Industry focus: Information technology

Kennedy Van der Laan

Kennedy Van der Laan’s ‘top of the market’ team offers comprehensive services in the IT sector, addressing transactional, regulatory, commercial and contentious aspects. The group’s leadership comprises Patrick Wit, Reinoud Westerdijk, Joost Schmaal, Christoph Jeloschek and Judica Krikke. Wit focuses on IT outsourcing, tech projects, cyber security and digital transformation, particularly serving the financial services, healthcare and retail sectors. Westerdijk is an expert in IT contracting, including cloud solutions, cyber security and IT public procurement. Schmaal’s expertise lies in IT and BPO outsourcing, procurement and tech litigation, and represents insurance clients in IT-related litigation. Krikke, who joined in March 2023 from Stibbe, brings extensive experience in IT outsourcing, cloud sourcing, software licensing and data protection. Jeloschek is the lead for IT litigation and arbitration at the firm.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Most likely the best IT team in the Netherlands and beyond, KVdL's IT practice stands out in all aspects. Exceptionally good at contracting, litigating and providing legal and regulatory advice.’
‘Patrick Wit has an excellent understanding of the IT industry and is, without any doubt, the go-to person for this industry. He easily understands complex matters, is pro-active and very clear in his recommendations to solve legal matters in a pragmatic way.’
‘This team is top of the market and consists of nice, able and eager people. Their scope is broad in services and knowledge.'
‘The team's strength is its ability to adapt to the client's needs.’
‘The KVdL team always provides best-in-class, pragmatic and business-oriented solutions. One aspect that sets the team truly apart is their ability to effectively communicate complex legal concepts clearly and concisely.’
‘Joost Schmaal has a high knowledge of IT, and is able to quickly understand issues or risks and effectively solve or mitigate them.’
‘Joost Schmaal has great experience, technical ability and commercial acumen in dealing with all aspects of IT/IP disputes. I would highly recommend Joost: he is a very hands-on, pragmatic lawyer and very knowledgeable.'
‘Astrid Sixma is uber smart, very fast, extremely knowledgeable on the full IT landscape (and beyond) and - also important - great fun to work with.'

Key clients

Microsoft
CBRE
VodafoneZiggo
Hiscox
Koninklijke AholdDelhaize
Foundation Emission Claim
EarthToday.com
Zaans Medisch Centrum
Thinkwise
Trans Link Systems B.V.
Chubb
Ahold Delhaize Pensioenfonds
Backbase
Planon
Lumileds Holding B.V.
DMARC Advisor
The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel)
The Dutch State
Royal Flora Holland
Royal Reesink
Amsterdam University Medical Center
VU Medical Center
Erasmus Medical Center
Radboud University Medical Center
SWEMP (ICT organisation of 4 Dutch housing corporations)

Work highlights

Advised the Dutch State in its strategic software supplier management in Oracle, Salesforce and SAP.
Represented Blauw and six other market research companies in the aftermath of a cyber incident in which the data of over 2m Dutch citizens were compromised and potentially stolen.
Assisted Schiphol Area Development Company in an innovative co-operation between the electricity grid operator Liander and tenants of properties at the airport area for the smart redistribution of electricity and managing of capacity.