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.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘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.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Janet Meesters