Clifford Chance > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Firm Profile

Clifford Chance > The Legal 500 Rankings

Netherlands > Banking and finance: lender or arranger side Tier 1

Clifford Chance‘s first-rate team demonstrates its market-leading credentials across a multitude of large and complex financings, including those involving real estate finance, leveraged finance, export credit finance, trade and commodity finance, structured finance, syndicated lending and club deals. Titus de Vries leads the team, which is comprised of both Dutch and English law-qualified lawyers. In addition to acting for mainstream financial institutions, the firm also has a broad private debt client base. In the project finance space, a highlight in 2020 involved counsel David Woolmer and others acting for ING Bank and the Development Bank of South Africa on the €640m financing of seven solar farms in Angola with a combined capacity of 370MW, including one of the largest solar projects in sub-Saharan Africa to date. Also notable is that Folko de Vries advised Idinvest on the financing of the acquisition of Pe Pe Parts by Bencis Capital Partners. Other practitioners of note include Nienke van Stekelenburgh, Jelle Hofland, Angela McEwan and counsel Boudewijn Vermeer. Mark Huddlestone is a consultant.

Netherlands > Capital markets: debt Tier 1

Clifford Chance is heavily involved in high-profile debt capital markets offerings, where its first-rate team is equally strong acting for issuers and underwriters. Led by Jurgen van der Meer, the group covers a full range of matters, including MTN programmes and drawdowns, corporate hybrid instruments, green and sustainability-linked bonds, liability management transactions and regulatory capital matters. Senior counsel Tineke Kothe recently acted as issuer counsel to Stedin Holding on its €500m issue of perpetual subordinated securities, which are listed on Euronext Amsterdam. Another name to note at the firm is counsel Dewi Walian, who joined from NautaDutilh in July 2021, and is knowledgeable about high-yield, convertible, investment grade and regulatory driven debt offerings and restructurings (including schemes of arrangement).

Netherlands > Dispute resolution: Mediation Tier 1

Clifford Chance leverages its international network for support on multi-jurisdictional alternative dispute resolution and mediation matters. Head of litigation and dispute resolution Dirk-Jan Duynstee focuses on securities litigation, post-M&A disputes and commercial litigation, and was recently involved in a multi-billion Euro bankruptcy case. Counsel Juliette Luycks heads up the firm’s Amsterdam arbitration practice and is a CEDR accredited mediator; she has considerable trial experience before the Dutch courts.

Netherlands > Private equity Tier 1

At Clifford Chance, the team is especially active on the cross-border front, leveraging its international network to serve a global client base; its private equity team is geared to support on the full array of transactions, combining tax, employment, antitrust, regulatory and finance expertise, among other areas. Practice head Mark Jan Arends focuses on the establishment of acquisition structures, multijurisdictional deals, asset purchases and divestitures; he is supported by Jan-Hendrik Horsmeier, who is forging a prominent reputation for tech, energy and infrastructure-related deals. Other sectors of particular expertise include financial services, retail, industrial, TMT, life sciences and chemicals. Hans Beerlage left the firm in January 2022.

Netherlands > Project finance and PFI Tier 1

Known for new developments, complex financing structures and innovation, Clifford Chance is ‘clearly experienced and capable of providing not just the work but also the insights with an aim to create value for the project’. The firm specialises in new and innovative financing structures, acting for borrowers as well as lenders, a particular forte being portfolio financings in the wind and solar sectors. Key areas of work for the practice include advising on data centres and fibre networks, and matters in the energy and renewables, telecoms, oil and gas, and petrochemicals arenas. Team head Hein Tonnaer focuses on projects and project finance issues. Other key names in the practice are consultant Jaap Koster, who has expertise in real estate developments, transactions and projects; renewables and infrastructure projects specialist Liesbeth Buiter; and counsel Mike Niekoop, who handles projects and project financing, real estate finance, leveraged finance and asset-based finance transactions.

Netherlands > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

Clifford Chance is ‘very dedicated, client-driven and offers creative solutions’. It handles complex domestic and international restructurings, and acts for lenders, funds, alternative investors, sponsors and companies. The practice advises on both restructuring and insolvency matters, and has particular experience in contingency planning and refinancing work, enforcement strategies and shareholder disputes. The team is headed up by Ilse Van Gasteren and Jelle Hofland, with Van Gasteren recommended for cross-border restructurings and Hofland bringing valuable finance expertise to the team.

