AKD > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Firm Profile

‘The AKD Team is ready 24/7. If more capacity or expertise is needed, they can easily be contacted. They fully relieve the client’s worries and deliver substantively good work. They speak the language of the entrepreneur, are short and concise and do not bore you with pages of advice if that is not appropriate or desirable.’

‘Frenk Huisman is special, a truly good lawyer with a heart for his clients. Always enthusiastic and always at service!’

‘Lawyers & notaries that we consult have a personal touch and interest in our business and people. They are engaged and feel personally responsible for the good outcome of their advice.’

‘AKD has a fantastic and diversified team of experts and is therefore uniquely positioned to provide first class advice on issues related to construction projects. Their unrivalled experience makes AKD a frontrunner in this field’

‘Marc Wintgens is a seasoned lawyer with an undisputed reputation as a sharp negotiator. He is the lawyer to go to! Not only is he an excellent lawyer, but he also knows the market through and through. No doubt: he is the best.’

‘Very experienced, full service, able to work on all aspects of a project. If necessary across borders and practice areas. Advice on everything from design and feasibility to project structure and dispute resolution.’

‘Marc Wintgens is an outstanding lawyer. He demonstrates a strong expertise in dealing with complex issues that also involve strategy and reputation of his client. ’

‘Top-level legal knowledge and experience in the field of construction law, combined with knowledge of our company and the sector and the ability to translate this into practical and feasible advice.’

‘A very customer-focused practice; individuals are extremely reliable in urgent situations.’

‘The individuals at AKD are very knowledgeable and have good access to a very broad and general network, including partners and government authorities. AKD manages to swiftly get to the bottom of things and finds a pragmatic approach in many situations.’

‘AKD offers a wide-range of legal services, covering both private and public affairs.’

‘Team members are each specialists in their field, and by proactively participating in the assignment they optimally serve the client.’

‘In my experience the team has an excellent knowledge of the subjects and works accurately.’

‘Gerrit van der Veen and Erik Dans are straight to the point, reliable and very competent.’

‘AKD is formed of highly qualified lawyers. They share their knowledge in a accessible way.’

‘Thomas Sanders is unique, one of a kind and more knowledgeable than any other lawyer I’ve met – he is also down to earth and shares complex information in a comprehensible way.’

‘Erik Dans is a driven and very educated lawyer who has the ability to translate practical situations into language that can be understood by judges.’

‘Working with Barbara Mutsaers was a pleasure from start to finish. Clearly an expert in her field, her no-nonsense, pragmatic approach was appreciated by our business, whilst her reassuring presence during negotiations helped us to achieve a very satisfactory outcome.’

‘I experienced the individuals in AKD as very driven and committed to represent our company. I was impressed by Barbara Mutsaers who knew the dossier and relevant details in full. That not only requires knowledge of the dossier but understanding of our business, market and products as well.’

‘AKD has a very skilled team of professionals and know each other’s strengths. That makes it very easy for clients to get the best guidance in the large forest of compliance, rules and other relevant legal questions a client has. And for this expertise to be easy accessible is a head start for starting our business.’

‘Barbara Mutsaers is very involved and passionate in her expertise. She knows the fine lines and is very knowledgeable when it comes to legal issues. Barbara is very fast in responding to cases and always knows how to get to the bottom of the case and how to defend it. Her communication is clear and strong. She always has a goal in mind and very structured in her conversation.’

‘They are experienced in niche markets and do what they promise.’

‘The team has a lot of knowledge of our specific business.’

‘Contacts with Erik Dans were very pleasant. Erik responds quickly to our questions and thinks along with our wishes.’

‘Top-class shipping team with one of the very few genuine specialist logistics practices in the world.’

‘Jos van der Meché is a hard-working and straightforward lawyer. Really well connected and liked everywhere.’

‘Maaike Lustenhouwer is the main driver behind the aviation team. A lawyer with outstanding legal knowledge who knows the ins and outs of the aviation industry and thus is capable of providing excellent support. I have even had moments where.’

