Van Traa Advocaten > Rotterdam, Netherlands > Firm Profile
Van Traa Advocaten Offices
MEENT 94
3011 JP ROTTERDAM
Netherlands
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Van Traa Advocaten > The Legal 500 Rankings
Netherlands > Industry focus: Food Tier 1
International food business companies entrust Van Traa Advocaten with logistics, trade and insurance matters. Head of the international trade team Marc van Maanen leads the food industry team alongside administrative law specialist Silvia Gawronski. Maanen advises major logistics service providers and their insurers, commodity traders and trade financiers in litigation involving security documentation issues. He works with commercial and transport law expert Steven Oude Alink and Gawronski on trade disputes pertaining to the decertification of organic foods. Transport, shipping and logistics team head Leendert van Hee is a name to note for food-related disputes concerning dry shipping, road transport and logistics.Practice head(s):
Marc van Maanen; Silvia Gawronski
Other key lawyers:
Steven Oude Alink; Leendert van Hee; Arian Lengton
Testimonials
‘Van Traa has provided us with very thorough and well-considered advice. Knowledge about organic legislation and about the organic sector is an absolute advantage.’
‘Our contact person is very involved and knowledgeable about organic legislation.’
‘The team is very experienced and nice to work with. They are very accessible with an eye for the strategic elements of the case.’
‘Van Traa is for us the perfect partner. This is because the firm has highly specialized and experienced lawyers in various areas of law within the food sector.’
‘What made working with Silvia very pleasant was the easy and quick communication, proactive approach and thought given to solutions. We highly recommend working with her.’
‘This practice, in particular the team head Marc Van Maanen, shows commitment and ingenuity in handling our interests. During the last 20 years they have handled all cases for us to our full satisfaction.’
‘The way the team head Marc Van Maanen communicates is outstanding and very helpful.’
Key clients
Marsh
Amlin
AIG
NN
ASR
Olam Europe
Steinweg Handelsveem
Louis Dreyfus Company
Cofco
Glencore Grain
Nouryon
KLM
Cargill
Cefetra
Dutch Organic International Trade (DO-IT)
Agrocare
Sanorice
Regional Grain Trading Group
Tradin Organic
Doens Food Ingredients
Intersnack
Spack Trading
Van Schelven
HAP Foods
Bakker Seeds
FeedValid
Argentrade
Dutch Bakery Group
Dipasa
Pacha de Cacao
Tracomex
Heereco
Triferto
Favorite Foods
Bio Next
BioNederland
Work highlights
- Assisting KLM Cargo on a regular basis in cases in which KLM Cargo is confronted with cargo containing foodstuffs with ingredients of protected plants or animals under CITES.
- Assisting BioNederland, a trade association for the organic industry with the interpretation and implementation of The New Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 in The Netherlands.
- Advised a cold storage and logistics company on the regulatory situation in the Netherlands.
Netherlands > Transport Tier 1
Based in Rotterdam, Van Traa Advocaten has expertise across key transport sectors including maritime, aviation and logistics. Practice head Leendert van Hee specialises in dry shipping, road transport and logistics and is an arbitrator in Fenex-arbitrations. Managing partner Vincent Pool has strength in road carriage, logistics dry shipping and rail transport. His clients include insurers, major logistics service providers and multinational companies, with an emphasis on contentious matters. Jolien Kruit is recognised for her expertise in transport litigation, focusing on dry shipping and general average matters, and associate Nol van Hal is regularly instructed on shipbuilding, charterparty, maritime casualties and ship arrest matters and has specific industry experience in maritime insurance and offshore construction. Aviation insurance expert Robert Pessers regularly acts for major insurers as well as airlines.
Practice head(s):
Leendert van Hee
Other key lawyers:
Vincent Pool; Jolien Kruit; Nol van Hal; Robert Pessers; Richard Latten; Marc van Maanen; Thomas Giesbertz
Testimonials
‘Van Traa analyse a matter swiftly, but thoroughly and in detail. Their subsequent advice is as thorough and detailed, and they will provide solid solutions. Issues which may have initially been overlooked, are highlighted.’
‘I predominantly work with Marc van Maanen, and Thomas Giesbertz. Their reaction time to a new assignment or query is always swift, and within the day itself. Which is quite helpful if one has to support a client with immediate advice.’
‘Working with a multi-disciplinary team. Expertise not only in law and jurisprudence but also in underlying facts and technicalities of the case. Extensive network of specialists that can be called upon for assistance.’
‘Adjust their strategy accordingly. Able to switch to a more legal or factual approach whichever serves the case best. Excellent writing skills: to the point but also very thorough. Work diligently. Excellent communication skills also outside the legal domain and into the technical and corporate domain. Understands corporate demands.’
‘They are market leaders in the Netherlands for everything marine or transport related. Large team with all possible expertise available.’
‘Jolien Kruit is an absolute international authority on General Average. A pleasure to work with and you can trust her to achieve the best outcome.’
‘Wer have been closely working together for decades. My “go to” partners are Vincent Pool and Leendert van Hee.’
Key clients
KLM
KLM Cargo
Work highlights
- Assisted several Dutch underwriters in the general average process following the stranding of the ‘Ever Given’ in the Suez canal.
