AKD boasts a strong advisory construction practice based across the Benelux region, enabling it to collaborate closely with teams in Belgium and Luxembourg on cross-border projects. The firm regularly handles landmark construction projects and is supported by its strong real estate and project finance operations. As part of its advisory work, the team assists with contract drafting, developments and redevelopments and financing. Practice head Sven Billet leads the team and assists on various construction mandates. Marc Wintgens is praised for his expertise and advises large construction companies and government bodies on a range of complex construction contracts. Frenk Huisman focuses on transactions, Julian Versmissen largely assists developers in projects, and Sander Engels handles both construction and procurement law matters. The practice has a separate energy team led by Marjolein Dieperink, which enables the firm to advise on renewable energy projects including offshore energy, carbon capture and storage and solar projects.
Construction in Netherlands
AKD
Practice head(s):
Sven Billet
Other key lawyers:
Marc Wintgens; Frenk Huisman; Julian Versmissen; Paul Welten; Sander Engels; Marjolein Dieperink; Max Verbaken
Testimonials
‘The AKD Team is ready 24/7. If more capacity or expertise is needed, they can easily be contacted. They fully relieve the client’s worries and deliver substantively good work. They speak the language of the entrepreneur, are short and concise and do not bore you with pages of advice if that is not appropriate or desirable.’
‘Frenk Huisman is special, a truly good lawyer with a heart for his clients. Always enthusiastic and always at service!’
‘Lawyers & notaries that we consult have a personal touch and interest in our business and people. They are engaged and feel personally responsible for the good outcome of their advice.’
‘AKD has a fantastic and diversified team of experts and is therefore uniquely positioned to provide first class advice on issues related to construction projects. Their unrivalled experience makes AKD a frontrunner in this field’
‘Marc Wintgens is a seasoned lawyer with an undisputed reputation as a sharp negotiator. He is the lawyer to go to! Not only is he an excellent lawyer, but he also knows the market through and through. No doubt: he is the best.’
‘Very experienced, full service, able to work on all aspects of a project. If necessary across borders and practice areas. Advice on everything from design and feasibility to project structure and dispute resolution.’
‘Marc Wintgens is an outstanding lawyer. He demonstrates a strong expertise in dealing with complex issues that also involve strategy and reputation of his client. ’
‘Top-level legal knowledge and experience in the field of construction law, combined with knowledge of our company and the sector and the ability to translate this into practical and feasible advice.’
Key clients
ALDI
Univé
Zalando
Panattoni
Allianz Real Estate GmbH
Port of Rotterdam
Greystar Real Estate Partners
Goodman
Life Europe
VolkerWessels
Haag Wonen
Philips
WDP
Green Real Estate
Municipalities of Utrecht; Eindhoven; Tilburg; Breda; and Westland
Provinces of Limburg; Gelderland; and Zuid-Holland
M&G Real Estate
Kaan Architects
DW Partners
DSV
Development Company Greenport Venlo (DCGV)
Prologis
Flow Real Estate
Profinn
Joint Owners of the Entrada Area
Prorail
Hercuton
Edge Technologies
Mourik Services
KlokGroep
Work highlights
- Advising Zalando on the acquisition of a sizable development plot and related contracts.
- Assisting Maersk with new plot acquisitions and complex construction contract suites.
- Advising longstanding client, VolkerWessels, on the largest development and construction project in The Netherlands, Strijp-S.
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
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.
HabrakenRutten
Construction and real estate specialist firm HabrakenRutten continues to excel in advising clients on the full life cycle of large construction projects. A key area for the practice is infrastructure PPP projects, as well as greenfield and brownfield developments. Clients typically include construction companies and developers, and the firm has continued to grow its presence in hydrogen projects and restructuring. Co-leading the team are Peter Habraken and Sjoerd Rutten, Habraken is well-known for his expertise in PPP projects and asset development processes, while Rutten represents clients in litigation, arbitration, and dispute prevention. Henk Raven is the go-to for construction-related contract and corporate law issues. Thijs Homveld is also notable for his cross-border knowledge, while Gert Weerheim assists with litigation.
Practice head(s):
Sjoerd Rutten; Peter Habraken
Other key lawyers:
Henk Raven; Gert Weerheim; Thijs Homveld
Testimonials
‘The lawyers working at HabrakenRutten avail of extensive knowledge and experience. They are well equipped for drafting and negotiating complex construction contracts and are sharp litigators.’
‘Sjoerd Rutten is a very bright lawyer. He is very dedicated to the interests of his clients and is a highly valued sparring partner (due to his personality and knowledge of the construction industry and applicable laws and regulations). Sjoerd is able to act on all kind of levels (from project team to board room). He is able to quickly analyse complex situations and knows what really matters. He is a safe pair of hands in litigation proceedings!’
‘Focus on built assets and boutique character. Ample experience in complex projects. Navigating between risk mitigation and (early) resolution of conflicts. ’
‘Sjoerd Rutten and Gert Weerheim are strong lawyers. Their deep business understanding combined with top notch legal expertise allow them to provide excellent advice, also in litigation.’
Key clients
Royal BAM Group (including its subsidiary AM Development)
Boskalis
Dura Vermeer
TBI Holdings
HES International
VanderValk Hotel Group
Infrared Capital Partners
Infracapital M&G Investment Management Ltd
Work highlights
- Acting as lead counsel for the project development of Holland Hydrogen I.
- Advising Feyenoord XL on the long term redevelopment of the inner-city location close to Feyenoord soccer stadium.
- Advising the consortium of the IJmond Sea Lock on a PPP project as their lead counsel.
Houthoff
The construction practice at Houthoff is regularly sought out by clients for its all-round skills in both contentious and non-contentious construction mandates. Highlights of the team’s work include complex procurement and regulatory issues in large new development projects, the team also aids these clients with claim prevention and management. The firm assists both developers and contractors on contentious work. Team lead and construction specialist Michel Klijn is known for his expertise in complex projects involving different contracts as well as his litigation and transactional skills. He is supported by notary Dolf De Jong who on the construction side focuses on project development. Sander van den Boogaart assists clients from construction, infrastructure, and energy sectors in a variety of construction law matters.
Practice head(s):
Michel Klijn
Other key lawyers:
Dolf de Jong; Sander van den Boogaart
Testimonials
‘Both Michel Klijn and Sander van den Boogaard are always happy to assist. They are responsive, have to the point advice and helping me to get to finalization of contracts. The cooperation is very well. ’
‘Michel Klijn stands out by knowing how to close transaction on (supervisory) board level by using a combination of deep sector knowledge and skills: problem solving, taking initiative and being trusted by all parties to the table.’
‘The team is involved, very skilled, takes very good note of the case in a very short amount of time and seems to enjoy a good conversation to find out the relation between the details. ’
‘I would also like to mention Michel Klijn in particular. Michel supports us with complex procurement issues and execution of a civil engineering work. An expert lawyer due to contribute weight to the file. Legal content if necessary, but also focused on solution-oriented cooperation if possible. Michel is the sparring partner I look for in a lawyer.’
‘Michel Klijn is very committed, pragmatic and a sharp lawyer. Thinks in solutions and does not lose sight of commercial interests either. Always willing to respond to adhoc and last minute requests as well. ’
‘Houthoff has an extraordinary amount of substantive knowledge and skilled people in the contraction team. The team is efficient and always available’
‘The team of Houthoff was very quick in response on a complicated legal matter, proactive during several developments, made a very good strategic approach. ’
‘Michel Klijn: has the special combination of engineer and lawyer, which makes him very effective in legal advice in construction projects.