‘The team led by Annemieke Spijker is what you would expect of a first-tier law firm – efficient, pragmatic and friendly, going over and beyond to look after the interests of their clients.’

‘They are simply very good all-rounded professionals and that is the only relevant criteria that matters to a client.’

‘Michael Hajdasinski is an excellent and innovative lawyer who has real commercial sense and thinks outside the box. It’s great that he’s back in private practice.’

‘Haco van Oordt: cross-border expert and thinking out-of-the-box.‘

‘Jan Kromhout: great mind and relaxed character.‘

‘AKD’s collective action practice is market leading- they are involved in all of the interesting cases. They are extremely responsive, creative and client focused. They are a pleasure to work with. ’

‘The team benefits from the stewardship of Patrick Haas- he is just excellent. His corporate background brings different perspective to cases. The work they do often requires third arty funding and Patrick is very commercial and knows how to build, manage and run funded cases. He is exceptionally solution focused. You rarely get a “no” from Patrick. ’

‘Very dedicated team with a lot of knowledge and eager to be close to the ball. ’

‘Two persons in particular Patrick Haas and Jeffrey Kleywegt. They are pro-active, well informed and have an outstanding position in the market.’

‘Fouad El Houzi was a great help when it came to initiating and conducting difficult legal proceedings in the Netherlands. If Fouad is kicked out through the door, he climbs back in through the window.’

‘Strong leadership with quick and practical advice.’

‘Erik Koster is an excellent business-minded lawyer who can quickly get to the bottom of matters.’

‘They have a very broad spread of expertise and a very well-resourced team of experts. They are a go-to for complex disputes and take an innovative and diligent approach.’

‘They are true experts in the renewable energy sector and understand our business. The team is pro-active and knows how to connect on an interpersonal level. They are no-nonsense and efficient.’

‘Keesjan Meijering has a pleasant and respectful way of working with clients.’

‘Unique, seamless cooperation between the different departments at the firm which is hugely beneficial for a fast-growing company riding on the waves of change caused by the energy transition.’

‘I am immensely impressed by Marjolein’s expertise and knowledge of the energy market. She is not only highly academically inclined but also provides incredibly practical and sound advice. Her ability to swiftly identify connections by zooming in and out of complex issues is remarkable. Marjolein’s guidance has been invaluable, and I highly recommend her.’

‘Deep understanding of the energy and heating market and a willingness to find ways to make a project in a new market work, such as hydrogen for heating.’

‘Both Keesjan and Maarten stand-out for their passion and commitment to the subject at hand and their willingness to go outside the legal talk to take the time to understand the issue at hand without losing sight of the legal context we are in.’

‘Their practical approach and in-depth knowledge of developing renewable energy projects is comforting for us, in that we know that if we call with a legal issue or question, we can rest assured that it is in very capable hands.’

‘Keesjan Meijering has proven himself to be an essential part of our external legal team, is an excellent lawyer and negotiator, a great sparring partner, knows how the energy sector works and above all he is a likable person. Emile Euverman is an excellent lawyer – in my opinion, one of the best in his area of expertise, and has provided us with excellent, high-quality and practical advice on many occasions.’

‘They have a thoroughly efficient team able to handle problems quickly and neatly.’

‘The team is very responsive and available at short notice. AKD also has one of the best administrative law sections in the country, so especially where problems arise that require attention from both a criminal law and administrative law perspective AKD is an excellent choice.’

‘Vincent de Bruijn is an exceptional legal mind, always available to analyze issues quickly and efficiently, and suggest the most expedient routes to a solution. He is also well versed in digital investigation methods and there is frankly frightfully little he does not know about white collar crime and investigations.’

‘The practice consists of remarkable, talented people who can be considered as an extension of your own organisation. They go the extra mile in times of need, and in times of opportunity. Together as a team they combine sector knowledge, legal knowhow and personal competence.’

