The rankings for 2024 are published by The Legal 500. The purpose of The Legal 500 is to help in-house lawyers and legal teams find the right advisors through these law firm rankings. The rankings are based on feedback from 300,000 in-house peers and the access of Legal 500 to law firms deals and confidential matters, which are independently assessed by researchers. The Legal 500 compiles a list of lawyers’ teams per area of law.
We are proud to present the results we have achieved and our thanks go out to our clients for their feedback and recommendations. With our Privacy, Media, IT, Retail and Insurance teams we have achieved the highest level, being placed in ‘Tier 1’. We congratulate our colleagues with this great achievement!
DATA PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION - TIER 1
Kennedy Van der Laan is well-versed in administrative enforcement law and data protection law, allowing it to advise on a range of contentious and non-contentious privacy issues. The firm excels in assisting clients in the financial, logistics, telecommunications, entertainment, and healthcare sectors. The team routinely undertakes investigations and enforcement proceedings carried out by data protection regulators both locally and internationally and recently formed a 24/7 incident response team. Hester de Vries, Quirine Tjeenk Willink, Rosalie Brand, and Judica Krikke all jointly chair the practice. De Vries handles issues at the forefront of data protection such as AI, open data, platforms for data sharing, and adtech. Litigator Tjeenk Willink is an enforcement law specialist, Brand was promoted to partner in 2023 and mainly supports clients with cybersecurity incidents. Krikke focuses on complex digital transformation processes, IT and cloud outsourcing issues. Elise Troll was appointed counsel in 2023 and advises on data protection particularly in relation to telecoms.
Hall of fame
Hester de Vries
Leading individuals
Quirine Tjeenk Willink
Judica Krikke
Rising stars
Rosalie Brand
Elise Troll
‘Kennedy Van der Laan’s team is uniquely positioned to provide world-class advise. They can leverage experience build up over the past 20 plus years and have a large team with legally, technically and commercially savvy players, not only at partner level. ’
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - TIER 1
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.
Leading Individuals
Judica Krikke
Patrick Wit
Next Generation Partners
Joost Schmaal
‘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.’
MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT - TIER 1
Kennedy Van der Laan has extensive experience handling high-profile litigation matters for clients within the media and entertainment industry. The firm caters to a diversity of clients, including production companies, streaming services, broadcasters and social media platforms. Hailed for his ‘thorough understanding of media and journalism’, Jens van den Brink heads the team. Joran Spauwen is another exceptional member of the team that has in-depth experience advising media clients on data protection regulations and online copyright requirements. Sophie van Loon and Lotte Oranje are also notable. Van Loon has experience handling copyright disputes, while Oranje regularly assists with some of the firm’s most prominent cases.
Hall of fame
Jens van den Brink
Rising stars
Lotte Oranje
Next Generation Partner
Joran Spauwen
‘The media team of Kennedy Van der Laan is the best in class in the Netherlands.’
RETAIL - TIER 1
July 2023 saw Kennedy Van der Laan merge its commercial and international trade team with the firm’s EU and competition team, while continuing to be a strong player in matters concerning Dutch franchising law and expanding its work in the e-commerce sector. The retail group is led by the ‘very practical’ Martine De Koning, a leading expert on franchising matters, who also takes on competition issues before the Dutch courts. Jelle Blom, who made partner in June 2023, focuses on franchising and commercial contracts, along with Isabel van Tuyll van Serooskerken, who also joined the firm’s partnership in 2023, combining a civil procedural law practice with matters of franchising, distribution and consumer law.
Leading Individuals
Martine de Koning
Next Generation Partners
Isabel Van Tuyll Van Serooskerken
Jelle Blom
'A very professional and business-oriented team. They have excellent market knowledge, which shows in the advice they give.’
