Höcker Advocaten > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Firm Profile

Höcker Advocaten
APOLLOLAAN 153 1077 AS Amsterdam
PO BOX 74654
1070 BR AMSTERDAM
Netherlands

Netherlands > Industry focus: Media and entertainment Tier 2

Highly regarded for its expertise in the media and entertainment sectors, Höcker Advocaten is versed in defamation and infringement matters. Marijn Kingma is an expert in copyright across the literary, music, and visual-audio industries, while Joep Meddens is adept at advertising matters.

Practice head(s):

Marijn Kingma

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘They are a very qualified niche firm, widely recognised for its performance in media and entertainment practice, and I am pleased to highly recommend them.’

‘Marijn Kingma is a force of nature, made entirely of conviction and determination. Everything starts with a great quality of listening. She tries to understand the objectives and the feeling to accompany them by putting at the service the best means.’

‘The lawyers are strong in all fields and know the market.’

‘Marijn Kingma is smart and is always two steps ahead of everybody. She is convincing in court, and great to have on your side in negotiations. I would highly recommend working with her as it is an absolute pleasure.’

‘They are the go-to firm for collective IP rights.’

‘Marijn Kingma is an expert on copyright and neighbouring rights and knows everything about the media and entertainment market. She is witty, sharp, and pleasant to work with. Highly recommended.’

‘Up-to-date knowledge and the capacity to explain complex matter understandably.’

Key clients

Buma/Stemra

Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe,

Mojo Concerts

Pythagoras Music Fund

Ticketmaster

Stichting de Thuiskopie

Ziggo Dome

Motion Picture Association

NVPI

Nanada Music Publishing

Omnicom

TBWA

DDB

Mediahuis Radio

Stichting BREIN

Dutch Association of Performing Arts

ROSE Stories

NEMO Science Museum

Johan Cruijff Arena

International Theater Amsterdam

Dutch National Opera & Ballet

Work highlights

  • Advised Mediahuis Radio on matters involving intellectual property, privacy, and contracts.
  • Represented Stichting de Thuiskopie on a high-value, precedent-setting dispute relating to private copying levies.
  • Represented Buma/Stemra in a lawsuit involving allegations that it is acting unlawfully by failing to restrain bars from utilising the Spotify music platform.

Netherlands > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyrights and design rights Tier 3

Höcker Advocaten‘s practice is well-equipped to assist its portfolio of clients with the array of IP issues, with particular capabilities in music-related copyright and neighbouring rights matters. Marijn Kingma is well-equipped to advise on copyright and privacy-related issues in particular, while Joep Meddens assists in copyright, trade mark, and IT transactional cases, as well as copyright disputes. The pair oversee the offering as of April 2024, following the departure of former team head Jacqueline Seignette in the same month.

Practice head(s):

Marijn Kingma; Joep Meddens

Other key lawyers:

Janneke Popma

Testimonials

‘Conscientious and knowledgeable is how I would best describe the lawyers at Höcker. They combine a strong sense of social responsibility with legal excellence, negotiation skills, and procedural decisiveness.’

‘Marijn Kingma is one of the smartest lawyers I know. The expert on IP within the entertainment sector. Moreover, she has her heart firmly in the right place, passionately and skilfully litigating for collective interests in areas such as the environment, human rights, and a fair society. It is a privilege to work with her.’

‘Marnix van den Bergh is the embodiment of level-headedness and serves as my conscience when it comes to corporate law and M&A matters. He manages to stay calm in complex and chaotic situations, guiding clients and opposing parties toward a solution that everyone can accept. No fuss, straightforward analyses, and on top of that, he’s an incredibly nice guy.’

‘They are able to combine high-level legal knowledge with what we need.’

‘At Höcker you’ll find extremely skilled lawyers operating on the same level as the giant law firms. They’re as efficient as the big firms.’

‘What makes them different from competitors is that these lawyers also check out our output and inform us when we fail to comply with broadcast or privacy regulations.’

‘The firm is practically full-service in IP, privacy and media law.’

‘Marijn Kingma stands out. She is relatively young but brings a wealth of competence and experience to the table. She is a sharp thinker who works swiftly and thoroughly. You can trust her to handle your case with the utmost care.’

Key clients

Buma

Stemra

Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe and SIEE Benelux

Stichting de Thuiskopie

Pythagoras Music Fund

Stichting BREIN

Motion Picture Association

Mediahuis Radio

ROSE Stories

Omnicom

Stichting Leenrecht

NVPI

Nanada Music Publishing

Merk X

Work highlights

  • Representing Buma/Stemra in a lawsuit involving allegations that it is acting unlawfully by failing to restrain bars from utilising the Spotify music platform, as well as involving issues regarding distribution licensing tariffs, and the efficiency of the Netherlands’ tariff structure for music performance royalties.
  • Advising Stichting de Thuiskopie in the argument pending before the Dutch Supreme Court that copies for private use stored in the cloud and copies for private use made from streaming services should be equitably remunerated as part of the private copying levies system.
  • Advised CMO Buma Stemra on a matter in which its statutory monopoly is challenged.

