Employment expert Stibbe covers the full gamut of employment and pension issues, including advisory, contentious and transactional matters. The practice is at the forefront of employment law issues, representing clients in significant mass litigation proceedings relating to non-standard workers and disputes involving strikes in industries such as rail and aviation. Pensions litigation is another area of focus for the team, as well as advising on pension structures and directors’ liabilities, and the firm is also developing its practice in relation to platform economy issues. The practice is co-led by Jaap van Slooten, Paul Vestering, and Astrid Helstone. Van Slooten splits his time between pensions law and employment law, specialising in the finance and transport sectors, where he regularly represents clients in collective disputes and high-profile pensions cases. Vestering is the go-to for collective employment matters involving works councils and unions, and also handles pensions projects, while Helstone is an expert in complex remuneration and board-related matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Astrid Helstone is exceptional in her legal analysis, responsiveness, and the quality and timely delivery of her legal advice and overall product. There is no other partner I would recommend before her. She is the best in her field.’
‘Astrid Helstone stands out for being extremely specialised on the one hand, but also down-to-earth and practical on the other hand. She is always available and very friendly. I absolutely love working with her.’
‘I am deeply impressed by Stibbe‘s employment team. They have top-notch lawyers who are able to handle all kind of complex matters in a very diligent but still pragmatic way. It is my go-to firm.’
‘It is always a pleasure to work with Astrid Helstone, Jaap van Slooten and Paul Vestering. Astrid has huge experience in handling remuneration issues in regulated industries and is very helpful in finding practical solutions even in complex legal situations. Jaap is just a very bright and smart person - it makes it so much fun to work with him. Paul is really a very experienced L&E attorney in particular in relation to complex M&A transactions.’
‘We work a lot with Jaap van Slooten. Jaap is well-known professor of employment law and is well regarded within the business (and also by his peers). He knows our business and knows what is important for and to us. We have a longstanding relationship with Jaap and are very satisfied with his work, especially when it comes to advising on collective labour agreements and actions etc. He always delivers and is innovative.’
‘Stibbe has a very strong employment law team. The team is able to provide top-notch advice in the most complex situations. They give practical advice while keeping the strategic rationale in mind. They are very punctual and are always available for questions.’
‘I know Phinney Disseldorp as a great litigator in employment law. He is a strategic thinker with the ability to translate that into hands-on advice. He understands the business and provides excellent legal advice. In many instances, just a phone call is enough.’
'Astrid Helstone and Phinney Disseldorp are standout practitioners with a deep knowledge of their practice area.'

Key clients

Uber
G-Star Raw
LeasePlan Corporation
Dutch Railways (NS)
Albert Heijn, part of Ahold Delhaize
International Business Machines Corporation
KLM, part of Air France-KLM
Prijsvrij, part of DER Touristik and REWE
Picnic
a.s.r.
Mars
Heineken

Work highlights

Advising Uber on strategic issues and representing the client in proceedings issued by FNV, the largest trade union in the Netherlands, which is representing the drivers who use the Uber app.
Representing G-Star RAW in high-profile pensions litigation against the pension fund for the fashion industry, seeking to have the scope of the mandatory pension plan adjusted.
Advising AholdDelhaize on an ongoing basis on complex remuneration matters in relation to the members of its executive board and other senior management.

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.

Jaap van Slooten

Hall of fameStibbe

Leading individuals