AKD pairs expertise across the disputes landscape with a particular focus on commercial, corporate and financial litigation. Leading the team is Patrick Haas, who focuses on mass claims litigation and class actions, as well as bringing a particular specialism regarding shareholder disputes, directors’ liabilities, and corporate law issues. Jeffrey Kleywegt is well-versed in corporate and commercial litigation, Thijs Hekman focuses on financial sector disputes and Fouad el Houzi excels in handling insolvency proceedings.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘AKD has an exceptionally calm, smart and forceful team that enables them to handle complex cross-border matters efficiently.’
- ‘Diligent analysis with a global approach to litigation.’
- ‘Competent team, professional and responsive.’
- ‘Fouad el Houzi stands out, as far as I am concerned. He is very quick, persistent but friendly, never hostile and always looking for the best solution.’
- ‘The AKD team is very responsive, their responses being accurate and to the point. No beating about the bush. The team is simply a pleasure to work with.’
- ‘Winfried Van Den Muisenbergh is a Dutch legal legend and one of the most connected people in Dutch law, with a unique energy and charisma, and the deepest experience of world scale litigation. Erik Koster is a really good all rounder with sober judgment and perspective.’
Key clients
- Stichting Truck Claim Stichting Car Claim Stichting Volkswagen Investor Claim Yukos Finance B.V. EndemolShine Group B.V. Royal Imtech N.V. Svenska Handelsbanken S.A. LeasePlan Nederland N.V. Stichting Wirecard Investors Claim Prorail N.V. Erasmus Medisch Centrum Rotterdam Neways Electronics International N.V. Segulah Stichting HagaZiekenhuis Cerberus Capital Management LP Beequip B.V. Erasmus Medisch Centrum Rotterdam Neways Electronics International N.V. Segulah Stichting HagaZiekenhuis Cerberus Capital Management LP Beequip B.V. Smits Holding B.V. Darling Ingredients Ortolan Rotate Port of Rotterdam N.V. Wavi BV
Work highlights
Represented Stichting Data Bescherming Nederland in separate collective redress proceedings against Amazon and X on behalf of millions of people affected by Amazon and X’s mass-scale privacy and consumer law violations.
Represented the bankruptcy trustees in the Royal Imtech Bankruptcy in the settlement of several major disputes across various jurisdictions with claim values totalling up to €1.5bn.
Represented Smits Holding B.V. and Bladi N.V. in a cross-border dispute that has arisen after the UBOs of the company fell out.
Practice head
Patrick Haas
Other key lawyers
Thijs Hekman; Winfried Van Den Muisenbergh; Erik Koster; Fouad el Houzi; Jaap Van De Rakt; Jeffrey Kleywegt