Key clients
Bol.com
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Royal Schiphol Airport
Bysteel S.A., Portuguese firm part of DST Group
Bristol Myers Squibb
Goodman Group
Greystar
Attero
HagaZiekenhuis (Haga Hospital)
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch National Railways)
EDGE
Jaarbeurs
Zadelhoff
FCC
VolkerWessels
Waterschap Aa en Maas
OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons)
Regionale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Drechtsteden N.V. (ROM-D)
Milence
Wonen Limburg
Kondor Wessels Vastgoed
Work highlights
- Advising the online retail giant Bol.com on the multimillion euro development of a new automated fulfilment centre which will mechanically handle its orders.
- Representing EDGE Development in the multimillion euro development of ABN AMRO Bank’s new headquarters in Amsterdam.
- Advising Milence, a joint venture between Daimler, Traton and Volvo, on all construction matters linked to its project to install and operate at least 1,700 charging points for heavy-duty trucks and coaches across Europe by 2027.
Stibbe
Leading construction firm Stibbe is heavily involved in the full gamut of construction mandates. The practice has been key to many landmark projects in the Netherlands ranging from PPP projects to heavy plant projects, and infrastructure. The team is well-equipped to assist with both advising on projects and litigating where necessary on complex construction disputes. The most notable work of the firm is in PPP/PFI projects. The practice is co-led by David Orobio de Castro and Ingmar de Groot, both well recognised names in the construction space. Orobio de Castro is an expert in procurement regulations and routinely assists with PPP/PFI matters. Construction expert de Groot advises on building contracts, PPP/PFI projects, and represents clients in construction-related disputes. Boris Cammelbeeck and Iris Hendriksen are also noted.
Practice head(s):
David Orobio de Castro; Ingmar de Groot
Other key lawyers:
Boris Cammelbeeck; Iris Hendriksen
Testimonials
‘Highly specialised and legally excellent team. Strong analytical and strategic capabilities. Pleasant communication, nice to work with. Customer oriented. Critical sparring partner. Able to handle the internal client politics efficiently. I would recommend Stibbe especially for complex and critical cases.’
‘In my opinion Stibbe is the best firm to go to in case of legal discussions with Rijkswaterstaat (RWS). They really know this governmental organization in and out. This makes that Stibbe really knows what the zone of potential agreement is in legal discussions with RWS.’
‘I mostly worked with Ingmar. He has excellent and thorough knowledge of the construction / infrastructure sector. I’m impressed by how little time Ingmar and his team needed to comprehend a very complex problem and was able to take a leading role in the highly important negotiations with our client. Without Ingmar these negotiations would have probably been disastrous. So, the negotiations skills of Ingmar are exceptional. ’
‘Stibbe are my go to team for assistance with construction matters in the Netherlands. I regard them as market leaders in terms of their, knowledge skills and experience. I appreciate their calm and timely input which is always also clear and commercial.’
‘David Orobio de Castro is our lead advisor and is outstanding in terms of skills and experience. He is calm and thoughtful and invariably always provides clear and useful feedback.’
‘For us, Stibbe excels in quality by standing for a thorough litigation strategy and in terms of people by really acting as a team together as client and lawyer. Stibbe looks very carefully at which expertise is needed in the team for the case. It formulates a clear litigation strategy together with the client at the outset and sticks to that strategy throughout the entire process, constantly keeping an eye on litigation risks.’
‘Legal knowledge is clearly of a high standard. In addition, the employees also have a good feel for their clients’ practice and quickly master complex matters (complex construction projects including related technology). Lawyers are very accessible, which we find very pleasant. ’
‘Ingmar de Groot – works hard and diligent, takes care that all arguments are being delivered in a consistent way and complete but to the point.’
Key clients
Fluor
Heijmans
Hochtief
Ballast Nedam
EIB
Macquarie
3i
Max Bögl
Züblin
Van Oord
BAM
KLM Royal Airlines
TNT FedEx
Bouwfonds Property Development (BPD)
Housing Association Staedion
Facilicom
TAV Construction
Anel Elektrik
Bilfinger
Inditex
pggm
Strukton
Work highlights
- Assisting the Municipality of The Hague. Housing Association Staedion and Heijmans with the EUR 1,5 billion major inner city restructuring and area development in the Dreven, Gaarden and Zichten areas of The Hague.
- Assisting a group of lenders with rescheduling of the €1bn PPP Project A24 Blankenburg connection (DBFM).
- Advising CHP on the €500m (re-)construction project of the Southern Ring Road Groningen.
Croon Huith advocaten B.V.
Boutique firm Croon Huith advocaten B.V. focuses on construction and procurement law and advises a large number of public and semi-public sector clients such as municipalities and provinces on their construction projects. Other clients include companies within energy and sustainability industries. The team litigates on behalf of its clients before civil courts, the Arbitration Board for the Building Industry, and the Netherlands Arbitration disputes on construction related issues. Additionally, the firm is often involved in issues regarding the sale of government owned land as well as onshore and offshore infrastructure projects. Construction specialists Birgit Le Haen-de Croon and Georg Huith co-head the practice. Louisa Engels and Rikkert Pilaar are key team members. Daniel Santurio González and Nienke Keus-Goldberg set up their own construction specialised firm after the demerger of Croon advocaten N.V. in January 2024.
Practice head(s):
Birgit Le Haen-de Croon; Georg Huith
Other key lawyers:
Louisa Engels; Rikkert Pilaar
Testimonials
‘Croon Advocaten has a very skilled team of professionals. They have in-depth knowledge of the construction sector and are actively responding to key innovations in construction management such as two-stage tendering processes and appropriate contracting. Their experiences with these innovative tender procedures and construction contracts is unique in the infrastructure sector.’
‘Birgit Le Haen-De Croon is particularly strong in providing pragmatic solutions and incorporating complex legal knowledge into clear practical advice. This requires in depth knowledge of the technical oriented client.’
‘Croon Advocaten has a very strong focus in the field of construction law and, more specifically, assisting clients of construction projects. Croon Advocaten ‘really’ understands engineering and understands the ‘language of construction practice’. As a result, Croon Advocaten is not only able to understand legal problems better, but also able to give full advice and prevent further escalation of conflicts.’
‘The attorneys of Croon advocaten are highly specialised and have extensive legal and practical experience in the full range of construction and procurement law. They have years of experience with and involvement in large infrastructure projects, working closely with clients’ project teams. This enables them to find a solution that is not only legally correct, but also fits within the project-specific context. This pragmatic approach is of great added value in the close collaboration in construction projects.’
‘The team of Croon has an excellent know how from theoretical knowledge and practical experience and knows how to combine this in every case. They are able to explain the case and solution in a way that is understandable. The culture of the company is very easy going! Not very common for a lawyer firm, love it!’
‘We’ve had the pleasure of working with Croon Advocaten. They have impressed us with their expertise, authenticity and collaborative way of working. Their contributions have been invaluable for our project.’
‘This practice is unique due the direct and personal contact with high end consultations. Due the wide-spread knowledge within the company which is used for their response, they deliver exceptional quality.’
‘The team works in a very effective and sufficient manner. The team exactly knows how to translate wishes and/or needs into legal action. Another important capability is that they don’t over promise and always honour their commitments. ’
Key clients
Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat)
Central Government Real Estate Agency (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf)
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Kingdom
Province of Utrecht
Province of Flevoland
Province of South Holland
Municipality of Amsterdam
Municipality of The Hague
Municipality of Utrecht
Municipality of Etten-Leur
Water control board Aa en Maas
Water control board Hollandse Delta
Water control board van Delfland
Royal palace ‘Paleis Het Loo’
Museum The Mauritshuis
Frame Participations B.V.