Netherlands > Transport Tier 1

Clifford Chance is known in the market for its shipping and aviation finance expertise. It acts for a broad range of clients, including car importers, shipping companies, airlines, regulators, brokers and financiers. As a fully integrated notarial practice, the team is well placed to handle asset finance transactions. Hein Tonnaer leads the practice and combines his knowledge of aviation, shipping and export finance to advise banks, lenders and sponsors on a range of transactional matters. Counsel Mike Niekoop is a name to note for leveraged finance and corporate lending work, and is active in cross-border financing matters.

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

Clifford Chance‘ structured finance and securitisation team, which is led by recently promoted partner Nienke van Stekelenburgh, has had a notable uptick in CMBS and RMBS transactions. Elsewhere, other drivers of work include private fleet securitisations, trade receivables securitisations and restructurings. Stekelenburgh recently assisted Raben Group as originator with setting up a cross-border trade-receivables programme to be financed by the senior and subordinated lenders. Stekelenburgh works with Jurgen van der Meer, who leads the debt capital markets and financial regulatory practices in Amsterdam. Also recommended are asset finance expert Folko de Vries, senior counsel Tineke Kothe and newly promoted counsel Nolan Groenland. Marijke van der Weide, formerly senior associate at Loyens & Loeff, joined as counsel in February 2022.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: Borrower side Tier 2

Clifford Chance‘s team comprises of Dutch and English-qualified lawyers, making it a strong draw among domestic and international corporates, as well as private equity firms. Led by managing partner Titus de Vries, the group handles a full range of transactions for clients, such as those involving leveraged finance, corporate lending, syndicated finance, project finance, real estate finance, bond/loan financing and infrastructure finance. Its transactional capabilities are complemented by the firm’s strengths in financial regulatory matters. In 2020, Folko de Vries assisted IK Investment Partners with financing its acquisition of GeoDynamics. The team also includes England-qualified partner Angela McEwan and Jelle Hofland.

Netherlands > Banking and finance: Financial services regulatory Tier 2

Clifford Chance‘s financial regulatory group comprises of practitioners with previous experience of working for and with key regulators in the Netherlands, such as the Dutch Central Bank and the AFM (Financial Markets Authority), among others. Jurgen van der Meer and senior counsel Marian Scheele jointly lead the Amsterdam team, which plays a particularly important role in the firm’s global fintech practice, with it acting for start-up fintechs, biotechs and traditional financial institutions; the group’s experience in this space includes the development of new tech-based products in areas such as blockchain, smart contracts and payment services. Elsewhere, the team advises on complex regulatory issues related to AIFMD, EMIR and MiFID II, among other areas. In addition, other drivers of work for the group include licence applications, financial institutions (FIG) M&A and cross-border restructurings. Scheele, Bas Boris Visser and others are advising Tencent on financial regulatory issues relating to its payment services offering (including WeChatPay), both in and outside the EU. The firm also advises the client on corporate governance, employment and corporate matters. Counsel Robert Smits is another name to note.

Netherlands > Capital markets: equity Tier 2

Clifford Chance features prominently in landmark IPOs, as well as major equity fundraises involving rights issues, accelerated bookbuilds, private placements and convertible bonds issuances. Senior counsel Han Teerink heads the Amsterdam team, which generates mandates from underwriters, selling shareholders and issuers. Its handle a full range of issues for clients by working closely with US securities law experts in Paris and London, and also with practitioners in the banking, restructuring and dispute resolution departments. Teerink was part of the cross-office group which acted for a syndicate of banks on InPost’s listing on Euronext Amsterdam; this was the largest-ever European tech IPO, the largest-ever CEE IPO, the largest European private equity IPO since 2015 and the largest Amsterdam IPO since 2016. Another highlight involved acting for the syndicate of banks on CTP’s Euronext Amsterdam IPO; this was the largest real estate IPO in Europe since 2014. Hans Beerlage left the firm in January 2022.

Netherlands > Commercial, corporate and M&a Tier 2

Clifford Chance is engaged on high-end transactions in a range of sectors including retail, financial services, industrials, TMT, life sciences, chemicals and industrials; practice head Mark-Jan Arends focuses on acquisition structures, joint ventures, asset purchases, financings and divestments. Gregory Crookes is often active on the cross-border front, providing both buy- and sell-side representation, meanwhile Jan-Hendrik Horsmeier handles leveraged buyouts, takeovers, mergers and public offers, directing a large amount of his attention to the energy, infrastructure and technology fields. Beyond its transactional prowess, the team thrives in respect of a number of day-to-day commercial and contractual affairs such as outsourcing, e-commerce, licensing, marketing and distribution. Counsel Tim Heerschop is an up-and-coming name with distinct expertise in renewables-related deals. Hans Beerlage left the firm in January 2022.

