Clifford Chance's practice stands out for its ‘good commercial sense’ and ’strong M&A capabilities and resources’. High-value M&A transactions, with domestic and international elements, are a key pillar of strength for the group. Mark-Jan Arends leads the team; Jeroen Thijssen focuses on public takeovers and private equity and infrastructure investments, and Gregory Crookes, who has 'good business sense and a very sensible way of negotiating', specialises in handling complex cross-border M&A and high-value joint ventures. Jan-Hendrik Horsmeier, counsels Tim Heerschop and Pieter Leefers, and senior associate Stephanie Phillips are key names to note.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team has strong M&A capabilities and resources and an ability to handle transactions across several jurisdictions.’

  • ‘Stephanie Horowitz and Hansuya Reddy are well-connected with good knowledge of the Dutch market standards.’

  • ‘The corporate team of Clifford Chance led by Greg Crookes is a very good, and efficiently operating team.’

  • ‘The corporate team of Gregory Crookes, Pieter Leefers and Hansuya Reddy is a great team.'

  • 'The team takes ownership and acts quickly and efficiently. Where necessary, they seamlessly align with other sections with a careful, precise and very accurate and pragmatic approach.'

  • 'An excellent understanding of the main aims at a high-level are combined with due attention-to-detail, taking care that deadlines are met, results achieved and things do not fall through the cracks. ’

  • ‘Strength in understanding private equity and the business. Good commercial sense.’

  • ‘Gregory Crookes has a good business sense and a very sensible way of negotiating that makes sure that the important points are being taken care of without antagonizing people. It makes negotiations strong but amicable which helps in M&A.’

Key clients

  • Royal DSM
  • Koole Terminals
  • Prosus
  • Optiver
  • ABN Amro
  • Rabobank
  • Koole Terminals
  • ING
  • Entain
  • NIBC
  • Optiver

Work highlights

  • Advised ING, ABN Amro & Rabobank on the sale of iDEAL to the European Payments Initiative (EPI).
  • Advised Prologis on the acquisition of a portfolio of 128 logistics facilities and six new developments from Crossbay.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Mark-Jan Arends

Other key lawyers

Jeroen Thijssen, Stephanie Horowitz, Hansuya Reddy, Gregory Crookes, Pieter Leefers, Jan-Hendrik Horsmeier, Tim Heerschop, Stephanie Phillips