Netherlands > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 4

Höcker Advocaten is noted for its expertise in international banking and finance disputes, often handling corporate litigation before the Enterprise Chamber. The firm also has a team of IP experts who advise on contentious proceedings, including representing collective rights management companies. Marc Wolters heads the team and leads on corporate litigation matters and has expertise in disputes concerning the nationalisation of banks. Jolien van Woudenberg focuses on contractual disputes and cases arising out of director's liability.

Practice head(s):

Marc Wolters

Other key lawyers:

Jolien van Woudenberg; Diederik van Tuyll; Laura Schalk

Testimonials

‘Excellent advice and outstanding service.’

‘Laura Schalk and Jolien van Woudenberg are great lawyers.’

‘Marc Wolters is a good strategic mind, a pleasant lawyer to team up with. An elegant litigator.’

‘A traditional firm that delivers.’

‘Marc Wolters is very experienced and knowledgeable, knows his way around in the legal area.’

‘The team is excellent, very much on the ball, quick in reacting and produces great results.’

‘I have worked a lot with Marijn Kingma in the past year. She won most of our cases and really went all the way to gain the necessary knowledge to guide us through the cases. High level of dedication and top quality.’

Key clients

Stichting Urgenda

The trustees of Exem Energy and Exem Oil & Gas

Stichting GOWP

Omnicom

TCC Global

Stichting de Thuiskopie

European Commission

Swapschade

Sony Interactive Entertainment Benelux

Buma/Stemra

Stichting Brein

Mediahuis Radio

Work highlights

  • Represented two bankruptcy trustees in various lawsuits against the richest woman in Africa for €1.5bn, on account of grand corruption.
  • Represented 45 international investors in connection with the 2013 nationalisation of SNS Reaal regarding the compensation of bond holders in the amount of €800m in 2023.
  • Represented several groups of residents and their children, whose homes are located in close proximity to lily fields, in connection with attempts to prevent the use of pesticides near their homes.

Netherlands > Employment Tier 5

At Höcker Advocaten, the team is very experienced in handling contractual matters, restructurings, and employment litigation. The group is equally adept at advising on individual and collective dismissals. Practice head Jasper van Hulst ‘excels in labour law‘, and is sought after for his expertise in contentious employment issues.

Practice head(s):

Jasper van Hulst

Other key lawyers:

Mick Hurks

Testimonials

‘Jasper van Hulst is pragmatic, provides sound advice and gets the job done.’

‘Höcker is not just a law firm but a reliable business partner. They keep our company’s values and goals up front. We feel really seen as a specific entity with specific needs. Their knowledge and capabilities on employment law are remarkable. I would definitely work with them again.’

‘I have to mention Mick Hurks as a remarkable attorney. He is an extremely quick thinker and always a few steps ahead of the people we have to deal with. His availability, quality of work and delivery speed are unparalleled. For me he is the reason for working with Höcker.’

‘The team is small and dedicated. Very supportive attitude.’

‘Höcker Advocaten is unique due to its deep specialisation in HR and contract law, particularly with regards to management agreements. Clients seeking advice on employment contracts and specific labour law matters will find this team highly responsive and knowledgeable. One of their key strengths is their ability to provide personalized service.’

‘The individuals at Höcker Advocaten, particularly Jasper van Hulst, stand out for their exceptional expertise and proactive approach. Van Hulst excels in labour law, offering thorough and insightful advice on employment contracts and legal issues.’

‘Mick Hurks is able to find the right balance between formal and informal, and is able to de-escalate and keeping limits. Very committed to a fair result.’

Key clients

House of Sports

Delta Airlines

NEMO Science Museum

Omnicom Group / TBWA

Dutch Association of Performing Arts

HF Sinclair Corporation

MOJO Concerts

Dutch National Opera & Ballet

Amerborgh International

BNNVARA

Smurfit Kappa

Johan Cruijff Arena

De Nederlandse Bach Vereniging

C.H. Robinson Europe

PGB Pensioendiensten

International Theater Amsterdam (ITA)

Stichting Likeminds

DEPT NL Holding

GGN Mastering Credit

Mediahuis Radio

Melmuseum Exploitatie

Stichting De Warme Winkel

Work highlights

  • Advised DEPT Agency on an reorganisation across multiple entities.
  • Advised WPG Uitgevers on all employment-related aspects of the sale of its entire portfolio of magazines to Roularta Media Nederland.
  • Assisted a client with a matter involving a non-compete clause.

