EU & Competition law

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.

Practice head(s): Annemieke van der Beek; Martijn van Bemmel; Martine de Koning

• 'We have worked for many years with Annemieke van der Beek, an outstanding lawyer with excellent knowledge and experience.’
• ‘Broad knowledge and experience in (EU) competition law.’
• ‘Annemieke van der Beek is very experienced in this field.’

Assists financial sector clients with competition matters, including obtaining approval for joint ventures. Also represents transport sector clients in cartel damages claims. Acts for retail sector clients on contentious distribution matters. Additionally has clients from the healthcare sector.

The firm's straightforward manner of counsel is appreciated by clients, one singling out its "clear and pragmatic advice."

Another endorses the team for maintaining "a good balance between quality and speed."

Advised Dutch public transport operators NS, GVB, HTM and RET on European merger regulations in respect of the creation of a joint venture.

Annemieke van der Beek represents financial institutions, transport operators and fashion retailers in competition cases spanning merger control procedures and dawn raid investigations. Clients extol her business understanding, one citing her "thorough knowledge of competition law and client-oriented way of working."

Martine De Koning maintains a clientele of fashion retailers, luxury brands and telecoms operators. She is particularly well known among sources for her advice on distribution agreements.

Kennedy Van der Laan displays deep expertise in the banking and financial sector, regularly advising the three largest Dutch banks. A notable matter highlight involved practice head Annemieke van der Beek and Martijn van Bemmel advising Dutch Payments Association regarding a dawn raid and the following procedure. Martine de Koning is another key member of the team and leads cases on abuse of dominance, vertical restraints and transfer of technology. Clients praise the competition team for its 'high-quality work' and 'professional, knowledgeable and practical lawyers'.

• ‘The competition law team at Kennedy Van der Laan consists of professional, knowledgeable and practical lawyers, who are very effective in obtaining the required results. They are thorough and deliver high-quality work‘.
• ‘I have worked with Martijn on a complex matter of competition law relating to the Dutch lottery system. He has extensive knowledge of competition law and is a really clever and skillful lawyer. Martijn is a great professional, who is positive and efficient at getting deals done. I can highly recommend him to others who require high-quality and practical legal advice‘.
• ‘Annemieke van der Beek. Very nice to work with, a real professional with a sharp insight into the client’s business‘.

Assists financial sector clients with competition matters, including obtaining approval for joint ventures. Also represents transport sector clients in cartel damages claims. Acts for retail sector clients on contentious distribution matters. Additionally has clients from the healthcare sector.

Clients underline the firm's knowledge in this area.

Annemieke van der Beek particularly assists clients from the banking industry. Her practice includes experience of follow-on cartel litigation, as well as handling complex abuse of dominance proceedings before the ACM.

Martine De Koning enters the rankings on the back of positive assessments from clients, who describe her as "very well connected" and "very strategic." She is particularly active for clients from the retail and fashion industries, advising on vertical restraints, as well as franchise and distribution agreements.

“We at GSN are especially happy with the cooperation model between ourselves and Kennedy Van der Laan. Thanks to a great mutual commitment to the preparation of the cases and a clear division of roles, we were able to choose the best strategy to follow in these cases together. With Kennedy Van der Laan we have developed a characteristic method of cooperation, in which GSN supplies the relevant facts, after which the team translate this business information into legally relevant information.

All in all, we are extremely satisfied; not only with the positive outcome of the various proceedings and summary proceedings, but also with the cooperation. The team of Kennedy Van der Laan, consisting of Annemieke van der Beek, Martijn van Bemmel and several other colleagues from other practice groups, always do their utmost to achieve the best result for us.”

“I’ve been working with Annemieke van der Beek for many years. She combines thorough knowledge of competition law with a hands-on and very client orientated way of working. Besides that Annemieke is very capable to align interests of stakeholders leading to strategic relevant advantages for her clients. Her professional approach has led to unanimous positive results when dealing with competition authorities needed for carrying out strategic projects. Highly recommended!”

