Europe - Netherlands

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Environment and planning

Houthoff

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The environment and planning cohort at Houthoff has a strong reputation for its capabilities handling a broad scope of high-end advisory and litigious work. The team’s client portfolio spans industries ranging from the chemical, waste processing and energy, including renewables, sector to real estate. Examples of its high-value, and often cross-jurisdictional work includes advice on large-scale redevelopment projects and zoning matters on the planning side, and on climate action plans on the environmental side. Co-lead of the public law team Marry de Gaay Fortman supports team head Marloes Brans, whose broad expertise includes particularly issues surrounding climate risk and sustainability. Brans took over from former team lead Jan Frans de Groot, who departed in January 2023 to a position in The Dutch Council of State. Zoning and spatial planning specialist counsel and former practice head at CMS, Luurt Wildeboer bolstered the team in September 2022.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Houthoff's teams go to great lengths to understand the case and develop a completely conclusive legal line of reasoning.'
  • 'Every step in the line of reasoning has been thought through, all possible side-tracks have been finished and understood. A lot of time and work is put into it, and it shows.'
  • 'There are many different areas of expertise that can all be used in cases by the team members.'
  • 'Houthoff lawyers have strong personal skills and are able not only to assist and handle complex matters efficiently, but they also show that they have a good understanding of the business and the client needs.'
  • 'We worked with Marloes Brans and were always satisfied with the service provided, including his quality of advice, responsiveness, analytical skills, knowledge of the local market and business considerations.'

Key clients

  • Royal VolkerWessels
  • PPG
  • Huntsman
  • Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
  • Tata Steel
  • Arup
  • Brancheorganisatie Kinderopvang
  • Milence
  • Municipality of Amersfoort
  • Municipality of Utrecht
  • Municipality of Hilversum
  • Nationale Politie
  • Makelaarsland
  • Royal Dutch Schiphol
  • G&S
  • Dutch National Opera & Ballet
  • VDL Nedcar
  • Nederlandse Spoorwegen N.V.
  • CBRE
  • Attero

Work highlights

  • Advising and litigating for a range of corporates with heavy industrial activities in the Netherlands, regarding complex permitting, regulatory, supervision and enforcements matters, including for Huntsman, Attero and Givaudan, both at executive and administrative level.
  • Working extensively with a range of governmental bodies at all levels, as well as many municipalities, such as Hilversum, on contracting and zoning law matters in relation to the redevelopment of Arenapark, the city's main sport and business district.
  • Advising and representing various companies with advice and litigation representation in zoning matters, and with transactional work.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners

Marloes Brans

Marloes Brans

Houthoff

Marloes specialises in environmental law and spatial planning law. She advises and litigates for the industry, project developers, investors and government bodies, and has extensive experience in liaising with the authorities (environmental permission authorities, the SZW inspectorate, and the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate). Marloes is also regularly involved in due diligence and contract negotiations in M&A and transactions.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Marloes Brans

Other key lawyers

Marry de Gaay Fortman, Freeke Heijne, Monica Sonderegge, Luurt Wildeboer

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