleged participation in a cartel. Gerrit Oosterhuis is experienced in all areas of competition law, with a particular strength in merger control work. Counsel Greetje van Heezik is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Weyer VerLoren van Themaat

Other key lawyers:

Gerrit Oosterhuis; Rick Cornelissen; Greetje van Heezik; Murat Duman; Victorine Dijkstra

Testimonials

‘Very much on the ball, Gerrit Oosterhuis and Victorine Dijkstra are calm and dedicated, which contributes to the quality of the responses.’

‘The team is very supportive and responsive, meeting all of our needs. The team is very meticulous in all of its legal analysis and focused on preparing for important court filings well ahead of time.’

‘I would like to recommend Rick Cornelissen, who is very client-oriented and provides appropriate measures when needed.’

‘Houthoff is strong in international matters. Good network, high quality.’

‘We worked with Gerrit Oosterhuis on many projects. Gerrit is a true go-to lawyer who I would always recommend for competition law issues. Excellent in his field, very friendly and strong at analytical thinking. He was always available for us and could always give good and reliable answers to our questions.’

‘Houthoff has a swift and responsive team with good sectoral knowledge. They are also very proactive in suggesting new ways of collaborations and billing.’

‘The Houthoff team is very knowledgeable and all-round which enables them to serve as our “one-stop-shop”’

‘Rick Cornelissen: Simply an amazing lawyer with a great sense of humour and great character. Rick is approachable, available and extremely knowledgeable.

Key clients

LG Electronics

Singapore Airlines

Total

Volvo Trucks / Renault Trucks

EY

Imperial Brands

Nexans S.A.

Bergman Clinics

Wingtech

Porthos Group

Work highlights

  • Representing LG Electronics in its defence against a major cartel damages claim submitted by Vestel, the leading Turkish manufacturer of televisions and computer monitors, as well as a similar claim brought by Itautec, a Brazilian manufacturer of televisions and computer monitors.
  • Representing Singapore Airlines in numerous Dutch private enforcement proceedings before Amsterdam and EU Courts, initiated by the mass claim vehicles Equilib, SCC and EWD, following the EC decision on the air cargo case.
  • Representing TOTAL Nederland in a claim brought by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, which follows on from the decision of the European Commission in which the European Commission established an EU competition law infringement in the Dutch Bitumen sector.

Netherlands > Fraud and white-collar crime Tier 2

Houthoff is well known in the market for handling a large number of domestic and international investigations for companies, trustees in bankruptcy, and governmental organisations. It often assists larger international firms with cases and is adept at handling politically sensitive matters. Vincent Affourtit  is recommended for cross-border investigations and enforcement proceedings, and acts for corporations and financial institutions. Hans Londonck Sluijk  is experienced in compliance, fraud, and regulatory enforcement, and also directors’ and officers’ liability issues.

Practice head(s):

Vincent Affourtit

Other key lawyers:

Frank Mattheijer; Hans Londonck Sluijk

Key clients

Vestia

Bovemij

Royal FloraHolland

Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance

Work highlights

  • Advising Vestia on various matters relating to the unwinding of its EUR 20bn derivatives portfolio, including a corporate investigation process, leading to Vestia initiating proceedings against and negotiations with several parties involved, such as banks and auditors.
  • Representing the bankruptcy trustees of DSB Bank in a several hundred-million-euro civil claims against the DNB and conducting an investigation into the causes of the bankruptcy of DSB Bank commissioned by the bankruptcy trustees.
  • Assisting the Supervisory Board of Dutch insurance company, Bovemij, in a substantial investigation following a whistleblower’s report addressing compliance issues directly involving the institution’s Executive Board.

Netherlands > Industry focus: healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Under the leadership of Weyer VerLoren van Themaat and Freeke Heijne, the healthcare practice at Houthoff acts for some of the largest healthcare providers in the Netherlands and has considerable experience of advising hospitals and private clinics. Key areas of focus for the practice include M&A, competition, governance and litigation. Heijne offers clients broad knowledge of healthcare laws and board-room level advice on regulator matters and Huib Lebbing is a key name for contentious matters and contractual liability issues.

Practice head(s):

Weyer VerLoren van Themaat; Freeke Heijne

Other key lawyers:

Netherlands > Industry focus: Information technology Tier 2

The team at Houthoff is considered to be a ‘master‘ of the IT sector. Practice head Thomas de Weerd oversees outsourcing, e-business transactions/agreements and data protection work for clients ranging from global giants to small niche companies. The practice  has a notable track record in the financial and automotive sectors. Senior associate Jurre Reus has a background as an in-house adviser to global media corporates and is building a strong practice around e-commerce and data protection in advisory and litigation matters.

Practice head(s):

Thomas de Weerd

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Thomas de Weerd is very resourceful to my legal team. He has built up a lot of knowledge over the past and serves as an advisor and sparring partner. He is very accessible and understands client needs.’

‘The team first of has all  the knowledge a client is looking for. More important is that they are able to translate it into business language. That means that the team both masters the content and understand the clients needs.’

‘Thomas de Weerd: seasoned lawyer and good listener. Understands the business TMT clients operate in, which requires a true level of understanding of operational processes and technical aspects of products/services at hand. This combination of experience and skills makes him a very quick thinker if it comes to out of the box, yet fit for purpose, solutions.’

Jurre Reus: experienced lawyer on both TMT, but certainly also on data privacy matters. Sharp litigator. Due to a combination of in-house experience and deep knowledge of laws and regulations able to not only outline the relevant legal playing field, but also able to navigate the in-house legal counsel or board in complex matters.’

Key clients

eBay Classifieds Group/Marktplaats.nl

PayPal

eBay Inc

2dehands.be

Media Markt / Saturn

Ziggo

Volvo

Polestar

Hyundai

Kia

Stellantis (Fiat, Peugeot, Citroën)

Mazda

Renault

Ford

Pon’s Automobielhandel (Volkswagen Netherlands)

Jaguar Land Rover

Ola Cabs

RDW

NewMotion (Royal Dutch Shell)

Exact Software

Stichting BREIN

ShareNow (Car2Go)

Work highlights

  • Handling a wide variety of cases for Marktplaats (eBay Classifieds Group), the largest Dutch classifieds website, on all its data protection matters, commercial disputes, commercial contracting and consumer protection matters.
  • Continuing to advise various major car companies and Dutch car importers on a wide variety of data protection compliance matters and e-commerce projects.
  • Advising ParkBee, a UK-based digital car park operator which has successfully expanded to the Netherlands, on a variety of e-commerce and data protection items.

Netherlands > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyrights and design rights Tier 2

Houthoff is renowned for its Supreme Court litigation expertise. It handles cases across all types of IP disputes from patents, trade marks and copyright to plant variety rights, database and defamation matters. It also has a niche expertise acting for car companies such as Ford and Renault and has a dedicated IP technology transfer team that advises on acquisitions and cross-border tax structuring. Thomas De Weerd heads a team that includes core team members Thijs Van Aerde and Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis.

Practice head(s):

Thomas de Weerd

Other key lawyers:

Thijs van Aerde; Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis

Testimonials

‘Houthoff has an excellent IP-team that works with dedication for their clients. The level of services is very high. The team members are very responsive. Team members have a lot of knowledge and experience. The IP practice of Houthoff is specifically renowned for cassation work (specialised litigation in front of the Dutch Supreme Court), which only few IP lawyers do at that high level.’

‘Thijs van Aerde stands out for being an excellent litigator in IP-matters. He is nationally and internationally renowned for his work as a lawyer in front of the Dutch Supreme Court. But he is also a good and solid IP-lawyer in cases in first instance that can be brought in front of the lower Dutch courts. He is responsive and a great sparring partner in the Supreme Court matters. He understands the needs of the client and is committed to integrate those needs in the approach to be chosen.’

Key clients

HP inc.

Media Saturn

Ryanair

RTL Group

Spinnin’ Records

VodafoneZiggo

Stichting Brein

Volvo

Kia

Renault

Peugeot

FIAT

Ford

VDL Nedcar

Dümmen Orange

Enza Zaden

Driscoll’s

The Dutch National Opera & Ballet

VolkerWessels

Fresenius Kabi

Work highlights

  • Represented broadcasting company RTL in neighbouring rights litigation before the Supreme Court against a performer and a phonogram producer, thus setting new precedent on the interpretation of the Dutch Neighbouring Rights Act.
  • Acting as counsel for film distributor Dutch Filmworks in proceedings against internet provider Ziggo, Liberty Global/Vodafone, regarding whether the internet provider must provide Dutch Filmworks with the personal data customers who infringed on the film industry’s copyrights by illegally downloading a film.
  • Advising the Netherlands’ largest IT cable company, Ziggo, in proceedings before the Supreme Court about cable transmission against the author’s collecting society, Lira, in a determination of who owns the copyrights to the films and series that cable companies distribute among households in the Netherlands.

Netherlands > Private equity Tier 2

At Houthoff, the private equity department forms a piece of the larger corporate group and is home to several lawyers who devote over half of their practice to the area. The practice is active across a wealth of sectors though has developed an especially strong reputation in the technology industry. Led by Alexander Kaarls, the team has notably strong ties to the Asian market, particularly Tokyo and Singapore, and also reaps the benefits of the firm’s overseas offices in New York, London and Brussels, among other locations. Key names include international transaction, management buy-outs and restructuring expert, Michiel Pannekoek, as well as Bram Caudri, well-regarded by a number of leading private equity houses, both domestic and international.

Practice head(s):

Alexander Kaarls

Key clients

Apollo Global Management

BC Partners

Waterland

Navitas Capital

Active Capital Company B.V.

Equity Europe B.V.

Torqx Capital Partners B.V.

H2 Trading B.V.

Work highlights

  • Advised Torqx Capital Partners on the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Fabory and its subsidiaries.
  • Advised BC Partners on the acquisition of Keesing Media Group from Ergon Capital and Mediahuis.
  • Advised Antin Infrastructure Partners and Eurofiber as legal counsel on Antin’s sale of a substantial minority stake in Eurofiber to PGGM.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: Financial services regulatory Tier 3

Houthoff‘s financial regulatory practice is highly-reputed for its ability to handle a mix of advisory and transactional work, as well as litigation. It acts for Dutch and international banks, e-money institutions, payment services providers, insurance companies and cryptocurrency providers, among other clients. One of the main contacts at the firm is Berry van Wijk, who has a strong track record assisting clients with their dealings with the DNB and AFM. The team also includes counsel Roel Theissen, who has almost 30 years of experience advising clients on market access, prudential regulation and governance. Recently promoted senior associate Lisanne Haarman is another key individual in the group, whose recent work included advice to automotive sector clients on the structuring of their financial services activities.

Practice head(s):

Loet Venrooy

Testimonials

‘Berry van Wijk and Roel Theissen are very detail-oriented and that is what I am looking for in external lawyers.’

Key clients

KBC

Municipality of Amsterdam

ABN AMRO Bank

ING Bank

Rabobank

Credit Suisse

NIBC Bank

BNP Paribas

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Deutsche Bank

Petrobras

Royal VolkerWessels

Attestor Capital LLP

ASR

Work highlights

  • Assisted Yarden and its two shareholders (Yarden Association and Stichting Yarden) with the sale of Yarden to DELA.
  • Advised the editor of a new financial law hub, which is now up and running on the basis (inter alia) of the firm’s input on banking supervision (ongoing and in resolution) and insurance.

Netherlands > Capital markets: debt Tier 3

Houthoff acts for corporate issuers and financial institutions on cross-border debt capital markets transactions, such as high-yield bond issuances and private placements. The team includes André de Neve, who has over 20 years of experience in this space, and is noted for his particular expertise in matters connected with the oil and gas sector. Jessica Terpstra is another active practitioner, as is Jetty Tukker.

Practice head(s):

Jessica Terpstra; André de Neve; Jetty Tukker; Alexander Kaarls

Key clients

Davide Campari-Milano N.V.

Meltwater B.V

Qell Acquisition Corp.

The Vitol Group

Royal VolkerWessels

Lehman Brothers Treasury

Reggeborgh

BTG Pactual/PPLA Participations

DH Private Equity

TMF Group

DP Eurasia N.V.

