Stibbe > The Legal 500 Rankings

Netherlands > Banking and finance: asset finance and structured finance Tier 1

The structured finance team at Stibbe is particularly notable for its work on securitisations, with recent instructions concerning trade receivables and car lease receivables, as well as amendments to existing programmes for corporate clients. Practice co-head Maarten de Bruin is particularly recommended for such matters, as is fellow co-head Rein van Helden. Van Helden is also involved in the firm’s asset financing work, with several recent mandates focusing on vehicle financing and fleet renewal for public transport authorities, in collaboration with the firm’s public law offering. Senior associate Katelijne Ribbink joined from Clifford Chance in 2020.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: Financial services regulatory Tier 1

Stibbe remains one of the Netherlands’ key players for regulatory work, handling enforcement matters in addition to a strong compliance and licensing practice. Rogier Raas leads the group, and handles the regulatory aspects of complex matters including mergers between financial institutions, the launch of cross-border financial products, and the entry of foreign institutions into the Dutch market, as well as working alongside the firm’s litigation team in contentious matters. Senior associate Roderik Vrolijk is recommended for matters involving corporate trust services, including compliance and governance work in addition to dealings with regulatory bodies, while fellow senior associate Suzanne Kröner-Rosmalen is another key name within the practice, particularly regarding remuneration matters.

Netherlands > Capital markets: equity Tier 1

Stibbe remains one of the strongest firms for equity matters in the Dutch market, with highly experienced practice heads Derk Lemstra and Pieter Schütte handling work for a client base which includes large financial institutions as well as prominent corporates across a wide range of industry sectors. The firm continues to handle IPOs and subsequent offerings on Euronext Amsterdam, both as issuer and underwriter counsel, in addition to secondary listings for listed multinationals, PIPE deals, and other cross-border public M&A mandates.

Netherlands > Commercial, corporate and M&a Tier 1

Stibbe’s ‘very reliable’ team is ‘not afraid of engaging in creative structuring and execution of projects to meet client objectives’, while providing ‘solid legal advice’. With substantial expertise in high-profile cross-border transactions, recent work includes advising Peugeot on its merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and acting for EssilorLuxottica on its acquisition of a stake in GrandVision. Heleen Kersten is a key name for M&A and corporate governance work; Björn van der Klip leads the private equity practice; and Duco de Boer focuses on M&A, private equity and restructuring mandates. Eva Das is also recommended and returned to the firm’s Amsterdam office in 2019 after a period in its New York base. Allard Metzelaar retired but remains as an adviser to the firm.

Netherlands > Construction Tier 1

Stibbe has extensive transaction and litigation experience regarding real estate, construction and procurement law. It is well-known for its involvement in major construction and PPP projects, as well as heavy plant projects and offshore facilities. David Orobio de Castro jointly heads the real estate and construction group and is noted for his expertise in private finance initiatives (PFIs), building contracts, property development, property finance, real estate and concession contracts. Fellow co-head Ingmar De Groot has an ‘eye for detail’.

Netherlands > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 1

Nine partners at Stibbe lead a vast bench of associates in a broad spectrum of litigation, with strong collabaration from across the firm for specialist areas, such as competition law and banking and finance litigation. It is a leading force in defending mass claims, such as the headline diesel emissions dispute, while other high-profile work includes the air cargo and trucks anti-trust cases. Fons Leijten is a market-leading corporate litigator,  who co-leads the practice alongside international litigation specialist Jeroen Kortmann.

Netherlands > Employment Tier 1

Stibbe’s multidisciplinary team focuses on employment, pensions and incentives. It has been at the forefront of advice on matters connected with COVID-19, setting up a special Corona Employment Emergency Team for clients. Practice head Jaap van Slooten is well-known for handling collective disputes and pensions. The ‘very accessible and always available’ Astrid Helstone advises and litigates on a range of employment issues, including board and executive terminations, works council issues and restructurings. Paul Vestering handles compensation and terminations, corporate governance, and transnational works council issues.

Netherlands > Energy: transactional Tier 1

The energy and industry group at Stibbe advises energy companies and industrial businesses on commercial and corporate M&A transactions. It is adept at handling public and private buy and sell-side M&A in the power, oil and gas, chemicals and liquid natural gas (LNG) sectors. Practice head Martin In de Braekt handles business and finance matters for developers, contractors and lenders. Counsel Li Wee Toh is experienced in project development, with a focus on offshore and onshore wind, and energy transition projects.