ASR Vastgoed B.V.
ABB B.V.
TenneT TSO
Chamber of Commerce
Fugro NL Land B.V.
Heineken Global Procurement B.V.
Work highlights
- Advising TenneT on the tender and contracting process of the 2GW-programm (approximately €45bn).
- Advising Heineken on drafting contracts regarding the transition of all Heineken breweries worldwide to carbon neutral breweries.
- Representing Paleis Het Loo in court proceedings (€20m) and advising regarding the renovation of the historical royal palace and the underground expansion (€125m).
Duet advocaten B.V.
Duet advocaten B.V. is specialised in representing clients in cases regarding construction and procurement law. The firm is one of the two new law firms resulting from the demerger of Croon advocaten N.V. in January 2024, with former practice heads Daniel Santurio González and Nienke Keus-Goldberg setting up a new construction specialised firm. The practice largely works for public and semi-public entities, assisting municipalities with their construction projects across the Netherlands. The firm has also has expertise in nuclear projects which is led by Santurio González alongside his work advising clients on complex construction projects and tender procedures. Keus-Goldberg is a seasoned litigator before civil courts and specialises in construction and procurement law and oversees complex infrastructural projects. Giulia van den Beuken is also noted for her all-round expertise.
Practice head(s):
Daniel Santurio González; Nienke Keus
Other key lawyers:
Sanne Groenwold; Giulia van den Beuken
Testimonials
‘I worked mostly with Giulia van den Beuken. She is a highly intelligent lawyer, dedicated and easily accessible. It was a pleasure working with her due to her diverse skill set and capabilities to quickly master the situation at hand.’
‘What strikes me is the genuine interest in the (scientific) background of legal issues. Together with Sanne Groenwold, I have lectured several times on the doctrine of unforeseen and cost-increasing circumstances in construction contract law. Sanne has not only an excellent understanding of the theoretical side of the doctrine of unforeseen and cost-increasing circumstances, but can also advise her clients pragmatically and very solution-oriented. I am convinced that Duet Advocaten is able to do this because it really understands how construction practice works.’
‘Nienke Keus thinks proactively with the client and has high knowledge of the full spectrum of procurement and construction law. She is easily accessible and has a very efficient way of working. Giulia van den Beuken and Sanne Groenwold are very pleasant to work with. On large construction projects they work in in close collaboration with their clients on the construction sight. They are also known specialists in the design and execution of healthcare tendering processes and have high knowledge of jurisprudence in that field. Daniel Santurio González is easily accessible, and thinks along well in scenarios and possibilities.’
‘Daniel Santurio González possesses a rare combination of having a tremendous amount of expertise and experience while being candid and respectful. A pleasure to work with and great to learn from. Sanne Groenwold is very reliable, proficient and professional. She is a great addition to any team.’
‘The individuals are approachable, fast in response with a well balanced work allocation between partner and associate. Especially Nienke Keus-Goldberg can empathize with the case and give the accurate legal advice.’
‘Duet has very strong and dedicated legal knowledge on construction and procurement law. As Duet is involved in nearly all major infrastructure projects in the Netherlands, it has wide experience in applying their legal knowledge in practice. Duet has the knowledge and experience to represent their clients in court cases (conflict solving), but also to take part in project organisations and advise on legal aspects in contract preparation (conflict prevention). Duet perfectly manages to balance between monitoring legal possibilities and boundaries on one hand with practical applicability on the other hand. As such, Duet can provide high added value for their clients. ’
‘Individuals of Duet have strong legal knowledge and show strong commitment to the client. Additionally, employees have strong knowledge on how project organisations in public environments work and know how legal advise can serve rather than obstruct projects. Most employees even have knowledge on engineering aspects of infrastructure projects, for instance Daniel Santurio Gonzalez. Lawyers show high flexibility which serves the demanding and continuously changing environments of large infrastructure projects.’
‘The person I’ve worked with the most is Giulia van den Beuken. Her knowledge on EU procurement law is very comprehensive. She stands out by substantiating her advise and legal documents in a very clear and understandable way. She also knows how to approach matters very hands-on and always finds a pragmatic way to satisfy your needs. ’
Key clients
Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat)
Central Government Real Estate Agency (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf)
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
Foundation for the Preparation of the PALLAS-reactor (Stichting Voorbereiding Pallas-reactor)
Province of Utrecht
Municipality of Amsterdam
Municipality of The Hague
Municipality of Leeuwarden
Corporate Tender Board
Hospital “Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis Assen”
Work highlights
- Advising the Central Government Real Estate Agency on the contracting process regarding the major renovation of the eight-century-old monumental “Binnenhof” complex in the centre of The Hague.
- Advising PALLAS on the tender and contracting process regarding the construction of the PALLAS Reactor, the new medical isotopes reactor that will replace the 60-year-old High Flux Reactor in Petten.
- Advising the municipality of Amsterdam regarding the “Energie voor de Stad” (Energy for the City) project, aimed to transition the Municipality of Amsterdam towards a climate (CO2) neutral city by 2050.
Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV
Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV are heavily involved in PPP/PFI deals, representing and advising public entities on public projects and disputes involving public works in the Netherlands. Due to its involvement with the state the firm also advises on drafting and updating the standard contract documentation used by the State of The Netherlands. As part of its construction practice the team advises on procurement disputes, redevelopment projects, and advising on development of landmark buildings. Practice head and litigator Pieter Stuijt represents public contracting authorities in numerous procurement disputes, while Mark Birnage both litigates and advises on construction projects. Maarten van Rijn is well-versed in reviewing tender documents and construction contracts and Christina Muntinghe is another key member of the team.
Practice head(s):
Pieter Stuijt
Other key lawyers:
Mark Birnage; Maarten van Rijn; Christina Muntinghe
Testimonials
‘Pietr Stuijt stands out in passion for the field of law he’s working in and has excellent knowledge of this field. Great to work with because he always tries his very best to make you understand there strategy and is respectful to the client. Always look for an innovative solution if necessary and an excellent performer in a court room!’
‘The team has proven unique knowledge of the public procurement rules and is also the natural partner of the State of the Netherlands in legal procedures.’
‘Very knowledgeable, aware of all current case law and regulations and able to convey this perfectly in litigation documents, opinions and knowledge sharing sessions. Consultants with a very keen eye for political sensitivities.’
‘Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn is a very reliable firm. Their lawyers are top notch. Very professional, capable, reliable and communicative’
‘The firm is very professional. Lawyers in the procurement section understand very much their profession. They know exactly the do’s and don’ts of the State, they are very well informed of the latest changes on procurement field. Due to their enormous experience and fair advice, the State of the Netherlands (almost) never loses a case in court.’
‘I had the pleasure to work with Pieter Stuijt. he is a professional in his field. But most of all nice, patient, direct and fair. We also often laugh. He is aware of the real facts of life , which is also very important. Therefore, I and my colleagues like to work with them very much. ’
‘The fact that Pels Rijcken is a State Advocaten makes them very unique. What also makes them stand out from other law firms is their expertise and in-depth knowledge. I appreciate their competence and thoroughness when it comes to giving advice and helping out. My experience with them and our collaboration have been nothing but pleasant. This team delivers high-quality work and is always my first choice. ’
‘Pieter Stuijt is my contact. Half a word is enough for Pieter to understand issues. He is always available, always reachable, friendly, knowledgeable. I can only talk about him with praise. I am very happy that he is there when we need him. Mark Birnage is in construction law and he is always available, friendly and knowledgeable.’
