Mrs Sarah Beeston > Van Doorne > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Lawyer Profile

Commercial contracts and litigation expert Lisette Bieleveld leads the Amsterdam-based retail and consumer goods practice at Van Doorne. Fielding a sizeable team, the practice continues to serve domestic and multinational clients in the retail sector on a wide range of issues from commercial contracts and litigation to ESG, real estate, consumer protection law and competition law. The team has advised high street retailers on distribution, franchise and agency agreements as well as strategic alliances. For fashion and cosmetics clients it assists with e-commerce, commercial and data protection issues. Aiding retail sector clients with leasing and financing outlets and shopping centres and advising supermarket chains and manufacturers on tax issues and investments are also key parts of the practice. Sarah Beeston is noted for her knowledge of competition law matters.

The EU and competition offering at Van Doorne is highly regarded for its strength in handling the full range of competition matters, often involving multi-jurisdictional elements. Practice head Sarah Beeston has experience in representing clients before the European Commission and the ACM in a wide spectrum of high-profile, complex issues. Daan Beenders is a key contact for competition litigation; Pim Jansen is ‘an extremely smart lawyer‘; and Maurits Terlouw is ‘extremely intelligent, bright and sharp‘. Nina Korstenbroek is particularly capable in vertical restraint cases. Jitske Weber left the firm in October 2023.

Van Doorne mainly advises defendants on class actions and mass claims in the Netherlands, covering a wide range of sectors including finance, TMT, manufacturing and energy. Other than defending public and private sector clients in large class actions, the team also spends a portion of its time assisting claimants and often acts a counsel in insurance claims. Key areas of focus include ESG claims, which are handled by practice head and class action authority Daan Beenders; competition-related follow-on claims, which are handled by Sarah Beeston; data breach and mass privacy claims, which are the forte of Elisabeth Thole; and finance-related class actions, which are handled by Ralph Ubels. Co-leading the Amsterdam-based team is Jasper Leedekerken, who has achieved a number of notable victories in class actions and is well versed in commercial and corporate litigation.