Netherlands > Environment and planning Tier 1

Stibbe provides advice on major planning applications and infrastructure projects, and related litigation. It acts for large corporate entities and also maintains close contact with universities, the Dutch Parliament and its ministries. Jan Reinier van Angeren specialises in environment and planning and administrative law, and handles administrative and civil litigation. Anna Collignon focuses on environmental and enforcement law, and often acts for large energy and chemical sector companies. Jan van Oosten, who ‘thinks of solutions with an eye for the client’s needs’, was recently promoted to partner. Tom Barkhuysen is another name to note.

Netherlands > EU and competition Tier 1

Stibbe is singled out in the market for its behavioural practice including handling cartels, abuse of dominance work and follow-on damages litigation at a national and international level. Recent work includes representing Credit Suisse in an investigation by the European Commission into the foreign exchange market and acting for Dutch railway operator NS in a case against the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) regarding alleged abuse of dominance. Rein Wesseling, who clients praise as ‘possibly the best competition lawyer out there’, leads the team; other key practitioners include ‘leader in cartel work’ Christof Swaak, antitrust expert Jeroen Kortmann, Floris ten Have and associates Roos Elemans and Stijn de Jong.

Netherlands > Fraud and white-collar crime Tier 1

Daan Doorenbos heads Stibbe’s corporate fraud practice, which acts for both domestic and international corporates in a wide range of industries. Doorenbos is particularly active in compliance matters, as well as settlement negotiations during enforcement proceedings. At the start of 2020, the firm saw the promotion of Muriël Rosing, who handles a range of corruption and money laundering cases, to the partnership. Cross-border cases continue to make up a large portion of the team’s workload, particularly for foreign clients facing investigations by Dutch authorities.

NautaDutilh remains one of the strongest firms in the Dutch market for white-collar matters, with a particularly strong track record in internal investigations, especially those involving forensic IT and data analysis. The team is also notable for its female leadership, with anti-corruption and money laundering specialist Marike Bakker heading the team alongside Francien Rense, whose recent work has included large-scale bribery cases, sanctions, and internal investigations. The firm expanded its partner capacity in 2020 with the promotion of Marleen Velthuis, while tax litigator Léon Wijsman rounds out the four-partner team

Netherlands > Industry focus: Information technology Tier 1

The TMT and digital economy group at Stibbe is at the forefront for advice on ground-breaking new technologies, including platform services, apps and self-driving cars. The team includes regulatory and procurement specialists and is adept at handling corporate and IT outsourcing matters. Practice head Judica Krikke recently setup the firm’s digital economy group which addresses new technologies, including AI and robotics. Rogier Raas is noted for financial regulatory matters. Senior associate Roderik Vrolijk focuses on fintech and counts large corporations, Dutch financial institutions and fintech companies among his clients.

Netherlands > Tax Tier 1

Stibbe's long-established tax practice attracts top-drawer, high-value transactions, complex advisory work and litigation and is a firm of choice for a number of international law firms seeking Dutch tax counsel. With its 'right balance between theory and practical solutions', the heavyweight team offers multiple niche areas of expertise, such as the real estate and finance-related tax practice of Maarten de Bruin. De Bruin and practice head Michael Molenaars are praised for their direct involvement in matters and responsiveness. Other names to note include Jeroen Smits and Reinout de Boer.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: Borrower side Tier 2

Maarten de Bruin, who is highly recommended for real estate financing, leads the finance team at Stibbe alongside Rein van Helden, who focuses on cross-border leveraged finance, syndicated lending deals, and financial restructuring. The firm is highly active in both cross-border and domestic matters, with a client list that includes several high-profile names on both the corporate and private equity sides. At the associate level, key names include Robert Steeg and Suzanne van Boheemen, both of whom are highly knowledgeable on the interplay between Dutch and US law, having practised in New York.

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

Real estate financing and securitisation specialist Maarten de Bruin is one of the leaders of Stibbe’s financial team, which acts for many of the most prominent institutions throughout Europe and beyond, in addition to a robust domestic client base. Fellow practice co-head Rein van Helden specialises in financial restructuring, syndicated finance, and cross-border leveraged finance, such as the financing of Thermo Fisher’s acquisition of Qiagen, in which van Helden acted for a group of lenders including JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley. Senior associate Suzanne van Boheemen and counsel Robert Steeg are also noted.

