CMS > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Firm Profile

CMS > The Legal 500 Rankings

Netherlands > Transport Tier 1

CMS fields a multi-disciplinary transport team, led by Petra Heemskerk and Herman Boersen, who focus on public procurement and tax law, respectively. The group is consistently involved in matters relating to the mobility and automotive sector, with clients including public transport companies, investors, parking management companies and car brand distributors. Its transport financing work relates to assets including ships, trains and aircraft. The team focuses on developments in electric transport, particularly in the automotive sector and related infrastructure requirements, and has broader experience in the aviation, shipping and rail network industries.

Netherlands > Fintech Tier 2

CMS, which fields an interdisciplinary team with experience in banking and finance, corporate, capital markets, cyber security and data protection, advises large retail and investment banks, investors and fintech companies with a specific focus on payments and lending, blockchain and digital assets including cryptocurrency, and securities and financing. The payments and lending and crypto/digital assets teams are led by Tessa Penninks and Clair Wermers, respectively. Penninks specialises in new technologies and financial products, with additional regulatory expertise. Wermers focuses on tokenisation, coin offerings, financial instruments and related trading platforms.

Netherlands > Industry focus: Food Tier 2

CMS‘ multidisciplinary consumer products team assists a range of clients, including producers, retailers, investors and regulators with matters concerning product liability, contamination, recalls, IP and data protection. Aukje Haan and Mark Ziekman are the key names for corporate and commercial matters and Rogier de Vrey handles patent and trademark disputes. Head of the antitrust, competition and trade team Edmon Oude Elferink focuses on cartel, abuse of dominance and merger control matters.

Netherlands > Industry focus: healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

CMS leverages its global life sciences group in order to provide clients with practical and commercial solutions. The team works on contentious and non-contentious mandates, representing healthcare companies in IP infringement cases and assisting biotech companies with incorporation and IPOs. Regulatory practice head Ellen Gielen advises international life sciences companies on a range of product issues including manufacturing and distribution, pricing and reimbursement, and advertising. Gertie Lintjens brings further industry-specific experience, assisting with business models and R&D projects.

Netherlands > Insurance Tier 2

The team at CMS handles a busy and varied workload concerning insurance claims and advisory coverage work across a range of sectors including real estate, construction, financial services, retail and life sciences. Working closely with the firm’s insurance teams across Europe, specifically the firm’s London office, the group is able to draw on a strong international platform of insurance specialists and is on a number of panels for a range of Dutch and international insurance companies. New developments in the insurance area, including cyber and insurtech, are an increasing focus of the team and it has advised several digital tech companies on market entry into the Netherlands. Leonard Böhmer and Bas Baks lead the practice.

Netherlands > Real estate Tier 2

The real estate team at CMS regularly draws expertise from across the firm to offer comprehensive corporate, finance, tax and funds advice related to international real estate transactions and developments. The firm’s experienced civil notaries play an integral role towards advising public and private clients in large real estate deals, including acquisitions, structuring ownership and usage rights. The team also has experience advising on diversions of properties in apartment rights, the creation of limited real rights, and foreclosures of both residential and commercial properties. The practice is headed by Arnout Scholten and Hein van der Meer, both of whom specialise in high-end property development and real estate transactions.

Netherlands > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

CMS is frequently appointed by the Dutch courts as trustee in high-profile insolvency proceedings and continues to offer extensive experience when called upon. The Amsterdam-based team is also active in several restructuring and recovery matters including large-scale bankruptcies, with a focus on real estate funds, consumer products, retail, life sciences, and hotel industries. The team is seated within the banking and finance group to consolidate its corporate backdrop and is part of the firm’s wider network of international restructuring and insolvency offices, strengthening its cross-border restructuring capacity. Marc van Zanten and Marcel Groenewegen lead the practice and Marlous de Groot was recently promoted to partner, focusing on court appointed trusteeships particularly in the healthcare and retail sectors. Former practice head Jan Willem Bouman recently retired from the firm.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: Borrower side Tier 3

