Norton Rose Fulbright > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Firm Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright > The Legal 500 Rankings

Netherlands > Industry focus: Food Tier 1

Advising a range of clients in the food and agribusiness sector, Norton Rose Fulbright’s ‘business oriented concise team’ specialises in soft commodities, food safety, labelling, M&A, investigations and employment matters. Saskia Blokland leads the practice and focuses on M&A, joint ventures and complex corporate restructuring. Another key name is Bart Vis, who was promoted to counsel in 2021 and is an expert in public law, advising clients on the development of renewable energy projects and the operation of industrial and chemical facilities.

Netherlands > Insurance Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright's insurance practice in Amsterdam is led by Jan Duyvensz, who is also the head of the dispute resolution department. Under his leadership, the insurance team is instructed in various types of cross-border litigation, including W&I claims arising from M&A, cyber-related cases and product liability matters. In addition, D&O and professional liability cases are among other areas of strength. Elsewhere, the group is increasingly sought after to advise on liability risks for directors and officers in relation to topical issues such as climate change. Other areas of expertise on the non-contentious side include regulatory issues, capital management, online marketing, restructuring and insolvency. Floortje Nagelkerke and others are assisting the Allianz Group with all the regulatory aspects of its acquisition of Rabo PGGM PPI. Associate Guido Bongers is also recommended.

Netherlands > Project finance and PFI Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright has experience in domestic and international PPP projects, particularly in major PFI infrastructure projects and in the power and renewable energy sectors. The firm combines strengths in infrastructure and banking and finance issues, as well as expertise advising on biomass power plants, solar energy parks, wind farms and tank storage terminals in the Netherlands. Another specialism for the practice is construction contracts, where it assists with operation and management agreements, permitting issues and the financing of the projects. Wouter Hertzberger  is a structured finance transactions expert and leads the team, which includes Daphne Broerse, who advises private parties and governmental authorities on large-scale energy, infrastructure and commercial developments. Other key names in the area are associate Ania Gorna, who handles a range of project finance matters, and Omar Salah, who joined from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek in 2021 and brings borrower side expertise.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: asset finance and structured finance Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright is notably prominent in transport-related asset finance transactions, particularly those connected with the aviation and shipping industries. Rail sector mandates are also a driver of work for the banking team, which is led by Wouter Hertzberger. Consultant Anthony Pallett has asset finance and structured finance expertise. Omar Salah joined from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek in August 2021.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: Financial services regulatory Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s recent work has included assisting fund and asset managers with complying with new legislation on ESG in the financial sector. It also continues to be a major player in the fintech arena, where its team combines finance, regulatory and tech expertise to advise on new developments in the market; clients in this space include tech companies, private equity houses and other financial institutions. Elsewhere, another key workstream involves advising financial institutions from the UK and outside the EEA on continued access to the EU financial markets following Brexit. The financial regulatory practice is led by Floortje Nagelkerke, who acts for clients such as Cboe, CME and Northern Trust Global Services Limited.

Netherlands > Environment and planning Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright’s projects and public law team handles a high volume of zoning, permitting and licensing issues for large energy and infrastructure projects. The team is jointly led by managing partner Daphne Broerse and counsel Bart Vis; with Broerse focusing on public private partnerships (PPPs), construction projects, and administrative, environmental and public law matters; and Vis recommended for spatial planning, environmental regulation, market regulation and nature protection issues.

Netherlands > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright fields ‘an excellent team with cross-border restructuring capabilities’, which advises on contentious and non-contentious restructuring matters. It acts for financial institutions, distressed companies, secured creditors, and managing directors, and works closely with practitioners in its international network. The team was recently bolstered by the arrival of Omar Salah, who joined from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, and is ‘a technically strong lawyer and very good at building relationships’. Wouter Hertzberger  and Yke Lennartz  are also key practitioners.

