Firms To Watch: Employment

Jones Day stands out for its skills in pensions matters, including complex pensions litigation, and is also adept at handling employment law issues, especially with international aspects.

Employment in Netherlands

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek

The employment and employee benefits practice at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a leading force in employment litigation, regularly handling key employment cases before the Supreme Court, including high-profile individual dismissal cases and trade union disputes. Cross-border M&A, remuneration, and co-determination matters are also important parts of the practice. Its clients range from Dutch and international retail companies to banks, insurance companies, and multinationals. Barbara Kloppert and Stefan Sagel jointly lead the practice. Sagel is the go-to for litigation before employment tribunals and the Supreme Court; he is well versed in issues involving dismissals, collective bargaining, and co-determination. Employment expert Kloppert handles both transactional employment issues and disputes involving issues with works councils, executive and board appointments, and remuneration. Rick van ‘t Wout and Irina Timp are also noted.

Practice head(s):

Barbara Kloppert; Stefan Sagel


Other key lawyers:

Rick van ‘t Wout; Irina Timp


Testimonials

‘We can always rely on their team of skilled lawyers to provide quick and effective responses.’

‘Barbara Kloppert and Stefan Sagel are able to offer both practical solutions as well as creative ones when the need arises. Stefan’s extensive legal knowledge and Barbara’s ability to navigate difficult situations are most impressive. It is a pleasure to work alongside such talented individuals.’

‘Very experienced, hands on and responsive. They not only provide academic advice but also advise on what to do next.’

‘Stefan Sagel is skilled, knows best practice and knows what we need as a client. Our unique position in the legal landscape makes advising on it challenging. Stefan is not afraid to accept that challenge and guide us through it.

‘The De Brauw team is able to advise on the preferred legal approaches without losing sight of our business interests from an operational perspective. De Brauw are able to clarify legally complex matters in their presentations to our non-legal stakeholders and also to connect us with legal counsels in the field through an off-site educational program which combines business and fun.’

‘The team are exceptional in adjusting quickly to the client’s way of working, clarifying the legal complexities, and standing their ground when needed. Their knowledge goes beyond the legal issues. They have great experience with all the complexities of operating in a hostile environment and help the client to keep calm when entering a storm. The team is a lot of fun to work with.’

‘Top-of-the-bill employment law advice, both on the merits as well as strategic support. We are working with Stefan Sagel’s team on a large project that requires connecting a lot of legal and strategic dots and the team has shown great understanding of our business, our requirements and the stakes involved. The team is response and diverse.’

‘Stefan Sagel and Irina Timp stand out for their clear thinking in determining strategy, in which they do not lose sight of the larger interests at stake as well as thinking ahead in terms of next steps.’

Key clients

Booking.com Holdings Inc.


Shell


Schiphol


Elof Hansson Fiber


SBM Offshore


Uber


Leaseplan


ASML


Achmea


Elsevier


JustEat Takeaway.com


Friesland Campina


Aegon N.V.


NN Group N.V.


Heineken N.V.


Ahold Delhaize


Fugro


De Volksbank N.V.


Rabobank


Work highlights


  • Advised Aegon on the co-determination aspects of the combination of its Dutch operations with a.s.r. and the effects on Aegon personnel following its integration into a.s.r.’s operations.
  • Assisted FNV with a high-profile case before the Supreme Court against online food delivery platform Deliveroo, revolving around the employment status of Deliveroo riders.
  • Assisted ASML with a high-profile discrimination case before the Dutch Committee on Human Rights, in which ASML’s hiring policy was challenged.

Stibbe

Employment expert Stibbe covers the full gamut of employment and pension issues, including advisory, contentious and transactional matters. The practice is at the forefront of employment law issues, representing clients in significant mass litigation proceedings relating to non-standard workers and disputes involving strikes in industries such as rail and aviation. Pensions litigation is another area of focus for the team, as well as advising on pension structures and directors’ liabilities, and the firm is also developing its practice in relation to platform economy issues. The practice is co-led by Jaap van Slooten, Paul Vestering, and Astrid Helstone. Van Slooten splits his time between pensions law and employment law, specialising in the finance and transport sectors, where he regularly represents clients in collective disputes and high-profile pensions cases. Vestering is the go-to for collective employment matters involving works councils and unions, and also handles pensions projects, while Helstone is an expert in complex remuneration and board-related matters.

Practice head(s):

Jaap van Slooten; Paul Vestering; Astrid Helstone


Other key lawyers:

Phinney Disseldorp; Diederik Kok


Testimonials

‘Astrid Helstone is exceptional in her legal analysis, responsiveness, and the quality and timely delivery of her legal advice and overall product. There is no other partner I would recommend before her. She is the best in her field.’

‘Astrid Helstone stands out for being extremely specialised on the one hand, but also down-to-earth and practical on the other hand. She is always available and very friendly. I absolutely love working with her.’

‘I am deeply impressed by Stibbe‘s employment team. They have top-notch lawyers who are able to handle all kind of complex matters in a very diligent but still pragmatic way. It is my go-to firm.’

‘It is always a pleasure to work with Astrid Helstone, Jaap van Slooten and Paul Vestering. Astrid has huge experience in handling remuneration issues in regulated industries and is very helpful in finding practical solutions even in complex legal situations. Jaap is just a very bright and smart person – it makes it so much fun to work with him. Paul is really a very experienced L&E attorney in particular in relation to complex M&A transactions.’

‘We work a lot with Jaap van Slooten. Jaap is well-known professor of employment law and is well regarded within the business (and also by his peers). He knows our business and knows what is important for and to us. We have a longstanding relationship with Jaap and are very satisfied with his work, especially when it comes to advising on collective labour agreements and actions etc. He always delivers and is innovative.’

‘Stibbe has a very strong employment law team. The team is able to provide top-notch advice in the most complex situations. They give practical advice while keeping the strategic rationale in mind. They are very punctual and are always available for questions.’

‘I know Phinney Disseldorp as a great litigator in employment law. He is a strategic thinker with the ability to translate that into hands-on advice. He understands the business and provides excellent legal advice. In many instances, just a phone call is enough.’

‘Astrid Helstone and Phinney Disseldorp are standout practitioners with a deep knowledge of their practice area.’

Key clients

Uber


G-Star Raw


LeasePlan Corporation


Dutch Railways (NS)


Albert Heijn, part of Ahold Delhaize


International Business Machines Corporation


KLM, part of Air France-KLM


Prijsvrij, part of DER Touristik and REWE


Picnic


a.s.r.


Mars


Heineken


Work highlights


  • Advising Uber on strategic issues and representing the client in proceedings issued by FNV, the largest trade union in the Netherlands, which is representing the drivers who use the Uber app.
  • Representing G-Star RAW in high-profile pensions litigation against the pension fund for the fashion industry, seeking to have the scope of the mandatory pension plan adjusted.
  • Advising AholdDelhaize on an ongoing basis on complex remuneration matters in relation to the members of its executive board and other senior management.

Allen & Overy LLP

Allen & Overy LLP combines advisory and litigation expertise in its employment practice, assisting financial institutions, listed companies and large private corporations. The firm excels in the financial sector, with a wealth of experience of advising on executive remuneration, restrictions on variable pay, and retention arrangements. Transactional work is also key to the practice, including advising on the employment elements of cross-border transactions. Other highlights include matters related to breaches of behavioural standards and codes of conduct, as well advising clients on regulatory and compliance issues. Practice head Arnold Keizer focuses on contentious cases, including boardroom conflicts and disputes over executive compensation. Hanneke Bennaars utilises her academic background in employment to advise on dismissals, restructurings, and co-determination matters. Senior associate Chelsea Gunning is also key to the employment and benefits practice.

Practice head(s):

Arnold Keizer


Other key lawyers:

Hanneke Bennaars; Frank Doornik; Chelsea Gunning; Naomi Reijn


Testimonials

‘Deep knowledge of remuneration within the law and regulations of the financial sector. Within the team, each member has their own expertise, knowledge and skills. They know how to communicate at every level. They help you formulate the right message for the listener who wants something different than is possible.’

‘They know our organisation and what is relevant for us. They think creatively and help us to come to solutions. Sometimes they think ahead for us.’

‘An experienced team led by Arnold Keizer, with experts covering all sub-areas that are relevant for large company clients, listed and non-listed.’