Led by Marc van Zanten and Eduard Scheenstra, the banking and finance team at CMS has a standout reputation in the real estate space, but it is also noted for its focus on international financial institutions, renewable energy, and the hotels and leisure sectors. In addition to real estate finance, the group is well-placed to handle transactions involving acquisition finance and leveraged finance, project finance, and is often called upon in restructuring matters. In a recent highlight, counsel Etienne Courbois and senior associate Jenny Noordermeer advised VIA Outlets B.V. on its issuance of €600m senior unsecured fixed-rate green bonds, as well as on a revolving credit facility and the subsequent restructuring.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: Financial services regulatory Tier 3

Tessa Penninks is the head of financial services/regulatory at CMS, which sits within the wider banking and finance department led by Marc van Zanten. The team’s expertise spans a number of areas, including market entry, EU passporting, anti-money laundering and financial/security agreements. It has a particularly strong track record in assisting captives and leasing companies in the automotive sector, although it is also instructed by international banks, insurance companies, payment services and consumer credit providers. Another name to note is associate Laurens Pronk, who specialises in integrity-related regulations.

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

The Netherlands-based team at CMS draws on the firm’s global network to excel in cross-border finance transactions, although domestic matters are equally well-handled. Marc van Zanten and Eduard Scheenstra head the practice, which has an excellent reputation in real estate finance transactions. Project finance is another area of focus, with the group handling an increased number of sustainability-linked mandates. In 2021, Scheenstra and senior associate Jenny Noordermeer were among the advisers to SaarLB on its loan for the development of a wind farm in the Netherlands. The group also covers asset finance, structured finance, leveraged finance and acquisition finance. Another key individual is counsel Etiënne Courbois, who has in syndicated lending and debt restructurings.

Netherlands > Construction Tier 3

CMS’s construction and real estate team is equipped to handle an array of complex disputes arising across construction and project development. The team is experienced in dispute management including mediation, litigation and international arbitration and the firm advises on construction agreements with particular focus on monitoring disputes. The team, led by Jeroen Berlage and Arno Moret, works closely with project finance, insurance and tax practitioners across the firm, and offers contentious construction experience, both domestic and international.

Netherlands > Data privacy and data protection Tier 3

CMS’s privacy and cybersecurity team has a robust cyber incident management practice. Erik Jonkman heads the practice, advising cyber insurers on data theft and ransomware. Head of the TMC sector group Katja van Kranenburg-Hanspians is a key contact for contract matters relating to technology and data, while Edmon Oude Elferink and senior counsel Simon Sanders are other key members of the team, assisting on competition issues related to data protection violations and the privacy aspects of innovative technology systems, respectively.

Netherlands > Energy: regulatory Tier 3

CMS‘ energy and climate change group is well regarded by clients including major multinationals, developers, and energy network operators. The team is led by Cecilia van der Weijden, who has broad experience in transactional and development work and expertise advising on issues including sustainable heat and carbon capture and storage.

Netherlands > Energy: transactional Tier 3

With experience across acquisitions and divestments, financing, and project development, CMS‘ energy and climate change group is well regarded by clients including national and international energy operators and funders. Experienced corporate lawyer Cecilia van der Weijden leads the team, while Martika Jonk is a key contact for clients in the oil and gas industry.

Netherlands > Environment and planning Tier 3

Led by junior partner Luurt Wildeboer, the administrative law team at CMS has experience in permitting and zoning advice as well as litigation. Wildeboer focuses on the interaction between environmental standards and spatial development, and the team’s client base includes both local public authorities and private companies.

Netherlands > EU and competition Tier 3

Advising on antitrust, competition and trade matters, CMS is active in merger control, cartel cases, state aid and FDI controls, representing clients before the ECJ, EC, ACM and domestic courts. The firm also has a dawn raid team servicing both Dutch and international clients. Led by Edmon Oude Elferink, the team handles merger notifications, state aid, cartel and abuse of dominance proceedings, as well as follow-on litigation. Elferink has a particular focus on the intersection of competition and data protection.

