STAUNCH‘s arbitration practice has continued to grow since its founding by Stefan Derksen in 2021. In late 2023, the arbitration practice was boosted by the arrival of French arbitration law specialist Irène Léger from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek. The specialist disputes firm dedicates a large portion of its time to arbitration and is well positioned to handle complex cross-border and multi-jurisdictional arbitrations due to its internationally qualified team. Clients of the firm include domestic and international corporations, financial institutions, insurers, and institutional and private investors. Lútsen de Vries was promoted to partner in January 2024 and focuses on setting aside proceedings and construction disputes. Derken leads the team and excels in disputes involving technical or financial issues.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team at Staunch stands out due to their extensive experience and expertise, particularly in high-stakes arbitration and litigation. Having honed their skills at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek before founding Staunch, their deep legal knowledge and strategic approach enable them to navigate even the most complex cases. Staunch's commitment to innovation, deep expertise, strategic approach and thinking on their feet not only sets them apart but makes them an invaluable partner in handling complex multi-jurisdictional legal matters, ensuring optimal outcomes for their clients.’
‘Irène Léger stands out for her exceptional legal talent. She is a brilliant and efficient communicator, adept at reading between the lines and understanding the nuances of her opponents' positions. Her exceptional professional sense and ability to gauge the dynamics of a case further highlight her expertise. Stefan Derksen provided outstanding support for Irène Léger. Stefan is a deep thinker and a meticulous, systematic analyst with fundamental knowledge of law. Stefan possesses a profound understanding of how the system works and what can be anticipated under various circumstances.’
Key clients
- Vitrus Consultoria de Mercados
- Pawa Finance Ltd.
Work highlights
- Represented Star Clippers in an ongoing high-stakes legal battle against the Croatian shipyard Brodosplit relating to the construction of the world's largest passenger vessel.
- Represented ProRail in numerous construction arbitrations.