Florent > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Firm Profile
Florent Offices
NOMA HOUSE
GUSTAV MAHLERLAAN 1236
1081 LA AMSTERDAM
Netherlands
Florent > The Legal 500 Rankings
Netherlands > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2
Florent‘s restructuring and insolvency cohort is well equipped to handle complex bankruptcy proceedings for its array of well-known clients, for which the team often acts in cross-border matters. The practice is co-led by Hanneke De Coninck and Kees van de Meent; both are described as being ‘extremely skilled, straight to the point and pleasant to work with’ and both are also court-appointed insolvency trustees. Senior associate Joris Opstroom and disputes specialist associate Merijn Moeliker are noteworthy team members.Practice head(s):
Hanneke De Coninck; Kees van de Meent
Other key lawyers:
Joris Opstroom; Daphne Beunk; Jurgen van den Heuvel; Merijn Moeliker
Testimonials
‘Have had several cross-border cases with them and they always deliver great results on time.’
‘Hanneke De Connick and Kees van de Meent are both extremely skilled, straight to the point and pleasant to work with.’
‘Within the Netherlands, Florent has one of the largest insolvency departments with court-appointed trustees. A wealth of experience combined with a hands-on approach.’
‘Kees van de Meent is well-known as court appointed trustee and is absolutely the go-to for companies in financial difficulties with a great strategic approach. Daphne Beunk has a profound knowledge of the EU insolvency regulations. Jurgen van den Heuvel and Merijn Moeliker are both knowledgeable and extremely dedicated.’
‘Florents’ restructuring and insolvency practice is one of the outstanding practices in the Netherlands in this field. Kees van de Meent comes highly recommended and is one of the top practitioners in the field for the very larger complex restructuring and insolvency matters.’
‘Kees van de Meent is highly experienced and has contacts everywhere – the Dutch leader, even in the niche areas of asset tracing and recovery.’
‘Working with Kees van de Meent is a pleasure. He is knowledgeable, practical and always available to assist.’
‘Excellent advisor, Florent is an expert in all matters around insolvency. With their in-depth knowledge working as a trustee, Florent is able to advise on all relevant aspects.’
Key clients
Crystal River Cruises
Helpling
FNG group of companies
Theo Henkelman Schoenen B.V.
Only A Shoes B.V.
V&D
La Place
Exem Energy
Thomas Cook Nederland B.V.
Van der Moolen
Integrated Green Energy
Amsterdam B.V.
Work highlights
- Acting as court-appointed bankruptcy trustee of Exem Energy B.V. and more recently Exem Oil & Gas B.V.
- Acting as trustees in the bankruptcy proceedings for V&D, the renowned and iconic chain of department stores in the Netherlands, and for La Place, the renowned and iconic chain of restaurants in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Bali and the US.
- Appointed as trustee in the bankruptcy proceedings for Thomas Cook Nederland B.V.
Netherlands > Fraud and white-collar crime Tier 3
Headed by Kees van de Meent with his extensive expertise in multijurisdictional bankruptcy and insolvency matters, the team at Florent focuses on civil fraud matters and is home to ‘leading asset recovery specialists’. The firm also has an in-house forensic accountant, which adds to the team’s capabilities in handling complex and high-value fraud investigations. Having worked on many of the firm’s high-stakes cases, Jurgen Van Den Heuvel is recommended for international asset tracing and recovery as well as civil fraud litigation matters.Practice head(s):
Kees van de Meent
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Kees van de Meent is a highly regarded insolvency lawyer and handles complex civil fraud cases. It is a pleasure to work with him.’
‘Kees van de Meent has a strong knowledge about complex asset recovery cases. He is a leading asset recovery specialist.’
‘Kees van de Meent offers a unique combination of insolvency law and cross-border asset recovery in corruption cases. His many years of experience in insolvency law and his membership of FraudNet make him eminently suited to advise parties prejudiced as a consequence of international commercial fraud. In addition, he represents companies, managing directors, supervisory directors and creditors in the area of international insolvency law.’