Netherlands > Industry focus: Information technology Tier 3

Blockchain, AI and digital transformation of traditional industries forms a large part of CMS' broad tech, media, communications and data privacy and protection practice. Head of the employment and TMC sector group Katja Van Kranenburg – Hanspians focuses on data protection and the implementation of IT platforms and preparing contracts with third parties. Senior counsel Simon Sanders is a key contact for tech-related dispute resolution and assistance with the roll-out of new technologies and ecosystems. Rogier de Vrey works on IT matters that intersect with IP, while cybersecurity practitioner Erik Jonkman is a name to note for global and domestic security incidents.

Netherlands > Industry focus: retail Tier 3

Chair of CMS‘s international commercial group and head of the Dutch company law team Aukje Haan is a key contact in the retail practice, advising well-known consumer products and retail companies on new sales and distribution models. Haan focuses on drawing up commercial contracts, including distribution, agency and franchise agreements and is experienced in litigation concerning product liability. Mark Ziekman assists clients in M&A transactions and Rogier de Vrey is an experienced IP litigator. Edmon Oude Elferink  demonstrates the depth of the practice with expertise in EU competition and data protection law. Counsel Anita Canta is a specialist in dealing with disputes concerning franchisors and franchisees.

Netherlands > Intellectual property: Patents Tier 3

Experienced patent litigator Rogier de Vrey leads the IP practice at CMS. De Vrey has expertise in media and sports as well as life sciences matters. Willem Hoorneman and attorney-at-law Marcoline van der Dussen are key contacts, with the latter an expert in the field of consumer goods and soft IP mandates. Yasar Celebi is a key associate. The team defends food suppliers in infringement and invalidity proceedings and works on applications for patent protection against counterfeiting. Additionally, the practice advises engineering and transport-sector companies on patent disputes.

Netherlands > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 4

With experience across the technology, hotel and leisure, consumer goods, financial services and energy sectors, CMS counts M&A, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and corporate governance matters in its workload. Roman Tarlavski leads the practice and advises on cross-border M&A and structured joint ventures, while Reinout Slot focuses on deals arising out of regulated industries. Pieter Van Duijvenvoorde handles national and international M&A transactions, and Elmer Veenman joined the team from Eversheds Sutherland (Netherlands) B.V. in May 2022.

Netherlands > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 4

CMS‘ dispute resolution team represents plaintiffs and defendants, spanning insurance companies, financial institutions, energy companies, and directors and officers. Leonard Böhmer heads up the litigation and insurance team, while Peter Soede focuses on complex legal procedures involving liability law, Bart-Adriaan de Ruijter is a key name to note for corporate litigation, and Petra Heemskerk specialises in procurement issues involving high-profile tender disputes. Franchise disputes specialist Anita Canta and sports expert Michiel Van Dijk are also recommended.

Netherlands > Employment Tier 4

Acting predominantly for international companies, CMS leverages its global presence to take on cross-border employment mandates. The firm frequently advises on restructurings and has also seen a recent increase in whistleblower and compliance-related matters. The practice is headed by Katja van Kranenburg-Hanspians and Michiel van Dijk; the former focuses on restructurings, dismissals and high-profile litigation, while the latter specialises in sports and employment law.

Netherlands > Industry focus: Media and entertainment Tier 4

CMS‘s media, entertainment and sports team advises clients on commercial arrangements, corporate transactions and litigation in a range of industries, such as sports, advertising, film, gaming and social media. IP expert Rogier de Vrey focuses on disputes concerning the exploitation and enforcement of digital media rights. Sports law specialist Michiel Van Dijk advises sports  organisations, associations and international top athletes on a variety of sports mandates. Senior counsel Simon Sanders supports clients on the overlap between legal issues and technology, while Marcoline van der Dussen is a key support on media and advertising-related IP matters.

Netherlands > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyrights and design rights Tier 4

Department head Rogier de Vrey reflects the multidisciplinary approach of CMS‘s Dutch IP set up; de Vrey advises media, sports and life sciences clients on patents, trade mark, unfair competition and trade secret matters. Patent specialist Willem Hoorneman is another name to note for his strategic and pragmatic work in the IP field. Advertising litigator Marcoline van der Dussen advises international companies in the field of consumer products, and associate Yasar Celebi is a key support on cross-border IP and intersecting competition law issues.

Netherlands > Tax Tier 4

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands