De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Firm Profile
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek Offices
Tripolis-Park
Burgerweeshuispad 201
1076 GR Amsterdam
Netherlands
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De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek > The Legal 500 Rankings
Netherlands > Banking and finance: Borrower side Tier 1
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a market-leading firm that is especially recommended for Dutch multinationals and private equity sponsors seeking advice on complex financing transactions. The team is highly experienced in handling high-profile matters for borrowers and advises on extending and amending facility agreements, corporate debt-related matters, green bonds, and refinancing transactions. Ferdinand Hengst is at the forefront of the firm’s finance and restructuring practice; he frequently represents Dutch corporations and is proficient at handling the rescheduling and restructuring of debts as well as overseeing bond transactions. Bas Boutellier is another essential member of the team who regularly leads on some of the firm’s most significant and multifaceted cases.Practice head(s):
Ferdinand Hengst
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Ferdinand Hengst knows his clients very well and is a very good sparring partner for senior management.’
‘I especially appreciate the proactive, forward-looking perspective.’
Key clients
AGCO Corporation
AkzoNobel N.V.
APAX Partners
APG Group
BC Partners
BCD Travel
BME Group (Blackstone-owned)
Centerbridge Partners
CVC Capital Partners
Friesland Campina
Fugro
GasTerra
Goldman Sachs International
G-Square
Hendrix Genetics
Holland Casino
ING Group N.V./ING Bank N.V.
Intergas
JustEatTakeaway
Koppert
TenneT
NXP
Premier Oil plc
Providence Equity LLP
Royal Ahold Delhaize
Royal BAM Group N.V.
Royal Dutch Shell plc
Royal Philips N.V.
Summa Equity
TenneT
Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Unilever
Univar (Apollo-owned)
Waterland Private Equity
Work highlights
- Advised TenneT Holding on arranging and syndicating one of the largest single-tier credit facilities since 2020.
- Advised AkzoNobel on its recent EUR 1.2 billion debt issuance.
Netherlands > Banking and finance: Financial services regulatory Tier 1
The financial markets regulations team at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a go-to for major Dutch banks and insurance companies for guidance on regulatory matters. The team regularly advises on prudential supervision of financial institutions, licensing and market access, resolution planning, and the requirements of bank M&As, among other financial regulatory matters. Mariken Van Loopik is at the forefront of the team, having handled many high-profile matters that include regulatory capital transactions, bank board reviews, and licensing requirements. Eva Schram specialises in regulatory matters in the Dutch and EU financial markets. Other key members of the team include Mariska Enzerink and Else Rowel.Practice head(s):
Mariken van Loopik
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Excellent team, efficient sourcing, great availability, thorough knowledge of the financial industry and clients’ needs.’
‘Mariken van Loopik is knowledgeable and solution oriented, and her advice goes beyond the legal aspects. Her service level is extremely high. She is always available and a wonderful person. Mariken is the go-to partner for GCs and CEOs working in the financial industry.’
‘The team is very knowledgeable, with excellent drafting skills and experienced staff. On top of this, they work fast and deliver according to deadlines and promises.’
‘Mariken van Loopik and Else Rowel are all very professional lawyers – they are discreet, knowledgeable, and courageous enough to provide countervailing power or dissenting opinions and point out vulnerabilities the client may not want to hear or is unaware of.’
Key clients
Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A.
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
ING Group N.V./ING Bank N.V.
LeasePlan N.V.
Aegon N.V.
Work highlights
- Advised AEGON on the combination of its Dutch operations with a.s.r. and on the envisaged redomiciliation of the seat of its listed top holding company to Bermuda and the transfer of group supervision to the Bermuda Monetary Authority.
- Acted as lead counsel to LeasePlan Corporation on the combination with ALD.
Netherlands > Capital markets: equity Tier 1
The equity capital markets practice at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has a strong reputation for its capabilities supporting clients, which includes a multitude of Dutch listed companies, with the full scope of related issues consistently in the multi-millions in value. The team is co-led by Jan Willem Hoevers who bears particular experience advising on proposed high-stakes IPOs and specialist in cross-border ECM and M&A work Gaby Smeenk. The team’s workload is formed of assisting with overseas transfers of legal entities; disposals of shares; IPOS, which are the focus of the ‘very ambitious’ Jaap Barneveld; and significant mergers. Josse Klijnsma is a senior associate to note in the team.Practice head(s):
Jan Willem Hoevers; Gaby Smeenk
Other key lawyers:
Josse Klijnsma; Jaap Barneveld; Féline Goyarts
Testimonials
‘De Brauw’s capital markets team are one of the best I have worked with in 25 years. They clearly go the extra mile to ensure that they not only understand the legal issues at hand but also understand the commercial side of things.’
‘The team is excellent at combining a deep understanding of the commercial perspective with first-class legal advice.’
‘Jaap Barneveld is a very ambitious partner, who brings a significant amount of legal experience to the team. He is very proactive in addressing legal challenges early so they don’t spin out of control.’
‘Jaap Barneveld is always available, prepared, and hardworking. He is excellent at managing the process side of large complex transactions – this includes providing guidance to all the teams involved.’
‘Jan Willem Hoevers is noteworthy – whatever the legal problem, Jan has seen it all. His breadth of experience is very impressive. Always refers to a precedent when analysing a situation and he is very well-connected. I would not want to do a transaction without him.’
Key clients
Ferrovial
AkzoNobel
AEGON
Flow Traders
Affimed
Just Eat Takeaway
Philips
ASML
AholdDelhaize
CTP
Heineken
Exor
ABN AMRO
Schroders Capital
Work highlights
- Advised construction company Ferrovial on the re-domiciliation of its top holding from Spain to the Netherlands and its listing on Euronext Amsterdam.
- Advised AEGON, a leading multinational life insurance, pensions and asset management company, acting as lead counsel on the combination of its Dutch operations with a.s.r., a leading Dutch insurance group.
- Advised Heineken as lead counsel on the EUR 3.6 billion and €3.7bn sell-downs by its shareholder FEMSA.
Netherlands > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1
With impressive experience advising on public and private transactions, leveraged buy-outs, and corporate restructurings, Arne Grimme heads up the corporate practice at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, which is highly regarded for 'consistently providing top-notch advice'. The group regularly acts for a client base of domestic and international entities in a broad spectrum of matters. Gaby Smeenk is well known for advising on M&A and joint ventures, and Michael Schouten handles domestic and cross-border business acquisitions. Klaas De Vries specialises in assisting with significant cross-border transactions. Jaap Barneveld and Frank Hamming, who made partner in November 2023, are also key names.Practice head(s):
Arne Grimme
Other key lawyers:
Klaas de Vries; Michael Schouten; Jaap Barneveld; Jan Willem Hoevers; Gaby Smeenk; Tijmen Klein Bronsvoort; Yi Duan; Frank Hamming; Anja Mutsaers
Testimonials
‘An excellent team and great even on an international scale.’
‘Arne Grimme, Klaas de Vries, Lennart Keijzer are each excellent in their own M&A fields; Michael Schouten stands out for governance and the unrivalled Jan Willem Hoevers does for equity capital markets.’
‘Gaby Smeenk and her team are second-to-none. Fantastic to work with, extremely smart and pragmatic negotiators.’
‘De Brauw is a very reputable firm with high-quality partners and teams, consistently providing top-notch advice. While their advice has always been of high quality and based on a sound theoretical understanding, the team is also pragmatic, which truly helps to get M&A transactions done.’
‘Jaap Barneveld combines in-depth knowledge on all relevant legal and other aspects of public-to-privates with a pragmatic mindset and is always focused on finding the best possible solution for the client.’
‘A good multi-disciplinary team that integrates with us seamlessly.’
‘Unparalleled experience in complex multijurisdictional deals. Thoughtful, deal-minded advice coupled with good technical expertise.’
‘Tijmen Klein Bronsvoort is a good lawyer with great technical skills.’