- Advised a heavy load transport company and liability insurers on a high impact event in Germany in which a tank fell of a trailer during road carriage within Germany destined to Denmark, leading to several complicated transport, insurance and liability related questions which concerned multiple parties.
- Representing the parties interested in a large and highly valuable consignment of cobalt that was stolen from a Rotterdam warehouse, engaging an action against the warehouse operator and owners.
Netherlands > Insurance Tier 2
Boutique Rotterdam-based firm Van Traa Advocaten has a particular niche handling insurance issues as they relate to transport and international trade. The firm has been active in several high-profile accident cases, in addition to being engaged on policy coverage disputes, proxies, reinsurance and drafting matters, specifically focused on the transport and logistics sectors, including shipping, rail, logistics and warehousing. The group regularly advises underwriters and insurance companies, and has strength in the area of aviation insurance. The team is led by Robert Pessers, who handles company, personal injury, construction and professional liability. Robert de Haan focuses on insurance and transport and Derk-Jan van der Kolk is well regarded for personal injury cases.Practice head(s):
Robert Pessers
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Excellent practice for sensitive disputes.’
‘Derk-Jan van der Kolk is able to make a strict statement but maintain a good relationship.’
‘We engage Van Traa for non-standard damage claims where their specific knowledge of insurance law and liability is desired. Van Traa is able to analyze complex issues and reduce them to the core. In doing so, it keeps an eye on the costs and the benefits. It’s strength lies in high-quality legal advice at an acceptable cost. If an email is sufficient, no detailed reports will be drawn up.’
‘We mainly work with Robert Pessers and Derk-Jan van der Kolk. They distinguish themselves by their knowledge of liability law and personal injury law, but also by their authority in the market. Practical advice and assistance without unnecessarily legalising an issue. We like to use their services for independent assessment of claims, for example by participating in the board of a foundation or independent claims counter.’
Key clients
Ajax
Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
Malaysia Airlines and their insurers
Nationale Nederlanden
NedTrain
Dutch Ministery of Justice
Defense and the National Police
Letselschade Raad
Netherlands > Dispute resolution: arbitration
Van Traa Advocaten > Firm Profile
Van Traa’s lawyers are specialists in the fields of international trade, transport and logistics and insurance and liability.
Our clients are national and international companies, such as trading companies, transport and logistic service providers, financial service providers such as banks, brokers and insurers, aviation companies, construction companies and contractors and shipping companies.
At Van Traa we strive to quickly and accurately get to the essence of the problem and provide clarity for our clients. Our objective at Van Traa: to make matters clear.
Our firm has around 30 lawyers. Large enough to allow us to designate specialized teams to large cases. But small enough to enable us to be flexible, combine our experience and share specific knowledge and expertise.
Through the training and guidance we give our junior lawyers, we can guarantee that clients receive our accumulated knowledge and experience; not only today, but also in the future.
Our lawyers are involved in academic research, so are well-informed about the latest developments within the various areas of law and are well able to put this knowledge into practice.
Our lawyers meet the requirements as set by The Netherlands Bar which appears from their registration on various jurisdictions in the register of The Netherlands Bar.
Since 1898 we have been assisting our clients to solve problems quickly and efficiently. We are internationally oriented but firmly rooted in Rotterdam. We value an open, professional and informal working atmosphere, where expertise is of paramount importance.
This is how we arrive at good ideas and solutions that contribute to the business success of our clients.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Transport and Logistics | Shipping: dry shipping | Railroad law | Marine Insurance | Insurance: general and personal liability, property and construction | Robert de Haan | ||
Transport and Logistics | Shipping: dry shipping | Vincent Pool | ||
Aviation (aircraft financing, passenger and cargo claims, regulatory matters, accidents, insurance, licences and charters) | Insurance: general and personal liability, property and construction | Professional indemnity (lawyers, brokers, contractors and architects) | Robert Pessers | ||
Transport, Logistics and Liability | Jan Willem Bruidgeom | ||
Insurance and Liability | Peter Drion | ||
Administrative (procedural) law | QHSE | Food and Product Safety | Supervision & Enforcement and Administrative Sanctioning | Silvia Gawronski | ||
Transport and Logistics | Shipping: dry shipping | Leendert van Hee | ||
Insurance and Liability | Personal injury | Professional indemnity (lawyers, brokers, contractors and architects) | Derk-Jan van der Kolk | ||
Transport and Logistics | Shipping: dry shipping | Maritime accidents: hull and machinery (hull and machinery: collision, salvage, offshore and shipbuilding contracts) | Jolien Kruit | ||
Transport and Logistics | Maritime law (dry and wet) | Rail | Richard Latten | ||
International Trade and Commodities | Transport and Logistics | Marc van Maanen | ||
International Trade and Commodities | Transport and Logistics | Steven Oude Alink |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Mr Jan Willem Bruidegom | Lawyer | View Profile |
![]() | Mrs Silvia Gawronski | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mrs Jolien Kruit | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Richard Latten | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Steven Oude Alink | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Robert Pessers | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Vincent Pool | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Robert de Haan | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Leendert van Hee | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Marc van Maanen | Partner | View Profile |
![]() | Mr Derk-Jan van der Kolk | Partner | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 30Languages
English French GermanOther
Contact : Robert de Haan- Industry focus: Food
- Transport
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