Firm overview: Höcker Advocaten is an independent law firm based in Amsterdam. The firm offers practical solutions with a clear understanding of opportunities, possibilities and obstacles in the field of both litigation and transactions. Höcker Advocaten acts for domestic and international multinationals and medium-sized companies. For cross-border matters, the firm can call in lawyers from around the globe through its international networks: Interlex Group, IAEL, Transatlantic Law and Adlaw International.

Main areas of practice
Litigation, mediation and arbitration: Höcker Advocaten has extensive experience in all forms of court litigation and dispute resolution, such as Enterprise Court proceedings and class actions. The lawyers of the litigation team also regularly act as mediators in (delicate) business mediations and act as arbitrators in high profile disputes across a wide range of sectors.
Contact: Marc Wolters
Tel: +3120 577 77 57
Email: [email protected]

Corporate and M&A: Höcker’s corporate group advises on all corporate law matters, focusing on (cross-border) M&A, joint ventures and restructurings. The team also advises on the position of directors, shareholders and other company stakeholders.
Contact: Marnix van den Bergh
Tel: +31 20 577 77 54
Email: [email protected]

Commercial contracts: The commercial contracts lawyers draft and advise on all types of complex commercial contracts including distribution, agency, franchise and services contracts.
Contact: Marnix van den Bergh
Tel: +31 20 577 77 54
Email: [email protected]

Employment: Höcker’s employment group deals with all legal issues that could conceivably arise in employer and employee relations, including workplace contracts, collective bargaining, employment disputes, codeterminations, pension schemes and benefits. The team frequently is involved in large (cross-border) reorganisations.
Contact: Jasper van Hulst
Tel: +31 20 577 77 64
Email: [email protected]

IP&IT: The IP&IT group provides a full service to a wide range of clients in the entertainment, media and IT industries and is the leading advisor of Dutch music and audio-visual rights collecting societies. Areas of expertise include copyright, trademarks, IP enforcement, data privacy, licensing and distribution, and IT contracts. The team is frequently involved in landmark cases, including litigation before the European Court of Justice. The department also has an ongoing anticounterfeit program for several household name clients.
Contact: Marijn Kingma (Ms.)
Tel: +31 20 577 77 09
Email: [email protected]

Media and marketing: The media and marketing team has experience in the full range of media and advertising law. The group provides counsel to world leading advertising firms and to several media companies. Work includes the clearing of campaigns and conducting risk assessments of publications before they go to print.
Contact: Joep Meddens
Tel: +31 20 577 77 45
Email: [email protected]

Litigation Tort and liability, public interest: Within the Höcker litigation team, there is considerable expertise in exploring, securing and enforcing the duties of care that public bodies or private parties owe towards the general public and the common good. This may involve challenging existing market practices, eg to create market access for new business models (renewable energy, circular economy, electric cars) or raise the level of care (responsible, transparent financial services).
Contact: Marijn Kingma (Ms.)
Tel: +31 20 577 77 77 09
Email: [email protected]

Key clients: Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Omnicom, HF Sinclair, Stichting Brein, Buma Stemra, Stichting de Thuiskopie, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Stichting Urgenda, MOJO Concerts, Mediahuis & Radio, The European Commission, Delta Airlines

Firm contacts
Managing partners:

Number of partners: 7
Number of lawyers: 16
Languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Department Name Email Telephone
Arbitration, Mediation, Litigation Tort & Liability, Public Interest and class Actions, managing partner Jolien van Woudenberg [email protected]
Corporate and M&A, Commercial contracts Marnix van den Bergh [email protected]
Corporate, Litigation Tort & Liability, Public Interest and Class Actions Marc Wolters [email protected]
Employment Jasper van Hulst [email protected]
Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property, Media & Marketing Joep Meddens [email protected]
Employment and managing partner Mick Hurks [email protected]
Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property, Media & Marketing, Public Interest and Class Actions and managing partner Marijn Kingma [email protected]
Photo Name Position Profile
Mick Hurks photo Mr Mick Hurks Managing Partner since 2023. Partner since 2022
Marijn (M.E.) Kingma photo Ms Marijn (M.E.) Kingma Managing Partner since 2023. Partner since 1 January 2019.
Joep Meddens photo Mr Joep Meddens Partner since 2017.
Jolien van Woudenberg photo Ms Jolien van Woudenberg Managing Partner since 2023. Partner since 2021.
Marnix (M.J.E.) van den Bergh photo Mr Marnix (M.J.E.) van den Bergh Partner since 2017.
Number of lawyers : 16
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Spanish
Adlaw International
The Interlex Group
Transatlantic Law International
International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (IAEL)
Contact : Marijn Kingma, managing partner ([email protected])
Contact : Jolien van Woudenberg, managing partner ([email protected])
Contact : Mick Hurks, managing partner ([email protected])