Key clients
ABN AMRO
AkzoNobel
Advent
AEGON
BAM
Beter Bed Holding
CVC
EQT
Flow Traders
Heineken
ING
JustEat Takeaway
Royal Philips
Leaseplan
NN
Parcom
Pon
Rabobank
Rivean Capital
Royal Schiphol Group
TenneT
DataSnipper
Ferrovial
Teleperformance
Work highlights
- Advised AEGON on the combination of its Dutch operations with a.s.r. for a total consideration of €4.9bn.
- Advised Teleperformance on its €3bn takeover offer of Majorel.
- Advised Heineken on the sale of the Vrumona factory to Danish buyer Royal Unibrew.
Netherlands > Construction Tier 1
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek represents major entities in international and national complex construction disputes. Over the last year, the team has increasingly been handling climate transition projects, as well as matters concerning the Netherlands' nitrogen situation, as part of its construction practice. Arbitration involving offshore oil platforms and constructions of factories are some of the key highlights of the practice’s work. The firm is also adept at assisting with projects in distress, enabling companies to complete projects or avoid disruption. Bommel van der Bend leads the practice and is renowned for his skills in public procurement law and handles the practice’s most complex construction disputes. Matthias Kuscher is a go-to for both construction and energy arbitrations, he is especially known for his work on international disputes. Sebastien Davys-Brown is also noted for his expertise in projects, assisting with projects in distress, advising on project disputes, and aiding with regulatory issues.Practice head(s):
Bommel van der Bend
Other key lawyers:
Matthias Kuscher; Sebastien Davys-Brown; Johan De Breems
Testimonials
‘A team that provides excellent legal advice considering the issue at hand as well as the bigger picture, which enables that an informed decision can be taken.’
‘Sebastien Davys Brown and Bommel van der Bend who are both sharp analysts with excellent legal knowledge who provide clear advice on the issues at hand and with whom, last but not least, it is a pleasure to work with.’
‘Sebastian Davys-Brown made himself available as required – regardless if he has a filled agenda – as and when useful. ’
‘De Brauw team provides rigorous legal analyses and experienced legal advice on our complex construction project which has been terminated due to the failure of the main contractor. The team of experts undertakes for us thorough and objective assessments and provides the strategic legal advice that helps our management team to mitigate the risks, makes the decisions and enhance our position in the dispute.’
‘Bommel van der Bend and Sebastien Davys-Brown are the experts in the field of construction disputes. Our team values their proactive approach and clear communication lines. With their knowledge and experience in the complex disputes in the construction sector like our case and based on the integrated legal approach, we feel confident in the services provided by them and their team.’
‘We engage de Brauw for advise and preparation of litigation in a large construction contract. De Brauw works with an excellent, partly native English speaking team with extensive experience both in construction and the FIDIC contract types. There input, advise and guidance has been, and still is of great importance for a successful continuation and conclusion of all legal issues.’
‘Sebastien Davys-Brown and Bommel van der Bent are in good coordination in the lead, Sebastien is de FIDIC specialist, Bommel is the lead connection for the Dutch law. Clear discussions, adequate timing in response time and availability.’
‘Knowledgeable in the field of (offshore) construction and creative in making new contract formats.’
Key clients
Schiphol Airport
TenneT
N.V. Nederlands Gasunie
Foundation Preparation PALLAS-reactor
Novolipetsk Steel Company
PJSC Nolipetsk Steel
Royal Duyvis Wiener
EemsEnergy B.V
Work highlights
- Advised TenneT on the procurement of offshore installation and transportation capacity for its 2GW project, one of the largest projects currently being undertaken in Europe, costing more than €50bn.
- Advised Gasunie on the construction and connection of two Floating Storage Regasification Units in Eemshaven.
- Advising Schiphol on the planned new terminal and completion of the A Pier over the last four years.
Netherlands > Data privacy and data protection Tier 1
‘The go-to team for larger and complex data protection matters‘, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is an expert in handling high-risk privacy and cybersecurity issues. The team focuses largely on public and private enforcement, regularly assisting clients with investigations and litigation. Follow-on mass claims civil litigation, data infringement, and cybersecurity incident responses are particular strengths of the group. Clients typically include multinational technology companies and online platforms. Geert Potjewijd leads the practice together with Axel Arnbak. Potjewijd specialises in complex multidisciplinary litigation and regulatory enforcement, while Arnbak is an expert in both privacy and cybersecurity matters. Arjan Kleinhout adds public law knowledge to the practice, and Mirjam van Dam assists in high-stake litigation.Practice head(s):
Geert Potjewijd; Axel Arnbak
Other key lawyers:
Arjan Kleinhout; Mirjam van Dam; Svetlana Yakovleva;Emma Üstünalp; Jonathan de Geus; Justyna Niemczyk
Testimonials
‘De Brauw’s data protection team is absolutely the go-to team for larger and complex data protection matters. They master the subject matter and work closely with the litigation and mass claims team and as such they are excellently equipped to advise and litigate on data protection class actions. ’
‘On data protection I’ve mainly worked with Axel Arnbak. He is a seasoned and well known data protection lawyer and an amazing sparring partner. He is not only well aware of the latest trends in his field, he also has excellent in-depth knowledge of legal background, political sensitiveness, historic laws and cases etc. Regardless how complex the subject matter is, Axel masters the skill of explaining this in a super clear manner and quickly spots the sensitive topics.’
‘Due to the portfolio of clients and the legal (court) cases the team is involved in, it has a very good oversight of what is happening in the privacy field.’
‘Axel Arnbak is very knowledgeable with a practical approach.’
Key clients
Salesforce, Inc.
Meta Platforms, Inc.
Uber Technologies, Inc.
TikTok Technology Limited
Public Interest Litigation Project (PILP)
Work highlights
- Acted as the lead counsel and trusted advisor for TikTok in a collective action initiated by three competing Dutch claim vehicles on behalf of TikTok users for alleged infringements of European data protection and consumer protection laws.
- Acted as counsel for Meta in mass claims litigation for alleged data protection violations related to its social media platform Facebook.
- Acted as lead counsel for Uber before Dutch courts in a landmark case and potential follow-on litigation about access to personal data, related information about automated decision making and the right to data portability under the GDPR.
Netherlands > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 1
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek‘s arbitration practice is a leading force in the Netherlands. Often handling international and cross-border matters, the team serves as lead counsel in numerous investment and commercial arbitrations that are heard by international tribunals. The team is thus well versed in arbitration proceedings in a number of different jurisdictions and is a go-to firm for multinational corporations. Investor-state arbitrations are another key area of expertise. Leading the team is former ICC International Court of Arbitration vice-president Marnix Leijten, who is regularly engaged by clients to handle complex, high-stakes arbitrations. Singapore and Amsterdam-based Albert Marsman is a leading international arbitration practitioner. Martje Verhoeven-De Vries Lentsch is known for her commercial arbitration and gas industry expertise, while Matthias Kuscher handles issues in the energy, infrastructure, and construction industries.Practice head(s):
Marnix Leijten
Other key lawyers:
Albert Marsman; Martje Verhoeven-de Vries Lentsch; Matthias Kuscher
Testimonials
‘Time after time, the oral representation in hearings by the De Brauw team is exceptional. Both conceptually and with respect to details, it is clear that De Brauw has a superior understanding and knowledge of the case over the lawyers representing the other side. They have a relentless focus on what really is happening and why – facts still matter at De Brauw.’
‘Matthias Kuscher’s ability to deal with complex cases and consequently reduce that complexity is extraordinary. He is fluent in many languages, which is very effective in hearings.’
‘Marnix Leijten stands out for his curiosity, drilling down to the core and going beyond the legal debate, exceptional motivation and representation time and time again.’
‘Martje Verhoeven-de Vries Lentsch is very experienced, has an excellent ability to look beyond the horizon, as well as an eye for detail and understanding of the essential details, and how these function together. Also excellent availability and communication.’