‘I specifically work with Barbara Mutsaers, she has a very keen eye and is able to unravel complex issues and propose possible solutions. She feels very responsible and is taken into account the company’s interests.’

‘Barbara Mutsaers has been our legal aid on various matters and has done an exceptional job. She has been the thought leader and strategist around our legal position and has clear understanding of the commercial impact. She doesn’t need much explanation, digests a lot of info rapidly and produces a view/position instantly on the case. ’

‘It is a diverse team with knowledge and skills. There is a cooperation and a team/joint effort. Together we seek an optimum. There is a mutual respect so the impact together is outstanding. We have the ideas, they have the solution and together we get results.’

‘Joris Rijken is sharp, genuine and very communicative. He is able to translate our issues in legal arguments. If the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Joris is leading lawyer in the Netherlands. Cool, calm and collected.

‘Barbara Mutsaers has high knowledge on the restrictions we have with regard to pharma rules and regulations within the Netherlands. Within her advice she will always consider our business perspective and provides us a clear recommendation.’

‘Breadth and depth of legal expertise. Specialised team dedicated to the healthcare sector. Able to support complex legal cases but also to scale up and down quickly to assist specific requests. Builds strong relationships with client and thus becomes trusted advisor, at executive and board level. ’

‘The AKD team are nothing short of fantastic. We have a complicated group structure with shareholders all around the world, and AKD’s ability to consider multiple jurisdictions and multiple elements of a deal and propose a structure that works considering all elements is phenomenal. They always have the company’s best interest at heart which has made us a customer for life.’

‘Always available, always willing to go the extra mile and always have a great attitude. Peter Cohen and Wouter Kros from the AKD team were nothing short of amazing in our most recent transaction.’

‘The team is very dedicated and always very helpful, as well as collaborative.’

‘Nathalie van Woerkom is amazing to work with and really thinks along with us in our best interest. She is also a people person and really shows interest in her clients and team.’

‘A very professional, pragmatic and deal-orientated team.’

‘We have worked with Nathalie van Woerkom and Valéry Schaap. Both provided us excellent advice, were very skilled in navigating cross-border deals and the communication with them was top. I would certainly recommend them to others. An excellent team.’

‘The team we are working with is well coordinated, with a delightful blend of experience and expertise. Agile and efficient.’

‘Carlos Pita Cao is a likable, smart and trustworthy practitioner – very knowledgeable.’

‘The team is very approachable and knowledgeable.’

‘It is a pleasure to work with Roderick Chalmers. He is very up-to-date in knowledge and case law, and is always willing to help and think along with the company.’

‘We were recently referred to AKD and have found their team to be highly professional and competent.’

‘The team is responsive, pragmatic and a great support on international transactions with a Dutch angle.’

‘Lennart Crain is always available for quick feedback, and is commercial and pragmatic.’

‘The team takes a hands-on, no-nonsense approach, and is more flexible than the larger Amsterdam south-axis firms.’

‘Lennart Crain is down-to-earth, dares to speak his mind and opinion, is flexible in his client approach, and always has the goal of the client in mind.’

‘The team is always very helpful and nice to work with. Great collaborators.’

‘Nathalie van Woerkom is an amazing lawyer and person. She is great to work together with and always thinks in our best interest. She also shows interest in her clients and her team, which makes her a very pleasant person and great leader.’

‘Professional and committed as a team.’

‘We have worked with Nathalie van Woerkom for over 15 years and we trust her commitment.’

‘Knowledgeable, complete and well connected.’

‘Sincere, proactive and always available.’

‘AKD has a fantastic and diversified team of experts and is therefore uniquely positioned to provide first class advice on issues related to construction projects. Their unrivaled experience makes AKD a frontrunner in this field.’

‘Marc Wintgens is a seasoned lawyer with an undisputed reputation as a sharp negotiator. Marc was the practice head of the real estate and the construction team of AKD for many years and currently serves as a member of the board of management of AKD. He is the lawyer to go to! Not only is he an excellent lawyer, but he also knows the market through and through. No doubt: he is the best. Another lawyer worth mentioning is Niels Hagelstein.’