Vimetco

Citigroup

Deutsche Bank

J.P. Morgan

Thoma Bravo

Petrobras

Work highlights

  • Acting as Dutch counsel to Renewi Plc on its latest green bonds issue. The Renewi group is a leading waste-to-product enterprise in the UK and the Netherlands.

Netherlands > Data privacy and data protection Tier 3

Houthoff’s privacy and data protection practice is led by Thomas de Weerd, who also has notable expertise in IT, e-business, outsourcing and contractual mandates. The group assists with a broad range of data protection issues and has also been notably active in data litigation; it recently defended Ola Cabs in a claim relating to the right to data portability. PayPal, eBay and a variety of car manufacturers are also clients of the team.

Practice head(s):

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Houthoff is practical, no lengthy advice, but crisp and clear advice.’

‘Jurre Reus is a very practical and smart lawyer, with good knowledge of the industry and the legal aspects.’

‘The team’s knowledge on GDPR-related issues is comprehensive and always well substantiated with references to specific articles in the GDPR or other relevant regulations. The team seems to work together very well and take over for each other when someone is absent. They keep each other up-to-date on communication with us so that we have multiple people to reach out to about specific issues/questions.’

‘Practical legal advice, which is short and concise. They know the business really well.’

‘Jurre Reus is a very valuable partner to my legal team. He is aware of a lot of things happening in the business and advises accordingly. He thinks out of the box to include more than just the matter we sought his advice for.’

Key clients

eBay Classifieds Group / Marktplaats.nl

PayPal

eBay Inc

2dehands.be

Media Markt / Saturn

Ziggo

Volvo, Polestar, Hyundai, Kia, Stellantis (Fiat, Peugeot, Citroën), Mazda, Renault, Ford, Pon’s Automobielhandel (Volkswagen Netherlands), Jaguar Land Rover and other car manufacturers and importers

Ola Cabs

RDW (Dienst Wegverkeer)

NewMotion (Royal Dutch Shell)

Exact Software

Stichting BREIN

ShareNow (Car2Go)

Work highlights

  • Handling a wide variety of matters for Marktplaats (eBay Classifieds Group), the largest Dutch classifieds website, including all its data protection matters, commercial disputes, commercial contracting and consumer protection matters.
  • Advising various major car companies and Dutch car importers on a wide variety of data protection compliance matters and e-commerce projects.
  • Defended Ola Cabs in a case before the Amsterdam district court brought by three London ‘app drivers’ concerning the right to ‘data portability’ (under Article 20 of the GDPR).

Netherlands > Industry focus: telecoms Tier 3

Houthoff has a strong track record in high-profile M&A in the telecoms industry, and it is also highly regarded for its litigation work. In addition, clients turn to the firm for advice on regulatory issues and outsourcing arrangements, among other matters. Thomas de Weerd heads up the practice.

Practice head(s):

Thomas de Weerd

Key clients

Wingtech

Tofane

Telia Company

Tele 2 AB

Raga Establishment Ltd.

High Point

Bloomberg L.P.

Work highlights

  • Advised several of Altice’s significant minority shareholders on Patrick Drahi’s public offer for all shares in Altice Europe’s capital.
  • Advised Nexperia on the $1.5bn underwritten refinancing in connection with the acquisition of Wingtech of the majority interest in the Nexperia group.
  • Advised Antin Infrastructure Partners and Eurofiber on Antin’s sale of a substantial minority stake in Eurofiber to PGGM, one of the largest pension funds in the Netherlands; Eurofiber is the largest independent fibre network company in the Netherlands, with a significant presence in Belgium and France.

Netherlands > Intellectual property: Patents Tier 3

Thomas de Weerd leads the Houthoff practice which has a noted reputation for its expertise in Supreme Court litigation, often in respect of pharmaceutical, biotech, technology and chemicals patents. Its advisory work includes the patent aspects of mergers and it also advises medical start-ups on patent matters. It is the leading firm in advising on the niche area of plant variety rights – an area where Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis is an expert. Her experience encompasses litigation regarding national and community plant variety rights and broader agri-food cases. Thijs van Aerde is well known for his Supreme Court litigation.

Practice head(s):

Thomas de Weerd

Other key lawyers:

Thijs van Aerde; Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis

Testimonials

‘The team is unique because of its breadth from high-level supreme court litigation to transactional work.’