INSURANCE - TIER 1
Kennedy Van der Laan advises on standalone insurance law and associated regulatory issues, covering both Dutch and European matters for a client roster that includes insurers, brokers and public bodies. The group handles a range of insurance products, with particular focus placed on casualty, property and engineering and financial lines coverage in addition to a growing class actions practice. The insurance side of the practice is headed by a team consisting of Erik van Orsouw, Chris van Dijk, Frits van der Woude, Peter van den Broek and Petra Oskam, with Jan Broekhuizen taking the lead on matters of insurance regulation. Marit van der Pool joined the firm’s partnership ranks in September 2023, with a defence and coverage practice centred around D&O and professional indemnity claims.
Leading Individuals
Peter van den Broek
Hall of fame
Erik Van Orsouw
Next Generation Partner
Marit van der Pool
‘Having worked with various insurance firms in the Netherlands over the years, I rate KVDL as the best firm. KVDL has an excellent understanding of the products, the coverage issues and the market dynamics.’
TELECOMS - TIER 2
Kennedy Van der Laan is renowned for its expertise in frequency law, radio spectrum auctions, and related regulatory matters, including market dominance and procedural administrative enforcement law. The telecoms practice is housed within the firm’s regulatory department, jointly led by Quirine Tjeenk Willink and Leon Mensink. Willink is highly sought after for her ‘extensive experience in telecoms’ and frequency law, and has played a pivotal role in major spectrum auctions for both telecom and strategic radio frequencies. Mensink brings a strong background in civil and administrative proceedings, as well as a wealth of knowledge in tariff regulation, market dominance, network access, and market entry issues.
Leading individuals
Quirine Tjeenk Willink - Kennedy Van der Laan
Practice head(s):
Quirine Tjeenk Willink; Leon Mensink.
Other key lawyers:
Elise Troll; Minke de Haan
‘Kennedy Van der Laan’s telecoms practice has specific and practical expertise on a wide range of issues related to Dutch and EU telecommunications law. These include issues including spectrum licensing, number allocation, open internet regulation, interconnection, privacy and data protection as well as competition and administrative law.’
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: TRADE MARKS, COPYRIGHTS AND DESIGN RIGHTS - TIER 2
The ‘true legal and judicial experts’ at Kennedy Van der Laan divide their focus between the tech, media and entertainment, fashion and luxury sectors, representing clients in major trade mark infringement claims and issues around intermediary liability. The practice is led by Maarten Schut, a specialist in tech and life sciences trade mark disputes; IP, IT and sports-focused Alfred Meijboom; and Joran Spauwen, whose expertise lies in assisting the IP aspects of tech transactions. Reindert Van Der Zaal represents both domestic and international fashion, luxury and sports brands in trade mark and advertising matters, and co-heads the firm’s anti-counterfeiting program.
Leading Individuals
Maarten Schut
Next Generation Partner
Reindert van der Zaal
‘Kennedy Van Der Laan has a deep understanding of intellectual property legislation in the Netherlands and extensive experience.’
CONSTRUCTION - TIER 3
Richard-Jan Roks leads the construction practice at Kennedy Van der Laan. Active in both contentious and non-contentious work, he is known for his work in the healthcare sector where he advises on both construction and procurement law issues. The practice has been increasingly involved in issues related to sustainability and circular building, on top of its already well-rounded advisory construction project work. Coupled with its real estate practice the team is able to aid clients with the full spectrum of construction issues from design to acquisitions and potential litigation.
‘The practice has great expertise and a well known knowledge position in the market.’
EMPLOYMENT - TIER 3
Kennedy Van der Laan takes a sector-focused approach to its employment practice, specialising in the technology, financial, and healthcare sectors, aiding employers and international clients with a slew of employment issues. The firm frequently advises on hybrid working arrangements and diversity and inclusion compliance, and is known for its expertise in co-governance law as well as restructuring and reorganisation projects. Chris Nekeman, Soo-Ja Schijf, and Ester Damen lead the practice together. Nekeman is a specialist in employee participation law, Schijf largely represents multinational companies in reorganisations and dismissals, and Damen acts for both employers and works councils, as well as being the go-to for assisting clients in unethical behaviour matters.