‘I have been working with the practice of Sven Billet and have extensive experience with him and his team. He is able to process files quickly, accurately, expertly and in a warm atmosphere. This combination is exceptional at his level of performance.’

‘Lawyers and notaries that we consult have a personal touch and interest in our business and people. They are engaged and feel personally responsible for the good outcome of their advice.’

‘Frenk Huisman throughout our working relationship has proven to be a remarkable professional and trustworthy business partner to our company. Frenk has been instrumental in solving complex legal issues and his thorough understanding of complex legal concepts allowed for a clear and concise communication at all times. Frenk possesses excellent analytical skills which combined with his natural leadership have greatly contributed to our success.’

‘AKD has extensive experience and knowledge in the field of construction and real estate. They have a good understanding of demands and requirements of institutional investors and they have been a true partner in getting due diligence and transaction documentation over the line. AKD stands out in translating theoretical risk into real exposure which makes decision making on the institutional level easier and streamlines the transaction process.’

‘Frenk Huisman’s role as a partner was highly valued. His proficiency in explaining / educating Dutch legal regulations and concepts to our international investors fostered trust among our partners and facilitated pragmatic resolutions to legal disputes without compromising our legal standing or escalating our risk exposure.’

‘AKD has a skilled team that works hands-on and has short lines of communication with us as a client, making it very efficient in the case of an urgent matter. In more complex cases, the project team involved is expanded with the missing discipline, knowledge, skills and experience.’

‘Marc Wintgens is a seasoned lawyer with an undisputed reputation as a sharp negotiator. Marc was the practice head of the real estate and the construction team of AKD for many years and currently serves as a member of the board of management of AKD. He is the lawyer to go to! Not only is he an excellent lawyer, but he also knows the market through and through. No doubt: he is the best. Worth mentioning also is Joost Kil. ’

‘Knowledgeable and committed.’

‘Fouad El Houzi is a real wizard when it comes to guiding clients trough the difficult Dutch insolvency landscape. His approach and advice are very strong.’

‘A hands-on mentality.’

‘Fouad El Houzi is practical, swift and experienced.’

‘A strong bankruptcy receiver practice, which has the capacity to deal with the larger types of matters.’

‘Fouad El Houzi is doing a very good job.’

‘Fouad El Houzi is thorough lawyer, a very practical bankruptcy receiver and a very pleasant person to work with. He is clear in setting the scene and also paying attention to different views of the stakeholders.’

‘The team at AKD has a high degree of specialism and focus on restructuring and insolvency which results in an excellent service in this area.’

‘Niels Hagelstein works quickly and precisely.’

‘AKD knows our organisation and the case. They are pragmatic.’

‘The firm stands out for its good quality work, which is paired with a good working environment.’

‘They’re really responsive, approachable and proactive on transactions, and their advice is very clear, user friendly and commercial. They’re also very good at keeping us up to date on fees or flagging out-of-scope matters quickly.’

‘They are very accommodating and are happy to speak to clients directly on points of Dutch law where required, particularly when acting on the borrower side.’

‘The team is always available and very reactive. They are very business orientated and cover a large spectrum of competences, which is very useful.’

‘Vincent Bettonville is a sharp lawyer and a very pleasant person to work with. He is always available. His extensive experience is much appreciated.’

‘Vincent Bettonville has a customer focus and possesses in-depth knowledge.’

‘They’re really responsive, approachable and proactive on transactions, and their advice is very clear, user friendly and commercial. They’re also very good at keeping us up to date on fees or flagging out-of-scope matters quickly, which not all overseas counsel are.’

‘They are very accommodating and are happy to speak to clients directly on points of Dutch law where required.’

‘Pascal van Schaik stands out because of his knowledge, communication skills and practical advice. He is able to give the advice needed without writing long reports or memos. He is always available to give his opinion or to help solve a problem.’