‘The De Brauw arbitration team is in a league of its own. Their knowledge of the law, team spirit and weight in the Dutch market is simply unparalleled. They have the ability to present difficult and intricate cases in a simple and convincing way while paying attention to the smallest yet most significant details. They deliver clear and actionable advice that is only available to teams with great local insights and connections. They manage cases as all-round projects which highly increases the quality of the final product.’
‘Marnix Leijten is an absolute star and definitely the best disputes lawyer in the Netherlands and one of the best in Europe. His courtroom presentation skills are extraordinary. Judges are mesmerised by his wit, knowledge and level of preparation.’
‘The arbitration team of De Brauw is outstanding. The team we worked with was excellent. Very good dynamics and it was clearly a joint effort to get the best result. Very knowledgeable on all fronts and creative in the approach and argumentation.’
‘Outstanding team with unparalleled knowledge and experience in the field of Dutch arbitration-related litigation. A very diverse team with lawyers from various jurisdictions offering a breadth of experience in and insight into the laws of other countries, which allows the team to deal with very complex international matters with great efficiency. The quality of the work provided by the team is second to none in the Netherlands.’
Key clients
COFCO Coöperatief and COFCO International
GasTerra
Just Eat Takeaway
Kingdom of Bahrain
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Malaysia
Majority shareholders of Yukos Oil (Hulley Enterprises, Yukos Universal, Veteran Petroleum)
Nationale Nederlanden
NLMK
Republic of Kazakhstan/National Bank of Kazakhstan
Royal Duyvis Wiener
Shell
Work highlights
- Successfully defended Malaysia against the recognition and enforcement of a USD 14.92 billion arbitral award in the Netherlands.
- Representing multinational financial services firm Nationale Nederlanden in an ICSID arbitration regarding its USD 500 million claim against the Republic of Argentina.
- Defended the Kingdom of the Netherlands against claims of over EUR 1.5 billion each brought by RWE and Uniper in the first two investment treaty arbitrations ever commenced against the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Netherlands > Dispute resolution: class actions Tier 1
The mass claims practice at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a leading force in major class actions in the Netherlands. The firm is active in a number of sectors such as data privacy and cybersecurity, technology, transportation, and finance. The team also handles class actions before the Supreme Court where they have defended social media and transportation companies. Competition follow-on mass claims is also a key area of the practice as well as damages class actions and data privacy infringements. The firm additionally has a strong record in pro bono class action cases with practice head and class actions authority Machteld De Monchy the driving force behind the practice’s pro bono work. Dennis Horeman is well versed in mass claims and frequently publishes on updates to class action laws in the Netherlands. Marieke Bredenoord-Spoek specialises in class actions and follow-on damages litigation.Practice head(s):
Machteld de Monchy
Other key lawyers:
Dennis Horeman; Marieke Bredenoord-Spoek; Johan Valk;Remco Kloppenburg
Testimonials
‘Machteld de Monchy is an exceedingly sharp lawyer with an impressive ability to combine excellence on details with an equally excellent overall strategic view. She is also very resourceful and a pleasure to work with.’
‘What makes this practice unique is their strict and professional internal organisation, while maintaining highly informal and swift access to key partners Machteld de Monchy and Dennis Horeman. In general, great understanding of internal dynamics clients have to deal with in high impact class actions.’
‘A large team that has top notch experience with defending against the most complex collective action claim in the Netherlands. The team has in-depth knowledge of the law and they are able to think creatively and pragmatically about legal problems. ’
‘Machteld de Monchy and Marieke Bredenoord-Spoek are trailblazers in field of collective actions in the Netherlands. They are also empathetic and easy to work with. They spearheaded an initiative to establish a new association for dialogue and exchange about developments in the collective action field in the Netherlands across plaintiff and defence side firms, the academic world and the bench. ’
‘De Brauw has a reputed class action team, defending large companies in mass claims in the Netherlands. Due to their experience, they are amazing in their strategy advise and give practical and to-the-point guidance on next steps. Also, as this is a large team and they work closely with subject matter experts of other teams, the larger and more complex cases are in good hands with them.’
‘The team is a thought leader in class actions. They bring international insights and qualifications to the table which is rare for an independent law firm. The are at the forefront of new cases, including pro bono work in class actions that makes an impact. ’
‘Machteld de Monchy stands out. Fully committed to the client, a creative mind regarding strategy and internationally well regarded. She is building diverse teams and shaping the firms pro bono practice.’
‘This is the best class action team. Class actions require not only good lawyers but also an organization where lawyers allocate tasks appropriately and dozens of people work together as a team. It is this where De Brauw excels. The way they put together their team to deal with mass claims all across Europe is outstanding and unique.’
Key clients
Airbnb
Booking.com
British Airways
Bureau Clara Wichmann
NJCM and Defence for Children
DS Smith
FMO
J.P. Morgan
KPMG
Meta
Otis
PACCAR and DAF Group
Philips
Rabobank
Robert Bosch GmbH
Salesforce
Schiphol Group
Shell and NAM
SRLEV
TikTok
Work highlights
- Representing PACCAR and DAF Group as lead counsel in around twenty jurisdictions in one of the most complex mass claims in Europe.
- Representing Airbnb in several mass claims, including Supreme Court proceedings and a class action.
- Representing TikTok in class actions brought by three claim organisations claiming billions of euros in damages
Netherlands > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 1
The corporate and commercial litigation practice at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek continues to be a leading force in the Netherlands, assisting with a large number of high-stakes and complex disputes, including landmark cases. The team handles litigation before the courts of all levels, including sensitive cases before the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and the CJEU. The firm’s expertise covers multiple industries and issues, including inquiry proceedings, shareholder disputes and enforcement proceedings, in addition to complex matters such as sanctions. Practice head Eelco Meerdink is well versed in complex litigation and arbitration, while Jeroen Van Der Schrieck leads on corporate litigation, including auditor’s liability cases and shareholder litigation. Other key team members are Sven Dumoulin, who represents a number of blue-chip companies in the Netherlands, climate specialist Davine Roessingh, who is the go-to for ESG litigation, and Jan-Willem Meijer, who handles major cases before the Supreme Court.Practice head(s):
Eelco Meerdink
Other key lawyers:
Jeroen van der Schrieck; Sven Dumoulin; Davine Roessingh; Jan-Willem Meijer; Machteld de Moncy
Testimonials
‘The team has unrivalled experience in the area of mass litigation, financial litigation and other emerging areas, such as cartel cases. They can rely on vast experience acquired through past cases that few – if any – other Dutch law firm has. They recognise their limits and know it is best to involve economists early in these matters as they help shape legal reasonings but also potential settlements.’
‘Jeroen van der Schrieck is outstanding in his ability to focus on the key important issues of the case and manage the case such that team focus on these points and are not distracted by the white noise surrounding a large disputes with thousands of documents and numerous issues.’
‘De Brauw have been outstanding in this field for decades. Their technical capabilities are simply outstanding. They get to the core of complex matters very swiftly. They are very good at identifying what matters and at instructing their client what to focus on and what to disregard, thus achieving a high level of efficiency for them and their client. This year, De Brauw hugely impressed us with round-the-clock work from partners on various continents in a highly time-sensitive matter. Absolutely outstanding in quality and client care.’
‘Jan-Willem Meijer knows the law like no other, but also has a keen idea of how to strategically employ the law.’
‘An outstanding team with unparalleled knowledge and experience in the field of Dutch arbitration-related litigation. A very diverse team with lawyers from various jurisdictions offering a breadth of experience from and insight into the laws of other countries, which allows the team to deal with very complex international matters with great efficiency. The quality of the work provided by the team is second to none in the Netherlands.’
‘Eelco Meerdink is an outstanding lawyer and litigator with an incredible ability to deal with the most complex legal and factual issues. Eelco is a very strong team leader who delivers timely and focused advice, tailored to the client’s needs.’
