The Legal 500 has published its rankings for 2021. On the basis of annual extensive research on the market and among clients, 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 Media, IT, Retail and Privacy teams we have achieved the highest level once again, being placed in ‘Tier 1’. We congratulate our teams with another great accomplishment.
Data privacy and data protection Tier 1
Under the leadership of the highly experienced Hester de Vries, Kennedy Van der Laan's privacy team is a key name for mandates spanning the data and technology sectors; the group also advises on the full range of data matters with a notable focus on commercial data issues and big data work. The practice's expertise includes advising on matters in the media, telecoms, financial and healthcare sectors, and has recently expanded to include issues relating to smart cities. Quirine Tjeenk Willink is another key name, and combines her privacy experience with expertise in administrative enforcement law. Senior associates Rosalie Brand and Elise Troll are also singled out.
Leading individuals
Rising stars
Industry focus: Information technology Tier 1
Kennedy Van der Laan continues to see growth in its digitalisation practice and an uptick in instructions relating to litigation and pre-litigation work. With a focus on transactional, regulatory, contentious, commercial and advisory work, the firm is active in the technology, financial, retail, telecoms and professional services sectors. Patrick Wit handles IT and tech M&A; Reinoud Westerdijk is the key name for commercial deals for Microsoft; and Joost Schmaal, who was recently promoted to the partnership, handles large IT projects and disputes. Christoph Jeloschek is noted for cross-border litigation and arbitration.
Leading individuals
Next Generation Partners
Industry focus: Media and entertainment Tier 1
The media and IP team at Kennedy Van der Laan stands out for its expertise in internet-related litigation, defamation, copyright and media regulation. Its client roster includes top Dutch and international TV and radio broadcasters, production companies, newspapers, magazine and book publishers, social media companies and political parties. Head of practice Jens van den Brink is a media litigator with a focus on matters relating to free speech, copyright and digital issues. Counsel Christien Wildeman handles defamation and copyright litigation.
Leading individuals
Industry focus: retail Tier 1
Kennedy Van der Laan focuses on commercial contracting for large international blue-chip clients, as well as smaller domestic companies. International franchising, distribution and commercial agency and commissionaire contracts are all key pillars of the practice, alongside commercial litigation and arbitration. The team is a popular choice for clients from the hospitality, technology, life sciences and fashion sectors. Martine de Koning heads the commercial and international trade group and is recommended for EU competition law and cross-border disputes before civil courts and EU and Dutch competition authorities.
Leading individuals
Construction Tier 2
Kennedy Van der Laan’s construction, real estate and procurement team also has expertise in zoning, planning and environmental law, construction and architect law, procurement law, lease law and transactional work. It handles projects from tender through to post-construction litigation and arbitration, and also advises on leasing and property management issues. Team head Richard Jan Roks specialises in civil construction and procurement, with a focus on the healthcare sector. Nico Jacobs, who jointly heads the team, focuses on commercial real estate projects in the hospitality sector.
Insurance Tier 2
Kennedy Van der Laan provides comprehensive advice around insurance regulatory issues, drawing on expertise from its IT, IP, employment and corporate experts. It is experienced in Dutch and European financial services regulation, as well as claims relating to casualty, personal injury, D&O, property and engineering. The team is headed by Erik van Orsouw, Chris van Dijk, Frits van der Woude, Peter van den Broek, Jan Broekhuizen and Petra Oskam. Van den Broek handles insurance and liability law, and policy drafting and coverage disputes.
Intellectual property: trade marks, copyrights and design rights Tier 2
The 'highly innovative, flexible, and efficient' team at Kennedy Van der Laan has a strong focus on the technology (including advanced technologies and life sciences), media, and luxury consumer goods sectors where it serves well-known global brands. The 'excellent' Alfred Meijboom handles cases where IP and IT collide as well as advising Nike/Converse on various marketing programmes; the firm heads a European-wide alliance that provides all legal support for Nike Europe. Maarten Schut also specialises in trade mark, copyright, and design, together with technology and life sciences. Other highly-rated core team members include senior associate Reindert van der Zaal, who is a co-founder of the firm's anti-counterfeiting programme and is respected for his brand protection skills, and associate partner Joran Spauwen who is skilled in handling complex litigation and technology-specific contracts and transactions. Also of note, Sophie van Loon specialises in copyright cases for international media and publishing clients.
Leading individual
Rising Stars
Employment Tier 3
Kennedy Van der Laan's labour and employment team advises HR and in-house legal counsel on general advisory matters, litigation and negotiation processes with works councils and trade unions. Chris Nekeman handles employee co-governance and outsourcing matters. He co-heads the team with Soo-Ja Schijf, who handles cross-border issues such as restructuring and collective redundancy projects, TUPE projects and board member appointments and terminations. Eva Knipschild left for ReulingSchutte.
Environment and planning Tier 3
The Kennedy Van der Laan environment and planning team cover spatial administrative, environmental, and nature conservation law. The firm advises Dutch municipalities on areas such as the construction of wind farms and the realization of business parks. Practice head Anita Nijboer is particularly active in environment and permitting law and is assisting multiple municipalities with the development of business parks.
Next generation partners
EU and competition Tier 3
Kennedy Van der Laan has ‘a lot of practical experience’ in the banking and financial services, manufacturing and retail sectors. The group is led by Annemieke van der Beek, who has been notably active in the payment services industry; she recently worked with Martijn van Bemmel advising a variety of Dutch banks on a matter relating to the pooling of ATM machines. Martine de Koning is also recognised for handling the competition elements of franchising, distribution and agency issues.
Leading individuals
Industry focus: healthcare and life sciences Tier 3
Kennedy Van der Laan is best known for providing corporate advice to healthcare clients, with deep expertise in collaborations, M&A, and joint ventures. Fenna van Dijk heads the healthcare team and has considerable experience as a corporate lawyer. IP expert Maarten Schut focuses on life sciences, advanced technologies and trade marks; he is an experienced litigator.
Real estate Tier 4
Kennedy Van der Laan’s team has expertise in leasing and transactional matters, as well zoning and environmental law, construction and procurement. The group has a strong focus on the hospitality sector but also advises large corporations, development companies, investors and asset management companies on real estate matters. Nico Jacobs and Richard-Jan Roks are the practice heads.
Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation Tier 4
The well-resourced team at Kennedy Van der Laan has 'excellent knowledge of and connections to various industries, a hands-on approach, good to work with especially in international cases.' Christoph Jeloschek and Martine de Koning lead a team of five partners and 21 associates, acting for well-known multinationals, including matters before the Supreme Court. Partner Bart de Ruijter moved to CMS.