‘Fleur Tuinzing, counsel, stands out because of her committed, down to earth approach to complex legal issues. As for the entire team, her ability to see the bigger picture allows her to come up with sensible solutions in litigation and deal situations alike.’

Key clients

HP inc.

Car manufacturers/importers such as Volvo, Kia, Renault, Peugeot, FIAT, Ford & VDL Nedcar

Dümmen Orange

Breeding companies such as Enza Zaden and Driscoll’s

The Dutch National Opera & Ballet

VolkerWessels

Fresenius Kabi

Enza Zaden

Work highlights

  • Representing Fresenius Kabi in Supreme Court precedent-setting potential patent infringement proceedings against Eli Lilly concerning pemetrexed or ALIMTA.
  • Assisted Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co., Ltd., an integrated chip design and software solution provider in reaching a definitive agreement with NXP Semiconductors for the acquisition of NXP Semiconductors’ Voice and Audio Solutions (VAS)’s total assets for USD 165m.
  • Counsel to Asetek in patent litigation before the Supreme Court concerning the validity of Asetek’s patent for a water cooling mechanism, where the Advocate-General opines to overturn the Appeal Court’s judgement.

Netherlands > Project finance and PFI Tier 3

Houthoff specialises in the financing and refinancing of large infrastructure investments, including wind power projects. In a recent highlight, the firm advised Nexperia on a $1.5bn underwritten refinancing, related to the acquisition by Wingtech of the majority interest in the Nexperia group. Taking the lead in this matter was practice head and project finance expert Jessica Terpstra, who splits her time between London and the Netherlands.

Practice head(s):

Jessica Terpstra

Other key lawyers:

Sander van den Boogaart

Testimonials

‘The Houthoff team has consistently provided high-quality advice to us as Project Finance Borrower (PPP) since 2015, covering the tender phase up to close in 2015, a restructuring of the financing in 2019 and many other topics. They have been able to retain all relevant knowledge (and the key people) in their team so we receive the right advice on practical and strategic matters in a very efficient and effective manner.’

‘Jessica Terpstra – provides us with clear strategic advice based on her extensive knowledge of our company and the market we operate in. Sander van den Boogaart – often knows our key contracts better than we know them ourselves.’

Key clients

Begro Holding B.V.

Asbeter Holding B.V.

Work highlights

  • Advised Nexperia on the $1.5bn underwritten refinancing in connection with the acquisition by Wingtech of the majority interest in the Nexperia group.
  • Assisting Van Oord in putting in place two green term loans – one loan with Rabobank and BNP Paribas and a loan with ING Bank.
  • Advising the lenders to the PMC project on amendments and waivers relating to PMC metal purifying project in the Netherlands.

Netherlands > Industry focus: Media and entertainment Tier 4

Houthoff excels in contentious media and entertainment matters, and its workload includes cases heard before the Supreme Court; Thijs van Aerde heads up a group focusing on media litigation. The firm is also notably strong in media-related M&A. Thomas de Weerd has expertise in IT, e-business, outsourcing and other technology-related transactions and commercial contracts.

Practice head(s):

Thomas de Weerd

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

eBay Classifieds Group / Marktplaats.nl

PayPal

eBay Inc

2dehands.be

Media Markt / Saturn

Ziggo

Volvo

Polestar

Hyundai

Kia

Stellantis (Fiat, Peugeot, Citroën)

Mazda

Renault

Ford

Pon’s Automobielhandel (Volkswagen Netherlands)

Jaguar Land Rover

Ola Cabs

RDW (Dienst Wegverkeer)

NewMotion (Royal Dutch Shell)

Exact Software

Stichting BREIN

ShareNow (Car2Go)

Work highlights

  • Representing the Netherlands’ largest cable company, Ziggo, in proceedings before the Supreme Court about cable transmission against the author’s collecting society Lira.
  • Representing Stichting BREIN, the joint anti-piracy foundation of rights owners in The Netherlands, in Supreme Court litigation against Usenet provider News-Service Europe (NSE).
  • Representing film distributor Dutch Filmworks in proceedings against internet provider Ziggo, Liberty Global/Vodafone.