‘De Brauw’s litigation team has unique capabilities. They handle our truly complex cases when we need technical knowledge and multi-disciplinary expertise. They are able to lay out complex issues in a clear manner which helped our case tremendously. Their mass claims practice and ESG practice really stand out. They are really ahead of the field and they really understand where the law and society are going.’
‘Davine Roessingh is excellent, strategic and convincing in litigation. She thoroughly understands her cases and their dynamics and leads her team in an optimistic and decisive way. She delivers outstanding, innovative and clear advice on climate change and sustainability risks and opportunities and clearly has the more technical aspects of ESG at her fingertips like few others do.’
Key clients
Altice
COFCO Coöperatief and COFCO International
Credit Access
DIF Management
GasTerra
Intergamma Group
Just Eat Takeaway
Koninklijke Ahold Dehaize N.V.
Majority shareholders of Yukos Oil (Hulley Enterprises, Yukos Universal, Veteran Petroleum)
Nissan-Mitsubishi
Rabobank
Republic of Kazakhstan/National Bank of Kazakhstan
RevealRox
Royal Duyvis Wiener
Royal Schiphol Group
Shell
SNS REAAL (SRH/de Volksbank)
TerraPay
TenneT
Triodos Bank
Vivendi
Vopak
West Oil Group
Yukos Oil Group Companies
Work highlights
- Represented SNS REAAL in the largest inquiry proceedings before the Enterprise Chamber in history, obtaining a major victory.
- Acted for Nissan in its legal battle with former CEO Carlos Ghosn.
- Acted as lead counsel for the former majority shareholders of Yukos in the USD 57 billion case against the Russian Federation.
Netherlands > Employment Tier 1
The employment and employee benefits practice at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a leading force in employment litigation, regularly handling key employment cases before the Supreme Court, including high-profile individual dismissal cases and trade union disputes. Cross-border M&A, remuneration, and co-determination matters are also important parts of the practice. Its clients range from Dutch and international retail companies to banks, insurance companies, and multinationals. Barbara Kloppert and Stefan Sagel jointly lead the practice. Sagel is the go-to for litigation before employment tribunals and the Supreme Court; he is well versed in issues involving dismissals, collective bargaining, and co-determination. Employment expert Kloppert handles both transactional employment issues and disputes involving issues with works councils, executive and board appointments, and remuneration. Rick van ‘t Wout and Irina Timp are also noted.Practice head(s):
Barbara Kloppert; Stefan Sagel
Other key lawyers:
Rick van ‘t Wout; Irina Timp
Testimonials
‘We can always rely on their team of skilled lawyers to provide quick and effective responses.’
‘Barbara Kloppert and Stefan Sagel are able to offer both practical solutions as well as creative ones when the need arises. Stefan’s extensive legal knowledge and Barbara’s ability to navigate difficult situations are most impressive. It is a pleasure to work alongside such talented individuals.’
‘Very experienced, hands on and responsive. They not only provide academic advice but also advise on what to do next.’
‘Stefan Sagel is skilled, knows best practice and knows what we need as a client. Our unique position in the legal landscape makes advising on it challenging. Stefan is not afraid to accept that challenge and guide us through it.’
‘The De Brauw team is able to advise on the preferred legal approaches without losing sight of our business interests from an operational perspective. De Brauw are able to clarify legally complex matters in their presentations to our non-legal stakeholders and also to connect us with legal counsels in the field through an off-site educational program which combines business and fun.’
‘The team are exceptional in adjusting quickly to the client’s way of working, clarifying the legal complexities, and standing their ground when needed. Their knowledge goes beyond the legal issues. They have great experience with all the complexities of operating in a hostile environment and help the client to keep calm when entering a storm. The team is a lot of fun to work with.’
‘Top-of-the-bill employment law advice, both on the merits as well as strategic support. We are working with Stefan Sagel’s team on a large project that requires connecting a lot of legal and strategic dots and the team has shown great understanding of our business, our requirements and the stakes involved. The team is response and diverse.’
‘Stefan Sagel and Irina Timp stand out for their clear thinking in determining strategy, in which they do not lose sight of the larger interests at stake as well as thinking ahead in terms of next steps.’
Key clients
Booking.com Holdings Inc.
Shell
Schiphol
Elof Hansson Fiber
SBM Offshore
Uber
Leaseplan
ASML
Achmea
Elsevier
JustEat Takeaway.com
Friesland Campina
Aegon N.V.
NN Group N.V.
Heineken N.V.
Ahold Delhaize
Fugro
De Volksbank N.V.
Rabobank
Work highlights
- Advised Aegon on the co-determination aspects of the combination of its Dutch operations with a.s.r. and the effects on Aegon personnel following its integration into a.s.r.’s operations.
- Assisted FNV with a high-profile case before the Supreme Court against online food delivery platform Deliveroo, revolving around the employment status of Deliveroo riders.
- Assisted ASML with a high-profile discrimination case before the Dutch Committee on Human Rights, in which ASML’s hiring policy was challenged.
Netherlands > Energy
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek‘s energy team is highly regarded for its abilities handling the gamut of matters in both regulatory and transactional contexts. The integrated practice has a workload which consists of mandates involving electricity, oil and gas, and nuclear, as well as renewables such as wind, solar, hydrogen, biomass and heat. On the transactional side, key work includes advising the Port of Rotterdam on the first large CCS project in the Netherlands. Arjan Kleinhout, described as ‘the best there is’, is at the team’s helm along with Martje Verhoeven-de Vries Lentsch, who is particularly adept at advising on commercial arbitration matters and complex cross-border litigation in energy contexts. On the regulatory side, team changes included the departures of senior associate Claire van der Hoeven in March 2023 and of partners Menno Stoffer in April 2023 and Nicolien Van Den Biggelaar in January 2023.Practice head(s):
Arjan Kleinhout; Martje Verhoeven-de Vries Lentsch
Other key lawyers:
Michael Schouten; Jasper van Uden;
Testimonials
‘Billing is of good quality.’
‘You won’t find someone more experienced and knowledgeable than Arjan Kleinhout – the best there is!’
Key clients
Gasunie
Port of Rotterdam
Porthos
TenneT
Shell
GasTerra
Nobian
NAM
NEA
Foundation Preparation Pallas Reactor (PALLAS)
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Varo Energy
Royal Vopak
Gate LNG Terminal
EBN
Pertamina
Schroders Capital
Enexis
Enphase Energy
Work highlights
Netherlands > EU and competition Tier 1
The practice at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is renowned for its capabilities advising on the gamut of complex competition matters. The team’s client portfolio features renowned names, which it advises on cases including international mergers and acquisitions; the combining of companies’ operations with those in other jurisdictions; and digital regulation and consumer guidance issues. Further, it is vastly experienced handling high-stakes litigious matters, such as its representing DAF Group in its multi-billion euro settlement with the European Commission, a case involving alleged anticompetitive practices and twenty jurisdictions. ‘Expert in his field’ Jolling de Pree oversees the team, with support from key practitioners including the ‘incredibly bright’ Helen Gornall who is particularly capable in merger control, cartel, dominance and vertical restraint cases, the ‘exceptional’ Arjan Kleinhout, the ‘skilled’ Bart de Rijke, and Stephanie The.Practice head(s):
Jolling de Pree
Other key lawyers:
Helen Gornall; Arjan Kleinhout; Bart de Rijke; Stephanie The; Machteld de Monchy
Testimonials
‘Very experienced partners with an excellent understanding of the business areas they advise in – very pragmatic.’
‘I have been working with Helen Gornall for several years now and there is no other competition lawyer with a similar level of knowledge of our industry. Her ability to find pragmatic solutions while satisfying the needs of the business is exceptional.’
‘Jolling de Pree is the best competition lawyer I know – an expert in his field who is able to combine his expertise with knowledge of our business and advise us practically.’
‘The team knows everything there is to know about competition law and is able to advise in a practical and applicable way for the business.’
