Nico Jacobs

Real estate M&A / Project development / Sustainability / Lease law / Asset management / Hospitality / Public housing / Health care property / Project & real estate financing / Litigation & Arbitration / German desk.

Nico assists clients in the commercial real estate sector, with an emphasis on the hospitality industry. He advises on a broad variety of real estate related legal services which are relevant to the entire life cycle of real estate projects from due diligence and acquisition, financing, (re)development, construction, property management and leasing agreements through property disposition. Furthermore, Nico has a vast experience in helping clients settle disputes both in court and arbitration.

Nico is familiar with the different perspectives of legal work and advising. He worked as in-house counsel for an international hotel group and headed the legal department of a European real estate developer. In the past, he worked as an attorney in Frankfurt and in Paris.

Besides member of the Real Estate & Construction team, Nico is also member of the German Desk and the French Desk of Kennedy Van der Laan.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Real estate

Kennedy Van der Laan handles the full life-cycle of real estate projects, including zoning and planning, development and redevelopment, design and construction, leasing and disposal mandates. It has particular experience in the hospitality, housing, retail and construction sectors. Nico Jacobs and Richard-Jan Roks lead the team.

Practice head(s): Nico Jacobs; Richard-Jan Roks

The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Construction

Kennedy Van der Laan construction, real estate and procurement team handles the full life-cycle of construction projects, from acquisition, to zoning and planning, development, management and disposal. It is particularly active in the hospitality, housing, fashion and retail sectors. Richard-Jan Roks and Nico Jacobs head the practice, with Roks recommended for civil-construction and procurement law, and Jacobs handling real estate developments and transactions.

Practice head(s): Richard-Jan Roks; Nico Jacobs
Other key lawyers: Eline Goemans

The Legal 500 EMEA 2020 - Real estate

The team at Kennedy Van der Laan advises on all stages of the life cycle of real estate projects from area development, due diligence and the acquisition of property, through redevelopment and construction, to property management and leasing, as well as the disposal of property. The firm's 'deep insight into the business model of hotel operators' gives it particular expertise in the hospitality sector. The recent arrival of Anita Nijboer from Ekelmans & Meijer Advocaten strengthens the practice's ability to assist with environmental and zoning matters. Richard-Jan Roks and Nico Jacobs jointly head the practice, which also includes senior associate Anne-Christine Keuning, who 'has profound legal knowledge and looks into matters very diligently and thoughtfully'.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2020 - Construction

Kennedy Van der Laan advises all parties in construction matters, from contractors and developers to large corporates, handling all aspects of work from the initial tender phase through to turn-key purchase agreements and post-construction litigation and arbitration. The practice is jointly headed by Richard-Jan Roks, who is highly regarded for procurement and contract matters, and Nico Jacobs, who is especially strong in the hospitality sector.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2019 - Real Estate

The real estate group at Kennedy Van der Laan is made up of 'young and very motivated lawyers who are different to the other big firms; their approach is unconventional and so are their legal solutions.' Nico Jacobs and Richard-Jan Roks head the team and senior associate Anne-Christine Keuning is identified as a 'skilled negotiator who is positive and efficient in getting deals done'. The team has an established clientele in the hotel, leisure, and healthcare sectors. Recent highlight work includes advising Marriott Hotels International on a range of new hotel projects and also advising Nike Europe on the development of its new European HQ to accommodate more than 2,000 employees.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2019 - Construction

Kennedy Van der Laan has a track record in the construction sector, including expertise with architecture, real estate, and procurement law and increasingly large commercial projects. Richard Jan Roks and Nico Jacobs co-head the team; Roks has a strong healthcare client roster and Jacobs has a focus on the leisure industry; he advised Wenzhou Tongyong Locks on the purchase agreement and construction matters in respect of the proposed Olympic Hotel in Amsterdam. The team also advised the Port of Amsterdam on solar matters including the procurement procedure and construction contracts in respect of the installation of rooftop solar panels.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2018 - Real Estate

"Hotels and healthcare are particular strengths of Kennedy Van der Laan’s department. Practice head Nico Jacobs acted for HR Group on its €14m purchase of the Dorint Airport Hotel, and advised the Port of Amsterdam on a land sale worth over €10m. Eline Goemans is recommended for leasing matters."

• Assisting a Dutch development and construction company on several multi-functional development projects in Amsterdam and Delft. Hotel, offices, public parking, retail and leisure functions included.
• Assisting an Chinese investor and hotel operator with the acquisition of a new-to-build large scale hotel in Amsterdam.
• Assisted an American sports brand with all legal aspects regarding housing of its European Headquarters in The Netherlands. This included drafting and negotiating of the long-term leases and construction agreements.
• Assisted a global retail brand with the drafting and negotiating of the concession agreement for four shop-in-shops in a leading department store in the Netherlands.
• Assisting an international investor with the acquisition of a multi-tenant retail building in the city center of Rotterdam.