Key clients
State of the Netherlands, Rijkswaterstaat
State of the Netherlands, Central Government Real Estate Agency
State of the Netherlands, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
State of the Netherlands, Ministry of Defence
State of the Netherlands, Ministry of Finance
State of the Netherlands, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy
State of the Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers
ProRail
De Nederlandsche Bank
The Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW)
The National Police
Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
Central Office of Driving Licences (CBR)
Province of Noord-Holland
Province of South-Holland
Province of Noord-Brabant
Province of Gelderland
City of Amsterdam
City of Rotterdam
City of The Hague
City of Haarlem
Municipality of Moerdijk
Municipality of Zoetermeer
Country of Aruba
TU Delft
Philips Pension Fund
ExxonMobil / Esso Nederland
Royal de Vries Shipbuilding
Royal van Lent Shipyard
Alblasserdam Yachtbuilding (Oceanco)
Domus Magnus
Florence
Fresch Real Estate
Siemens
Work highlights
- Advising the joint project organisation of the State of the Netherlands, the city of Amsterdam and ProRail on the retendering of the €1 bn Zuidasdok project for the redevelopment of Amsterdam’s business district.
- Advising the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) on the € 300 million renovation of its head office in the city centre of Amsterdam.
- Representing the State of The Netherlands (Rijkswaterstaat) in two complex proceedings before the District Court of The Hague against building companies Heijmans Infra B.V. and Strukton Roads & Concrete B.V. Subject matter is the € 230.000.000 renovation and maintenance of all bridges in the southern parts of the Netherlands.
Six Advocaten
Boutique firm Six Advocaten specialises in real estate, construction, regulatory and procurement law, enabling them to advise on the full range of construction law issues. The team assists on a variety of projects including data centres, housing, logistics, and retail. The practice stands out for its work on infrastructure projects where it has assisted public entities with motorways, railways, and wet infrastructure. Public procurement and construction disputes also forms another part of the practice. Construction expert Fabian Horsting typically handles litigation issues and has experience with procurement and construction disputes. Founding partner Wouter Post mainly advises on project development.
Practice head(s):
Fabian Horsting
Other key lawyers:
Wouter Post; Erik Verweij; Daniël van Veen
Testimonials
‘Small team of lawyers who provide hands-on advice’.
‘Wouter Post is a reasonable lawyer with not only pointing out risks but also downsizing these risk and suggesting solutions to handle these. So when you want to make progress you should be able to build bridges and Wouter is able to do this and also gets the sympathy of the opponent company.’
Key clients
Amrâth Hotels & Restaurants B.V./ De Lelie Vastgoed
AM Vastgoed B.V.
CBRE Development
Ballast Nedam Development
De Lelie Vastgoed
BAM
BPD/Bouwfonds
Vastned
Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier (Water Authority)
Vrije Universiteit (VU, Free University)
Province of South Holland
MN/Pensionfund for Metal and Technology Industries
Redevco
Indigo
Equinix
NSI
Work highlights
- Advising De Lelie Vastgoed/Amrâth Hotels & Restaurants on the construction of Galaxy Tower Utrecht, an inner-city development in Utrecht Jaarbeursplein (100 mio plus).
- Advising a joint venture of Ballast Nedam Development and Volker Wessel on the redevelopment of the Market Quarter in Amsterdam.
- Advising De Alliantie on the development of a major housing project in Almere. The acquisition is part of a larger project consisting of approximately 1200 houses, commercial areas, public facilities and parking spaces.
Straatman Koster Advocaten
Straatman Koster Advocaten specialises in real estate and construction enabling it to have a large dedicated team that assists its varied national and international client base. The construction practice often assists with redevelopments and developments, public procurement, and disputes. The firm is also adept at assisting with both national and international contract issues. Olivier Vermeulen chairs the practice – he works for contractors, developers, investors, and government bodies in a wide range of construction cases and projects. Pre-court dispute resolution and other contentious matters are handled by Angela Minderhoud, while Thijs Straatman is a project development and procurement law specialist.
Practice head(s):
Olivier Vermeulen
Other key lawyers:
Angela Minderhoud; Thijs Straatman; Matthijs van Leeuwen; Hugo Strang
Testimonials
‘Always available when required and great knowledge of construction law.‘
‘What makes the practice unique is that Angela Minderhoud has the ability to keep things simple, even when they are complicated. Her hands-on approach and knowledge in combination with her charisma make her a great professional to work with.‘
‘Straatman Koster distinguishes itself from other firms through their pro-active and very accessible way of working. They provide excellent advise in the fields of procurement law and construction law. Very pragmatic in their approach.‘
‘Angela Minderhoud is a top notch specialist within the fields of construction law and procurement law. She is pro-active, accessible and very pleasant to work with.‘
‘Great knowledge of the technical side of construction. Very dedicated. Approachable and hands on.‘
‘Hugo Strang: practical approach but with great knowledge of construction law. Olivier Vermeulen: a very tactical lawyer with a great long term vision.‘
‘The practice of Straatman Koster Advocaten is very pragmatic. The professional legal advice is well thought out both theoretically as strategically.‘
‘Hugo Strang is a good listener. He thinks carefully about the practical and legal aspects of a problem. Hugo explains his advice in a simple and understandable manner.‘
Key clients
TenneT TSO
KanAm Grund
Koninklijke Volker Wessels Stevin
Dura Vermeer
Union Investment GmbH
Strukton Group
Synchroon / TBI
Arcadis N.V.
Arup B.V.
Valstar Simonis B.V.
Strabag
Middin
Digital Realty
Hochtief
Museum Naturalis
AZ Alkmaar – football club
Woonstad Rotterdam
A Lanes A15 (Strukon, Strabag, Ballast Nedam)
Evides
Woonzorg Nederland
Demako (Belgium)
Havenbedrijf Rotterdam (Port of Rotterdam Authority)
Royal Properties Development
Crossing Borders Development
Vano Vastgoed
Back Vastgoed
BPD (formerly Bouwfonds) / Rabobank
SPIE Worksphere
Hurks Bouw
Patrizia Netherlands
Work highlights
- Advising MEET RIVM CBG B.V. (Strukton Groep) on several major construction law-related issues.
- Advising German owner Union Investment GmbH on all legal matters regarding the execution of the project Yvie Amsterdam (formally known as Y-Towers) regarding covid-19 aftermath discussions, extra work claims, further legal arrangements with contractor. This project in Amsterdam is around EUR 500,000,000.
- Assisting TenneT TSO with an ongoing arbitration case concerning the termination of a construction contract with the construction combination Heijmans Europoles BV for the Wintrack II project, a high voltage pylons connection of 48 kilometres of electricity masts.
Van Doorne
Mark Moolhuizen and Bas Van Zelst lead the construction team at Van Doorne, advising clients on non-contentious matters and disputes. Van Zelst is key to construction-related arbitration cases and other complex disputes, while Moolhuizen handles international projects. Jordie Bakker who is well-versed in construction law issues in both national and international construction projects. Sector specific work includes commercial real estate and housing construction projects, hospitals and healthcare redevelopment and development projects, and housing corporations.
Practice head(s):
Mark Moolhuizen; Bas van Zelst
Other key lawyers:
Jordie Bakker; Jan ter Meer; Michelle Koomen
Testimonials
‘We are very satisfied with Van Doorne’s team for their proactive, solution-oriented, and commercially savvy approach. What sets them apart is their ability to foresee challenges and take timely actions to resolve them, adding real value to our business objective. Overall, their capabilities make them a strong contender in the industry, and we are very pleased with their performance.’