The firm:  Houthoff is a leading independent Dutch law firm, with offices in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, London and New York, as well as representatives in Asia and the United States. At Houthoff, over 300 lawyers work collaboratively to ensure they’re there for their clients when they need them most.

Houthoff’s work is focused on highly complex transactions and dispute resolution, advising international and domestic corporations, financial institutions, private equity firms and governments on their most strategic and business-critical matters. Whether it is helping to assess the strengths of new opportunities or managing risk, the firm always looks beyond today and find the long-term solution.

Areas of practice
Corporate/M&A: The firm’s corporate/M&A team assists multinationals, listed companies and other large companies, government bodies and private equity parties. Clients engage the corporate/M&A team for pragmatic advice on matters such as national and international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances. Houthoff’s specialists have gained an important position within the food, energy and other sectors. Their multi-disciplinary corporate/M&A Team comprises no less than 89 specialists. And they can scale our teams up to any desired size and can work on multiple large transactions at the same time.

Banking and finance: Houthoff’s banking and finance team has a comprehensive knowledge of the financial sector, and the laws and regulations that govern it. The experienced banking and finance team provides services to domestic and foreign banks, investors, other financial institutions, large companies and supervisory authorities. Its specialists give advice on a large variety of banking and financial transactions. This can involve high-end acquisition, real estate, asset or project financing, syndicated or bilateral loans, or restructuring, all of this in the context of complex financial regulations and legislation.

Dispute resolution: The dispute resolution team at Houthoff specialises in complex, mostly international matters, successfully handling several landmark cases in recent years. The firm is also one of the few Dutch law firms to have a renowned corporate and commercial Supreme Court practice. The dispute resolution team provides creative, result-oriented litigation and arbitration counsel in matters ranging from major commercial disputes to sensitive internal, regulatory or criminal investigations by Dutch and EU regulators. It also advises on preventing liabilities in relation to compliance matters and risk management. The team litigates before Dutch, EU and other international courts, and domestic and foreign arbitration tribunals.

Tax: Houthoff’s multi-disciplinary tax team assists in matters ranging from fiscal assistance in high-end corporate and financial transactions to transfer pricing and litigation in national and international tax disputes. The firm’s tax team is one of the few tax teams that litigates before both civil courts and tax courts, and also, if necessary, before the Dutch Supreme Court. The tax team works closely with the other practice and sector teams and has become a market leader in the field of international restructuring, M&A, real estate, finance and investment management.