Netherlands > Capital markets: debt Tier 2

Stibbe is highly active in issuer-side work, advising a range of both domestic and multinational clients on a range of note offerings, as well as handling the restructuring and updating of bond programmes. The team is led by experienced practitioner  Rein van Helden, who also leads the firm's broader banking and finance group. Other notable figures within the practice include Maarten de Bruin, who is frequently involved in issuances by corporate clients, and Job Van Hooff, who frequently works with the capital markets team in matters involving distressed finances and restructuring of notes.

Netherlands > Data privacy and data protection Tier 2

With 'a good grasp of technology and an ability to understand how technology interacts with data privacy regulations', Stibbe's cross-departmental digital economy group is led by Judica Krikke, with support from employment expert Astrid Helstone and senior associate Marc Spuijbroek. Christien Saris is also recommended for data protection administrative enforcement work. The practice handles the full range of data mandates with particular expertise in the data aspects of cloud contracting, compliance issues and transactional work. Notable clients on the group's roster include the Dutch State, the Dutch Police and ING.

Netherlands > Energy: regulatory Tier 2

Stibbe’s energy and industry group is well-known for its transactional practice and its regulatory work is often integrated in transactional projects. It covers a broad range of regulatory matters, including those relating to development and finance, M&A, corporate reorganisations, and asset acquisitions and disposals. Gas sector regulation is a key area of focus, alongside energy and CO₂ taxes, and climate change policy. Team head Martin In de Braekt acts for sponsors, developers, contractors and lenders.

Netherlands > Private equity Tier 2

Stibbe regularly acts for international private equity houses on complex cross-border transactions including investments, acquisitions and exits; in a recent highlight, the team advised Apax Partners on the acquisition of Destiny from Mentha Capital. Group head Björn van der Klip also counts Apollo, Bain Capital and Providence Equity Partners as clients. Hans Witteveen, who divides his time between Amsterdam and London, and Duco de Boer are also highly active in the space.

Netherlands > Project finance and PFI Tier 2

Stibbe's project finance practice focuses on infrastructure finance, particularly on projects involving renewable energy, waterways and public buildings. The group maintains a strong presence in PPP/PFI projects, demonstrated by practice head David Orobio de Castro, acting alongside Ingmar De Groot and Rein van Helden, to advise a mix of bank lenders and the EIB, on providing finance to BAAK Blankenburg-Verbinding in relation to the A24 Blankenburg connection project. Martin In de Braekt, head of the firm's energy and industry group, is another key name.

Netherlands > Real estate Tier 2

Stibbe is well regarded for domestic and international real estate financing and transactions, and is particularly experienced in real estate matters pertaining to the healthcare sector. The team also handles property development projects, leasing, tax structuring, administrative law, construction and procurement. David Orobio de Castro heads the practice and is a key name for project finance issues, and advice on European and national procurement regulations. Counsel Boris Cammelbeeck handles commercial real estate transactions, developments and tenancy law.

Netherlands > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

Stibbe’s expertise spans restructuring, insolvency and litigation. The group handles national and international matters and is regularly appointed by the courts to act as bankruptcy trustee or administrator in suspension of payments proceedings. Practice co-head Toni van Hees focuses on property law and civil procedures, with notable experience of financing, liability and insolvency issues, and is an active member of Insolad, the Dutch Association of Insolvency Lawyers. Fellow co-head Job van Hooff is a key name for cross-border restructurings, distressed transactions and bankruptcy and insolvency litigation.

Netherlands > Industry focus: healthcare and life sciences Tier 3

Stibbe has noted expertise in healthcare and life sciences-related IT issues, including data protection and regulatory matters. The group acts for clients including hospitals, care homes, nurseries and medical devices. Judica Krikke is a key practitioner.

Netherlands > Investment funds Tier 3

At Stibbe, Rogier Raas handles funds matters and financial services regulations work as part of the firm's Benelux investment management practice. He also acts for financial institutions and institutional investors on the negotiation and documentation of investment management mandates. The firm brings together corporate and tax fund structuring capabilities, in addition to a strong funds-related regulatory practice. Tax specialist Jeroen Smits jointly heads the practice with Raas, and senior associate Suzanne Kröner-Rosmalen has considerable experience handling regulations relating to funds including the application of the Alternative Fund Managers Directive.

Netherlands > Industry focus: Media and entertainment Tier 4

Stibbe has expertise in media and entertainment-related IP and corporate M&A work. The team also handles regulatory matters, commercial contracting, negotiations and disputes. Judica Krikke is a key practitioner.