‘I’m pleased with the team at Van Doorne, particularly Jordie Bakker for his expertise and proactive, solution-oriented approach. Jordie’s depth of knowledge sets him apart; he consistently anticipates challenges and provides effective solutions, making him an invaluable asset to our collaboration. Overall, we are very satisfied with his and the team’s performance.’
‘The team of Van Doorne showed us a consistent and reliable process, which led us to a good result. There was a good mixed team who advised us in the project. We are very convenient with the work done.’
‘Mark Moolhuizen did an excellent job by preparing the meeting, and giving a right advice during the process. He prepared the work together with an excellent team of his office.’
‘The team is very well equipped to advise us on all aspects of construction. Their way of working can be described as finding a solution that suits the client. This requires knowledge of the business and the client.’
‘Mark Moolhuizen is dedicated, available and hands-on. He is a pleasure to work with. He is very experienced, professional, has in-depth knowledge of the sector and works very hard to achieve the best results for his clients, but always with a view to fair dealings’
‘The practice combines very practical detailed knowledge with legislation and down to earth textual refinement in contracts. Very valuable and convincing in negotiating processes.’
‘Mark Moolhuizen and his team are team players with an outstanding eye for the right approach in strategic and contract negotiations. ’
Key clients
Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom’s Relation
Tergooi
MG Real Estate
Accolade
Amphia
Heembouw
Ducth City Development
Amstelring
Xior
Care Property Invest
FrieslandCampina
Bureau Zuidema
Orpea SA
Municipalities of Enkhuizen and Stede Broec
Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland SE
Zalmhaven C.V.
Work highlights
- Advising the Taskforce Versnelling Tijdelijke Huisvesting, an initiative of the Dutch government (Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom’s Relations) that is tackling the urgent need for temporary housing solutions in the Netherlands, on all legal matters except for procurement law (CMS).
- Assisting Heembouw with several development projects including the complex renovation of the Tropenhotel / KIT Hotel.
- Advised MG Real Estate on the development and subsequent sale – through a share transaction – of the MG Park Lelystad in Lelystad, a project comprising a logistics facility including a 60,000 sqm warehouse.
Bird & Bird
The construction and procurement law practice at Bird & Bird stands out for its focus on energy-related sectors, often assisting with construction issues within utilities and infrastructure. Disputes handled by the team often involve construction damage to infrastructure. Andrea Chao and Evelyn Tjon-En-Fa jointly lead the team. Chao is the go-to for advice on construction contracts, while Tjon-En-Fa is an expert in complex infrastructure and construction commercial disputes. Remco Duijn is noted.
Practice head(s):
Andrea Chao; Evelyn Tjon-En-Fa
Other key lawyers:
Roger van Buuren; Laura Grijpma; Mariam Ali; Remco Duijn; Marieke van den Heuvel; Jeffrey Maalderink
Testimonials
‘Approachable attitude. Working together on projects respectfully. Collaboration construction industry contracts (Andrea Chao) are innovative.’
‘For me Andrea Chao is an excellent partner at Bird & Bird. Andrea has outstanding knowledge of her work field and is inventive. Dead end streets do not exist in her dictionary. She will continue to look for a solution to solve a problem. That is what a client wants. Not only is she engaged with international collaboration contracts, she also collaborates well with colleagues.’
‘Bird & Bird, especially Andrea Chao is strong in approachability and with her collaboration experience knows how to draft collaboration contracts in a way that avoids future issues. Also has practical experience on the client side and on the contractor side.’
‘We cannot give enough praise for Andrea Chao. We are always really happy if we can work with her. In negotiation processes she is a great combination of (i) sharp/critical and (ii) friendly/solution minded. As a client it is very important that your lawyer represents you in a way that reflects your own business attitude and Andrea seems well aware of that.’
‘Remco Duijn is also a great to work with.’
‘Bird & Bird has very skilled people in there team who do everything they can to support the client. There is a strong focus on collaboration, thinking outside the box and viewing issue from different angles. ’
‘Andrea Chao specifically has proven to be an out-of-the-box thinker, ready to go outside of the legal silos and also have a look at concepts from economics for example. She’s driven to make construction projects as a whole successful and thinks diligently about the broader trade-offs contractual decisions lead to. She challenges standard approaches and proved time and time again, that there are ways to solve things that many people consider difficult or impossible to do.’
Key clients
BioBTX B.V.
Boele & Van Eesteren B.V.
Circular Industries BV
Green Create B.V.
GroenLeven B.V.
Gutami
Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier
Landsnet [Icelandic Grid Connector]
Municipality of Amsterdam
NLSH (National Hospital of Iceland)
Pfalzsolar GmbH
Tauw B.V.
T-Mobile
Veolia Nederland B.V.
Visser & Smit Bouw B.V.
Volker Wessels N.V. and subsidiairies
Water Authority Rijnland
Work highlights
- Advising Veolia on several construction and O&M projects and in various legal proceedings.
- Advising the Icelandic Grid connector Landsnet on the repair of a broken offshore grid connection, a highly complex subsea power cable project.
- Representing a large US multinational company that operates inter alia in building technologies in legal proceedings pertaining to claims resulting for a complex building project in the Netherlands involving over 200 constructors.
CMS
CMS' construction practice covers both contentious and non-contentious work. The team works closely alongside its real estate team to assist clients with matters that span both areas. Co-heads Jeroen Berlage and Arno Moret are key to the practice, Moret is known for his litigation skills and handles construction arbitration for the firm but also advises on project contracts for offshore wind projects. Berlage leads on infrastructure matters involving transactions and litigation.
Practice head(s):
Jeroen Berlage; Arno Moret
Key clients
Koninklijke BAM Groep N.V.
Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Heimstaden B.V.
AEB
Ballast Nedam N.V.
Global Switch
Strukton Groep N.V.
Work highlights
- Assisting Ballast Nedam Construction with several construction disputes related to the Galaxy Tower Utrecht.
- Advising Janssen de Jong on obtaining the necessary permits for the construction of logistics real estate.
Dentons
The construction offering at Dentons centers its practice around infrastructure, energy, and industrial projects. The team utilises its international presence to aid its largely international clientele and assists with matters such as developments, disputes, and contract negotiation. Ian McGrath is the global infrastructure and transportation leader and aids on energy and infrastructure projects. Bram Braat is the go-to for procurement expertise. ince research concluded, former practice head Bas van Schouwenburg has left the practice.
Other key lawyers:
Ian McGrath; Bram Braat; Başak Kűçűk
Testimonials
‘Dentons’ construction team is our legal advisor for over twenty years and they are still offering us the best service and quality we need.’
‘Excellent firm. I have worked with many different departments at Dentons over a number of years and have always received excellent service at a reasonable price from a range of professionals who have always been a pleasure to work with. Would certainly recommend to other contacts.’
‘Constructing a building contract is always unique. It depends on many topics to make it successful. Dentons is our legal advisor for a long time now and they know what we want and how we do business. ’
‘The team was understanding and well informed about he market situation of that time. As mentioned before we work quit some time with Dentons now and they know how we work and what we want in such deals. They are accurate and well-informed about complex situations. Besides the team, they have back up from many colleagues in their own specialties. So for us they are the right partner legal wise. ’
Key clients
Abbott Logistics
Alliance Healthcare
Almelose Woningstichting Beter Wonen
Altera Vastgoed N.V.
BPD Ontwikkeling B.V.
Bunge Loders Croklaan B.V.
Cocon Vastgoed Management B.V.
Comol5.vof
Compass Datacenters Inc.