Key clients

Avantium


Egeria


Euronext


Exor


HERE


JDE Peet’s


Jumbo


KPN


Liberty Global


Mollie


Pon


Randstad


Aegon


Alliander


APMT


Bencis


CBA


Colgate-Palmolive


DSM


FedEx/TNT


FM Global


Grafton


Greetz/Moonpig


Greif


Hill’s Pet Nutrition


IK Investment Partners


ING


Johnson&Johnson


JP Morgan


LeasePlan


Man Group


NIBC


PAI


Mitsubishi Motors Corporation


Rabobank


Royal IHC


Vattenfall


VGZ


VodafoneZiggo


Wolters Kluwer


BarentsKrans

BarentsKrans‘ litigation-focused employment practice routinely represents clients before the courts of appeal and the Supreme Court, and is often sought out by clients seeking to reverse decisions made by the lower courts. Key issues addressed by the practice include TUPE disputes, collective employment matters, and disputes involving non-standard workers. Litigation specialist Max Keulaerds, who stands out for his prowess in appeals cases, co-leads the team with Laurens de Graaf, who is also an expert in litigation and handles cases related to complex reorganisations, collective dismissals, and integration processes. Supreme Court litigator Frank Dekker is also noted for his expertise in high-level employment cases.

Practice head(s):

Max Keulaerds; Laurens de Graaf


Other key lawyers:

Frank Dekker; Bart de Hek


Testimonials

‘Max Keulaerds’ team is a top team. Legal opinions are always of good quality and very useful in practice. Furthermore, every sub-specialism of employment law is available in the team.

‘Max Keulaerds is always involved in our cases. That is very pleasant as there are many law firms where the involvement of the partner is no longer the practice. Max is very experienced, is analytically strong, can explain something clearly, is very reliable, always does what we have agreed upon, is charming and feels like a fish in water in the courtroom.

‘Very professional in terms of their legal expertise, with a high level of knowledge and fast responses. They not only provide a very high quality of legal advice on regular topics, but often come up with solutions within the legal frameworks that are immediate applicable in practice. To me, BarentsKrans is one of the best law firms in the Netherlands.

‘Laurens de Graaf is exceptional. He is an excellent communicator and the kind of lawyer I know I could put in front of anyone in the business – from junior HR to CEO. He is very impressive in litigation especially. I would not use another employment lawyer in the Netherlands.’

‘The whole team is easily reachable – you have one or two main contact persons, the work is delegated seamlessly, and the quality is always great. They manage to handle complex matters in a practical, sensitive and quick way.’

‘Laurens de Graaf is by far my preferred lawyer. He is very service oriented and quick in his replies, and he is always straight to the point in even the most complex matters. He always thinks proactively of other points you need to check, for example consultation with the works councils or the supervisory board, and comes up with pragmatic solutions. He speaks English as though it is his mother tongue, which is very helpful with our English shareholders.’

‘It’s good to have a trusted partner who knows and understands the client’s reality and company culture. A strong team with different expertise and skills and good availability for urgent matters.’

‘The team of employment lawyers are real subject matter experts, with relevant experience in international establishments. Their approach to legal services is accurate and personal. Trusting relationships have been built during the time we have worked together. Excellent service and response times.’

Key clients

Deliveroo


ABN AMRO Bank


Ryanair


Selecta


Canon Production Printing


SBM Offshore


Saudi Aramco


BASF Vegetable Seeds (Nunhems)


HES International


McDermott


TAQA Energy


VDL Nedcar


Technip Energies


Syngenta


IQ-EQ


Work highlights


  • Represented Deliveroo in a series of lawsuits, at both lower and Supreme Court level, in relation to rider status, the applicability of collective labour agreements, back-pay and the right to work.
  • Advising VDL Nedcar on works council discussions, as a result of VDL Nedcar’s intention to dismiss 1,800 staff.
  • Represented Carlos Ghosn before the Amsterdam Court of Appeal in a multimillion-euro pay dispute with Nissan-Mitsubishi.

Clifford Chance

The employment and pensions practice at Clifford Chance is focused on advising on boardroom issues such as dismissals and hirings, remuneration, investigations into diversity and inclusion, and restructurings. The practice also has strong pensions litigation and advisory capabilities. Leading the practice, Floris Van De Bult specialises in advising on boardroom issues, cross-border reorganisations, and the employment aspects of complex M&A transactions. On the pensions side, Wijnanda Rutten assists employers, pension administrators, and pension providers with the full range of pensions matters. Sanne Blankestijn is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Floris van de Bult


Other key lawyers:

Wijnanda Rutten; Sara Schermerhorn; Sanne Blankestijn; Merle van den Berg


Testimonials

‘Floris van de Bunt has a pragmatic approach and is highly responsive.’

