AKD's environment and planning team, which is formed of ‘highly qualified lawyers’, is well-equipped to advise on the gamut of complex matters ranging from high-value major developments and zoning plans to contentious and non-contentious environmental issues regarding such aspects as the shipment of waste. Its client list features names including the Minister of Infrastructure and Environment in the Netherlands. Breda-based Jos Van Der Velden oversees the team, alongside Hugo Doornhof, who works from the Amsterdam office, and Rotterdam-based Gerrit van der Veen, who is described as being ’straight to the point, reliable and very competent’. The ‘unique and down-to-earth’ Thomas Sanders is also a name to note, as is Eveline Sillevis Smitt, who is particularly focused on major development and enforcement matters. Henk Breeman retired from the team in December 2022.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘A very customer-focused practice; individuals are extremely reliable in urgent situations.’
‘The individuals at AKD are very knowledgeable and have good access to a very broad and general network, including partners and government authorities. AKD manages to swiftly get to the bottom of things and finds a pragmatic approach in many situations.’
‘AKD offers a wide-range of legal services, covering both private and public affairs.'
‘Team members are each specialists in their field, and by proactively participating in the assignment they optimally serve the client.’
‘In my experience the team has an excellent knowledge of the subjects and works accurately.’
‘Gerrit van der Veen and Erik Dans are straight to the point, reliable and very competent.’
‘AKD is formed of highly qualified lawyers. They share their knowledge in a accessible way.’
‘Thomas Sanders is unique, one of a kind and more knowledgeable than any other lawyer I've met - he is also down to earth and shares complex information in a comprehensible way.'

Key clients

ProRail
Various provinces
Various municipalities
Waterboards
Uniper Benelux N.V.
Heros Sluiskil
Urenco Netherlands B.V.
Aldi Supermarkets
Havenbedrijf Rotterdam
AMVEST
Blauwhoed
Verbrugge Terminals, ZHD Stevedores
KFC
Wacker Chemie AG
WDP - Warehouses De Pauw
Hunter Douglas Europe
Dutch Parliament
Access World
Dutch State (Ministry of the Interior)
Sif Netherlands B.V.

Work highlights

Assisting Raiffeisen Immobilien Kapitalanlage GmbH in zoning proceedings in the city centre of Rotterdam, where housing for 240 students near the hospitality industry has been a challenge for years, and needs to be regulated in a definitive way.
Advised the Minister of Infrastructure and Environment in proceedings at the Council of State for the implementation modification of a crucial railway line in a densely populated area.
Advising the Municipality of Tilburg at the Council of State successfully in a landmark enforcement case about whether the use of rubber-infill for thousands of artificial turf fields in the Netherlands (mainly football pitches) is legal.

Lawyers

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