Ploum’s extensive range of services within the transport, logistics, and trade sectors encompasses corporate affairs and insurance, as well as civil, administrative, and criminal law. The Rotterdam-based team is under the joint leadership of Jikke Biermasz, who excels in both commercial advisory and litigation, specialising in anti-dumping, transport, customs, and trade-regulatory matters; Marijn van Tuijl, with expertise representing carriers, terminals, and forwarding agents, as well as warehousing companies and their insurers, particularly in compliance and supply chain disputes; and Albert Wiggers, skilled in managing transport and logistics sector M&A transactions. The bench was further strengthened in January 2023 with the addition of Jeroen Zandt, an experienced international trade and transport litigator and ‘expert in maritime law’, who joined from Codex Mulder Advocaten.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Jeroen Zandt is very efficient, focused on detail, and is an expert in maritime law. He is an excellent negotiator, with a strong commercial sense.’

  • ‘The uniqueness of the Ploum transport practice comes from its extensive knowledge and track record in the customs industry. We are not aware of another firm with the same in-depth and relevant knowledge.’

  • ‘The team is very pragmatic and comes with solutions!’

  • ‘The team is hands-on, has good knowledge about the transport market and works (cost) efficiently.’

  • ‘Jikke Biermasz is knowledgeable, responsive and always looks for hands-on solutions. ’

  • ‘Jikke Biermasz is a star customs lawyer in Rotterdam. A pugnacious litigator, a pragmitic advisor. Strongly recommended.’

  • ‘Jikke Biermasz and Marijn van Tuijl are very competent, with strong expertise in custom law.’

  • ‘With the arrival of Jeroen Zandt and his team, the transport law team at Ploum has grown, not only in numbers but specifically in the quality that they are able to provide. ’

Key clients

  • Wintershall Noordzee
  • Peinemann
  • AIG
  • DSV
  • Customs Support Group
  • Hutchison Ports Europe
  • HES International
  • Maersk
  • Matrans
  • Nedcargo
  • KGH Customs
  • APM Terminals
  • Service Terminal Rotterdam
  • Sea-Cargo
  • Flexport
  • Expeditors International

Work highlights

  • Assisted longstanding client Matrans in the sale of Mainport Tankcontainer Services (MTC) to Boasso Global B.V, part of Quala. MTC is active in the repair, cleaning and storage of empty tank containers.
  • Advised Customs Support Group on more than 10 acquisitions in 2022/2023 of customs brokering / freight forwarding businesses throughout Europe.
  • Representing a Dutch freight forwarder and customs agent in cassation proceedings before the Dutch Supreme Court.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Jikke Biermasz, Marijn van Tuijl, Albert Wiggers

Other key lawyers

Jeroen Zandt