‘Great team. They are hands-on and produce high-quality work. Also, they are pleasant to work with. The possess all the skills you would need for an asset recovery case are present in the team.’
‘Kees van de Meent is outstanding. He is the person to go to for the strategy. Jurgen van de Heuvel also delivers really good work and is a great person.’
‘One of the leading Dutch firms in civil asset recovery and bankruptcy fraud.’
‘The team is highly skilled and they are willing to go the extra mile for the client to ensure the timely completion of a given product, even if it means working under time pressure. The team is also really good at communicating and informing their clients about the ongoing process.’
Netherlands > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 4
At Florent, the commercial, corporate and M&A group regularly acts for clients in a broad range of sectors, including food and beverage, media and entertainment, and tech. The practice is led by the triumvirate of Pieter van den Brink, who focuses on cross-border corporate transactions; Pieter Van Uchelen, who is ‘focused and on top of every detail‘; and David van Kessel. In January 2023 Matthijs Brons left the firm.Practice head(s):
Pieter van den Brink; Pieter van Uchelen; David van Kessel
Other key lawyers:
Lidewei Lankreijer; Lisette Smits van Oyen
Testimonials
‘Pieter van Uchelen has come to develop a great understanding of our organisation at all levels and is able to deliver work fit for purpose for us, our portfolio companies and their senior management.’
‘The team led by Pieter van Uchelen has provided excellent advice and process management skills and guided us through an ambitious M&A process with clear focus on delivering the target. Pieter and team mastered all aspects of the transaction, including managing outside counsel from various jurisdictions, and delivered solutions on time.’
‘Pieter van Uchelen was at all times responsive, focused and on top of every detail. He never failed to deliver a solution where one was needed. Lisette Smits van Oyen was also responsive and a great asset on the deal team from day one.’
‘Florent has a pragmatic way of working atop specialist knowledge. With a personal and pragmatic approach, they know how to achieve objectives in a very efficient way. The deadlines and expectations are well-considered and realised.’
‘We work with Pieter van den Brink and Lidewei Lankreijer. Pieter is very involved with the client and has a lot of specialist knowledge as well as knowledge of the client and their file. Lidewei is Pieter’s right hand – she also has the file knowledge and they both always prepare all meetings very well, so that they run very effectively.’
‘Hands-on legal advice during transactions and after implementation.’
‘Pieter van Uchelen and his team are very pleasant to work with, they always keep an eye on the bigger interest of the transaction and are keen to make a deal work.’
‘Pieter van den Brink is very experienced, has an eye for detail and understands the really essential elements in a deal. A proactive negotiator who makes the deal happen.’
Key clients
Tony’s Chocolonely
New York Pizza
PHIT Holding B.V.
Solo Invest
Imbull
WPG Uitgevers
Spring Investment Management
VANMOOF
The Correspondent
Victus Participations
Ennatuurlijk
Cegeka
Plukon Food Group
Arcus Infrastructure Fund
Nimbus
Medstone
Geodan
Visscher Caravelle
Ancala Partners
O2 Capital Partners
Kubus Sports
Euro-Caps
Friesland Campina
Agrifirm
Vendis Capital
Freshstream
83North
Douglas
Döhler
SPX Corporation
Indutrade
Datamars SA
Meijer Beheer
BOM Capital I B.V.
Nozem Investments
Work highlights
- Advised Döhler on the proposed acquisition of SVZ from Royal Cosun.
- Advised Tony’s Chocolonely on an investment by Verlinvest.
- Represented Meijer Beheer in the €700m sale of its interest in the 50/50 Lamb-Weston/Meijer joint venture to Lamb Weston.
