The rankings for 2023 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 has ‘unique expertise in the area of cybersecurity’. Head of the data protection practice Hester de Vries is testament to this, advising public sector and private sector clients, operating in complex new digital ecosystems, such as digital payments and gaming, on data protection governance. De Vries also represents clients against imposed fines by the Dutch Data Protection Authority and is a key contact for public sector clients investigating data-related issues. Experienced litigator Quirine Tjeenk Willink is known for representing clients in enforcement and fining procedures. Senior associate Elise Troll advises clients on the implementation of privacy compliance in healthcare apps, data sharing platforms and smart traffic solutions. Senior associate Rosalie Brand adds another layer to the practice, specialising in cyber incidents. The arrival of Judica Krikke from Stibbe, where she led the IT, IP and data protection teams, strengthens the practice further.
Hall of fame
Hester de Vries
Leading individuals
Quirine Tjeenk Willink
Judica Krikke
Rising stars
Rosalie Brand
Elise Troll
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - TIER 1
With the arrival of Judica Krikke, former head of Stibbe‘s IT department, in March 2023, Kennedy Van der Laan continues to be a go-to for clients seeking advice on major projects. Krikke not only brings expertise on IT procurement processes and ERP contracting but also represents clients in disputes concerning failed IT implementations. Patrick Wit works on tech projects, IT contracting, cybersecurity and digital transformations. Reinoud Westerdijk specialises in IT contractual joint ventures and public procurements and acts for high-tech suppliers and service providers. Christoph Jeloschek acts for large Dutch and international companies on cross-border litigations and complex IT disputes concerning failed IT projects. Joost Schmaal assists with emerging technologies such as smart contracts and AI. Senior associates Astrid Sixma and Veerle van Dreunen provide outstanding support and lead on large-scale transactions involving the integration of technology in transport projects.
Leading Individuals
Judica Krikke
Patrick Wit
Next Generation Partners
Joost Schmaal
MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT - TIER 1
Known for its freedom of speech and internet-related media practice, Kennedy Van der Laan is sought out by Dutch news outlets, broadcasters and production companies for advice on defamation claims and pre-publication reviews. Team head Jens van den Brink represents national and international media companies in free speech, copyright and digital matters. Content and technology specialist Joran Spauwen counsels the firm’s internet platforms and ISP clients on IP and transactional mandates. Counsel in the IP and media practice Sophie Van Loon is a key contact for social media platforms. Associate Lotte Oranje regularly acts for clients in disputes concerning press publications and online content.
Hall of fame
Jens van den Brink
Rising stars
Lotte Oranje
RETAIL - TIER 1
Kennedy Van der Laan is a leader in franchising and distribution matters for a range of clients that include luxury, fashion and sports brands as well as innovative consumer goods manufactures and well-known retail chains. Head of the commercial and international trade practice, and an integral member of the EU competition law team Martine De Koning handles customs, trade and import issues as well as matters concerning digital transformations, online distributions and big data. Senior associate Jelle Blom handles international franchise and distribution and agency cases for global clients. Senior associate Isabel van Tuyll van Serooskerken is a disputes resolution practitioner with knowledge of the retail-related consumer, contract and e-commerce and geo-blocking laws.
Leading Individuals
Martine de Koning
Rising Stars
Isabel Van Tuyll Van Serooskerken
Jelle Blom
INSURANCE - TIER 1
Kennedy Van der Laan advises on EU and Dutch financial regulation relating to insurance, as well as handling claims concerning casualty, property and engineering, and reviewing policies. The firm has a strong focus on claims and policy drafting, and clients include insurers, both domestic and international, insurance brokers, pools and loss adjusters. As a member of the international network of Global Access Lawyers, the firm has access to global expertise in insurance and liability law. The insurance practice is led by Chris van Dijk, Frits van der Woude, Peter van den Broek, Erik van Orsouw and Petra Oskam, with Jan Broekhuizen leading the regulatory insurance team. Marit van der Pool specialises in both defence and coverage work in professional indemnity and directors’ and officers’ liability matters.
Leading Individuals
Peter van den Broek
Hall of fame
Erik Van Orsouw
Rising Stars
Marit van der Pool
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: TRADE MARKS, COPYRIGHTS AND DESIGN RIGHTS - TIER 2
Kennedy Van der Laan represents high-profile clients active in a range of sectors, especially in the advanced technologies, life sciences, fashion and media industries. Maarten Schut is a key name for technology and innovative life sciences companies for trade mark and trade secret issues, while Alfred Meijboom is recognised for his intersecting IP and IT work, and also advises sports-sector clients and handles arbitration cases involving art. Joran Spauwen assists emerging companies and foreign clients with investments in innovative technologies, requiring licensing and IP transactions. Counsel Sophie Van Loon is a specialist in collective rights management issues and in copyright law, and senior associate Reindert Van Der Zaal leads on brand protection, anti-counterfeiting and trade mark infringement mandates for sports, luxury and fashion brands.