‘The team has an in-depth knowledge of sector-specific regulations and is able to translate complicated legal matters into hands-on advice.’
‘Arjan Kleinhout is an exceptional regulatory lawyer who is easy-going but knows the law.’
‘Bart de Rijke is a very knowledgeable and skilled competition lawyer who translates complex notions of competition law into workable recommendations that we can execute. We would highly recommend working with him.’
‘Helen Gornall is incredibly bright and client friendly.’
Key clients
Aegon
AkzoNobel
AholdDelhaize
ASML
Booking.com
British Airways
Celanese
D.S. Smith
EQT Partners
Just Eat Takeaway.com
Nederlandse Gasunie
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
NN Group
PACCAR/DAF Trucks
Parcom
PON Holdings B.V.
Otis
Royal DSM
Royal Philips
Royal Schiphol Group
SHV Group/Nutreco
Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners
Work highlights
- Acted for PACCAR/DAF through Supreme Court and appeal proceedings in the UK and secured the dismissal of all claims in Norway and in France in the GCR Colas case; we have secured a judgement from the UK Supreme Court upholding our argument that mass claim litigation funding agreements cannot be enforced in competition damage proceedings in the UK.
Netherlands > Insurance Tier 1
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek ‘delivers excellent, practical advice’ to insurers facing challenges in both the Netherlands and abroad, handling regulatory issues and disputes in addition to cross-border transactions and restructurings in the insurance sector. Leading the practice is ‘outstanding lawyer’ Dennis Horeman, made co-managing partner in April 2023, who acts for both insurers and insureds on matters of professional, D&O and product liability, in addition to fraud proceedings. Mariken van Loopik is the key partner for regulatory matters, including governance issues and structural transformations. The regulatory practice was strengthened by Mariska Enzerink's elevation to partner in January 2023. Eva Schram handles outsourcing arrangements and transactions in the insurance sector.Practice head(s):
Dennis Horeman
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘DBBW has an experienced insurance team with in-depth knowledge of the life insurance business and its products. As a result, the team efficiently delivers excellent, practical advice.’
‘Dennis Horeman is an outstanding lawyer. He is hands-on, readily available and a pleasure to work with.’
‘Highly dedicated, very well experienced, good industry knowledge, hands-on mentality.’
Key clients
ENNIA
Athora Netherlands (SRLEV)
SRH
AkzoNobel
Conservatrix (and bankruptcy trustees)
NN Group N.V.
Koninklijke AholdDelhaize
AEGON N.V.
Athora Netherlands (Zwitserleven PPI)
Work highlights
- Advised Aegon on the combination of its Dutch operations with a.s.r.
- Acted for Aegon on the re-domiciliation of the seat of its listed top-holding company to Bermuda and the transfer of group supervision to the Bermuda Monetary Authority.
- Represented Ennia in proceedings against a group of former shareholders, management and supervisory board members.
Netherlands > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyrights and design rights Tier 1
Under the leadership of ‘IP luminary’ and Supreme Court litigator Tobias Cohen Jehoram, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek acts for clients from across a spectrum of industries in multi-jurisdictional soft IP disputes, including infringement and validity proceedings, counterfeiting issues and complex issues tied to copyright levies. Selmer Bergsma litigates contractual IP disputes, in addition to trade secrets matters, with Roos van der Poel taking the lead on transactional matters, advising on IP transfers tied to M&As and assisting on the structuring of IP portfolios. Gertjan Harryvan assists Jehoram with Supreme Court appeals.Practice head(s):
Tobias Cohen Jehoram
Other key lawyers:
Selmer Bergsma; Gertjan Haryvan; Roos van der Poel
Testimonials
‘De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s valuable work in the Netherlands allows us to protect our rights, through contentious and non-contentious matters, thanks to a deep knowledge of geographical indications law and case law.’
‘Tobias Cohen Jehoram is an IP luminary, though very approachable and pragmatic in his advice. His team consists of talented lawyers with the same mindset.’
‘Very good firm, in particular for Supreme Court litigation in these cases. Very strong in high-end matters.’
‘Tobias Cohen Jehoram is really one of the biggest trade mark experts.’
‘For complex trade mark matters, Tobias Cohen Jehoram and his team are the ones to go to. Extremely knowledgeable, pragmatic and highly effective.’
‘Tobias Cohen Jehoram stands out as highly professional. His expertise in trade mark and copyright law is outstanding and quite exceptional. He is detail oriented to a degree that doesn’t allow anything of importance to slip.’
‘De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has a very strong, intelligent team. They go to the extreme and beyond for their clients and leave nothing to chance. Probably the best firm in the Netherlands for IP matters.’
Key clients
Impossible Foods
Calvin Klein
Converse Inc
Anne Frank Stichting
Heineken
SKY
Unilever
Philips
Disney
LVMH
AkzoNobel
Shell
adidas
Pepsico
Danone
Booking.com
Uber
Amazon
Inter IKEA
Work highlights
- Represented Impossible Foods in the EU in several actions before the Dutch courts and the EUIPO regarding its vegan burger brand IMPOSSIBLE BURGER.
- Acted for Heineken before the General Court regarding the validity of AB Inbev’s ULTRA trade mark in the EU.
- Represented Calvin Klein in Dutch Supreme Court proceedings against Diesel relating to coin pockets and trade mark law.
Netherlands > Investment funds Tier 1
The investment funds practice at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is well-equipped to provide the full range of expertise to deal with the complex matters for its array of noteworthy clients, the list of which features numerous investment management companies. A significant portion of the team’s workload is regulatory; such work is the specialism of January 2023-promoted partner Mariska Enzerink who now co-leads the offering alongside vastly experienced and ‘exceptional’ funds practitioner Kees Groffen. The team has capabilities handling transformative transactions from fund raising to the structuring of large funds, often in international contexts and involving values consistently in the billions of euros.Practice head(s):
Kees Groffen; Mariska Enzerink
Other key lawyers:
Wiebe Dijkstra; Abe Stegenga
Testimonials
‘Kees Groffen and Mariska Enzerink have extensive asset and fund management knowledge, regarding both liquid and illiquid investments. Wiebe Dijkstra is excellent for tax matters re asset and fund management.’
‘A pragmatic and knowledgeable team. ’
‘Kees Groffen has lots of experience and is a pragmatic thinker.’
‘De Brauw is excellent in the field of investment funds. It is involved in the highest profile fund raisings.’
‘Kees Groffen and the diverse team oversee the full spectrum of regulated fund business in the Netherlands and have excellent knowledge of legislation and regulation, and outstanding capabilities translating that into practical solutions. Their dedication to the client and the matter at hand is outstanding.’
‘Kees Groffen is exceptional; he remains in a league of his own in the regulated investment fund environment. He combines outstanding levels of knowledge of the regulatory framework and and in-depth understanding of the funds business with the ability to give highly practical advice. His diplomatic approach ensures good working relationships with counterparties and regulators.’
‘Mariska Enzerink is excellent and incredibly dedicated to the client, and very strong from a regulatory and legal point of view, with a very practical approach.’
‘Really best in class in handling complex Dutch, European and global issues and simplifying it for the client. ’
Key clients
DIF Management
Waterland Private Equity Investments
APG Asset Management
Bouwinvest Real Estate Investors
Achmea Investment Management
AEGON Investment Management
Work highlights
- Advised AEGON, a leading multinational life insurance, pensions and asset management company, on the combination of its Dutch operations with a.s.r., a leading Dutch insurance group.
- Advised DIF Management on the structuring and fund raising of two large infrastructure funds, DIF Infrastructure VII worth €4bn and DIF Core Infrastructure Fund III worth €1.5bn.
- Acted as regulatory and legal counsel in the fundraising of Waterland’s ninth flagship fund, WPEF XI raising €3.5bn, alongside Waterland Partnership Fund I, raising €500m.
