The Legal 500 Rankings 2018
The Legal 500 has published its rankings for 2018. 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.
Kennedy Van der Laan proudly presents the results it has achieved. In ‘Information Technology’, ‘Mediation’ and ‘Media’ we have achieved the highest level once again, being placed in ‘Tier 1’.
Find a complete overview of our rankings on our profile on Legal500.com.
Information Technology – Tier 1
Kennedy Van der Laan’s team is led by Joost Linnemann, with support from Reinoud Westerdijk, outsourcing expert Patrick Wit and data protection specialist Hester de Vries. Microsoft, ABN Amro and Capgemini are clients. Litigator and arbitrator Christoph Jeloschek made partner in January 2017; Joost Schmaal is also recommended.
Mediation – Tier 1
Kennedy Van der Laan’s team has experience in acting as mediator on a broad range of matters, including employment issues and shareholder disputes. Eva Knipschild heads the group.
Media and Entertainment – Tier 1
The ‘no-nonsense’ team at Kennedy Van der Laan is led by Jens van den Brink, who along with counsel Christien Wildeman ‘dominates the Dutch media litigation landscape’. Defamation and internet-related litigation are particular strengths. De Persgroep and Facebook are longstanding clients; Vodafone-Ziggo is a recent client.
Insurance – Tier 2
Kennedy Van der Laan’s practice handles all kinds of insurance, including directors’ and officers’ (D&O) liability, personal injury and medical malpractice. Group head Erik van Orsouw is supported by Chris van Dijk, Frits van der Woude, Peter van den Broek and Jan Broekhuizen. AIG and Zurich are clients.
Retail – Tier 2
Best known for franchising, distribution and commercial contracts, Kennedy Van der Laan’s practice has cross-border capabilities, and is ‘particularly knowledgeable about e-commerce’. Group head Martine de Koning ‘combines great commercial, legal and competition law knowledge’. Ahold Delhaize is a client.
Construction – Tier 3
Noted for its strength in tendering procedures, Kennedy Van der Laan’s practice is particularly active in healthcare-related construction. Practice head Richard-Jan Roks is advising Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie on the procurement and construction aspects of its new 50,000sqm building. Stichting de Lawei is a construction arbitration client.
Employment – Tier 3
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.
Intellectual Property – Tier 3
Alfred Meijboom leads the ‘extremely efficient’ team at Kennedy Van der Laan; he and Maarten Schut are ‘deeply knowledgeable about trade marks, copyrights and design rights’, and have ‘a remarkable understanding of the market’. Schut represented Converse in anti-counterfeit proceedings, and advised Tommy Hilfiger on various soft IP infringement matters.
Healthcare and Life Sciences – Tier 3
The ‘friendly’ practice at Kennedy Van der Laan counts Ambulance Amsterdam and VUmc as clients. Fenna van Dijk and IP expert Maarten Schut head the healthcare and life sciences teams respectively; van Dijk assisted GGZ inGeest with transferring its youth mental healthcare activities to De Opvoedpoli.
EU and Competition – Tier 4
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.
Real Estate – Tier 4
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.