Martine de Koning

Fashion & Retail / Brexit / Distributie, franchise en agentuur / Nederlands en Europees mededingingsrecht / Commerciële Procesvoering & Arbitrage / Commerciële contracten / Internationale handelsverdragen / Misbruik van machtspositie / Verticale overeenkomsten, exclusieve en selectieve distributie / Consumentenrecht, Omnichannel & Geoblocking / Licenties en technologieoverdracht / Internet sales(platform) restricties / Loyalty programma’s / Logistiek, transport en opslag / Productconformiteit en etikettering / Follow-on litigation / Export & Import regelgeving / Handelsgeschillen / Arbitration / Mededingingsrechtelijke procedures.

Martine combineert diepgaande kennis van Europees recht en mededingingsrecht met een grondige kennis van commercie en handel. Ze wordt geprezen om haar ‘scherpe strategische inzicht, kennis en creativiteit in het bieden van oplossingen’. Zij behandelt procesvoering op een ‘slimme, assertieve en effectieve’ manier.

Martine leidt zaken die betrekking hebben op misbruik van machtsposities, verticale afspraken en technologieoverdracht. Martine adviseert en behandelt geschillen over koppelverkoop, prijsstelling, kortingen, merk- en octrooilicenties en knowhow. Met haar levenslange focus op de fashion- en retailsector treedt zij op voor haar klanten op het gebied van beperkingen internetverkoop, beperkingen platforms van derden, geoblokkering, dynamische prijszetting, omnichannel (naadloze marktplaats), e-commerce, voorraaddeling, duale distributie, horizontale en verticale delen van data, loyaliteitsprogramma's en big data.

Martine structureert complexe internationale samenwerkingsverbanden zoals joint ventures, outsourcing en verticale (distributie-)overeenkomsten. Martine heeft ‘uitmuntende kennis van zaken en autoriteit op het gebied van strategisch mededingingsrecht met betrekking tot franchising. Ze vertegenwoordigt binnenlandse franchisegevers bij hun internationale expansieplannen en assisteert ook buitenlandse cliënten bij het vestigen van een vestiging in Europa, het Midden-Oosten en Afrika’. Martine is 'een bedreven opsteller en onderhandelaar van contracten'. Zij houdt zich bezig met verkoop, productie, aanbesteding, logistiek, transport, opslag en andere nationale en internationale commerciële contracten en aanverwante geschillen. Tot de interesses van Martine behoren internationale vakbonden en verdragen (EU, WTO, ASEAN, APEC, NAFTA, Caricom) en exportregelgeving en sancties.

Vooral Noord-Amerikaanse cliënten weten haar te vinden vanwege haar ervaring in het behandelen van grensoverschrijdende transacties en geschillen. Zij werkt zowel voor multinationals als voor sterke Nederlandse spelers met een internationaal bedrijf of met internationale ambitie

Martine treedt veelvuldig op in procedures en (internationale) arbitrage. Zij verdedigt cliënten voor de Europese Commissie, nationale autoriteiten, nationale en internationale gerechten en arbitrage-instituten.

Martine treedt op voor cliënten uit de private sector op de markten Retail, fashion, voedsel, vrije tijd, horeca, reizen, farmacie, technologie en gezondheidszorg.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2019 - EU and Competition

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.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2019 - Industry focus: Retail

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.

Who's Who Legal 2018

“Martine de Koning stands out for her "quick, professional and straightforward advice". She has an excellent reputation among peers and clients who praise her technical legal knowledge.”

The Legal 500 EMEA 2018 - Retail

"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’. Fenna van Dijk advised Planetree on a healthcare licensing dispute with former licensee Creative Power. Ahold Delhaize is another client."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2018 - Monique van Diessen, Nike Europe

"We highly recommend Martine de Koning, first and foremost because of her knowledge and creativity in providing solutions and strategic thinking."

Bill Berner, General Counsel Nike EMEA

"Martine de Koning has been Nike’s Account Manager at Kennedy van der Laan since 2000. Over the years, Martine handled strategically important litigation for us such as international commercial disputes and competition law cases before the relevant authorities. She has a clear vision and takes the lead in a smart and assertive manner with an eye to effective communication with all stakeholders involved. Martine offers high service levels and quickly understands the business interests at stake. Martine handled in a pragmatic way many franchise, distribution, agency and procurement cases over the years. She became involved early on in the legal support of the Nike stores project, including localisation and implementation of contracts in the EMEA region. Martine was a key player in the creation of the Alliance for Nike, an innovative concept which allows Nike to work with selected firms in a number of European countries, under the leadership and coordination by Kennedy van der Laan, creating savings and efficiencies and driving convergence."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2018 - EU and Competition - Ranked

"Martine de Koning is a name to note."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2017 - Retail - Ranked

"Commercial and competition specialist Martine de Koning leads Kennedy Van der Laan’s practice; she is particularly strong in cross-border franchising, distribution, procurement and commercial contracts. Recent work includes representing Albert Heijn in proceedings against Pollemans regarding the latter’s desired implementation of an age-verification system. The department advised Nike Europe on various contentious and non-contentious matters."

Who's Who Legal 2017 - Franchise

"Kennedy Van der Laan is home to the "outstanding" Martine de Koning, an exceptionally knowledgeable authority on strategic competition law relating to franchising. She represents domestic franchisers in their international expansion plans and also assists foreign clients in establishing a presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Who's Who Legal 2015 - Franchise

"At Kennedy Van der Laan, Martine de Koning ranks highly in the Netherlands. She is described as "a very professional hands-on lawyer with shrewd understanding of franchise agreements", according to peers."

• Managing the global alliance of independent firm across jurisdictions for a global sports brand.
• Represented the European branch of a global sports brand in vital Dutch parallel proceedings against a German retailer, concerning EU competition law and to which extent retailers can be included/excluded as business partners.
• Designed a tailored litigation strategy for a global sports brand to establish the best forum to litigate on the validity under EU competition law of restrictions imposed in its selective distribution policy.
• Representing a global sports brand with the complex process of exclusive distribution contract terminations.
• Supported a European social enterprise with a dispute regarding the termination of an exclusive distribution agreement. Subsequently drafted contracts for and assisted in the roll-out of a new selective distribution system that includes resellers of promotional gifts, and concept stores which helps in monitoring and limiting the exposure of the enterprise.