De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek NV - Who's Who Legal 70

What is the Who's Who Legal 70?

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek NV in Who's Who Legal

	Project Finance
	1

	Oil & Gas
	2

	Private funds
	2

	Corporate Tax
	2

	Corporate Governance
	4

	Environment
	1

	Internet & e-Commerce
	2

	Trademarks
	2

	Product Liability Defence
	1

	Construction
	1

	Commercial Litigation
	1

	Public Procurement
	2

	Management Labour & Employment
	1

	Capital Markets
	1

	Patents
	1

	Banking
	3

	Competition
	3

	Aviation
	1

	Mergers & Acquisitions
	5

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek NV enjoys an impressive showing with 33 lawyers from its Amsterdam headquarters appearing in 19 of the following chapters, earning it the Dutch law firm of the year award. The firm has a reputation for its corporate governance and M&A expertise, which it continues to build on: last year De Brauw advised in more major M&A deals than any other law firm in the Netherlands.

De Brauw is the top firm in the Netherlands for corporate governance work, fielding four lawyers. Jaap Winter is one of the best regarded practitioners internationally and sources were keen to point out his “world-beating” litigation and advice work. Winter is a member of the EU corporate governance forum and recently advised the supervisory board of Corporate Express on the public offer made for its shares by Staples, and APG on its merger transaction with Cordares. Paul Cronheim has an “excellent reputation” and has advised numerous Dutch public and private companies as well as foreign corporations on a range of governance issues, he also adds his name to the litigation listings. Bernard Roelvink is highlighted for his work for Royal DSM on the divestment of business unit Thermoplastic Elastomers (Sarlink) to Teknor Apex Company, and for Adecco on its public offer for DNC, and Martin Van Olffen completes the “notable team”. The firm also features in the M&A research with three of its lawyers on our list. The “excellent” Arne Grimme features prominently in the Dutch M&A market, alongside Winters and Roelvink.

Bernard Spoor is an “excellent, client-orientated” private funds lawyer. He deals with cross-border transactions involving investment institutions, advising on the structure of investment funds and corporate structuring, with a specialist area in US transactions. Kees Groffen stands out as an “accomplished lawyer”, advising on cross-border investment management.

The firm’s banking team makes an impact on our listings. Jan Marten Van Dijk comes “highly recommended”. His recent work includes advising the government on investment and regulatory impacts of domestic financial deals. Dirk Meerburg features in the banking and capital markets chapter for his “notable” expertise in advising on equity financing, IPOs and general financial transactions. He has a special interest in US/Dutch securities deals.

In corporate tax, Dick Hofland is a “problem solver” with a strong knowledge of high-end tax planning for M&A, private equity and other commercial deals. He has recently advised Almatis BV on the restructuring of its debt through US Chapter 11 proceedings. He works alongside Paul Sleurink, who assists with structuring tax-efficient investment funds and counts Group Danone and RBS as clients.

On the competition side, Jolling de Pree is “top-tier”. He heads the competition and regulation practice and specialises in European and Dutch competition law. He counts Philips and Vion among his many clients. Managing partner of the Amsterdam office, Martijn Snoep litigates in the area of cartels, for which he has developed a “noted” international reputation. Erik Pijnacker Hordijk is “exceptional” and also features in our breakdown of the top 10 public procurement individuals in this area. Also in that chapter is Bommel van der Bend who mainly advises on complex procurement issues and handles contractual issues in the area of large-scale construction projects and commercial contracts in the oil, gas and electricity industries. He also enjoys a listing in the construction chapter.

The firm’s intellectual property team are also well recognised. Koen Limperg heads the IP/ICT practice in Amsterdam. He advises on intellectual property regulation, litigation and alternative resolutions, with a particular emphasis on fast-track procedures. He also appears in the product liability defence chapter. Tobias Cohen Jehoram specialises in trademark and design law, extending to copyright, and know-how protection. He is of “top quality”, according to one interviewee. On the patents side, Gertjan Kuipers is “outstanding”. He acted as senior counsel in Sara Lee/DE v Coffee pad producers.