The commercial, corporate and M&A group at AKD has a strong reputation for advising on high-value and cross-border M&A deals and private equity matters. The team reports an increase in instructions from clients in the tech, biotech, chemical and transport sectors. Carlos Pita Cao heads up the practice, and other key practitioners include public M&A specialist Lennart Crain, Nathalie van Woerkom and Wouter Kros, who brings experience in handling joint ventures.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The AKD team are nothing short of fantastic. We have a complicated group structure with shareholders all around the world, and AKD's ability to consider multiple jurisdictions and multiple elements of a deal and propose a structure that works considering all elements is phenomenal. They always have the company's best interest at heart which has made us a customer for life.'

  • ‘Always available, always willing to go the extra mile and always have a great attitude. Peter Cohen and Wouter Kros from the AKD team were nothing short of amazing in our most recent transaction.'

  • ‘The team is very dedicated and always very helpful, as well as collaborative.’

  • ‘Nathalie van Woerkom is amazing to work with and really thinks along with us in our best interest. She is also a people person and really shows interest in her clients and team.’

  • ‘A very professional, pragmatic and deal-orientated team.’

  • ‘We have worked with Nathalie van Woerkom and Valéry Schaap. Both provided us excellent advice, were very skilled in navigating cross-border deals and the communication with them was top. I would certainly recommend them to others. An excellent team.’

  • ‘The team we are working with is well coordinated, with a delightful blend of experience and expertise. Agile and efficient.’

  • 'Carlos Pita Cao is a likable, smart and trustworthy practitioner - very knowledgeable.'

Key clients

  • Marlin Equity Partners
  • Youfone
  • Culina Group Limited
  • Uniphar plc
  • KIC InnoEnergy EIT
  • Neways
  • Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost Nederland (OOST NL)
  • Perspectieffonds Gelderland B.V.
  • Rotterdam Port Authority
  • Remia
  • De Hoge Dennen Capital
  • Vitec
  • Berk Partners (Private Equity)
  • Blackstone and a portfolio company
  • PAI and a portfolio company
  • Alpha Private Equity / IPCOM
  • Inkef Capital
  • Foodmate
  • Newion
  • Pax8
  • Ballymore Group
  • Brian Beheer
  • Telrol
  • CWS
  • Astek Group
  • ViCentra
  • ISA Pharmaceuticals
  • Westway Group
  • K3 Business Technology Group Plc. (LSE-AIM: KBT)
  • Total Produce Plc. (LSE: TOT, ISEQ: T7O)
  • Sumitomo Corporation
  • Ralph Lauren
  • Facilicom Services Group
  • IOI Corporation
  • DW Partners
  • Oranjewoud (PE firm)
  • PFM

Work highlights

  • Advising Marlin Equity Partners its bid, together with Altor, for Meltwater.
  • Advising the shareholders of Youfone on its sale to KPN.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Carlos Pita Cao

Other key lawyers

Peter Cohen, Wouter Kros, Nathalie van Woerkom, Valéry Schaap, Lennart Crain, Inan Akdeniz