Hemwood > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Firm Profile
Hemwood Offices
KEIZERSGRACHT 477
1017 DL AMSTERDAM
Netherlands
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Hemwood > The Legal 500 Rankings
Netherlands > Environment and planning Tier 2
Real estate boutique firm Hemwood has strong expertise advising on complex planning and environment matters, including development, expansion and transformation projects. It handles significant zoning and planning mandates for its portfolio of clients, and often assists with ESG considerations in connection with projects work. ‘Top-notch’ Eefje M. Van Bommel and Gijs Heutink co-lead the practice, which has seen significant growth: Monique Laenen and senior associate Elsbeth Meijboom notably bolstered the team with their September 2022 arrival from DLA Piper. Laenen is particularly experienced in matters pertaining to the preservation of iconic buildings. Senior associate Su Chun Li also joined from Florent in January 2023.Practice head(s):
Eefje M. van Bommel; Gijs Heutink
Other key lawyers:
Monique Laenen; Sjors Zuethoff; Iskander Haverkate
Testimonials
‘Eefje van Bommel is a professional – great to work with.’
‘Eefje van Bommel is top-notch in every respect’
‘Hemwood has a very direct, personal and hands-on approach.’
‘The partners of Hemwood are very engaged in the process. Gijs Heutink and Eefje van Bommel are involved in different negotiations and collaborations and are assisted by the firm where needed. Both partners have excellence knowledge of the industry and the ability to take their work beyond the legal assignment given.’
‘I’ve worked with the environment and planning team for two decades. We’ve never lost a case against the government and better, we seldom go to court because the team protects us with correct and timely advice on cases.’
‘The individuals involved are clever and precise. Eefje van Bommel and associate Sjors Zuethoff are both safe hands to feel in and we feel protected with both of them.’
‘Hemwood partners and executives are an essential part of our company.’
‘Eefje provides excellent guidance and is up-to-date on the law.’
Key clients
Achmea Real Estate
Ahold
AM Real Estate Developments
Amvest
APF International
ASR
Being Development
Bridges (Vermaat Groep)
Borghese
Breevast
Caransa
Centrum voor Zorg/Zadelhoff
COD
CompaNanny
Cromwell
De Jong Groep
Europa Capital
Forma Real Estate Funds
HBB Groep
Heren2
Hillborgh
Hoorne Vastgoed
KNSF Vastgoed
Koopmans Bouwgroep
Maarsen Groep
Montea
NEOO
Open development
Patrizia
Peak Development
Redevco
Rotterdam Urban Development
Sanquin
Snipes
Stichting Plantijn
Timeless
Van der Valk Investments B.V.
Van Herk Groep
Vastint
VolkerWessels
Vomar
Wereldhave N.V.
Zadelhoff
Zalmhaven C.V.
Zinc RE
Work highlights
- Advising Sanquin on the redevelopment, expansion and transformation of the New West Health and Innovation District in the Western part of Amsterdam (120.000 m2).
- Advised Amvest on a multipurpose redevelopment of app. 6.400.000 m2 at Rijnenburg Quarter in Utrecht for a combined development of energy-fields, sustainable housing (25,000 apartments and houses), business and urban purpose areas and high end (public) transport solutions.
- Advising Centrum voor Zorg/Zadelhoff on a complex development of the former Amsterdam Slotervaart Hospital to health care, office space, and residential (120.000 m2 bvo).
Netherlands > Real estate Tier 4
Boutique real estate firm Hemwood assists clients with civil law-related real estate matters and stands out for its skills in environmental and planning matters. The firm has recently been strengthened by the addition of notary Monique Laenen as practice head, who joined the firm in September 2022 from DLA Piper. The arrival of Laenen and her team has enabled the practice to expand its offering to include notarial services alongside its traditional real estate offering. Eefje Van Bommel handles redevelopment cases, while Sonja Van Der Kamp works on commercial leasing and real estate transactions. Gijs Heutink is the go-to for area developments and transactions, and lease law expert Niels Van Tamelen is also experienced in litigation.Practice head(s):
Monique Laenen
Other key lawyers:
Sonja van der Kamp; Eefje van Bommel; Gijs Heutink; Niels van Tamelen; Daniel Brand; Elsbeth Meijboom
Testimonials
‘Niche real estate law firm with an excellent team that values a personal approach. There is not one field in real estate law that they cannot tackle.’
