Richard-Jan Roks

Real estate law / Project Development / Sustainability / Public procurement / Construction law / Architect law / Health care property / Construction damages / Litigation & Arbitration.

Richard-Jan focuses on civil construction law and (European) procurement law, specifically in the field of construction and procurement in the health care sector. He advises and litigates for all kinds of clients involved in the construction process and has extensive experience with building contracts, property development and public-private partnerships. He advises clients – contracting authorities as well as tenders – in organising and executing Dutch and European tendering procedures. He leads the Public Procurement Team of Kennedy Van der Laan. Richard-Jan is an experienced litigator in Dutch civil courts and an arbitrator as well.

Richard-Jan teaches courses on construction contracts and the Uniform Administrative Conditions for the Execution of Works (“UAV”), as well as on the Public Procurement Act 2012 and Tendering Regulations for Works 2016 (“ARW 2016”)

Richard-Jan is co-author of the Dutch publications “Tekst en Commentaar Aanbestedingsrecht” and “Sdu Commentaar Aanbestedingsrecht”.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Real Estate - Ranked

The team at Kennedy Van der Laan covers the life cycle of real estate, including zoning and planning, development and construction, as well as property investment and management, with an increasing focus on circular building and sustainability matters. The team is led Richard-Jan Roks.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Construction

Focusing on construction, procurement, architecture and property development, Kennedy Van der Laan’s practice covers a range of real estate and construction projects. Expanding its focus on sustainability and circular building, the practice, led by Richard-Jan Roks, is active in tendering, design and construction and post-construction disputes, as well as acquisition, leasing and property management. Roks is focused on construction and EU procurement law, specifically in the healthcare sector.

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

Testimonials

‘Richard-Jan Roks is our “go-to-person” in case of legal issues in the construction industry’.

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

"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."

• Regularly advises the second largest port of the Netherlands on their building contracts and procurement of building projects.
• Advised a Dutch centre for paediatric oncology on all aspects concerning zoning, procurement and construction (contracts) with regards to their new building.
• Advised a major Dutch bank on the update of all their building contracts, including building contracts of the new headquarters which will involve cradle to cradle and innovative elements.
• Advised and acted for a major Dutch theatres in an arbitration procedure regarding renovations of the theatre complex.