European Legal 500

Editie 2012

Banking and finance

AKD advises on Dutch law aspects of cross-border transactions, including acting for Benson Elliot Capital Management on borrowing a €100m facility from a syndicate of banks led by Bank of America and SMBC. It also advised RBS Citizens on acquisition financing for QPS' takeover of Xendo Drug Development. Practice head Vincent Bettonville has 'substantial practical experience', and is recommended along with newly promoted partner Diane de Vries.

 

Construction
 AKD's key clients include government agency ProRail, engineering company Grontmij, and construction companies Heijmans and Janssen De Jong. Recent work includes advising on urban redevelopment projects and acting for E.ON Benelux on the Maasvlakte Power Plant 3 construction. Marc Wintgens heads the practice.

 

Corporate/ M&A
 AKD's service is 'professional with a very personal touch'. The practice advised Macintosh Retail Group on selling its Dutch telecoms businesses to Vodafone. The team is led by Erwin Rademakers and Nathalie van Woerkom, who is 'on the ball and knows how to achieve the best for her clients'. Heimon Smits and Matthijs Ingen-Housz are also recommended.

 

EU & Competition
 AKD is well known for its state aid and public procurement work but is increasingly handling cartel and merger review cases. Newly promoted partner Marije Osse advised Brocacef on obtaining approval for its takeover of Lloyds to form the Netherlands' second largest pharmacy chain. Other clients include government agency ProRail and postal service provider Sandd. Pieter Kuypers heads the practice. Associate Niels van Nuland is also recommended.

 

Employment
 AKD is highly regarded for its pragmatic approach and proactive service. Practice head François Defaix recently acted for the WPN (association of postal service employees). Pieter Huys and Hans van Mens are also recommended. Ton Gaalman retired from the partnership but remains counsel to the practice.

 

Environment and planning
 AKD advises government authorities, including water boards, on planning matters for infrastructure and regeneration projects, and represents corporates including Bayer Crop Science, Akzo Nobel and ING Real Estate. It is ProRail's preferred counsel for planning and environment matters. Practice head Jos van der Velden and Bart Roozendaal are recommended.

 

Intellectual property
 AKD continues to develop a presence and is recommended for brand protection and enforcement matters. It advises Samsung on anti-counterfeiting issues and successfully defended Dutch shoe retailer Scapino against trade mark infringement proceedings brought by Converse. Peter Claassen heads the practice, while Huib Berendschot 'creates novel solutions'.

 

Project Finance and PFI
 AKD's Marc Wintgens leads the team, which advises public and private sector clients on infrastructure and PPP projects. It advised CIF Krimpen and CIF Loenen as borrowers of financing for a telecoms infrastructure network, and also acted on education sector developments.

 

Real estate
 AKD has been advising on redevelopments, including the construction of a new railway terminal in Breda and various urban regeneration projects. It is advising ING Real Estate on the Zuidas development. Practice head Marc Wintgens gives 'first-class advice'.

 

Restructuring and insolvency
 AKD's team is led by Barend de Roy van Zuidewijn, who is trustee in a number of bankruptcies as well as advising construction company Akar in negotiations with Rabobank, which withdrew a credit facility following its insolvency. The practice is also advising on the liquidation of Topps Tiles' Dutch operations, and advising a former group of Yukos on restructuring. The team also includes Paul Peters and Ed Wagemakers.

 

Shipping, aviation and transport
Noted for its 'excellent service, industry knowledge and appropriate advice', AKD is mainly known for representing owner companies. In transport and logistics, it handles aviation incidents and acts for international hauliers and the management company of the Dutch railway system. Haco van der Houven van Oordt and newly promoted partner Jan Kromhout are 'bright, enthusiastic and have excellent client relationship management skills'. Counsel Frans de Vries Lentsch is also recommended.

 

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