‘Monique Laenen is a highly knowledgeable notary. Industry leader, well respected and known by the entire Dutch real estate industry. During difficult negotiations, Monique tries to find common ground between all parties to reach consensus.’
‘They are all specialists with a lot of experience, know our company and a few of the partners work for our company for a long time. Sonja van der Kamp knows what the needs of our company and business are. The quality of the advice is high but also to the point and pragmatic. ’
‘Gijs Heutink and his team have the remarkable ability to quickly immerse themselves in their clients’ situations. They go beyond the legal aspects and take into account the societal and commercial positions. This enables them to provide solution-oriented and tailored advice. Clients can rest assured that they are in good hands with Gijs Heutink, as he ensures that they feel supported and confident throughout the process. His personal approach, combined with his impeccable style, makes him a highly regarded service provider in the real estate industry.’
‘We work regularly with Gijs Heutink, Eefje van Bommel and Daniël Brand, each outstanding lawyers in their field who think broader than just the legal interests. ’
‘Hemwood is active, involved, knowledgeable but all of this with a human touch. Formidable opponents of very large law firms. They have the capacity to sell trust in addition to advice.’
‘Niels van Tamelen is quick to focus and good at communicating. When a case is presented, he can often immediately provide advice and advise what to do. His advice is clear in terms of communication, so that a layman also understands it.’
‘Hemwood distinguishes itself by offering legal advice as well as notary activities, for the real estate sector. They are well informed about (former and) present legislation and contracts.’
Key clients
Achmea Real Estate
Ahold
Amvest
APF International
ASR Real Estate
Bridges (Vermaat Groep)
Caransa
COD/Borghese
Coltavast
Cushman & Wakefield
Hoorne Vastgoed
KNSF Vastgoed
Multi Corporation
Montea
NEOO
NSI
RJB Group
Timeless
Urban Industrial
Wereldhave
Wonam
Ymere/Ymere Ontwikkeling
Zadelhoff
Work highlights
- Assisting Montea with the acquisition of property, lease negotiations, development and contracting (mostly Triple Net).
- Advising Centrum voor Zorg/Zadelhoff on a complex development of the former Amsterdam Slotervaart Hospital to health care/office space/residential.
- Assisted Rijnenburg Consortium with the anticipated multipurpose redevelopment of the projected app. 6.400.000 m2 Rijnenburg Quarter in Utrecht.
Hemwood > Firm Profile
The firm
The firm was formed in 2005 as a niche in administrative and property law by former Hogan Lovells equity partner Gijs Heutink. It has since gained in size up to five partners, seven lawyers and three staff members. The firm is now known as a top-tier firm in its niche on administrative, environmental and property law. The work scope has been extended from a particular focus on administrative, European and environmental law to a full scope on the real estate and government industry.
Areas of practice
Hemwood is a boutique law firm specialising in government and regulatory (environment and planning), real estate and construction. The firm consists of twelve lawyers (five partners and seven associates). It is proud to serve and advise first-tier clients: (re)developers, real estate investors, banks, retailers, construction companies and government. The firm is best known for complex inner-city (re)developments (retail, residential, mixed purposes) and large-scale projects (outlet centres, large-scale retail projects, heavy industries). Hemwood focuses on both litigation and advising on permits, zoning and environmental issues, and construction and procurement, and property and development contracts.
Relevant partner expertise: Eefje van Bommel in all issues on building permits, zoning and planning including transformations and environment. Gijs Heutink in large-scale retail or residential projects, including construction and procurement, restructuring of zoning plans and related contracts. Iskander Haverkate in zoning and planning, especially related to European law issues.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Project development, zoning and planning | |||
Environmental and administrative | |||
Property and commercial landlord and tenant | |||
European law | |||
Public procurement and tenders | |||
Construction | |||
Commercial and administrative litigation and arbitration |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 12Languages
English French German Spanish- Environment and planning