Leading individuals
Soo-Ja Schijf– Kennedy Van der Laan
'They are proactive, knowledgeable, approachable, good communicators and deliver as promised. They show outstanding levels of integrity and achieve an excellent balance between the personal and business aspects and perspective. They are involved and committed, creative and solutions oriented, and are not afraid to provide bold advice and take legal action. It is a pleasure to work with them.’
EU AND COMPETITION - TIER 3
Advising on mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, and handling abuse of dominance allegations in major litigations are all areas of experience for the EU and competition practice at Kennedy Van der Laan. It is equipped to handle matters in both domestic and international contexts. Annemieke van der Beek specialises in payment services work in particular, counsel Martijn van Bemmel has experience advising on matters across the financial, banking, retail, transport and IT sectors, and Martine de Koning has expertise handling commerce and trade work; the three oversee the team.
Leading Individuals
Annemieke van der Beek
‘The commercial and international trade team has excellent knowledge of the broader EU and Dutch regulatory framework for consumers, in particular the regulatory framework relevant for product compliance, sustainability, advertising and greenwashing in commercial practices.’
HEALTHCARE AND LIFE SCIENCES - TIER 3
A 'large team with very broad and in-depth knowledge', Kennedy Van der Laan‘s practice is known for advising a diverse range of medical device companies and institutes, with a particular specialism in the oncology space. Practice co-head Fenna van Dijk is noted for her longstanding corporate expertise, advising numerous directors of healthcare institutions and branch organisations on collaborations and M&A, while Eline Lam is well versed in governance and collaboration mandates. IP specialist and co-head Maarten Schut is particularly adept at handling matters concerning trade secrets and publishing for academic hospitals and other not-for-profit institutions. Additionally, Schut regularly represents clients in negotiations and disputes concerning R&D and licensing. Anne ten Brummelhuis has vast knowledge of patient rights, tariff regulation, the Youth Act, and the Social Support Act, allowing her to handle a range of e-health and regulatory mandates.
Leading Individuals
Fenna van Dijk
‘They have a large team with very broad and in-depth knowledge. They also provide helpful knowhow to keep us up to date.’
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION - TIER 4
One of the new areas of growth for Kennedy Van der Laan has been collective actions, where the team represents both claimants and defendant. Commercial litigation expert Christoph Jeloschek leads the practice, focusing on cross-border litigation and IT-related disputes. The team was strengthened at senior level by the promotions of practice co-head Isabel van Tuyll van Serooskerken, Jelle Blom and Veerle van Druenen in January 2023. Van Tuyll van Serooskerken is frequently engaged by clients for her expertise in corporate litigation, and has bolstered the firm's capabilities in post-M&A disputes and disputes between directors and executive boards. Blom is a go-to for pre-litigation and injunction proceedings, while van Druenen specialises in contractual and technology disputes.
Next Generation Partners
Isabel van Tuyll van Serooskerken – Kennedy Van der Laan
‘Kennedy Van Der Laan bring detailed scrutiny to the conduct of litigation. What makes the team stand out is that it has a very collaborative approach with clients. They get to know the sector and really drill into the issues.’
REAL ESTATE - TIER 5
Kennedy Van der Laan covers a wide array of real estate issues, notably zoning and environmental law, procurement, leasing and real estate M&A. The team has also been increasing its expertise in circular buildings and sustainability. Richard-Jan Roks and Eline Goemans jointly lead the practice, with Roks advising on construction and procurement issues within the healthcare sector, and Goemans handling all project-related real estate work, including litigation.
‘We received solid guidance on Dutch real estate law and ensured that we were able to get an outstanding issue concluded in a short period of time.’
COMMERCIAL, CORPORATE AND M&A - TIER 6
Kennedy Van der Laan's workload includes M&A transactions, corporate governance issues, restructurings, and management participations. The practice is jointly led by M&A and private equity specialist Gaby Heere and Jan-Berend Möller, who handles domestic and cross-border transactions for clients in the tech, construction and healthcare sectors. Lukas Suijkerbuijk is well versed in handling M&A deals in the healthcare space.
‘They provide guidance and keep their cool in continuously changing situations, and understand our business needs. They are also down-to-earth and have a good network of corresponding firms.’