Leading Individuals
Maarten Schut
Rising Stars
Reindert van der Zaal
CONSTRUCTION - TIER 3
Focusing on construction, procurement, architecture and property development, Kennedy Van der Laan’s practice covers a range of real estate and construction projects. Expanding its focus on sustainability and circular building, the practice, led by Richard-Jan Roks, is active in tendering, design and construction and post-construction disputes, as well as acquisition, leasing and property management. Roks is focused on construction and EU procurement law, specifically in the healthcare sector, and Jacobs is specialised in real estate development and transactions related to the hospitality industry.
EMPLOYMENT - TIER 3
Kennedy Van der Laan has a strong focus on sectors including technology, financial services and healthcare, and has specific experience in employee governance, advising and representing employers and work councils. The firm is also active in restructurings and reorganisations, as well as employment-related data protection matters and #MeToo issues. The practice is led by Chris Nekeman, who specialises in employee participation and legal proceedings for works councils and employers, Soo-Ja Schijf, who primarily represents multinationals with European operations, and Ester Damen, who has expertise in employee participation and data protection in employment relationships.
EU AND COMPETITION - TIER 3
Led by Annemieke van der Beek, senior associate Martijn van Bemmel and Martine de Koning, Kennedy Van der Laan assists clients with compliance, regulator investigations and enforcement proceedings. Handling EU and competition law, including sanctions, trade controls and financial regulation, as well as abuse of dominance, follow-on litigation and merger control, the firm stands out for its sector-specific experience in manufacturing, fashion, retail and hospitality, with an additional focus on banking and finance particularly in relation to the payment services market.
Leading Individuals
Annemieke van der Beek
HEALTHCARE AND LIFE SCIENCES - TIER 3
Jointly led by healthcare expert Fenna van Dijk and life sciences specialist Maarten Schut, Kennedy Van der Laan's team handles the full breadth of mandates across the healthcare and life sciences segments. Combining a corporate background with a focus on healthcare, Van Dijk advises on market entry, licenses, clinical research, PPPs and drafting contracts with medical devices companies; she played a key role in the vaccine strategy concerning the Covid-19 pandemic. IP expert Schut advises multinational companies including Nutreco and Syngenta and not-for-profit institutions on conflicts relating to R&D and licensing. With the addition of Joran Spauwen, the practice has gained a specialist in IP-focused transactions in the advanced technologies sector, assisting healthcare service providers with medical devices regulation and negotiating contracts with AI suppliers. He also links the M&A practice to the healthcare and life sciences practice, focusing on innovative companies investing in the health tech industry. Counsel Sophie Van Loon specialises in contract drafting, advisory work and litigation within the life sciences field and associate Eline Lam focuses on corporate, healthcare and regulatory law.
Leading Individuals
Fenna van Dijk
INDUSTRY FOCUS: TELECOMS - TIER 3
Kennedy Van der Laan‘s telecoms practice is intertwined with its media offering. The group has a core focus assisting with frequency auctions and disputes; advising telecoms clients on administrative enforcement; and handling regulatory litigation. The experienced Quirine Tjeenk Willink is routinely involved in major spectrum auctions and is sought out by major broadcasters and telecoms companies for spectrum-related matters, including disputes and regulatory advice. Counsel Leon Mensink has extensive experience as a litigator in telecoms mandates, focusing on SMP, tariff regulations, network access, enforcements and zoning issues regarding transmission towers. Senior associate Elise Troll specialises in enforcement and regulatory law and associate Minke de Haan provides support on competition and regulatory matters.
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION - TIER 4
REAL ESTATE - TIER 5
The team at Kennedy Van der Laan covers the life cycle of real estate, including zoning and planning, development and construction, as well as property investment and management, with an increasing focus on circular building and sustainability matters. The team is led by Richard-Jan Roks.
COMMERCIAL, CORPORATE AND M&A - TIER 6
Kennedy Van der Laan has a strong capability in handling mid-market M&A arising out of the healthcare and technology sectors, and counts corporate governance matters, management participations and restructurings in its workload. Gaby Heere, who advises on M&A and due diligence investigations, jointly leads the team alongside Jan-Berend Möller, who has experience of handling acquisitions and joint ventures.