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Managing partner Alexander Kaarls
Managing partner Edward de Bock
Managing partner Lucas Louwerier
PhotoNamePositionProfile
Vincent Affourtit photoMr Vincent AffourtitVincent is head of Houthoff’s Investigations & Public Enforcement practice. He specialises…
Nathalie Amiel photoMrs Nathalie Amiel
Aart Barkey Wolf photoMr Aart Barkey WolfAart advises on notarial security rights, real estate financing, real estate investments…
Kirsten Berger photo Kirsten BergerKirsten specialises in energy law and has extensive experience in the energy…
Marloes Brans photoMrs Marloes BransMarloes specialises in environmental law and spatial planning law. She advises and…
Rick Cornelissen photoMr Rick CornelissenRick specialises in competition litigation (private enforcement) with a specific focus on…
Sylvia Dikmans photoMrs Sylvia DikmansSylvia specialises in corporate tax and dividend tax, and in particular in…
Wouter Ekkelkamp photoMr Wouter EkkelkampWouter works in the Real Estate practice group and specialises in real…
Alexander Kaarls photoMr Alexander KaarlsAlexander Kaarls’ practice focuses on corporate and securities laws, with a particular…
Albert Knigge photoMr Albert KniggeAlbert specialises in handling complex international disputes. He has considerable experience in…
Herman Lohman photoMr Herman LohmanHerman is co-head of the Real Estate practice group. He advises mainly…
Hans Londonck Sluijk photoMr Hans Londonck SluijkHans specialises in professional, corporate, and directors’ and officers’ liability. He is…
Rob Meijer photoMr Rob MeijerRob specialises in liability matters, insurance law and Dutch Supreme Court litigation…
Philippe Stille photoMr Philippe StillePhilippe specialises in notarial company law which involves restructuring (of both for-profit…
Jessica Terpstra photoMrs Jessica TerpstraJessica works at both the London and Amsterdam offices and specialises in…
Kyoko Tollenaar photoMrs Kyoko TollenaarKyoko specialises in corporate law, national and international mergers and acquisitions, joint…
Fleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis photoMrs Fleur Tuinzing-WesterhuisFleur Tuinzing-Westerhuis specialises in technology-related intellectual property matters, with a focus on…
Jetty Tukker photoMrs Jetty Tukker
Jan Veeningen photoMr Jan VeeningenJan specialises in corporate finance, structured finance and real estate financing, with…
Loet Venrooy photoMr Loet VenrooyLoet is head of Houthoff’s Banking & Finance practice group and of…
Weyer VerLoren van Themaat photoMr Weyer VerLoren van ThemaatWeyer specialises in competition law and leads Houthoff’s Competition practice group. He…
Frédéric Verhoeven photoMr Frédéric VerhoevenFrédéric specialises in cross-border insolvency law and restructuring. He advises clients involved…
Jeroen Vossenberg photoMr Jeroen VossenbergJeroen specialises in banking and securities law, and in particular in acquisition…
Christiaan Zijderveld photoMr Christiaan ZijderveldHe assists clients that face financial difficulties. He also assists creditors (e.g.…
Edward de Bock photoMr Edward de BockEdward was appointed to Houthoff’s Board of Directors on 1 January 2016,…
Marry de Gaay Fortman photoMrs Marry de Gaay FortmanMarry is involved in public-private regulatory matters, and specialises in public economic…
Jan Willem de Groot photoMr Jan Willem de GrootJan Willem specialises in corporate and commercial litigation, with a focus on…
Jan Frans de Groot photoMr Jan Frans de GrootJan Frans specialises in public law and Supreme Court litigation. He is…
Willem de Nijs Bik photoMr Willem de Nijs BikWillem specialises in company law, corporate governance, and strategic and cross-border mergers…
Thomas de Weerd photoMr Thomas de WeerdThomas specialises in IT, privacy, outsourcing and intellectual property. His daily work…
Thijs van Aerde photo Thijs van Aerde
Oscar van Angeren photoMr Oscar van AngerenOscar heads Houthoff’s Investment Management practice group and works at both the…
Walter van Overbeek photoMr Walter van OverbeekWalter has a general commercial practice and specialises in contract law, litigation…
Sander van den Boogaart photo Sander van den Boogaart
Frauke van der Beek photoMrs Frauke van der BeekFrauke specialises in insolvency law and restructuring. Her work involves the settlement…
Alexander van der Voort Maarschalk photoMr Alexander van der Voort MaarschalkAlexander specialises in corporate litigation, with a special focus on accounting law…
Bart van der Wiel photoMr Bart van der WielAs a Supreme Court specialist, Bart has been involved in numerous landmark…
Number of lawyers : 310
Dutch
Chinese
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish
Lex Mundi
Other offices : Brussels
Other offices : London
Other offices : New York
Other offices : Rotterdam

The firm: Houthoff is a leading independent Dutch law firm, with offices in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, London and New York, as well as representatives in Asia and the United States. At Houthoff, over 300 lawyers work collaboratively to ensure they’re there for their clients when they need them most.

Houthoff’s work is focused on highly complex transactions and dispute resolution, advising international and domestic corporations, financial institutions, private equity firms and governments on their most strategic and business-critical matters. Whether it is helping to assess the strengths of new opportunities or managing risk, the firm always looks beyond today and find the long-term solution.

Areas of practice
Corporate/M&A: The firm’s corporate/M&A team assists multinationals, listed companies and other large companies, government bodies and private equity parties. Clients engage the corporate/M&A team for pragmatic advice on matters such as national and international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances. Houthoff’s specialists have gained an important position within the food, energy and other sectors. Their multi-disciplinary corporate/M&A Team comprises no less than 89 specialists. And they can scale our teams up to any desired size and can work on multiple large transactions at the same time.

