AKD

AKD welcomes Jan-Willem Raadgever as a partner in the real estate practice at its Amsterdam office. Alongside him, Jip Post is also joining AKD. Jip specialises in real estate development and brings additional expertise for both Dutch and international investors and developers. With their combined experience in real estate development, construction law, and procurement law, they strengthen AKD’s position in the sector and provide valuable support to clients who are active in or looking to enter the Dutch market. The real-estate sector is evolving rapidly. New regulations, risk management and strategic choices in large-scale projects require a well-thought-out approach. Jan-Willem understands the challenges that international parties face when entering the Dutch market. In addition to a sharp focus on the legal aspects, he also helps his clients make smart strategic decisions, ensuring that their projects are not only successfully launched but also future-proof. "At AKD, I have the opportunity to apply my experience within a dynamic and ambitious team," says Jan-Willem Raadgever. "Many international parties see opportunities in the Netherlands but struggle with strict regulations and procedures. I assist them not only in overcoming these hurdles but also in establishing a stronger, long-term presence in this market. With its full-service expertise, scale, knowledge and experience, AKD enables me to support my clients even more effectively and comprehensively." Carlos Pita Cao, managing partner at AKD, highlights that Jan-Willem’s expertise is a significant asset to the team: "His experience with both Dutch and international parties makes him a valuable addition. Jan-Willem quickly grasps complex issues and provides directly applicable solutions. His vision aligns perfectly with AKD’s focus on sustainable solutions and long-term relationships." With Jan-Willem’s arrival, AKD strengthens its position in the real estate sector, both nationally and internationally. His broad expertise in risk management, project development and strategic advice makes him a valuable sparring partner for investors and developers looking to establish themselves in the Netherlands—or to scale up or restructure existing projects.

Amsterdam, 6 March 2025 - AKD welcomes new partner Michiel de Wit to its Real Estate team at the Amsterdam office. With Michiel on board, AKD is able to further deepen its services for international investors, particularly in the fields of Asset Management and ESG. Michiel is a renowned expert in Asset Management and commercial lease law. Having a strong international focus, he has been a trusted legal adviser to institutional real estate investors, German and Anglo-Saxon investors in particular, with dealings in the Netherlands for over 20 years. With his in-depth knowledge of commercial lease law and hands-on experience in Asset Management and ESG, he handles advisory and litigation work for his clients. Michiel has a reputation for effectively negotiating opportunities and legal challenges raised in these areas or to translate them into commercial advantages. His expertise is, accordingly, widely recognised: the Legal 500 commends him as a Leading Partner for Real Estate. What sets Michiel apart, in addition to his legal expertise, is his engaged and strategic approach. "My clients do not just expect legal certainty, they also expect strategic sparring. I help them optimise their real estate portfolios, from an ESG and energy perspective as well, and seize opportunities that go beyond the standard approach. 'Dare to challenge' and 'get the deal done' are not just slogans - they embody my way of working", adds Michiel. With Michiel joining the firm, AKD forges ahead in expanding its international real estate practice. Carlos Pita Cao, Managing Partner of AKD, stresses the strategic value of this appointment: "We are delighted to welcome Michiel as a partner. The real estate sector is becoming increasingly complex, with rising international investments and legal challenges in the areas of sustainability, energy and ESG. Michiel understands better than anyone how to turn this dynamic into strategic opportunities and how to implement those. His experience dealing with international investors makes him a key player in AKD's ambition to remain the leading real estate firm in the Benelux." Boasting one of the largest real estate teams in the Netherlands and Belgium, AKD continues to invest in offering high-quality legal services to national and international real estate market parties. With the addition of Michiel to our 85+ team of real estate specialists, we are able to offer clients even more comprehensive and deeper legal advice on real estate, energy and ESG.

Amsterdam, 13 January 2025 – AKD welcomes Kyoko Tollenaar as partner within the Corporate Notarial team in AKD’s Amsterdam office. Anouk Voeten and Nicole van Keimpema join Kyoko, adding a strong and dynamic new team to the firm. With Kyoko’s arrival, AKD expands its services in the field of notarial corporate law, positioning itself as a reliable partner in high-end complex legal matters on a national and international level. Kyoko brings 21 years of experience in the field of corporate law, including M&A transactions, complex reorganisations and corporate governance. She has assisted Japanese companies with investments in the Netherlands, and has advised American and Dutch companies and private equity firms on acquisitions, (cross-border) mergers, conversions, carve-outs, corporate governance matters, restructurings and setting up joint ventures. With her in-depth knowledge of advising both private and listed companies in highly complex matters, Kyoko will make an invaluable contribution to further strengthening of AKD’s expertise in this field. “With her international experience and strong connections with leading law firms in the United States and Japan, Kyoko brings extensive expertise that greatly supplements our corporate, transactional and governance services,” says Carlos Pita Cao, AKD’s Managing Partner. “We are convinced that Kyoko, Anouk and Nicole will make a significant contribution to our firm. They will enhance our Corporate and M&A services, and they will help further realise our vision of strengthening AKD’s market position and offering excellent value for our clients.” In spite of the challenges of geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and rising interest rates, the market for complex notarial corporate law matters has unchanged potential. Sectors such as healthcare and life sciences remain strong and offer plenty of opportunities for M&A activity. In addition, challenging circumstances can in turn create new M&A opportunities. Companies remain active in mergers and acquisitions, or focus on internal restructurings, such as complex disentanglements and carve-outs, in which both the corporate advice and the involvement of a civil-law notary is required. The constantly evolving legal landscape demands a legal team that is eager to learn, curious and passionate about developing new skills all the time. As Kyoko says: “Dutch civil-law notaries increasingly play the role of trusted advisor for clients, not only in preparing the legal documents, but also by supporting them during the entire process of a transaction or reorganisation, from A to Z and beyond. We are known for putting the client first and taking proactive steps in working not only for, but also with the client. I look forward to further expanding this dynamic team together with Anouk and Nicole and to offering our clients the best possible support.”

