Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV > The Hague, Netherlands > Firm Profile

‘Gerrit-Jan Zwenne is an absolute legend in privacy law. In addition, he has been introduced as the best in the daily practice of our company. He is professional, has so much knowledge and is a very good communicator.’

‘Gerrit-Jan Zwenne is always close to us in discussions we have with the supervisory authority for the GDPR. We check our strategies with Gerrit-Jan and he is able to visit our premises for advice and training our staff.’

‘Gerrit-Jan Zwenne is for us the authority to go to in relation to questions, advice, collaboration and help on the matter of Privacy.’

‘In our mind there is no better expert in the privacy field than Gerrit-Jan Zwenne.’

‘It is impressive how the team has developed in recent years in this rather traditionally oriented law firm. They are now among the best in the field of data protection.’

‘Gerrit Jan Zwenne is an authority in data protection legislation and case law. His advice is practical though built upon a thorough understanding of daily practices, new technologies and the interpretation of hard to grasp legislation. Having Gerrit Jan Zwenne on your side in legal challenges, literally reduces stress levels. The rational and steady approach is highly appreciated.’

‘Very professional varied team with excellent performance. Scientifically based advice with practical indications. Spot on. Very good knowledge of how supervisor thinks and acts.’

‘Gerrit Jan Zwenne is spot on and combines science and practice in an accessible way. A brilliant thinker who oversees the whole picture and is able to present the key issues on a plate.’

‘In my opinion, nothing beats the Supreme Court litigation team of Pels Rijcken.’

‘Sikke Kingma is a very sharp thinker and, in my view, one of the best cassation lawyers in the Netherlands. He is also very approachable and therefore pleasant to work with. The same goes for Jerre de Jong, who is also making a name for himself as a Supreme Court lawyer.’

‘Wemmeke Wisman is a top-notch litigator who is down to earth, easy and fun to work with. She has represented the Dutch State in a number of high-profile matters.’

‘Willem Heemskerk is always well prepared. He moves quickly and you feel supported as a client. He is nuanced and sensible in terms of strategy.’

‘We work mainly with partner Hans van Wijk who handles our commercial litigation before the Supreme Court. Hans is extremely experienced and capable in this area. He is also very pleasant to work with and very driven to achieve optimal results.’

‘Willem Heemskerk and Peter van Kippersluis are natural leaders and excellent lawyers in every respect. They listen and have always shown that they make their decisions based on facts.’

‘Wemmeke Wisman is an outstanding lawyer who gives practical and solid legal advice. She adds value and is outstanding in representing her clients in court proceedings.’

‘I have worked with Gijsbrecht Nieuwland many times and have always been very content.’

‘Iman Brinkman’s deep technical knowledge is really valuable in the energy sector.’

‘The team is on top of the latest developments in energy law and is very capable of sharing this information with peers.’

‘Iman Brinkman stands out as a very smart and very reliable partner.’

‘The team has excellent knowledge of the full spectrum of environmental law. They think proactively and strategically with solutions to complex legal issues that arise, including those of large infrastructural projects. The legal quality of the advice and the representation in court is excellent.’

‘Pels Rijcken’s core business is to provide juridical assistance to local and central government. Their knowledge of constitutional and administrative law is excellent. Besides they have a keen eye on the political aspects of the cases the government has to deal with.’

‘High level of knowledge, practical experience, and sense of creativity.’

‘The environment and planning team is really top-notch in their legal knowledge on environmental law and administrative law. Advice is also to the point, focussing on what really are the legal risks in the case and not spending unnecessary energy (and time and money) on manageable issues. They know how to advise governmental organisations, sensible for the political and public context. They also know how to litigate on behalf of the government. The team is helpful and available for sparring and always prepared to share knowledge.’

‘Its people are accessible, there is good personal contact, thoughtful.’

‘Daniëlle Roelands-Fransen is easily accessible, and thinks along well in scenarios and possibilities. She is professional.’

‘Liesbeth Schippers, Roelof Reinders, and Daniëlle Roelands-Fransen are excellent legal advisors and litigators. Roelof is a quick thinker, a constructive critical advisor keeping you sharp. He is also a very good litigator, keen in getting a good result.’

‘Roelof Reinders advises on highly complex legal issues. He will take a multidisciplinary approach, including the fields of ecology, technology, science, and law, to come to excellent legal advice and solutions. He is accessible and he will get to the heart of the matter quickly. Roelof advices clearly, convincingly, and with great expertise.’

‘Pels Rijcken has a very solid team of excellent professionals. They are top class.’

‘The quality of Jeroen Naves’ work makes him one of the best advocates in the IT world and civil law. Excellent.’

‘The team has a very strong knowledge of the field of law they are working in. They also work together very well. The connection with other sections of law within the firm is very good.’

 ‘The individuals stand out in knowledge and experience in the field of law and always thrive to find the best possible solution in any case. They are always available when you need them and are also very good advocates in the courtroom.’ 

‘So far, my experience with Pels Rijcken has been great. To work for the government is definitely not an easy task but what makes them stand out from the others is the fact that they are extremely good at understanding the contents and the complexity of the issue in no time.’