‘Pascal van Schaik at AKD is the best I can wish for. He is definitely an expert in his field and that’s what I need when I get in touch with him. He always takes my stress away with his advice and after his advice I always know how to proceed with my case. I feel supported and he is really good for our company. And on top of all this: he is also a very nice guy!’

‘I’ve had the pleasure of working with Pieter Huys. Pieter has the skills to combine a wealth of knowledge with a very down-to-earth attitude and personal touch. Working with a business is not about the business, it’s about the people in it. For me, Pieter embraced this approach.’

‘In particular, it is the triangle of legal knowledge, industry knowledge and pragmatism that makes AKD’s legal team unique. In addition, the quality of the lawyers in the employment law section is extraordinarily high. I would like to mention Pieter Huys. His distinguishing qualities are: deep, up-to-date knowledge of labour law, and legal creativity.’

‘The employment law practice is a group of experienced lawyers who, in addition to having broad and deep knowledge of employment law, always know how to place legal issues in the business context. Honest in setting expectations, formulating a joint strategy and executing it in the interest of the client.’

‘The main reason why we have worked for many, many years with AKD lawyers with so much trust is that they do not have an everyday approach – they look further into the case than you would expect, going beyond the borders of the legal issues but always in a very professional way. They always keeping the time line in mind and they are in control. This goes especially for Conny Staudt-Bos.’

‘I value Pascal van Schaik in particular. He is super friendly, hands-on and smart and able to translate this into useful and creative advice.’

‘I truly like to work with Pieter Huys. Pieter is very professional and a perfect partner to work with. Highly experienced, always on time and with a dose of humour. It’s a pleasure to work with Pieter.’

‘The personal approach and the sincere interest from their employees means you feel at home with the team. You are not treated as a number or as a dossier, the people really think alongside you and your business.’

‘The support they give is very concrete and very practical. They walk you through various scenarios.’

‘Joost Houdijk in particular is a particularly strong counsel. He is very responsive, client-focused and sees the bigger picture.’

‘Joost Houdijk is an excellent lawyer with great understanding of competition law.’

‘The practice is unique in providing solutions that accommodate our business as well as possible. The practice does not only offer excellent legal advice but also tries to think of solutions that are best suited for the business.’

‘Joost Houdijk is a knowledgeable professional that gives advice that is best suited to our business. Joost is always very punctual and friendly. He always manages to make time to assist us in urgent matters.’

‘The EU and competition team provides professional and active support and guidance on all aspects of competition law. AKD has expertise in both regular competition law and sector-specific competition law. AKD always has an eye for the client’s interests and how they can best be served, and thinks along proactively.’

‘Joris Rijken has a high standard of knowledge and is an expert in linking legal aspects of healthcare organisations and financings. He is also thorough.’

‘They have an excellent knowledge of the market and a good technical understanding of newly developed products.’

‘Renée Schipper responds promptly to inquiries, quickly grasps the critical legal issues and just as quickly addresses the questions we ask about them. Her opinions are easy to understand, always limited to the essentials and we can forward them to our client without any further comments on our part.’

‘The different team members are competent in the areas of IT contracting, SaaS services and implementation projects with modern outsourcing vendors and products, GDPR and data privacy, business continuity aspects, escrow arrangements, customer data ownership, IP, etc. A real multidisciplinary approach that you can count on.’

‘Each employee provides answers, solutions and support that is careful, thoughtful, structured and complete.’

‘The team has an excellent knowledge of the subjects and works accurately.’

‘Our contact with AKD is always directly with partner Martin Hemmer, but the speed and profoundness that AKD offers clearly shows the numbers, competence and firing power they have. We really feel that with AKD we have a very agile partner.’

‘I admire Martin Hemmer for his quick understanding of the total scope of an issue and his clear and precise steering towards a solution.’

‘AKD is a very established firm with seasoned partners. They are very knowledgeable and put the client’s expectations first.’

‘Great firm with strong connection to tax authorities.’

‘Ivo Vreman is a great expert, easy to work with, anticipates tax issues and has great communication skills.’