Chris Nekeman

Employee participation law / Restructuring and collective redundancy / Outsourcing and transfer of undertaking / Negotiations with trade unions.
 

Chris’ practice covers all aspects of employment law, including collective employment law and employee participation law. For example, he is regularly involved in harmonization or amending employment conditions, and he assists clients with advice or consent procedures and negotiations with the trade unions. He supports both the board and works councils by giving advice and in legal proceedings, and litigates in employee participation cases before the Subdistrict Court and the Enterprise Section of the Court of Appeal. He also represents judges and public prosecutors in matters relating to legal position.

Chris is a member of the VVA (Association for Employment Law) and of the Employee Participation Working Group of the VvA. Furthermore, Chris annotates employee co-governance law judgments for the employment-law journal JAR and lectures on a regular basis, including at Post Academische Opleidingen (PAO) of Leiden University and VU University Amsterdam. Chris is also a member of the specialist Dutch Association of Employment Law Attorneys.

Chris heads the employment and employee participation practice group. 

Chambers Europe 2025 - Employment - Ranked

Chris Nekeman advises companies on negotiations with works councils, as well as disputes with executive employees and post-M&A restructuring. His wider practice sees him provide guidance on the transfer of undertaking procedures.

• "Chris Nekeman is experienced and approachable, with a human touch and an excellent external network. He delivers as promised."
• "Chris Nekeman not only provides prompt advice but also takes into account factors such as internal politics, consistency with previous approaches and associated risks."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2024 - Employment - Ranked

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.

Chambers Europe 2024 - Employment - Ranked

Chris Nekeman advises companies on negotiations with works councils, as well as disputes with executive employees and post-M&A restructuring. His wider practice sees him provide guidance on transfer of undertaking procedures. "Working with Chris Nekeman is a joy. He knows clients' organisations and methods of collaboration inside out."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Employment - Ranked

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.

Testimonials

‘Chris Nekeman is a great sparring partner.’

Chamber Europe 2023 - Employment - Ranked

Chris Nekeman advises companies on negotiations with works councils, as well as disputes with executive employees and post-M&A restructuring. His wider practice sees him provide guidance on transfer of undertaking procedures. "He's an impressive legal adviser."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Employment - Ranked

Kennedy Van der Laan’s employment offering is ‘very professional and down to earth’ and handles a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. Soo-Ja Schijf has a track record of work for international clients concerning collective redundancies and outsourcing; Chris Nekeman is experienced in negotiations with trade unions and is no stranger to litigation; and Ester Damen is recommended for data protection-related employment work.

Testimonials

• Chris Nekeman is able to provide clear and practically applicable advice.
   

Chambers Europe 2022 - Employment - Ranked

Clients praise Chris Nekeman for being "energetic and passionate," as well as being "approachable and a good listener." He advises companies on negotiations with works councils, as well as disputes with executive employees and post-M&A restructuring.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2021 - Employment - Ranked

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.

Testimonials
 

• ‘Chris Nekeman is always approachable, a good listener and advises with authority and the latest knowledge’.
• ‘Chris Nekeman is flexible and reachable, an excellent network and a good negotiator’.

Chambers Europe 2021 - Employment - Ranked

"Chris Nekeman is very pragmatic and always focused on the relationship," according to one client. Contentious cases over employee benefits and restructurings form the bulk of his caseload. Market commentators home in on his collaborative style, one casting him as "pleasant to work with."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2020 - Employment - Ranked

Kennedy Van der Laan's three-partner employment team provides the full range of employment law services for both national and international clients. Chris Nekeman focuses primarily on employee co-governance, union negotiations, and outsourcing mandates for Dutch companies. Eva Knipschild is high recommended for work involving flexible employment, and Soo-Ja Schijf is a key contact for international clients seeking advice on cross-border matters involving restructuring and TUPE. Employment-focused data protection specialist Ester Damen was appointed as an associate-partner of the firm in July 2019.

Chambers Europe 2020 - Employment - Ranked

One client reports that Chris Nekeman "understands our business and is practical," also adding that he is "friendly, likeable, flexible and easily accessible." Nekeman primarily acts for employers on various contentious cases, including assisting with alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation procedures.
 

The Legal 500 EMEA 2019 - Europe Employment

Kennedy Van der Laan is highly rated for the range of HR-related advice it can offer in addition to the handling of contentious cases, especially in the finance and tech sectors. Eva Knipschild, Chris Nekeman and Soo-Ja Schijf are the senior partners who oversee work for clients such as Unisys, VodafoneZiggo and Rabobank. It advises Microsoft on all its employment matters including co-governance issues relating to restructures and reorganisations.

