VANEPS > Willemstad, Curacao > Firm Profile

VANEPS > Firm Profile

Some clients’ testimonials in the Legal500 Caribbean 2023 read as follows:

‘They have solutions for every problem in every field. Someone at VANEPS has the knowledge to guide you and give you the answer to the solution.’

‘Easy access, great response times, comes up with out-of-the-box solutions, pragmatic approach.’

‘They are very responsive and well-rounded in terms of ability to handle any questions.’

VANEPS keeps distinguishing itself with true unrivaled specialist legal advice across the Dutch Caribbean region. Financial institutions, large national and international corporates, and Governmental bodies are among the firm’s strong client base. The attorneys in our firm are specialists with expertise in their dedicated field (almost all other law firms in our Caribbean region are general practitioners). All our attorneys are able to fully legally represent their respective clients throughout these jurisdictions.

VANEPS is the leading Dutch Caribbean law firm, having offices in all four different jurisdictions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Statia and
St. Maarten. In addition, our Surinam Desk assists multinationals that operate on- or offshore projects in Surinam.

During the pandemic, our team kept strengthening existing relationships with our clients by providing them with legal knowledge and by informing them more frequently on relevant developments. Since physical events were no longer possible during the lockdown, we decided to focus on hosting webinars. This was an accessible way for our attorneys to get in touch with (potential) clients and to update them on recent legal developments on a regular basis.

The various offices of VANEPS enable us to establish and maintain the “flying lawyers” principle, in which we ensure the best match between client and lawyer and it enables us to collaborate even more closely with our clients throughout the Dutch Caribbean and Surinam by flying in lawyers. We operate as a one-stop shop. Our lawyers can represent their respective clients in each of the different courts and jurisdictions of the Dutch Caribbean. In addition, we have lawyers in our firm who are admitted to the bar in the Netherlands as well.

Like other business sectors law firms have to be agile and adapt to continuously changing consumer trends, especially during these times of unpredictability. While the legal industry has always clung to tradition, innovation is a necessity, it is key to surviving in our fast-changing world. Hence, we invested in business development and client relationship management solution, tailor-made for professional services firms. With this application, we will be able to focus even more on the specific needs of our clients and prospects and we are fully equipped to provide end-to-end client-focused legal services and advice.

In terms of practice areas, we saw growth in a few specific legal areas, such as Employment & Pensions and Governance, Risk & Compliance. Our Corporate/M&A team advised on several large, high-profile mandates for cross-border transactions and complex corporate restructurings (some of which unfortunately were put on hold for strategic/economic reasons and are therefore not mentioned in this submission). Our Banking & Finance department continues to be involved in many high-value cross-border financing transactions, while our Litigation & Dispute Resolution team continues to be involved in all high-profile litigation and landmark disputes, throughout the Dutch Caribbean. Last but not least, our intellectual property and privacy department increasingly advise on a wide range of intellectual property and privacy law-related matters, while our patent and trademark office continues to manage intellectual property portfolios of national and international clients. Hence, we fully understand the dynamics in international, cross-border matters.

Over the last years, we have experienced intense growth in potential claims or alleged liabilities of managing directors due to an increased active supervisory role of the local Central Banks in the different Caribbean jurisdictions. In addition, the fact that legal work becomes more cross-border and internationally complex makes us lawyers of the next generation, combining legal expertise and professional work experience from both continents.

VANEPS is a member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms.

Lawyer Profiles

Photo	Name	Position	Profile
	Mr Diek Fabius	Counsel	View Profile
	Mr Michiel Gorsira	Partner	View Profile
	Mr Frank Kunneman	Partner	View Profile
	Mr Thies Leijsen	Local Partner	View Profile
	Mr Focco Lunsingh Scheurleer	Partner	View Profile
	Mr Tom Peeters	Partner	View Profile
	Mr Tjarda Tazelaar	Partner	View Profile
	Ms Melitza Willems	Associate	View Profile
	Mr Randolph van Eps	of counsel	View Profile
	Mr Roderik van Hees	Partner	View Profile
	Mrs Inge van Hees-Wolswijk	Counsel	View Profile
	Mrs Sophie van Lint	Counsel	View Profile
	Mr Rogier van den Heuvel	Partner	View Profile

VANEPS > Firm Profile

VANEPS > Firm Profile

VANEPS keeps distinguishing itself with true unrivaled specialist legal advice across the Dutch Caribbean region.  Financial institutions, large national and international corporates and Governmental bodies are among the firm’s strong client base. The attorneys in our firm are specialists with expertise in their dedicated field (almost all other law firms in our Caribbean region are general practitioners). All our attorneys are able to fully legally represent their respective clients throughout these jurisdictions.  

VANEPS is the leading Dutch Caribbean law firm, having offices in all four different jurisdictions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Statia and Sint Maarten. In addition, our Surinam Desk assists multinationals that operate on- or offshore projects in Surinam.  

During the pandemic our team kept strengthening existing relationships with our clients by providing them with legal knowledge and by informing them more frequently on relevant developments. Since physical events were no longer possible during lock down, we decided to focus on hosting webinars. This was an accessible way for our attorneys to get into touch with (potential) clients and to update them on recent legal developments on a regular basis. 

The various offices of VANEPS enable us to establish and maintain the “flying lawyers” principle, in which we ensure the best match between client and lawyer and it enable us to collaborate even more closely with our clients through-out the Dutch Caribbean and Surinam by flying in lawyers. We operate as a one-stop-shop. Our lawyers can represent their respective clients in each of the different courts and jurisdictions of the Dutch Caribbean. In addition, we have lawyers in our firm who are admitted to the bar in the Netherlands as well.

Like other business sectors law firms have to be agile and adapt to continuously changing consumer trends, especially during these times of unpredictability. While the legal industry has always clung to tradition, innovation is a necessity, it is key to surviving in our fast changing world. Hence, we invested in a business development and client relationship management solution, tailor made for professional services firms.  With this application we will be able to focus even more on the specific needs of our clients and prospects and we are fully equipped to provide end-to-end client-focused legal services and advice.  

In terms of practice areas we saw growth in a few specific legal areas, such as employment and pensions and governance, risk and compliance. Our corporate/M&A team advised on several large, high-profile mandates for cross-border transactions and complex corporate restructurings (some of which unfortunately were put on hold for strategic/economic reasons and are therefore not mentioned in this submission). Our banking and finance department continues to be involved in many high-value cross border financing transactions, while our litigation and dispute resolution team continues to be involved in all high profile litigation and landmark disputes, throughout the Dutch Caribbean. Last but not least, our intellectual property and privacy department increasingly advises on a wide range of intellectual property and privacy law related matters, while our patent and trademark office continues to manage intellectual property portfolios of national and international clients. Hence, we fully understand the dynamics in international, cross-border matters.

In recent years, we have experienced an intense growth in potential claims or alleged liabilities of managing directors due to an increased active supervisory role of the local Central Banks in the different Caribbean jurisdictions. In addition, the fact that the legal work becomes more cross-border and internationally complex makes us lawyers of the next generation, combining legal expertise and professional work experience of both continents.