Netherlands > Private equity Tier 1
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek‘s dedicated private equity group has notable experience handling the gamut of private equity matters for its portfolio of international and domestic private equity clients. At the helm of the practice is Lennard Keijzer who harnesses expertise in sell-side, buy-side, governance advice and management participation matters and is noted as ‘the top legal M&A professional in the market for PE dealmaking in the Netherlands’. Keijzer is ably supported by his team, which includes key practitioners Pete Lawley, who is experienced handling key M&A deals as well as advising on significant private equity transactions; Arne Grimme who is well-equipped to advise on public and private transactions, leveraged buy-outs and corporate restructurings; and senior associate Claudia van Rappard-Priem who is described as ‘very knowledgeable, thorough, pragmatic and responsive’.Practice head(s):
Lennard Keijzer
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘DeBrauw clearly stands out as the top firm on Dutch mid-market private equity transactions. Lead partners are hands-on and into the details, and think two or three steps ahead.’
‘The team are a strong sparring partner on our deals which allows us to get the maximum result out of our discussions.’
‘The biggest difference to other big firms is the quality of the professionals at levels below partner-level; they are really strong professionals, deep into the file, and very committed.’
‘Lennard Keizer really stands out, we consider him the top legal M&A professional in the market for PE dealmaking in the Netherlands. A real strategic sparring partner on a transaction, into the details with an excellent overview of what’s ahead.’
‘Lennard doesn’t just run a standard playbook, but innovates and takes a bespoke approach to situations. He also spends a lot of time coaching the junior talent in his team.’
‘They meet the highest professional standards, are creative and available. The team is of good quality at all levels and pleasant to work with.’
‘We very much appreciate working with Lennard Keijzer. He is highly collaborative and a good sense of what is needed in which situation, both technically and interpersonally. This allows him to be a little faster and sharper than many others.’
‘Lennard Keijzer and Claudia van Rappard-Priem are both very knowledgeable, thorough, pragmatic and responsive. I would recommend them to anyone.’
Key clients
Advent International
Apollo
Ardian
Bain Capital
Bridgepoint
CVC
Egeria
EQT
G Square
Inflexion
Parcom
Rivean Capital
Thomas H Lee Partners
Triton Partners
Vortex Capital Partners
Warburg Pincus
Waterland
Work highlights
- Advised Ardian on the acquisition of Attero from 3i and DWS.
- Advised Parcom on a number of matters including the €640m sale of Climate for Life, and in the sale of its controlling interest in Euramax to Maxra B.V., and, on the buy-side, in the acquisition of a majority stake in Elektramat.
- Advised Thomas H. Lee Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm, on the acquisition of Bynder from multiple sellers including Insight Partners.
Netherlands > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek‘s restructuring and insolvency practice is headed up by the ‘creative and solution-minded’ Ferdinand Hengst who splits his time between the firm’s Amsterdam and London offices. Former co-lead of the team Reinout Vriesendorp retired from in May 2023. The group's workload consists of advising well-known clients on the plethora of high-value and ultra-high-value insolvency work and through its accompanying processes, in both domestic and cross-border contexts. It is regarded as ‘the go-to practice for international bet-the-company restructurings’, with a client roster that features names from various industries. Bas Boutellier was notably promoted to partnership in January 2023; specialist counsel Matthias Haentjens joined the team in the same month.Practice head(s):
Ferdinand Hengst
Other key lawyers:
Bas Boutellier; Jeroen van der Schrieck; Matthias Haentjens
Testimonials
‘We have a longstanding relationships with the team.’
‘Ferdinand is creative and solution-minded without losing the interest of his client.’
‘Ferdinand Hengst is great. Really approachable, commercial and diligent.’
‘The go-to practice for international bet-the-company restructurings. Once engaged, they are fully dedicated to bringing restructurings to a good end.’
‘Very capable of dealing with politically sensitive matters. They have strong international capabilities, great effectiveness and provide full-service cooperation – these attributes are unique in the Dutch market.’
‘Ferdinand Hengst is a very bright, business savvy lawyer who is well-versed to take a helicopter view and deal with all aspects of the matter at hand, including issues of a non-legal nature. ’
Key clients
HEMA B.V.
Royal Philips N.V.
Cineworld plc
The Hertz Company
Unilever plc
Jet Airways
The Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten
ING Bank
Nordea Bank SA
Credit Suisse Brazil (Bahamas) Ltd
Providence Equity LLP
Centerbridge Partners
Bonprix Fashion
Otto Group Germany
Waterland Private Equity
IHC Merwede
Intergas
GasTerra
TenneT
Takeaway.com
Korean National Oil Company
DNB
The Dutch National Railway (NS)
Work highlights
- Advised on the restructuring initiative and accompanying processes for HEMA together with Goldman Sachs; HEMA’s bond debt was reduced from €750m to €340m, its debt maturity profile extended and its debt services costs reduced significantly.
- Advised on Diebold Nixdorf group’s extensive restructuring by way of Chapter 11 proceedings in the US and WHOA proceedings in the Netherlands, and the first-ever recognition of the WHOA plan in the US under Chapter 15.
- Acting for CBCS in the entire spectrum of this cross-border restructuring work; following the sale of Banco di Caribe in an M&A auction, extensive negotiations were initiated with the government about a bail-in package.
Netherlands > Tax Tier 1
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek ‘delivers top quality advice’ concerning transactional taxes, with the firm assisting both public and private companies on the tax structuring of M&As and advising on the restructuring and redomiciliation of corporate entities for tax optimisation purposes. The ‘very focused’ Wiebe Dijkstra leads the practice, handling transactional tax matters, those tied to investment funds and tax controversies. Henk van Ravenhorst brings an ‘excellent analytical ability’ to tax restructuring matters, in addition to public and private transactions, with Frank Pötgens representing clients in tax litigation. Maarten van der Weijden was appointed a judge at the court of appeals in September 2023.Practice head(s):
Wiebe Dijkstra
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘De Brauw’s tax group is a very dedicated team that delivers top quality advice.’
‘Henk van Ravenhorst and Frank Pötgens deliver top quality advice, have excellent communication, negotiation and matter management skills and are always available and responsive.’
‘Team is always responsive and well versed in its specialist area.’
‘Wiebe Dijkstra is very focused, and eager to support and provide advice.’
‘Very knowledgeable team with the ability to simplify complex tax matters.’
‘Henk van Ravenhorst is a very skilled tax and transactions lawyer. He possesses an excellent analytical ability in relation to the most complex legal issues and, at the same time, is very easy and pleasant to work with and very attentive to the client’s needs.’
Key clients
ABN AMRO
Advent
Aegon N.V.
Ahold Delhaize
Altice
APG
Banco Santander
Ferrovial
Flow Traders
Ikea
Just Eat Takeaway N.V.
NN Group N.V.
Parcom
Pon
Robeco
Shell Plc.
Sodexo
Triton
Work highlights
- Advised AEGON on the sale of their Dutch insurance business to a.s.r. and the announced corporate redomiciliation of their listed top holding entity to Bermuda.
- Advised Flow Traders on the corporate redomiciliation of their listed top holding entity to Bermuda.
- Advised Ferrovial S.A. on all tax aspects of its cross-border merger and redomiciliation to the Netherlands and simultaneous listing of its shares on Euronext Amsterdam.
Netherlands > Capital markets: debt Tier 2
The practice at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek frequently advises its roster of clients on the full range of debt capital markets matters; its cases consistently involve multi-millions in value. Promoted to partner in January 2023, Bas Boutellier leads the practice, taking the place of former team leader Niek Biegman, who remains at the firm and works from its London office. It advises its clients who span such industry sectors as banking, publishing, and energy, on often cross-jurisdictional work including debt issuances, notes issuances, bond restructurings and repurchases, and refinancing. Lisa de Boer is a senior associate to note.Practice head(s):
Bas Boutellier
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The DeBrauw team excels in understanding its clients needs, and acting proactively to provide practical advice and guidance.’
