Pels Rijcken handles a broad range of contentious matters, including commercial, corporate and financial litigation; insurance and professional liability disputes; and administrative litigation. The firm is well-regarded for its work with the State of the Netherlands, Dutch municipalities and provinces but it also advises multinational corporations, financial supervisory authorities and professional organisations on contentious matters. The practice is co-led by Sikke Kingma, Willem Heemskerk and Wemmeke Wisman. Heemskerk is a go-to among corporate clients, specialising in liability and compensation cases; Wisman is well-versed in international public and humanitarian law, liability, and contract issues; and Kingma heads the Supreme Court litigation group, handling high stake cases involving civil law issues. Hans van Wijk is a further key part of the Supreme Court litigation team and handles issues involving the public sector and Dutch Caribbean law. Raimond Dufour excels in cross-border disputes and class actions.
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Profile
Position
Wemmeke Wisman was admitted to the Dutch Bar in 1998. She specialises in conducting (complex) civil proceedings with public (international) law aspects. Her clients include listed companies, various ministries and other public authorities. Wemmeke provides judicial and extrajudicial advice to commercial entities in the field of liability law and contract law. Furthermore, she litigates on behalf of the tax authorities in civil cases and also deals with issues such as the immunity of foreign states and the restitution of stolen art. Wemmeke is a board member of the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Procesrecht (NVVP, the Dutch Procedural Law Association) and regularly publishes in the field of civil procedural law.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Pels Rijcken stands out due to its specialised focus on public law and serving government and public sector clients. The team combines deep legal expertise with a pragmatic approach, providing solutions that are both legally sound and practically feasible.'
‘Deep expertise in public law and strong commitment to public sector clients. The team collaborates closely, is solution-oriented, and has a solid understanding of complex legal issues. Wemmeke Wisman, Paul Tanja, and Arnoud Boorsma, who consistently deliver high-quality work and maintain strong client relationships.'
‘I consider Hans van Wijk to be a top Supreme Court litigator in company law cases. He combines rare familiarity with the specifics of both company law and Supreme Court litigation. He is also very accessible for clients and very committed to their case.’
‘The practice is highly experienced in Dutch collective actions, particularly in complex cross-border disputes. It stands out for developing innovative arguments in international public law and for its collaborative approach.’
‘Willem Heemskerk for his accessibility and collaborative style in a case requiring complex interaction with multiple parties, and Wemmeke Wisman for her outstanding expertise in international public law and creative arguments. I also commend Raimond Dufour for being well-organised, hands-on, and approachable.’
‘It's easy to reach the right people. People are friendly, understanding and also willing to really listen to the case you present them. They don't just do what you tell them but also bring new arguments if they disagree with a statement.’
‘Peter van Kippersluis quickly understands and sees through the numbers and the consequences that they bring. Not only financial but specifically the legal consequences. He is able to clearly explain the legal consequences and by doing so he anticipates the next legal step based on the facts provided to him. His knowledge, commitment and compassion are highly appreciated.’
‘The team has an excellent mix of expertise in civil law, administrative law and European law, which is essential for a government institution. They not only know the law, but they also have a deep understanding of how the government and institutions work.’
Key clients
- Vale S.A. Shell plc Mercedes-Benz Group AG Daimler Trucks AG UBS AG, UBS Securities Japan Co. Ltd. ArcelorMittal Porsche AG KPN Nationale-Nederlanden Port Group of St. Maarten Total Aruba Airport Authority State of the Netherlands Province of North Holland Province of South Holland Province of Utrecht Province of North Brabant Province of Limburg Province of Gelderland Province of Zeeland Municipality of Amsterdam Municipality of Rotterdam Municipality of The Hague Dutch Central Bank (DNB) Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) ProRail Kwantum Nederland B.V. and Kwantum België B.V. Menzis Westlake Chemical Corporation Westlake Germany GmbH & Co. KG Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG Vinnolit Holdings GmbH Thales International Braskem S.A. Braskem Netherlands B.V. Braskem Netherlands Finance B.V. Braskem Netherlands Inc. B.V.
Work highlights
Represent Vale in a class action suit following a dam bursting in Brazil.