CTF Amsterdam
Cushman & Wakefield / DZAP
Desmet Belgium
DSV Solutions Holding B.V.
Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
G&S Vastgoed B.V.
GIC / HTCE PropCo
GIDARA Energy B.V.
GMB Onroerend Goed B.V.
H&M Hennes & Mauritz Netherlands B.V.
HCRE Management B.V.
Hartwig Art Foundation
Hines Netherlands B.V.
Imbema Group
Impact Vastgoed
Klépierre Vastgoed Ontwikkeling B.V.
JustDiggit
Leyten Bouwplan Ontwikkeling B.V.
Low Carbon Energy Holdings Limited
Nemag Vastgoed B.V.
Newomij Vastgoed B.V.
Novar Projecten B.V.|(former name Solarfields Projecten B.V.)
OD75 B.V. / Pinnacle Holding
Porthos Offshore Transport and Storage C.V.
Round Hill Capital S.A.R.L.
Schroders Capital Real Estate Netherlands B.V.
Stichting Jambo
Stichting Siza
TBI Holdings / Croonwolter&dros / Mobilis
Unibail Rodamco Westfield S.E.
Union Investment Real Estate GmbH
Verenigd Beheer B.V.
Wentzel B.V.
Wester IJ-Dock C.V.
Work highlights
- Advising EnergoNuclear+ on the extensive construction law issues of this major project, which forms part of Romania’s long-term energy strategy to achieve energy independence and fulfil EU decarbonization targets.
- Advising Low Carbon Energy on all the relevant construction law issues, including the engineering, procurement and operations and maintenance agreements.
- Assisting CTF Amsterdam with negotiating and drafting various construction agreements, a coordination agreement and negotiated and drafted a construction management contract for the €200 million transformation of the iconic building.
DLA Piper
A part of the wider real estate, infrastructure, transport, and litigation practice, the construction team at DLA Piper collaborates closely with these practice groups to advise on various aspects of construction projects and contractual frameworks. Assisting both public and private sectors, the team advises on issues from the procurement phase to contractual stages. Janet Meesters is a specialist in construction and public procurement law and leads on all major projects. Marije Overwater and Loesje van Leeuwen are both notable members of the team with Overwater handling project development and construction contracts and van Leeuwen assisting with construction related M&A.
Practice head(s):
Janet Meesters
Other key lawyers:
Marije Overwater; Loesje van Leeuwen
Testimonials
‘Janet Meesters is extremely good at substantiating delay claims. Janet Meesters is able to write a text that is not only correct in terms of content, but also very convincing and easy to read. Janet Meesters always wants to take a few extra steps to ensure that nothing is left lying around. ’
‘Loesje van Leeuwen: upcoming talent, shows a lot of interest in the business of the client what is helpful in making the connection. Janet Meesters: A lot of experience, to the point. Analytical skills highly developed.’
‘In disputes with semi-governmental authorities regarding procurement law, not only technical legal knowledge is important, but also a good understanding of political and social interests. Due to its specific experience in this sector, DLA Piper has a very good understanding of the environment in which the dispute must be resolved. The combination of content, environmental awareness, creativity, drive and continuous focus on results makes this company a pleasure to work with.’
‘I have worked with Janet Meesters and can highly recommend her for disputes regarding procurement law in the construction sector. Her curriculum is of an impressive level, which has also been fully appreciated in court. Janet is a master in her field and has therefore done an excellent preparation of the case and was therefore able to make all counter arguments work for her in the court on an ad hoc basis with great flexibility, resulting in a positive end result.’
‘What I appreciate most is the ability the approach to create a balance between the common building practice and the legal aspects. In the Dutch building practice, contractors are reluctant if a building contract contains too many unreasonable provisions resulting in higher fees or in aborting the negations.’
‘Janet Meesters is the lawyer who personification of the statement above. Moreover, she is very flexible, reacts very quick and she can cope very well with deadlines.’
‘The team operates very well together. They take the time to thoroughly understand the facts of the case, from client perspective, as well as from the delay expert. The entire team has a very strong work ethic. In a complex construction case, with multiple parallel proceedings, they continue to deliver. Next to the hard work the DLA team brings a good atmosphere. ’
‘Janet Meesters really stands out. I experienced working together with her under very high time pressure. She keeps on delivering with the greatest care for detail. She is a fast thinker with a very analytical mind. She co-authored a publication on construction delay, a pre-advice for Dutch court, with original points of view. She actively contributes to advancing the construction law field in the Netherlands. Next to that, she is a pleasure to work with. Loesje van Leeuwen is a very hard worker with extensive file knowledge. ’
Key clients
Aberdeen
Airbus
Amsterdam University Medical Centre (Amsterdam UMC)
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
Arcadis
ArcelorMittal
ASR Real Estate
ASSET Rail
Aviva
BAAK v.o.f.
Ballast Nedam
Being Development
Bilfinger
Delft University of Technology
Delta Development
DEME
DHL
Draken
Dura Vermeer
Emmi Group
GLP
Hotels van Oranje
LyondellBasell
NH Hotels
Prologis
Rasenberg / APK Group
RED Company
RJB Group of Companies
Royal Reesink
Sassevaart (consortium led by BAM and DEME)
Saab Technologies
SABIC
Safestore
TBD
Unilever
Uniper
VolkerWessels
Work highlights
- Advised RED Company and Redevco on a large scale inner-city project development and construction in Rotterdam, including all aspects of this development (incl. zoning, notarial, constructional and leasing aspects) as well as in relation to the JV and related transactions.
- Advised Uniper on the construction contracts for the realization of a hydrogen plant with an electrolyzer capacity of as much as 500 MW and are in the process of drafting contracts and conducting negotiations with the contractor.
- Representing Ballast Nedam since 2020 in four legal proceedings against Unibail-Rodamco Westfield concerning the renovation and expansion of the Mall of the Netherlands, a €500m, project of Unibail-Rodamco.
Kennedy Van der Laan
Richard-Jan Roks leads the construction practice at Kennedy Van der Laan. Active in both contentious and non-contentious work, he is known for his work in the healthcare sector where he advises on both construction and procurement law issues. The practice has been increasingly involved in issues related to sustainability and circular building, on top of its already well-rounded advisory construction project work. Coupled with its real estate practice the team is able to aid clients with the full spectrum of construction issues from design to acquisitions and potential litigation.
Practice head(s):
Richard-Jan Roks
Testimonials
‘The practice has great expertise and a well known knowledge position in the market.’
‘The individuals are easy accessible and willing to share their expertise. Friendly in their contacts and it is never an inconvenience when you contact them also when you have a question in a case that is not (yet) being handled by them.’
Key clients
Port of Amsterdam
Schiphol Airport
Primonial REIM
Heimstaden
Via Outlets
Fairtree Capital
Blauwhoed
Fred Development
IQNN Vastgoed
Vink Bouw
SADC
Conservatorium Hotel
NEOO
Landal Greenparks
Clink Hostels
HR Hotel Group
PPHE Hotel Group
A&O Hostels
Keolis Nederland
Ymere
De Key
De Alliantie
Eigen Haard
Omnia Wonen
Gakon
Sligro
Vodafone Ziggo
Nike Europe
J.P. van Eesteren
Volker Wessels
MACE
Bouwbedrijf De Nijs
Bouwmaatschappij Weboma
Rijnboutt
MVRDV
Swiss Re
Neutelings Riedijk
Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam UMC
Liberty Insurance
Future Proof Shipping
Work highlights
- Assisted Future prove Shipping, an building project concerning retrofitting an inland container vessel fuelled 100% by green hydrogen, with drafting the building contract for the retrofit of the vessel.