‘They are a great support. The team communicates clearly and does not overly legalize matters where it’s not necessary. The team works very efficiently and does not waste time on irrelevant items.’
‘The team is composed of a diverse range of high-quality, pleasant to work with individuals.’
‘Bas Boutellier is very engaged and knowledgeable, and provides excellent guidance and hands-on advice. Lisa de Boer is very much on top of things, and solves issues proactively. Both are an absolute joy to work with.’
‘A highly-skilled practice that is capable of advising on debt practice.’
‘The team can adapt swiftly to new changes and preferences of the company and they show high expertise, efficiency and swift communication and engagement along with the company’s preferences.’
‘The team is formed of highly skilled individuals, capable of advising on debt practice in relation to very specific company structures.’
Key clients
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
AGCO Corporation
AkzoNobel N.V.
APAX Partners
APG Group
BC Partners
BME Group (Blackstone-owned)
Centerbridge Partners
Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A.
CVC Capital Partners
Friesland Campina
Fugro
G Square Capital
Goldman Sachs International
Holland Casino
HollyFrontier Corporate (NYSE: HFC)
Infopro
ING Group N.V. / ING Bank N.V.
JustEatTakeaway
National grid operator TenneT
NS
Premier Oil plc
Providence Equity LLP
RELX
Royal Ahold Delhaize
Royal BAM Group N.V.
Royal Dutch Shell plc
Royal Philips N.V.
Stellantis
The Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten
UBS Bank
Waterland Private Equity
Work highlights
- Assisting ASR Nederland in connection with a Tier 2 bond issue. The use of proceeds of the bond issues will be used to finance the acquisition of Aegon N.V.’s Dutch insurance business activities.
- Assisting ABN AMRO Bank N.V. in its inaugural role as Tokenisation Agent in connection with the inaugural digital bonds issue by an APOC Leasing B.V.
- Assisting Athora Holding Ltd in connection with its inaugural Tier 3 issuance.
Netherlands > Environment and planning Tier 2
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek houses a team of lawyers who provide a ‘high standard of legal advice’ in the environment and planning space. In addition to complex advisory work, the team handles an array of contentious matters. Environment and energy focused practitioner Arjan Kleinhout took over leadership of the practice in January 2023 following the departure of former team head Nicolien Van Den Biggelaar to a state council position in the same month. The team’s client portfolio includes prominent names such as the Royal Schipol Group and Shell. Counsel Jasper van Uden is well-regarded for his ability to ‘communicate even the most complex legal cases in an understandable manner’. Senior associate Claire Van Der Hoeven departed in March 2023.Practice head(s):
Arjan Kleinhout
Other key lawyers:
Jasper van Uden; Max Kaumo
Testimonials
‘Fit-for-purpose advice. The team is able to give excellent legal advice on short notice and are very pleasant to work with.’
‘They provide high standard legal advice, with attention to important details. They are very well-prepared and have broad experience of legal matters that may occur in our business.’
‘The unique strength of De Brauw lies in their personal yet collective approach – while there is an expert lawyer working on our cases, we feel the value of the added colleagues and partners at the firm.’
‘Their expertise and knowledge is top-level and the team is willing to brainstorm on ideas, questions and new insights regarding new legislation and jurisprudence, rather than just sending updates. We can put our heads together and create a think tank to reach valuable, long-term, risk-assessed solutions.’
‘The complexity and number of cases that we handle with De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is high, yet they never fail to keep a bird’s eye overview and to guide us through various processes with absolute clarity.’
‘We especially value the governmental and administrative sensitivity the lawyers we work with display.’
‘Jasper van Uden has the ability to communicate even the most complex legal cases in an understandable manner.’
‘The lawyers have a down-to-earth approach, good availability, and their creativity and willingness to look for solutions rather than to fight legal battles unnecessarily stands out.’
Key clients
Royal Schiphol Group
Chemelot
Sitech
Gasunie
TenneT
GasTerra
Stichting Afvalfonds Verpakkingen
Shell
Varo Energy
Enphase Energy
NEA/GKN
Work highlights
- Acting as lead counsel in the Porthos CCUS project, the first large CCUS project in the Netherlands to cut carbon emissions in the atmosphere by storing CO2 in a depleted gas field in the North Sea.
- Advising Royal Schiphol Group and representing them in litigation on the impact of a landmark ruling of the Council of State about the Dutch nitrogen policy under the Nature Conservation Act.
- Acting as lead counsel to Gasunie and the Port of Rotterdam in connection with the large-scale heat-distribution network known as WarmtelinQ.
Netherlands > Fraud and white-collar crime Tier 2
Working closely with its offices in Shanghai, London, and Brussels, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek continues to prove itself as a go-to firm for multijurisdictional internal investigations and enforcement matters. Marnix Somsen is at the forefront of the regulatory and criminal enforcement team; he is particularly skilled at handling international enforcement for various matters, including bribery and anti-corruption. Co-leading the team alongside him, Roan Lamp is another exceptional source of advice for clients seeking guidance on global compliance and investigation matters in the Netherlands as well as across Asian jurisdictions. Marlies de Waard and Sebastiaan Kool are also noted for their experience in corporate criminal law.Practice head(s):
Marnix Somsen; Roan Lamp
Other key lawyers:
Marlies de Waard; Sebastian Kool
Testimonials
‘Marnix Somsen is a good communicator. He has excellent strategic views.’
‘The fraud and white-collar crime practice is literally one call or email away. They have an excellent understanding of the law and the way it is applied and interpreted. Their relationship with all stakeholders is very good, meaning that they are able to navigate the enforcement landscape and know what the client can expect.’
‘Marnix Somsen has a deep understanding of the law and the manner in which the law is enforced and interpreted. He has excellent customer relation-skills.’
‘They are great out of the box thinkers, they have a great teamwork spirit, and they deliver what they promise on time within budget.’
‘They really know their clients and their needs. They have a high level of innovative thinking and high moral standards.’
Key clients
Glencore International AG
ABN Amro
Philips
Uber
Shell
NXP
Amsterdam Airport
Booking.com
Arcadis
Ennia
Lelystad Airport
Astra Oil Trading N.V.
SBM Offshore
GasTerra
ITV
Work highlights
- Representing Glencore in relation to alleged bribery issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that is being investigated by the Dutch Public Prosecutions Office.
- Assisted Philips N.V. in its legal defense across various jurisdictions.
- Represented ABN AMRO Bank in connection with a criminal investigation into the bank’s compliance with applicable AML requirements.
Netherlands > Industry focus: healthcare and life sciences Tier 2
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek acts for a broad range of clients, including medical supply companies, investors in the sector, and high-profile pharma companies. Joining the team in July 2023 from NautaDutilh, practice co-head Anne Marie Verschuur is noted for her skill in advising on UPC issues and patent infringement actions, while IP litigator Tobias Cohen Jehoram frequently appears before the Supreme Court of the Netherlands in patent cases on behalf of high-profile pharma companies. Reinier Kleipool has broad expertise in handling corporate governance issues, and private equity expert Lennard Keijzer primarily advises on governance arrangements between co-investors and private equity funds. Bertrand ter Woort maintains an IP and tech focused practice, frequently assisting clients with R&D collaborations and licensing issues.Practice head(s):
Tobias Cohen Jehoram; Reinier Kleipool; Anne Marie Verschuur; Lennard Keijzer
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Advanced Bionics
Affimed N.V.
Almirall B.V.
Amgen
Arya Sciences Acquisition Corp
AstraZeneca
Biogen
Bureau Clara Wichmann
Coloplast A/S
Eli Lilly
Ferring
Forbion
G Square
IGEA Pharma N.V.
Illumina
Jefferies LLC
Koninklijke Philips N.V.
MSD
Pharmathen
Qiagen
Sandoz B.V.
Synthon Holding B.V.