Ruben Vermang has been appointed as a partner at AKD in Brussels within the Real Estate practice. His appointment underscores AKD's appeal to top lawyers and marks the next step in the firm's efforts to strengthen its legal services in Belgium. Ruben brings extensive experience in the real estate sector and will play a key role in further developing AKD’s strategic position in this market. With extensive experience in real estate transactions and expertise across all facets of real estate law, Ruben brings a unique blend of skill and vision to AKD. His practice covers the complete lifecycle of a property — from acquisitions and development, to property and asset management. Ruben also has significant experience in construction law, advising on large-scale development and PPP projects, as well as drafting contracts, providing strategic legal advice, and handling disputes. Ruben’s appointment marks an important milestone in AKD's strategy to position itself as an established name in Belgium. His arrival severally strengthens AKD's position in the highest segment of the Corporate Real Estate market. “With my expertise, I aim not only to support our existing clients in their transactions but also to actively contribute to AKD’s further growth in Belgium. I look forward to working with the team to build a solid, future-oriented presence for AKD in the Belgian market,” said Ruben. His decision to join AKD reflects the convergence of Ruben's ambition to take the next step in his career and AKD's desire to take further significant steps in the Belgian market. AKD is still relatively new on the Belgian market but with great ambition wishes to successfully position itself among the established order of Brussels business lawyers. Ruben will therefore play a key role in strengthening AKD's position and reputation in Belgium on the real estate market and further drive AKD's growth in Belgium with the enthusiasm of a pioneer. Ruben is distinguished by his dedication and pragmatic approach, combined with a personal, accessible style. His clients value his ability to not only provide legal advice but also to think strategically about the entire transaction. "For me, it’s about truly understanding what matters to my clients and offering solutions that work in practice," he says. Carlos Pita Cao, Managing Partner of AKD: “Ruben is a valuable addition to our team, not only because of his extensive experience in Corporate Real Estate but also due to the energy and entrepreneurship he brings. We are confident that Ruben is the right person to help us realise our growth ambitions in the Belgian market and achieve our strategic goals in the real estate sector.”  

Amsterdam, 5 November 2024 - AKD announced today that experienced indirect tax specialist Maarten Prevoo has joined the firm as a partner in its Tax team. Prevoo is based in the firm’s Amsterdam office. Maarten brings a wealth of experience in navigating the complexities of indirect taxes, including VAT, Real Estate Transfer Tax, Assurance Premium Tax and packaging tax, both domestically and internationally. His expertise spans a variety of sectors, from e-commerce and the digital economy to financial services, retail, food, and production industries. He specialises in M&A, providing comprehensive buy-side and vendor due diligence, tax structuring and restructuring, and post-deal integration support for national and international transactions. Maarten’s work with strategic and financial acquirers, insurance companies, and investment managers focuses on optimising global indirect tax positions and mitigating risks. Carlos Pita Cao, AKD managing partner: "We are very glad to welcome Maarten to our firm. His impressive track record and expertise in indirect taxes will strengthen our tax practice. Maarten has the experience and drive necessary as we continue to attract and handle more and more complex cross-border and multi-expertise matters, particularly in the digital economy, technology and energy sectors. We very much look forward to working with Maarten and are excited to have him on board.” "I am excited to join the ranks of AKD,” says Maarten Prevoo. “AKD has an excellent Tax team and I look forward to being a part of it. I am eager to help expand the firm’s tax capabilities. What particularly appealed to me is AKD’s drive to keep moving forward and its people’s straightforward way of approaching everything,” he continues. “My expertise seamlessly complements AKD’s current practices, and I am eager to get down to brass tacks together." “Maarten’s expertise and experience are valuable additions to our Tax team and to AKD as a whole,” says Tax Practice Group Head Ivo Vreman. “Our firm is dedicated to achieving excellence in complex tax matters, and Maarten's arrival further enhances our commitment to delivering outstanding results for our clients. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team and look forward to going above and beyond for our clients with his added support!”