Banking and finance: Houthoff’s banking and finance team has a comprehensive knowledge of the financial sector, and the laws and regulations that govern it. The experienced banking and finance team provides services to domestic and foreign banks, investors, other financial institutions, large companies and supervisory authorities. Its specialists give advice on a large variety of banking and financial transactions. This can involve high-end acquisition, real estate, asset or project financing, syndicated or bilateral loans, or restructuring, all of this in the context of complex financial regulations and legislation.

Dispute resolution: The dispute resolution team at Houthoff specialises in complex, mostly international matters, successfully handling several landmark cases in recent years. The firm is also one of the few Dutch law firms to have a renowned corporate and commercial Supreme Court practice. The dispute resolution team provides creative, result-oriented litigation and arbitration counsel in matters ranging from major commercial disputes to sensitive internal, regulatory or criminal investigations by Dutch and EU regulators. It also advises on preventing liabilities in relation to compliance matters and risk management. The team litigates before Dutch, EU and other international courts, and domestic and foreign arbitration tribunals.

Tax: Houthoff’s multi-disciplinary tax team assists in matters ranging from fiscal assistance in high-end corporate and financial transactions to transfer pricing and litigation in national and international tax disputes. The firm’s tax team is one of the few tax teams that litigates before both civil courts and tax courts, and also, if necessary, before the Dutch Supreme Court. The tax team works closely with the other practice and sector teams and has become a market leader in the field of international restructuring, M&A, real estate, finance and investment management.

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Managing partner Alexander Kaarls
Managing partner Edward de Bock
Managing partner Lucas Louwerier
Number of lawyers : 310
Dutch
Chinese
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish
Lex Mundi
Other offices : Amsterdam
Other offices : Brussels
Other offices : London
Other offices : New York

Diversity

At Houthoff, we believe diversity goes beyond respect for everyone’s background. Diverse teams, teams with a large mix of backgrounds, cultures, preferences and ideas are more productive and more creative and, consequently, better teams. That is why striving for diversity is not only the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do.

Over the years, Houthoff has launched multiple initiatives to promote diversity within the firm and throughout the legal profession:

Declaration of Intent regarding Diversity

Houthoff was the first law firm in the Netherlands to sign the Netherlands Bar Association’s Declaration of Intent regarding Diversity (Diversiteit binnen de advocatuur).

Talent to the Top Charter

For the past 10 years Houthoff has committed to this charter: a transparent commitment among a large number of Dutch top companies for equality between men and women in the workplace.

FORWARD Foundation

We are one of the founding law firms of the FORWARD Foundation. A foundation for legal professionals that organises meetings and networking drinks with the goal of increasing the diversity of affiliated organisations, creating a network for LGBT legal professionals and exchanging experiences and best practices.

Personal HR track

All our colleagues have a personal HR track that strongly emphasises their own strengths, talents and characteristics. Cultural backgrounds play an important part in defining personal development goals, since these backgrounds are so vital to the individual.

Global Corporate Ladies Event

The Global Corporate Ladies Event is a yearly event, organised for women leaders from different sectors. The event covers a specific topic with a cultural activity and the opportunity to meet like-minded colleagues. The event was first organised in 2015.

In 2018, we had this event – for the first time – at each of Houthoff’s six locations worldwide in their respective time zones.

Houthoff is involved in several social organisations and projects, including:

  • Johan Cruyff Foundation

The Johan Cruyff Foundation helps children move up by being active. Sport and play help children grow and develop, keep them fit and healthy, and teach them to hold their own in a complex society. Houthoff sponsors the Johan Cruyff Foundation in the form of legal advice. The firm’s advice focuses mainly on sponsorship contracts and further developing the organisation.

  • Stedelijk Museum

The Stedelijk Museum enriches people’s lives with modern and contemporary art and design. The firm supports the Stedelijk Museum through a variety of legal services.

  • JINC

JINC helps socially and economically disadvantaged young people aged between 8 and 16 gain a foothold in the employment market. Houthoff supports this initiative by providing different types of job application training and short traineeships each year.

  • The Cookie Project

This Houthoff initiative supports iambe, a bakery which acts as a training and activity centre for intellectually disabled young people in Amsterdam. Each day, our meeting centres are supplied with freshly baked cookies, made by participants in the programme at their city centre bakery.