Chambers Europe 2019 - Employment - Ranked

Chris Nekeman maintains a particularly strong reputation with respect to co-determination rights. He is described by one client as a "really clever and practical" lawyer. Nekeman has a broad employment law practice that encompasses advisory and litigation mandates.

Chambers Europe 2018 - Employment & Labour - Ranked

"Chris Nekeman is highlighted by commentators for his expertise in co-determination and described as a lawyer who "knows everything about trade unions and works councils." Clients also appreciate his "practical approach." He handles all employment matters for Microsoft in the Netherlands, including day-to-day HR issues and restructuring matters."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2018 - Employment & Labour

Kennedy Van der Laan’s ‘very skilful, knowledgeable’ department is led jointly by Chris Nekeman and the ‘engaging’ Eva Knipschild, who is ‘reassuringly strong and clear’. Healthcare and technology are sector strengths of the team, which is also noted for its employee co-governance capabilities. Thijs Ridder is ‘a very helpful, effective’ senior associate; the ‘absolutely brilliant’ Soo-ja Schijf made associate partner in January 2017.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2021 - Employment - Ranked

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.

Testimonials

• ‘Chris Nekeman is always approachable, a good listener and advises with authority and the latest knowledge’.
• ‘Chris Nekeman is flexible and reachable, an excellent network and a good negotiator’.

Chambers Europe 2021 - Employment - Ranked

"Chris Nekeman is very pragmatic and always focused on the relationship," according to one client. Contentious cases over employee benefits and restructurings form the bulk of his caseload. Market commentators home in on his collaborative style, one casting him as "pleasant to work with."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2020 - Employment - Ranked

Kennedy Van der Laan's three-partner employment team provides the full range of employment law services for both national and international clients. Chris Nekeman focuses primarily on employee co-governance, union negotiations, and outsourcing mandates for Dutch companies. Eva Knipschild is high recommended for work involving flexible employment, and Soo-Ja Schijf is a key contact for international clients seeking advice on cross-border matters involving restructuring and TUPE. Employment-focused data protection specialist Ester Damen was appointed as an associate-partner of the firm in July 2019.

Chambers Europe 2020 - Employment - Ranked

One client reports that Chris Nekeman "understands our business and is practical," also adding that he is "friendly, likeable, flexible and easily accessible." Nekeman primarily acts for employers on various contentious cases, including assisting with alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation procedures.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2019 - Europe Employment

Kennedy Van der Laan is highly rated for the range of HR-related advice it can offer in addition to the handling of contentious cases, especially in the finance and tech sectors. Eva Knipschild, Chris Nekeman and Soo-Ja Schijf are the senior partners who oversee work for clients such as Unisys, VodafoneZiggo and Rabobank. It advises Microsoft on all its employment matters including co-governance issues relating to restructures and reorganisations.

Chambers Europe 2019 - Employment - Ranked

Chris Nekeman maintains a particularly strong reputation with respect to co-determination rights. He is described by one client as a "really clever and practical" lawyer. Nekeman has a broad employment law practice that encompasses advisory and litigation mandates.

Chambers Europe 2018 - Employment & Labour - Ranked

"Chris Nekeman is highlighted by commentators for his expertise in co-determination and described as a lawyer who "knows everything about trade unions and works councils." Clients also appreciate his "practical approach." He handles all employment matters for Microsoft in the Netherlands, including day-to-day HR issues and restructuring matters."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2018 - Employment & Labour

Kennedy Van der Laan’s ‘very skilful, knowledgeable’ department is led jointly by Chris Nekeman and the ‘engaging’ Eva Knipschild, who is ‘reassuringly strong and clear’. Healthcare and technology are sector strengths of the team, which is also noted for its employee co-governance capabilities. Thijs Ridder is ‘a very helpful, effective’ senior associate; the ‘absolutely brilliant’ Soo-ja Schijf made associate partner in January 2017.

• Key advisor and sparring partner in the field of employment law for a big tech multinational company;
• Advises the central works council of an international technology company on all aspects of employee participation law;
• Advises a large Dutch bank about individual and collective dismissal cases and strategic projects and amending and creating internal policies and employment conditions;
• Is an external advisor of the UWV;
• Represents a French food and facilities management company in the field of employee participation.

• Key advisor and sparring partner in the field of employment law for a big tech multinational company;
• Advises the central works council of an international technology company on all aspects of employee participation law;
• Advises a large Dutch bank about individual and collective dismissal cases and strategic projects and amending and creating internal policies and employment conditions;
• Is an external advisor of the UWV;
• Represents a French food and facilities management company in the field of employee participation.