“Annemieke van der Beek is considered an authority on competition law in the payment industry. She has an extensive knowledge of payment system and its institutions; her network includes all the relevant key persons and she stays constantly up to date on all developments in this field. For this reason, her advisory work is broadly valued an appreciated.”

"I had sought Annemieke's advice on a complex topic of competition law. Together with her colleague Minke de Haan, she fulfilled my request in an excellent manner. Their well-wrought written advice had ample legal depth while being pragmatic and solution-driven at the same time. I was very happy with the outcome and would certainly not hesitate to recommend Annemieke to others who require high-quality legal services."

The Kennedy Van der Laan practice 'provides creative solutions, combining expertise in different areas such as IP, distribution, data protection and licensing and also stands out at managing complex projects' and it specifically benefits clients with 'significant expertise in the retail industry'. Martijn van Bemmel and Jelle Blom are 'outstanding' while Martine de Koning is viewed as 'a top lawyer who perfectly knows the retail industry'. Nike, Converse, VodafoneZiggo and Elecosoft UK are among its client list. Of late the team has handled matters including a complex distribution dispute, franchising, and online retailing issues. It also advised Panda Sporthallen Exploitatie in a Court of Appeal case in which it claimed compensation for the early termination of a fitness club franchise format. Counsel Bart-Adriaan de Ruijter and senior associate Isabel van Tuyll van Serooskerken are other team members of note.

Kennedy Van der Laan 's team 'works efficiently and is focused on the bigger picture'. It has notable strength handling competition matters in the banking and finance, retail and healthcare sectors. Annemieke van der Beek assisted the Dutch Payments Association during a dawn raid and is acting for the client in an ongoing investigation by the European Commission into its role in the alleged misconduct by Dutch banks surrounding their payment accounts and third party access. Martine de Koning, who is 'very dynamic', and senior associate Martijn van Bemmel are other names to note.

Notable team with a developing presence in the market, offering expertise across a broad range of EU and competition law matters, including state aid and merger control, in addition to regulatory work, compliance and litigation. Advises national and multinational clients, with a focus on large Dutch banks and is experienced handling competition matters related to fintech.

The team offers a "high level of knowledge, flexibility and understanding of the customer," according to clients.

Sources also praise the "very business-minded" lawyers for their "useful suggestions that have a direct application to the situation under discussion."

Represented Dutch Payments Association in a dawn raid investigation by the European Commission.

Annemieke van der Beek receives praise from sources for her "high level of knowledge and experience."The source goes on to add that she is "flexible and creative in solving problems" and "always very customer-oriented." She advises on state aid and merger control mandates, and additionally acts on dawn raids.

Kennedy Van der Laan’s ‘very professional and prompt’ team has a strong focus on handling competition matters for clients in the banking and finance, retail and healthcare sectors. Annemieke van der Beek is assisting the Port of Amsterdam with state aid issues arising from a number of construction, real estate and community projects. Martine de Koning is a name to note.

Notable team with a developing presence on the market, offering expertise across a broad range of EU and competition law matters, including state aid and merger control, in addition to regulatory work, compliance and litigation. Advises national and multinational clients, with a focus on large Dutch banks. Particularly strong in the financial, fashion and retail sectors.

Sources praise the firm, asserting that its lawyers are "dynamic, practical and client-focused."

One client is particularly impressed by the team's track record, in addition to the level of service: "They're easy to work with, they put themselves in our position and then transfer matters into a legal document which is understandable for us."

Assisted Geldservice Nederland with obtaining merger clearance from the ACM concerning the transfer of ownership and operation of ATMs.

Advised Intravacc on the state aid aspects of its privatisation

Annemieke van der Beek receives plaudits from clients for his "excellent and high level of knowledge of our industry." She is well regarded for her knowledge of competition law and experience in the financial services sector. Her work highlights include advising Oncode on the state aid implications of its operation to combine the oncology research from several academic hospitals and research institutions in the Netherlands.