Netherlands > Transport Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright has a strong focus on shipping and aviation finance work, and also handles transport-related M&A, rail finance issues and tax structuring matters. The practice has notable experience in export credit agency (ECA) backed financings and often handles international mandates, with particular experience in Latin America. It acts for banks, ship owners and leasing companies on a range of asset finance matters. Wouter Hertzberger heads up the team and is well versed in structured finance transactions and restructuring matters.

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

In a key development at Norton Rose Fulbright, Omar Salah joined the firm from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. in August 2021. He serves as the head of financial restructuring and insolvency in Amsterdam. In addition, Salah is a leading expert in Islamic finance and he is also well-known for his experience of acquisition and leveraged finance transactions. Elsewhere, the firm has a stand out reputation in the project finance arena, with its team playing a key role in domestic and international PPP projects, particularly major PFI infrastructure (and accommodation) projects and those in the power and renewable energy sector. It is also prominent in the digital infrastructure space. Other matters relate to general corporate lending, export finance, trade and commodity finance and development finance. Wouter Hertzberger is the overall head of the banking practice, which also includes Joris Ravelli.

Netherlands > Construction Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright’s infrastructure team has a strong focus on project finance and PPP work. It also handles construction contracts and agreements, operational matter, public procurement and land rights issues. Daphne Broerse heads the team with a background in administrative and civil law, she is particularly active in the energy sector.

Netherlands > Energy: regulatory Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright draws on strength from its infrastructure, tax, environment, safety and planning and litigation practitioners to offer a broad service in relation to energy projects. The team is led by banking partner Wouter Hertzberger, who is recommended for structured finance transactions. Matthijs Van Leeuwen is experienced in national and international energy projects.

Netherlands > Energy: transactional Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright acts for a range of clients, including utilities, banks, project developers, upstream companies and start-ups on financing and corporate energy matters. The team is led by banking partner Wouter Hertzberger and includes Matthijs Van Leeuwen, who is experienced in national and international off- and onshore wind projects, LNG terminals and gas storage projects.

Netherlands > Fraud and white-collar crime Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright fields ‘a strong team in the Netherlands that benefits from the global capabilities of the firm’. With considerable experience in international internal investigations, the practice also handles fraud, anti-bribery and corruption, antitrust, sanctions and white-collar crime matters. The team is headed by Sharon Oded, who splits his time between Amsterdam and London, and acts for multinational corporations and financial institutions on regulatory and compliance issues.

Netherlands > Tax Tier 3

At Norton Rose Fulbright, the bulk of the work involves acting for clients that specifically turn to the firm for tax advice, although a significant portion of the firm’s workload also involves providing critical support on transactions. The practice is led by Remco Smorenburg, who has been instrumental in growing the firm’s real estate tax work. In addition, there has been an increase in mandates connected with renewable energy projects and W&I insurance. Another key figure is Bart le Blanc, who is experienced in advising US and European clients on tax issues associated with their investments in emerging markets, such as Latin America and Africa. Senior associate Yannick Schuerman has expertise in international corporate taxation and transfer pricing work.

Netherlands > Commercial, corporate and M&a Tier 4

At Norton Rose Fulbright, the team receives a range of instructions, namely M&A, disposal, buy-out, joint venture, corporate compliance and restructuring matters. Practice head Saskia Blokland  leverages the firm’s extensive international network to oversee a wealth of cross-border mandates, with a particular focus on the food, agriculture, energy and infrastructure sectors.

Netherlands > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 4

Norton Rose Fulbright has notable experience in disputes in the financial services and energy sectors, and acts for large financial institutions and global corporates. Yke Lennartz  co-heads the team and is recommended for international commercial disputes, post-M&A issues and financial disputes. Jan Duyvensz also co-heads the team and handles insurance matters.

Netherlands > Employment Tier 4

Norton Rose Fulbright stands out for its GDPR and tax expertise, which supplements its employment and pensions work. It acts for large financial institutions, insurance companies and corporates on restructurings, collective dismissals, works council negotiations and litigation. Maartje Govaert  was promoted to global head of employment and labour in May 2021.