Netherlands > Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 4
Boutique firm Florent represents both claimants and defendants and is a strong choice for semi-public organisations, industrial engineering firms, and financial institutions. Yvette Borrius is well versed in high-stakes proceedings before the Dutch courts, including mass claims and class actions. Emille Buziau leads the practice and represents shareholders, directors, and supervisory board members in both corporate and commercial litigation. Managing partner Chris Jager represents both domestic and international clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings. Bart Jan Hermans is also noted.Practice head(s):
Emille Buziau
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘We had the opportunity to work with Bart Jan Hermans and he was always very helpful, attentive and concerned about meeting the clients’ worries and needs. It was a very rewarding experience.’
‘Emille Buziau can read the other side and has a good instinct for the right time for de-escalation or escalation, always serving the end goal.’
‘The Florent team are unique in that they combine top-level advice and knowledge with a personal and pragmatic approach.’
‘Emille Buziau is always available, has a great eye for details, and is highly knowledgeable, quick to respond and pragmatic. Yvette Borrius is very high regarded within the legal market.’
‘Bart Jan Hermans is a very dedicated and experienced trial lawyer – he has excellent preparation for court dates, with all contingencies taken into account, and is convincing in court.’
‘It is a pleasure to work with Bart Jan Hermans and his team. He understands the key issues in a dispute very well and can write very well-founded argumentation and dispute documentation.’
‘Yvette Borrius is very knowledgeable and highly esteemed. Chris Jager is very hands-on and service minded.’
‘Yvette Borrius and Emille Buziau are exceptional lawyers handling complex litigation cases. They are down to earth and know how to convince the court.’
Key clients
Hydro S.R.L.
Renault SA and group companies
CNC U.A.
Deus Ex Machina (DEM)
European Pharmaceuticals International B.V. and Medstone Holding B.V.
The trustee of Simed Healthcare Group
Geodan B.V.
Van Nieuwpoort
McLarnon & Son
Monitor Management
Work highlights
- Representing Renault SA and several (primarily foreign) group companies as lead counsel in class actions initiated under the WAMCA regime.
- Representing European Pharmaceuticals International B.V. and Medstone Holding B.V. in a dispute regarding their investment in an online pharmacy, in terms of a bankruptcy and restart of business without the clients, orchestrated by fellow shareholders and co-directors.
Netherlands > Employment Tier 4
Florent launched its employment practice in January 2023 with the arrival of practice head Joris Oster from Simmons & Simmons. Oster handles both advisory and contentious employment matters and is experienced in assisting clients with dismissals, collective redundancies, and investigations. The practice also supports a number of clients with the employment issues related to corporate transactions.Practice head(s):
Joris Oster
Testimonials
‘The team knows us very well and therefore understands what we need and is able to advise us in a very hands-on way, with practical solutions.’
‘Joris Oster is a storyteller. He understands what his clients need and he is able to put their issues into the wider context. It is very pleasant to work with him and he is always available to help.’
Key clients
Warner Bros.
Roku Inc.
OranginaSchweppes
Vanderlande Industries
RAI
Driscoll’s
GarantiBank
Betterup
Indeed
Douglas
Work highlights
- Advising Warner Bros. Discovery on employment matters including the termination of individual employment agreements, changes to employment terms, transfers of undertaking and template updates to various agreements.
- Acting as Roku’s exclusive employment counsel and extensively advising the company in respect of downsizing its EMEA headquarters in Amsterdam.
- Acting as OranginaSchweppes’ lead employment counsel in the Netherlands, assisting the client with sensitive employment matters.
Florent > Firm Profile
The firm: Florent is an independent Dutch corporate law firm based in the heart of the financial district of Amsterdam.
Florent is a young entrepreneurial firm founded in 2017. Currently our team consists of around 45 lawyers. Our lawyers are homegrown or have worked with national or international renowned law firms before founding or joining Florent.
We offer high end legal advice in a personal setting. Our services include corporate/M&A, governance, insolvency and restructuring, dispute resolution, banking & finance, commercial real estate, employment law and fraud & asset recovery.
Florent is a member of Lexwork.