 ‘Diederik Wolters Rückert is a very pleasant person to work with. He knows exactly what needs to be done and he doesn’t stop until he gets the best results for his clients. He is a pragmatic lawyer who analyses and considers every possibility until he finds the right one.’

 ‘Pels Rijcken’s lawyers have a lot of knowledge and experience to support a large contractor. Other offices often support the builders. Excellent knowledge of the field, contracts and authority in the market.’

 ‘The lawyers understand the business very well and have a lot of experience with several clients. What is special is that Mark Birnage, in addition to legal knowledge, also has an excellent understanding of technology.’ 

‘Elisa Palm and Pieter Stuijt are my main contact persons at Pels Rijcken. I consult both when I need to discuss something or need advice and they complement each other very well. I think this approach is a very good idea and valuable for me. Like this, they offer more expertise and more brainpower.’ 

‘Diederik Wolters Rückert and Pieter Stuijt are good interlocutors at all levels. Can clearly communicate complex legal themes to non-lawyers and are well attuned to each other, almost always coming to the right choice when it comes to the most optimal route in court cases. Very pleasant to work with.’ 

‘Pels Rijcken is a full service practice, specialised in advising and litigating on behalf of the government.’

‘What makes the Pels Rijcken practice unique is that their expertise extends to all areas that are important for the high legal risk political fields in which their advice is needed. The team is always ready to go, friendly and to the point, even in situations where that is almost impossible. A unique character is that they approach issues from different angles, sketching scenarios with different risk factors, always keeping the client in full focus.’

‘Pels works in various areas of law. If you work as a client at the intersection of private law and public law, than Pels is excellent choice. They have a lot of lawyers , so there is always somebody who can help you quickly.’

‘The individual lawyers all have superior knowledge in their respective areas of expertise. George Dictus stands out for his knowledge of state aid law.’

‘Extensive knowledge of government policy and position. Quick to assess problems and inventive in solutions. Good communication and transfer within the team which means substitution is easy when needed.’

‘Special thanks go out to Sebastiaan Cnossen for his excellent legal judgement and solutions. What makes the lawyers of Pels stand out is that they understand the playing field beyond the legal parameters that define it legally. The lawyers are capable to internalise the day to day issues that we have to deal with making their advice applicable.’

‘Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn is the house attorney for public authorities and the state in the Netherlands, and also has a track record in representing NGOs, social watchdogs and academics. For such clients, its Media and Entertainment team is the go to law firm in the Netherlands for freedom of speech cases in digital media defamation and false accusations claims.’

‘In this field, there is no other law firms in the Netherlands that can match this team in terms of experience and expertise. The team is always one step ahead and very aware of market practices and developments.’

‘Jordi Bierens essentially built the freedom of speech practice within the team.’

‘I always refer cases to Jordi Bierens. He is not only the key lawyer in the field of media law, but also he has built a very strong reputation in the sector. He is a go-getter, knows all the ins and outs and always gives the extra mile on every case.

‘Jordi Bierens is strategic, pragmatic and communicative. He is able to explain complex legal issues in layman’s terms and he knows how to perform and remain calm under pressure. I have good (and independent) knowledge of the sector, and I would strongly recommend Jordi as a Rising Star in the field of Media and Entertainment.’

‘Sikke Kingma has a very good reputation for media and entertainment cases, especially Supreme Court cassations.’

‘Sikke Kingma is an excellent lawyer. He is also a great and fun person to work with.’

‘Strond team, very analytical. Constant high quality’

‘Arnoud Boorsma is a great team player, with excellent litigation skills’

‘In our decades long experience with the firm, Pels Rijcken has shown it possesses an excellent knowledge of general administrative and civil law, as well as specialised expertise in the telecoms field.’

‘The team is highly motivated to get the best possible outcomes for us and is very accurate, efficient and professional in doing so.’

‘The team is quick to respond, and we always get the advice or the legal representation we need. Compared to other legal firms we encounter or deal with ourselves, their professionalism and solidity in what they do is second to none.’

‘Arnoud Boorsma brings years of experience to the field of national supervisors and telecommunication law. That, combined with his outstanding speaking and writing skills, make him a great lawyer to have on our side.’

‘Arnoud Boosma is passionate about his work, and it shows. Arnoud is always well prepared and invariably stays calm under high pressure.’

‘The strength of the team lies in the knowledge and experience in procedural law, second to none, and a level of practical knowledge and understanding of the needs and wishes of the requirements of the client doing business. Martijn Scheltema is not only admitted to the lower Courts of the Netherlands but also to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands. Mr Iman Brinkman is very experienced in matters of energy law. Together with Scheltema, they make an excellent team. Cees Verburgh is a young, up and coming associate, experienced in international arbitration matters.’

‘Scheltama is always available, swift in his thinking and gifted with an almost infallible memory. Brinkman has been practising for the last twenty years or so in the energy sector; there is little that he does not know. Verbuergh is very knowledgeable as well as experienced in international investment arbitration.’

‘The team has a growing arbitration practice with increasingly interesting cases, representing both the Dutch state as well as other clients in a variety of sectors. The team is diligent and very capable of handling complex matters, showing hands-on experience and strategic thinking.’