Triton Investment Management Limited
UMCG
Zimmer Biomet
Work highlights
- Represented Pharmathen Global B.V. in patent proceedings against Novartis A.G. before the Dutch Supreme Court.
- Represented Philips in proceedings relating to claims by patients in connection with sleep apnea devices.
- Acted as Dutch legal counsel for the underwriters on NewAmsterdam Pharma N.V.’s secondary offering of shares.
Netherlands > Intellectual property: Patents Tier 2
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek moved to strengthen its patent litigation practice with the July 2023 arrival from NautaDutilh of Anne Marie Verschuur, who focuses on tech-related patent infringement and invalidity proceedings. She leads the team alongside Tobias Cohen Jehoram, who appears for pharmaceutical sector clients in patent appeals before the Dutch Supreme Court, in addition to the EUIPO and ECJ. Roos van der Poel handles transactional IP matters, advising on licensing and cooperation agreements, as well as matters of competition and contract law. Bertrand ter Woort's practice encompasses both life sciences and tech-focused patent disputes.Practice head(s):
Tobias Cohen Jehoram; Anne Marie Verschuur
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘High standard, top-of-the-bill IP lawyers. Capable of dealing with large cases.’
‘Anne Marie Verschuur is a very bright and good litigator. Pleasant to work with, never leaving open ends. She is a very good pleader as well.’
‘Anne Marie Verschuur is one of the best European IP litigators, with a core experience in patents. She is one of the top five individuals in the Netherlands and goes the extra mile for her clients!’
Key clients
GSK
Sonos
Access Advance and GEVC
JDE Peet’s
KPN
Pharmathen
Koopman
Sharp
Eli Lilly
Sandoz
Bayer Pharma
Work highlights
- Represented GSK in Dutch proceedings as part of an international dispute between Pfizer and GSK relating to three GSK patents.
- Acted for Sonos in pan-European patent proceedings before the Dutch courts as part of global patent litigation between Sonos and Google.
- Acted for Pharmathen Global B.V. in proceedings against Novartis A.G. before the Dutch Supreme Court.
Netherlands > Industry focus: telecoms Tier 3
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s multidisciplinary team is adept at supporting telecoms clients with regulatory enforcement issues, cross-border transactions, and disputes. The group is jointly led by Stephanie The, a competition lawyer who guides clients through complex FDI screenings and merger control processes; Tobias Cohen Jehoram, specialising in intellectual property litigation; and Jolling de Pree, who is experienced in competition law and litigation within the EU. Anne Marie Verschuur, who joined in July 2023 from NautaDutilh, strengthens the team with her focus on technology and patents in her IP practice.Practice head(s):
Stephanie The; Tobias Cohen Jehoram; Jolling de Pree
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Top firm with an excellent reputation and a very good patent litigation practice.’
‘They have lots of experience and try to give reasonable advice. They have an excellent team spirit, are pro-customer thinking and always have a cost/risk friendly solution in mind for their customers.’
‘Very pleasant and knowledgeable people. They easily understand the business dynamics we work in. Great to work with.’
Key clients
Access Advance
DELTA Fiber Nederland
Digital Intrepid
Digital Realty Trust
EQT Partners
GEVC
Infinite Electronics
Prodrive Tehcnologies Group
SMART Photonics
Sonos
Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners
Vortex Capital Partners
Work highlights
- Advised a large global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data centres on colocation and interconnection solutions matters relating to bonds and guaranteed notes valued at upwards of €1bn.
- Advised SMART Photonics in securing an additional round of funding of €100m from a group of strategic industry and financial Dutch players and the Dutch government.
- Advised Vortex Capital Partners and other shareholders on the sale of a majority stake in hallo.
Netherlands > Project finance and PFI Tier 3
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek > Firm Profile
The firm: De Brauw is a law firm with a global reach, a robust corporate practice, a centre of excellence in litigation and with an unparalleled team of regulatory experts. Big matters, big risks and big arenas require multidisciplinary and multinational teams composed of strong strategic thinkers willing to dig deep. De Brauw believes it is possible to strike a balance between rigour and pragmatism, especially when the stakes are high.
De Brauw puts business in a legal context, not the other way around. So the needs of the clients come first, legal expertise second. That’s why it goes out of its way to recruit graduates and hire people with a variety of interests, experience and nationalities. It takes the long view, leaving no stone unturned along the way. De Brauw practises the art and science of collaboration – across all disciplines and national borders – with both internal and external legal experts, with in-house counsel and with other specialists.
Headquartered in Amsterdam, De Brauw also has offices in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Shanghai and Singapore. The Best Friends network – composed of premier European law firms – and their system of informal contacts around the world mean De Brauw can always draw on the best local expertise as and when required.
Areas of practice: The firm’s practice covers a broad range of Dutch and EU law. This includes corporate, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, banking, equity and debt capital markets, asset and structured finance, project finance, financial markets regulatory, regulatory and criminal enforcement, corporate recovery and insolvency, restructuring, investment management, tax, corporate and commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation, EU/competition, intellectual property, information technology and communication, public law, insurance, real estate, employment and employee benefits. The firm has cross-practice groups for, among others, energy, telecoms, financial institutions, private equity, public-private partnerships and transport.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Corporate, M&A | Arne Grimme | ||
Corporate, M&A | Klaas de Vries | ||
Corporate governance | Reiner Kleipool | ||
Corporate governance | Martin van Olffen | ||
Corporate litigation | Davine Roessingh | ||
Corporate litigation | Jeroen van der Schrieck | ||
Banking and capital markets | Ferdinand Hengst | ||
Banking and capital markets | Jan Willem Hoevers | ||
Asset and structured finance | Bas Boutellier | ||
Corporate restructuring and insolvency | Ferdinand Hengst | ||
Corporate restructuring and insolvency | Bas Boutellier | ||
Investment management | Kees Groffen | ||
Tax | Wiebe Dijkstra | ||
Tax | Henk van Ravenhorst | ||
Employment and employee benefits | Stefan Sagel | ||
Employment and employee benefits | Barbara Kloppert | ||
Information technology | Axel Arnbak | ||
Information technology | Geert Potjewijd | ||
Intellectual property | Tobias Cohen Jehoram | ||
Energy | Anja Mutsaers | ||
Energy | Marnix Leijten | ||
Competition and EU law | Jolling de Pree | ||
Competition and EU law | Helen Gornall | ||
Private equity | Lennard Keijzer | ||
Arbitration | Marnix Leijten | ||
Arbitration | Matthias Kuscher |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Arne Grimme | Partner | View Profile | |
Nicolien van den Biggelaar | Nicolien van den Biggelaar is an experienced litigator and expert in public… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 350 at this office : 325Languages
Chinese Dutch English French German Russian SpanishOther
Other offices : Brussels Other offices : Frankfurt Other offices : London Other offices : Shanghai Other offices : SingaporeDiversity
Our purpose is to stand besides our clients, the world over – this is what defines De Brauw. We know that a diverse and inclusive workforce is sharper, and more insightful. This allows us to see our clients’ challenges and opportunities through different lenses, and adds value and builds trust for and with clients.
We recruit our people from a diverse range of experience, interests, and nationalities, and collaborate across all disciplines and geographical borders with our own and other legal experts, industry specialists and in-house counsel.
Trained leadership, D&I experts, and diversity committees all help to shape our business priorities, inform decision-making and continually develop best practices. We partner with our clients and other organisations to identify potential and provide equal opportunity for all.
We recognise that we are not there yet. But we are committed to pursuing and realising our aspirations for diversity and inclusion, for the benefit of our employees, and for our clients.
Legal Briefings
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- Banking and finance: Borrower side
- Banking and finance: Financial services regulatory
- Capital markets: equity
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Construction
- Data privacy and data protection
- Dispute resolution: arbitration
- Dispute resolution: class actions
- Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation
- Employment
- Energy
- EU and competition
- Insurance
- Intellectual property: trade marks, copyrights and design rights
- Investment funds
- Private equity
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Tax