Stek > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Firm Profile

Stek > The Legal 500 Rankings

Netherlands > Energy: regulatory Tier 1

Stek offers ‘extensive knowledge of energy law and the energy market’ and is particularly active in the electricity and gas distribution sector. The team, which includes key practitioners Jan Erik Janssen, Reijnoud Homveld and Herman Wamelink, acts for energy distribution companies and large international energy players; Janssen, in particular, is recommended for administrative and civil litigation before competition authorities and has experience interacting with policy makers. The practice was further strengthened with Claudia Beele's promotion to partner in January 2021 and the arrival of Coen Thomas from Allen & Overy LLP the following month.

Netherlands > Energy: transactional Tier 2

Offering ‘a strong team with a deep understanding of the energy market’, Stek’s integrated transactional, project finance and regulatory group is across both the traditional and renewable energy sectors. Clients value the group's broad expertise, which includes M&A, joint ventures, and commercial contracts alongside a strong regulatory and public law capability. Key practitioner Reijnoud Homveld acts for energy companies, financial institutions, private equity funds and investors. Claudia Beele was promoted to partner in January 2021 and Coen Thomas joined from Allen & Overy LLP the following month.

Netherlands > Project finance and PFI Tier 2

Boutique firm Stek brings together expertise in finance documentation, project documentation and regulatory knowledge, with a focus on heat and gas projects. The strong finance transaction and energy regulatory practice covers biomass, solar wind and geothermal matters, as well as projects in the renewable energy and technology fields, notably glass fibre cable, data centre and recycling mandates. Experienced partners Herman Wamelink , Sharon Kaufmann , Reijnoud Homveld  and Coen Thomas co-lead the practice with recently promoted partner Claudia Beele .

Netherlands > Transport Tier 2

Stek has a strong focus on the aviation sector, handling transactional work, leasing issues, and the financing of commercially operated aircraft, business jets, helicopters and flight simulators. The practice, which handles both domestic and international matters, is well versed in aviation legislation and provides regulatory advice to clients, as well as handling contentious matters. Practice head Jeroen Timmermans handles cross-border deals and contract work.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: lender or arranger side Tier 3

Stek‘s team regularly acts as local Dutch counsel to international law firms and foreign financial institutions in transactions involving Dutch borrowers and/or assets. Its client roster also includes the largest Dutch banks in the market. The firm’s work spans a number of key areas, including acquisition/leveraged finance, general corporate lending (involving a combination of lending and asset-based financing) and project finance transactions. It is also one of the few firms in the market to be notably active in healthcare/hospital financings. The practice is jointly led by Maarten van der Graaf, Frans Haak, Sharon Kaufmann and Herman Wamelink. Recent highlights included Wamelink, associate Katinka van der Brink and others advising ABN AMRO Bank and Rabobank on the financing of Rendo, which is a major name in the Dutch glass fibre market. Guy Pegels was promoted to counsel. Another key counsel of note is Marleen Veenstra, who was recently hired from ABN AMRO Bank.

Netherlands > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 3

The ‘very reliable, technically strong, efficient and client-oriented team’ at Stek handles a wide range of litigation and has notable expertise in contractual and tort-law liability, and the enforcement of court orders. Practice co-head Gerben Smit is a ‘sharp litigator’ and is recommended for transaction-related disputes. Jan Bart van de Hel, who jointly heads the team, handles banking and finance litigation, and corporate litigation. Max Hetterscheidt  has been promoted to counsel, and senior associate Simon Boersen joined from Stibbe.

Netherlands > EU and competition Tier 3

Stek‘s clients benefit from the expertise of practitioners focusing on EU and competition law issues, as well as its regulated markets specialists. The firm attracts a strong pipeline of competition work in areas such as merger control, behavioural investigations and litigation. In a notable highlight, Ruben Elkerbout and Berend Reuder (who jointly lead the competition team) worked with Mattijs Baneke to assist Corendon with the second phase merger filing procedure before the ACM and Belgian Competition Authority in relation to the sale of its tour operating and Dutch airline operations to Triton Partners. Jan Erik Janssen heads up the regulated markets offering at the firm.

Netherlands > Private equity Tier 3

Stek utilises its corporate, competition and regulated markets, finance and dispute resolution teams to support private equity players and their portfolio companies on investments, acquisitions and commercial issues. The group is particularly strong in cross-border deals and is regularly engaged as local counsel by international law firms. Eelco Bijkerk, Ruben Tros and Maarten van der Graaf jointly lead the practice.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: Borrower side Tier 4

Stek has a stand out reputation in healthcare/hospital financings, and it has also seen an uptick in sustainability-related project finance transactions. Elsewhere, the firm is seen by borrower clients (including large corporates and sponsor-held portfolio companies) as a go-to for advice on acquisition and leveraged finance transactions, as well as general corporate lending. The practice is jointly led by Herman Wamelink, Maarten van der Graaf, Frans Haak and Sharon Kaufmann. Guy Pegels was promoted to counsel. Another key counsel of note is Marleen Veenstra, who is a recent arrival from ABN AMRO Bank.

Netherlands > Commercial, corporate and M&a Tier 4

‘An outstanding boutique’, Stek is geared to support with mid-market M&A transactions, including relevant finance and competition law aspects. The team is also well-versed in corporate governance, commercial contract and corporate structuring, particularly as it concerns the energy, private equity, technology and aviation industries. Claudia Beele  recently made partner and is praised for her ‘good sense for the needs of German clients.’