‘Willem Heemskerk serves as both counsel and arbitrator and has a high reputation in the Dutch arbitration community. He is strategic, cooperative, pragmatic and pleasant to work with as opposing counsel and arbitrator. This allows him to build very positive and strong relationships with clients and fellow practitioners alike and to always seem in control of matters, no matter how challenging.’

‘Willem Heemskerk is a great adversary. He speaks and writes very well.’

‘Pels Rijcken understands how we work and what political dynamics can play a role in delicate international arbitration cases.’

‘This practice is unique because it combines an excellent national and international commercial practice with an extensive practice relating to public institutions’

‘Good ability to understand the technical problem before providing legal advice.’

‘Very professional, customer-friendly, proactive, and come up with sharp analysis and creative solutions for legal problems.’

‘Highly accessible and talented legal champs and excellent support staff. Great empathy for clients in complex matters in an even more complex environment. Accurate and timely in terms of their legal advice and representation in proceedings, with an awareness of the position of our organisation in society.’

‘Highly flexible team with profound knowledge of different legal fields. Flexible when it comes to their way of problem solving and solving the problem itself. PR has been able to make the much-needed shift from a law firm that gives advice on a specific matter to an all-out legal advisor, even on site and with regard to subjects that influence legal decision making in the long term.’

‘PR has lawyers who are not only more than up to the job, but also are able to take into account internal company matters that are relevant from a legal standpoint. Therefore, the individual lawyers are able to assist in and resolve legal issues in a way other firms can’t.’

‘Peter Mauser is very involved in our work and knows our purpose, practices and specific regulations. He understands our way of working, for which sound legal advice is very important. He explains the pros and cons in clear language and is honest about the feasibility of a case. What I particularly like about Peter is that he is very approachable and easy to reach. When working with him you can really see that he absolutely knows (and also really enjoys) his job.’

‘Truly excellent knowledge of their subject, ample availability and flexibility, and a sense of humour too: a pleasure to work with!’

‘The team’s skills are very well developed, their responses are very quick, and they are creative.’

‘They listen well to what’s being said, they suggest several solutions to the problem, they point out the risks and opportunities of every solution, and they respond very quickly if necessary. In the team, Peter Mauser is a standout partner for me.’

‘What makes Pels Rijcken stand out from other law firms is their punctuality, accuracy, accessibility, and their ability to meet every deadline. Also, the fact that they are State Advocates. I like working with them because they showed many times that they know what they are doing, they are always very well prepared and are all very knowledgeable.’

‘I work with Marije Batting and Maaike Feenstra. They are both skilled professionals, who chose to communicate in a very transparent way. Both Marije and Maaike are very punctual, meet their deadlines and are approachable. I find our cooperation going in a very nice way. I wouldn’t choose for any other lawyers.’

‘They have in-depth knowledge of the Dutch healthcare-system and they know how to act in the complex political and administrative environment.’

‘Wemmeke Wisman is extremely good at her job. She is a positive and pleasant person to work with. She is cooperative and takes into consideration the needs and opinions of the client. As a State Advocate, Wemmeke perfectly knows the working of a government and how to handle the political stakes. Therefore, she always knows exactly what to do, and which questions are the ones to ask before taking the right steps.’

‘Pels Rijcken is the State Advocate. Every lawyer knows how the government works. They are excellent at understanding and getting a sense of the political interests. This gives them the ability to give the right advice.’

‘Elisabeth Pietermaat is a very experienced and sharp lawyer who very well knows how the government works and the political interests at stake. It makes it very easy and trustworthy to work with.’

‘Pels Rijcken is a State Advocate. This makes them very unique. It ensures that we, as a client, only ask them for help if we have judicial procedures. Pels Rijcken’s lawyers are excellent litigators. They take you through every step of the process and make sure to offer you all the existing possibilities and discuss the pros and cons so we can evaluate the most suitable approach. I also find it very important and appreciate that they aren’t only great advisors and litigators, but they are also very good at teaching and giving different trainings within our company.’

‘Marije Batting is very good at what she is doing. She is always up to date on legal developments and understands things not only in a strategic but also in a political way. Marije is very good at evaluating situations in a very critical/accurate manner. She is very approachable and always available. She always makes sure her clients receive the needed help and support and also provides the best outcomes possible.’

‘Excellent cassation team.’

‘Sikke Kingma is extremely competent on all issues regarding intellectual property.’

‘Very strong in sensitive stakeholder situations.’

‘Carel van Swaay stands out from the crowd for his broad oversight, flexibility and his loyalty.’

‘Carel van Swaay and his team are professional and hands-on.’

‘They are on top of everything. Give clear guidance to make well-thought decisions. Strong knowledge and not only focused on Dutch law’

‘Carel van Swaay is perfect in negotiations and doesn’t give up before he has what he wants.’

‘A Dutch practice with high level expertise in commercial, corporate and M&A and an international outlook. The team are knowledgeable, experienced and very personable.’

‘Carel van Swaay is a highly experienced senior lawyer, combines excellent legal advice with great transactional and client management skills, especially on deals with a cross-border element.’