- Representing Port of Amsterdam in a court proceedings regarding the sale and re-development of an old part of the Amsterdam Harbour. And also we assisted Port of Amsterdam in the procurement and contracting of the design and construction of the first powdered hydrogen vessel.
- Representing Port of Harlingen in an arbitration procedure regarding delay claims at the construction of a new part of the harbour.
Lexence
Lexence regularly advises clients during construction on issues such as time extensions, changes to project scope, and completion. After completion the firm continues to assist clients on other common matters such as loss or damages arising from construction, execution or design faults, and failure to complete on time. Contracts and tenders are a key focus for the team as well as sustainability. Real estate specialist Bob Bekker leads the team. Jan-Willem Raadgever advises contractors, developers, and investors on a range of issues related to construction developments.
Practice head(s):
Bob Bekker
Other key lawyers:
Jan-Willem Raadgever
Testimonials
‘Jan-Willem Raadgever knows his subject, is very efficient, to the point, very service minded, good at negotiating and a very nice person to be around.’
‘Jan-Willem Raadgever was very flexible and helped us totally with the Dutch regulations and law.’
‘Jan-Willem Raadgever was very professional and open to help with the questions that was risen in the process. Helping us with the communication to the Municipality was excellent.’
Key clients
Royal A-Ware Food Group
Besix
CBRE
Deutsche Bank
Allianz
HONASSET GmbH
Matrix
Work highlights
- Advising Rizzani de Echer on the main legal aspects related to the expansion of Neste’s biofuel refinery in the port of Rotterdam—the largest port in Europe.
- Assisting Rizzani de Eccher with real estate-related matters regarding the development of the International Meeting Facility (IMF), its integration into the current environment, and its connection to the existing European Space Technology and Research Centre (ESTEC) infrastructure.
- Assisted Bestseller with its project to build a large distribution centre in Lelystad, this included assisting with the purchase, and advising on all legal aspects of the deal, especially those related to zoning, construction, tax, and leasing.
NautaDutilh
The construction practice NautaDutilh focuses on PPP projects and often acts in projects for the Dutch government as well as on matters involving both construction and financing. The team is well-versed in advising lenders and works on a number of energy-related construction projects. Team lead David van Ee excels in PPP projects, both advising and litigating on procurement issues, and development projects.
Practice head(s):
David van Ee
Other key lawyers:
Juriaan Berckenkamp; Shauny Japhary
Key clients
Atlassian
Gemeente Zwolle
PWC
Stitching Hoge Veluwe
Erasmus Medisch Centrum Rotterdam
Triodos Bank
Facilitate Europe Ltd
Yunex Traffic
Deutsche Bank
Koninklijke BAM Groep
BNG
Expeditors
European Investment Bank (EIB)
Siemens Nederland
Siemens Energy
Siemens Healthineers
Siemens Mobility
PM Group
ThyssenKrupp
Neste Oil
Cerner
Macquarie
Office for Metropolitan Architecture (O.M.A)
John Sisk & Son Ltd
Automatic Signal
M.A.N. Energy
Nouryon
Nobian
Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
Econocom
Allianz Nederland
KVT
Invesis
Work highlights
- Advising the Finnish multinational oil refining company Neste Oyj with respect to the all legal aspects of its €1,5bn Rotterdam Capacity Growth Project.
- Assisted a consortium of European commercial banks and EIB as the lenders legal advisor with all construction and finance aspects of a change agreement between the Dutch government and the Levvel construction consortium about the Afsluitdijk renovation project.
- Assisted a consortium of European commercial banks and European Investment Bank (EIB) as legal advisor with all construction and financing aspects of a DBFM amendment and settlement agreement between the State of the Netherlands and construction consortium VeenIX.
Norton Rose Fulbright
With a primary focus on infrastructure, Norton Rose Fulbright handles all issues related to projects and are regularly mandated to handle project finance and PPP projects, concession contracts, and construction contracts. A growing area for the firm it its work on renewable energy construction projects, including advising lenders, financiers, and developers. Daphne Broerse utilises her background in administrative and civil law to advise both public and private sector clients on energy and infrastructure projects. Annemarie Ver Loren van Themaat-Creutzberg is also noted for her work with energy companies.
Practice head(s):
Daphne Broerse
Other key lawyers:
Annemarie Ver Loren van Themaat-Creutzberg
Testimonials
‘The team works closely together which allows them to be on top of complex, information-dense disputes.’
‘The personal attention is what makes the difference, especially the combination Daphne Broerse and Annemarie Ver Loren van Themaat-Creutzberg work very well together.’
‘The firm has all the required knowledge about the various contracts in-house but the advantage is that the partners have sufficient knowledge and experience across the various project documentation, (sub)contracts and finance documentation. Professional, hard working and efficient and not over the top. I work with a variety of large law firms but rate the NRF team we work with top ranking.’
‘The quality of lawyers and counsel is great. They have the necessary experience on their resume so they are confident to act decisive and provide proper advice or draft documentation. This makes them independent. Partners are never far away if required and keep good feeling with the case-files. Each of the account holders I have worked with are very approachable and supportive. They make you feel that it is one team that works towards the same common goal.’
‘Strong cooperation and communication within the Norton Rose Fulbright team avoiding misunderstandings and/or inefficiencies. The team has a get-it-done-, pragmatic mentality. Ability to keep the communication and atmosphere good in sometimes difficult negotiations with the counterparty to leverage the human/relationship aspect in the process to reach an optimal outcome for our company.’
‘Daphne Broerse has deep knowledge of the key-contract we were renegotiating, which is helpful given the complexity of the contract. To ensure the legal reflection of the topics is indeed a proper reflection, she asks the right questions to get the full picture in order to “translate” this into the appropriate legal language that is actually workable/pragmatic during the lifetime of the contract.
‘What I really appreciate in both Daphne Broerse and Annemarie Ver Loren van Themaat-Creutzberg is that they are friendly, accessible, very smart yet modest and genuinely want to help and find the best solution for their clients. Their advice is concise and to the point and really helpful in day to day business. ’
Key clients
Ballast Nedam Concessies
Heijmans Nederland
John Laing
Macquarie Capital
TBI PPP
Dura Vermeer
DEME Group
BBGI
Ørsted
Emerald Kalama Chemicals
Strukton
Sandvik Santrade Ltd
ING Bank NV
Avantium
Attero
RWE Renewables
VINCI Construction Grands Projects SaS
Boultbee Energy Storage Ltd
Sunrock Investments
Fresh Trading Ltd
Work highlights
- Advising Fresh Trading Ltd. on the acquisition of land rights for and the construction and operation of a new juice terminal in the Port of Rotterdam
- Advising Attero on all legal matters (including permits, planning, securing land rights and construction contracts) in relation to the development of two solar project on their landfill locations, The solar parks have a combined capacity of 40.5 MW.
- Advising Comol5 (consisting of VINCI, DEME and TBI) on the legal matters relating to the construction of the RijnlandRoute project between Leiden and Katwijk in the Netherlands.
Ploum
Ploum‘s construction practice was founded by Jacob Henriquez who excels in advising on construction matters such as issues during construction phases, construction contracts, tender procedures, and potentially arising disputes. The team is well-versed in international construction law issues and FIDIC-related contracting queries and disputes. A major focus is the renewable energy sector where it advises on agreements and procurement law. Tjinta Terlien is a key team member on construction projects.
