AKD is known for its expertise in class actions, where it advises claimants on complex cross-border claims. The team also has notable corporate and commercial litigation capabilities and has been growing its financial litigation practice, representing both domestic and foreign institutions. Rotterdam-based practice head Patrick Haas is known for his expertise international collective redress cases. Arbitration expert Erik Koster excels in cross-border litigation, while Jeffrey Kleywegt mainly focuses on collective redress actions.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘AKD has a strong team of legal minds in all Benelux countries and is able to cover the entire area in particular for cross-border matters. Also they have excellent ties to multiple other jurisdictions such as Curaçao which makes them a go to firm with multi-jurisdictional dispute and asset recovery matters.’ 

  • ‘Jeffrey Kleywegt and Jurian van der Pas are particularly noteworthy and excellent to work with in cross-border matters. They are smart with good strategic overview also in complex matters.’

  • ‘Professional team, led by Erik Koster. Fast response and in-depth knowledge, with the ability to get to the core of a case quickly.’

Key clients

  • Stichting Truck Claim
  • Stichting Car Claim
  • Stichting Volkswagen Investor Claim
  • Yukos Finance B.V.
  • EndemolShine Group B.V.
  • Royal Imtech N.V.
  • Svenska Handelsbanken S.A.
  • LeasePlan Nederland N.V.
  • Stichting Wirecard Investors Claim
  • Prorail N.V.
  • Erasmus Medisch Centrum Rotterdam
  • Neways Electronics International N.V.
  • Segulah (private equity investor)
  • Stichting HagaZiekenhuis (formerly Stichting Reinier Haga Groep)
  • Cerberus Capital Management LP
  • Beequip B.V.
  • Smits Holding B.V.
  • Darling Ingredients
  • Ortolan
  • Rotate (trading under the name Kenneth Smit)
  • Port of Rotterdam N.V.
  • Wavi BV

Work highlights

  • Represented Stichting Car Claim (SCC) in several landmark class action cases against various car manufacturers over their role in the diesel emissions scandal.
  • Represented Stichting Data Bescherming Nederland (SDBN) in a substantial WAMCA claim against Amazon.com.
  • Represented the trustees in the bankruptcy of Royal Imtech in several high-profile disputes against Imtech’s former financiers, directors and former auditor KPMG.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Patrick Haas

Other key lawyers

Erik Koster, Jeffrey Kleywegt