Areas of practice
- Corporate/M&A
- Insolvency and restructuring
- Banking and finance
- Dispute resolution
- Governance
- Fraud and asset recovery
- Commercial real estate
- Employment law
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Restructuring and insolvency | Hanneke De Coninck | hanneke.deconinck@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 546 98 295 |
Restructuring and insolvency / Fraud and white-collar crime | Kees van de Meent | kees.vandemeent@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 433 66 312 |
Restructuring and insolvency | Joris Opstroom | joris.opstroom@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 127 56 460 |
Restructuring and insolvency | Daphne Beunk | daphne.beunk@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 111 36 113 |
Restructuring and insolvency / Fraud and white-collar crime | Jurgen van den Heuvel | jurgen.vandenheuvel@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 278 30 249 |
Restructuring and insolvency | Merijn Moeliker | merijn.moeliker@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 110 552 75 |
Corporate and M&A | Pieter van Uchelen | pieter.vanuchelen@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 531 38 431 |
Corporate and M&A | Pieter van den Brink | pieter.vandenbrink@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 113 88 578 |
Corporate and M&A | David van Kessel | david.vankessel@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 289 289 64 |
Corporate and M&A | Lidewei Lankreijer | lidewei.lankreijer@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 103 21 896 |
Corporate and M&A | Lisette Smits van Oyen | lisette.smitsvanoyen@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 553 43 860 |
Dispute Resolution: commercial litigation | Emille Buziau | emille.buziau@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 435 50 133 |
Dispute Resolution: commercial litigation | Yvette Borrius | yvette.borrius@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 433 66 322 |
Dispute Resolution: commercial litigation | Chris Jager | chris.jager@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 290 08 118 |
Dispute Resolution: commercial litigation | Bart Jan Hermans | bartjan.hermans@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 113 68 582 |
Employment | Joris Oster | joris.oster@florent.nl | +31 (0)6 202 350 06 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Daphne Beunk | Daphne is a member of the dispute resolution and insolvency law practice… | View Profile | |
Yvette Borrius | Yvette Borrius co-heads the dispute resolution department. With 25 years’ experience she… | View Profile | |
Emille Buziau | Emille has gained broad experience in the field of corporate and commercial… | View Profile | |
Hanneke De Coninck | Hanneke is co-managing partner of the firm and co-head of the Insolvency… | View Profile | |
Bart Jan Hermans | Bart Jan is specialised in insolvency law and dispute resolution. He advises… | View Profile | |
Chris Jager | Chris is partner of the firm and is specialised in dispute resolution.… | View Profile | |
Lidewei Lankreijer | Lidewei was sworn in as a lawyer in 2016 and has been… | View Profile | |
Merijn Moeliker | Admitted to the Dutch bar in 2014, Merijn specialises in insolvency law… | View Profile | |
Joris Opstroom | Admitted to the bar in 2013, Joris specializes in insolvency law. He… | View Profile | |
Joris Oster | Joris Oster specialises in employment law and has over 20 years’ experience… | View Profile | |
Lisette Smits van Oyen | Lisette was sworn in as a lawyer in 2016 and joined Florent… | View Profile | |
David van Kessel | David specialises in corporate law and focuses on mergers & acquisitions, corporate… | View Profile | |
Pieter van Uchelen | Pieter is a partner and co-heads the corporate/M&A department. He is specialized… | View Profile | |
Kees van de Meent | Kees van de Meent is partner of the firm and co-head of… | View Profile | |
Pieter van den Brink | Pieter van den Brink is co-managing partner of the firm and co-heads… | View Profile | |
Jurgen van den Heuvel | Jurgen van den Heuvel is an associate in Florent’s Insolvency and Restructuring… | View Profile |
Comparative Guides
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The Netherlands: International Arbitration
Published: November 2023
Authors: Chris JagerYvette BorriusJan Willem BitterBart Jan HermansLot Bakker
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of International Arbitration laws and regulations applicable in The Netherlands.
-
The Netherlands: Litigation
Published: July 2024
Authors: Yvette BorriusChris JagerEmille Buziau
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Litigation laws and regulations applicable in The Netherlands.