Practice head(s):
Jacob Henriquez
Other key lawyers:
Tjinta Terlien
Testimonials
‘Exceptional knowledge of FIDIC combined with an honest and independent point of view on legal disputes makes Ploum, and Jacob Henriquez in specific, an excellent law firm and lawyer. The responses where very quick and accurate. Besides an honest and independent point of view we also received proposals for reactions taking into account our interest even if this results in no further activity for the law firm.’
‘I have worked mostly with Jacob Henriquez and only indirect with his team. I valued extremely the availability and reliability of Jacob delivering what he promised, no matter how tight was the timeline. I have considered Jacob as part of my team and as contributor to the success factor of our project.’
‘Subject matter expertise is outstanding. Concise messaging in understandable legal (and non-legal) communication. Pleasant interaction and quick responses. Delivery of required productions was very quick, on time and accurate, despite high time pressure on delivery. Tjinta Terlien has proven to be exceptionally knowledgeable in the area of the DIDAM arrest, supplemented with her logic and rationale, making the right arguments. In addition understands the business impact and circumstances of projects perfectly.
‘The combination of an excellent knowledge of procurement law and construction law and current case law makes us very satisfied with the legal advice and products delivered by Tjinta Terlien. Tjinta works efficiently and is very flexible, so deadlines have been met. ’
‘The Construction practice of Ploum has the knowledge and knowhow to support in national and international construction contracts in the different stages of construction. From pre-tender to maintain issues, Ploum is able to support. What makes Ploum stand out from other firms is their pro-active approach and understanding what kind of support a company needs, depending on the case. ’
‘I mostly work with Jacob Henriquez. He’s a very proactive lawyer with outstanding knowledge of the law and the construction world. He supports me with national and international cases, which makes him versatile and I can use his support in very different cases. In case he isn’t able to support, then his team is a very good back up.’
‘The approachable people, practical directions and adequate predictions of potential outcomes, makes it working with Ploum very satisfying. The people at Ploum are easy going and friendly in contact, but spot on and sharp in disputes. The knowledge base of Ploum in Construction disputes is wide: they even spread the cases in learning sessions (book, readings) to inform clients about the potential situations and what to do. ’
‘Easy going, low entrance level in reaching out to Ploum. Jacob Henriquez is a very nice and knowledgeable person that remains calm in many different circumstances. His experience in resolving legal matters was very much appreciated in our dedicated case. Despite his experience and professionalism, Jacob remains empathic. Much appreciated that he shows his own feeling there as well. ’
Key clients
TBI Holdings
Dura Vermeer
Renewi
NoordzeeWind
Hitachi Energy the Netherlands
CityTec
Shell Energy Europe Limited
Eneco Energy Trade B.V.
Gate terminal
Strukton Civiel Projecten
Aluchemie
Renewable Energy Factory
Damen Green Solutions
Windpark Nieuwe Waterweg
Work highlights
- Advised Gate Terminal B.V. on various major construction contracts relating to the design and build of a new large scale LNG Storage Tank of 180,000 cubic metres, which is part of Gate’s strategic plan to increase their terminal capabilities to 13,5 BCM (billion cubic metres of natural gas).
- Advised Dura Vermeer on several matters regarding the construction of the new ChemTech centre of OPCW (the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) in the Netherlands. Total deal value EUR 33,5 million.
- Assisted Aluchemie with the decommissioning of their entire production site in the Netherlands, one of the largest decommissioning works in the Netherlands at the moment.
Severijn Hulshof Advocaten
Boutique construction firm Severijn Hulshof Advocaten was one of the first firms in the Netherlands to specialise on construction and it continues to assist clients in major projects and contentious matters including procurement, nuclear projects, and new developments. Practice head Leendert van den Berg is a construction and procurement law expert and litigates and advises on both construction projects and tenders.
Practice head(s):
Leendert van den Berg
Sight Advocaten
A niche firm specialising in construction, real estate, and planning law, Sight Advocaten works for construction companies, project developers, investors, and public authorities on construction and development matters. The team typically advises on redevelopments and contracting issues, and also advises on a variety of issues that cross between real estate and construction. Saskia Konemann and Sebastiaan Sellenraad both co-lead the team with Könemann both litigating and advising on construction disputes involving contracts, while real-estate specialist Sellenraad represents construction developers and investors in developments and redevelopments.
Practice head(s):
Saskia Könemann; Sebastiaan Sellenraad
Testimonials
‘Saskia Konneman is a driven legal expert who helped us as client with the best strategy going forward in the specific matter. The advice is thorough, practical and written in a way we can easily inform our management about the essential issues. ’
‘Objective professional counselling and offers multiple perspectives.’
‘Enthusiastic professional help and thus more than just advice, more than answer to the question is given which creates an extra plus.’
‘Able to use not only legal language but also language that is understood by the people in the client’s business.’
‘Sebastiaan Sellenraad is always available, punctual and he is very qualified for real estate law questions. ’
Key clients
VolkerWessels Vastgoed B.V.
Roku, Inc.
Unifore Real Estate
VolkerWessels Logistics Development B.V.
W.C. Etten-Leur B.V.
Work highlights
- Advising VolkerWessels Vastgoed B.V. on all aspects of the inner-city redevelopment of a 23.5ha (58 acres) industrial site in the centre of Amsterdam to a mixed-use site with 1.700 apartments and 100.000 square meters of business accommodation.
- Advising Unifore Real Estate on the redevelopment of shopping centre Etten-Leur (surface area approx. 40,000 square meters).
- Advising Roku, Inc. on the design and build agreement for its new international headquarters office in Amsterdam.
Simmons & Simmons
Simmons & Simmons bases its practice on construction projects, construction tenders, and project financing issues with clientele of the firm including project developers, lenders, and investors. The team is led by Luc Cohen who has experience handling both international and national construction issues such as project development and procurement. He is also well-versed in construction arbitrations. Andrada Tiru assists clients with redevelopment and development for large projects.
Practice head(s):
Luc Cohen
Other key lawyers:
Andrada Tiru
Key clients
Hines
90 North Real Estate Partners LLP
Danone
SAS ATREAM
Blauwhoed Projectontwikkeling
NIBC
Meijer Realty Partners
Savills Investment Management
Triginta
Macquarie
Movement Real Estate / Van Deursen Group
National Recovery Program Bureau (Sint Maarten)
Work highlights
- Acting for Triginta (as Employer) in the conclusion of a turn-key construction agreement and other construction related documentation with Focus Healthcare B.V. (as Contractor) for the construction of a healthcare clinic to be used and leased by Bergman Clinics.
- Acting for Tristian Capital in relation to the financing of the acquisition of two plots of land (on which a logistic asset will be developed and constructed), located in the planning area “De Vaart IV” in Almere, Netherlands.
Van der Feltz Advocaten
Situated in The Hague, boutique firm Van der Feltz Advocaten advises on both contentious and non-contentious construction mandates for its public and private clients. The practice often combines expertise from a number of practice areas such as transactions, tax, leases, and procurement to advise on both civil and public law construction issues. Practice head Marc Houweling is the youngest partner of the firm and leads on all matters for the team, from construction projects and disputes to public procurement mandates. Brim Tonino is noted for his all-round assistance on construction matters.
Practice head(s):
Marc Houweling
Other key lawyers:
Brim Tonino
Testimonials
‘Van der Feltz has a practical approach and as a boutique firm profound knowledge around Dutch construction law. It is a professional team that also can participate in cross border transactions.’
Key clients
Municipality of Zoetermeer
Work highlights
- Advising the Municipality of Zoetermeer on the legal aspects moving and rebuilding the Nelson Mandela Bridge.