Netherlands > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 2

Clifford Chance handles a broad range of litigation and arbitration matters, utilising ‘one the strongest defence counsel teams’. It is particularly experienced in restructuring and insolvency-related litigation and acts for states, international companies, financial institutions and investors. Co-head of practice Dirk-Jan Duynstee focuses on corporate and securities litigation, while counsel Juliette Luycks, who also co-heads the team, is recommended for arbitration. Daan Lunsingh Scheurleer is no stranger to international dispute resolution and often handles class action suits.

Netherlands > Energy: transactional Tier 2

With strong corporate, finance and tax capabilities and a large international network, Clifford Chance is able to undertake high-profile and high-value cross-border energy deals with ease. The practice handles both Dutch and English law and has considerable experience in M&A and project financing. The team, which is co-led by Hein Tonnaer, Liesbeth Buiter and counsel Nanette Rutgers, has recently been advising on wind, solar and datacentre projects. Tonnaer is particularly recommended for project finance in the renewables sector and energy transition matters.

Netherlands > Investment funds Tier 2

Clifford Chance has a strong track record handling all aspects of the funds life cycle for Dutch and international asset managers and fund managers; its work in this space ranges from fund formation and marketing to advice on day-to-day operational issues, as well as secondary transactions, among other matters. In addition, the cross-practice team leverages its expertise in areas such as corporate, tax and regulatory to handle the gamut of issues that impact the businesses of fund managers. Other key clients of the practice include institutional investors, fund depositaries and fund administrators. A recent highlight saw a group including Mark-Jan Arends, Tjerk de Jonge and Daan Smole act for EQT on the establishment of carried interest schemes in relation to several EQT funds. Senior counsel Marian Scheele and counsel Robert Smits jointly lead the team, which also includes Michiel Sunderman.

Netherlands > Tax Tier 2

Led by Michiel Sunderman, Clifford Chance‘s team covers the full range of domestic and international tax issues connected with high-profile M&A and corporate finance transactions, restructurings, real estate transactions, energy and infrastructure projects, and banking and finance transactions, among various other non-contentious matters. It also provides full tax litigation support at all court levels in the Netherlands, particularly in the context of corporation tax and dividend tax disputes. Sunderman recently led the advice to Royal Ten Cate and Gilde Buy-Out Partners on the tax aspects of the sale of Ten Cate Geosynthetics to Solmax. Counsel Nolan Groenland and associate Stern Flik are also recommended.

Netherlands > Employment Tier 3

The Clifford Chance employment and pensions team is ‘very knowledgeable, provides practical and to the point advice and is always available’. The team is well versed in M&A-related employment work and cross-border reorganisations and restructurings. It also handles boardroom advice, remuneration policies, investigations, disputes with works councils and litigation. Floris Van De Bult heads the practice in Amsterdam and co-heads the firm’s global employment practice.

Netherlands > Industry focus: telecoms Tier 3

Sitting within the firm’s wider global tech group, Clifford Chance’s multidisciplinary telecoms practice advises corporate enterprises, private equity houses and financial institutions on a full spectrum of TMT matters. The team's expertise includes telecoms infrastructure investments and developments, joint ventures, outsourcing, cyber security and data protection matters. Senior counsel Jaap Tempelman leads the group.

Netherlands > Real estate Tier 3

Under the leadership of Liesbeth Buiter, the Clifford Chance real estate team acts for both buy and sell-side clients on a range of transactional matters in both the residential and commercial spaces. It handles deals in a range of asset classes, including logistics buildings, residential developments, offices buildings, holiday parks and healthcare facilities. With in-house expertise in finance, tax, fund, and notary service issues, the practice handles the full life-cycle of real estate deals.

Netherlands > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 4

Clifford Chance’s Dutch arbitration offering is led by experienced counsel Juliette Luycks, who handles national and international commercial arbitration under the NAI, ICC, CAM and UNCITRAL rules. The 'very collegial' Luycks acts as both counsel and arbitrator; the team works closely with the magic circle firm's substantial international network to handle large-scale cross-border matters.

Netherlands > EU and competition Tier 4

Counsel Frans Muller leads Clifford Chance‘s EU and competition team in Amsterdam, which acts for international clients on multijurisdictional merger filings, high-stakes cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, as well as follow-on damages actions. In addition, it advises on anti-bribery and sanctions and also assists clients with implementing compliance policies. Recent highlights included Muller and associate Jurre Jurriëns advising Royal Ten Cate and Gilde Buy Out Partners on the competition aspects of an agreement to sell TenCate Geosynthetics to Solmax.