‘A great team to work with for complex employment law matters. Our go-to firm when we need to get a matter done right and with the proper expertise.’

‘Floris van de Bult and Sanne Blankestijn are both very hands-on and pragmatic advisors. They explain both sides of a matter very well and are excellent in looking for a solution that’s best for us and makes most sense from a commercial perspective.’

‘The team is experienced, pragmatic and proactive and understands the need for updates and draft invoices.’

‘Floris van de Bult and his team are real partners – they not only deal with matters effectively, they keep the clients’ concerns in mind in order to find better structural solutions and take our budget into account.’

‘A very dedicated, highly responsive team that provides high-quality advice in a practical manner. The team know our company very well and truly serve as a business partner.’

‘Floris van de Bult is an excellent lawyer. He is very knowledgeable and a good communicator who is able to translate complex legal issues into understandable wording. Floris is a true business partner.’

‘Floris van de Bult is our trusted adviser in the employment space.’

Key clients

Prosus N.V./Naspers Ltd.


Adyen N.V.


HES International


Allego


ACT Commodities


BME/BMN Bouwmaterialen B.V.


City of Rotterdam


MarketAxess


Royal DSM


Koole Terminals B.V.


Esdec


BEAT


Mizuho


Cofco International


Mollie


Intelligent Apps GmbH/FreeNow


Trivium Packaging


IMC


Work highlights


  • Advising Prosus/Naspers in relation to the layoffs it announced recently across 15 jurisdictions, amidst the wave of reorganisations currently impacting the tech sector.
  • Advising Mollie on strategic employment and remuneration matters, including changes in senior positions, remuneration regulations, and interactions with employee representatives, as well as representing the client in court in connection with a dispute with a former employee.
  • Advising taxi-app BEAT, owned by Mercedes-Benz group and BMW, in relation to the employment aspects of the restructuring and liquidation of its business in a number of European and South American jurisdictions (Peru, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Greece, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany and Spain).

Houthoff

The employment and pensions practice at Houthoff combines contentious and non-contentious expertise to advise on the employment aspects of M&A, reorganisations, and pensions litigation. The team also assists with wider pension portfolios, executive dismissals and appointments, and collective labour agreements. Practice head Jet Stolk is regularly sought out by both employers and employees to assist with corporate employment law matters. Roland De Greef and Anouk Boutens, who was promoted to partner in January 2024, are highlighted for their expertise in pensions law.

Practice head(s):

Jet Stolk


Other key lawyers:

Anouk Boutens; Roland de Greef


Testimonials

‘They always keep the client’s requirements in mind, are easy to contact and react quickly. They always follow up.’

‘Anouk Boutens and Jet Stolk are amazing. Really practical advice, really thoughtful, and really understand what they are talking about.’

‘Jet Stolk is very precise, fast and sharp.’

‘The lawyers within Houthoff’s employment law team are very qualified. They provide excellent advice and are for us a true sparring partner on employment law and works council issues.’

‘We work a lot with Jet Stolk from Houthoff’s employment law team. Jet is a very highly qualified employment lawyer. Practical in her advice, strong on business matters and knows how to operate in the boardroom amongst managing directors within the company. She also takes the lead in termination and settlement cases and truly represents the company.’

‘The attorneys from Houthoff’s employment practice are down to earth and straightforward. They have a good client focus.’

‘Jet Stolk is a standout partner. She has an enormous drive to get the best result for her clients. She is an independent thinker, and extremely persuasive and determined. A force to reckon with in court due to her ability to explain complex matters in simple terms and her sense of empathy.

‘Practical , solution-focused attorneys.’

Key clients

Hearst Netherlands


Danone/Nutricia


Landal GreenParks


Tata Steel Nederland


Renewi


Royal IHC


Stellantis (FCA Netherlands (Fiat, Chrysler, Jeep) and PSA (Peugeot, Citroën, Opel))


Ford


Honda


KIA


Tesla


Renault


Volvo


Unibail Rodamco Westfield


HEMA


Samsung Electronics Airconditioning


InsingerGilissen


DAS Rechtsbijstand


Pension fund ABN Amro


Pension fund PGB


Miro


Torqx


H2


Egeria


Platinum


Work highlights


  • Advising Platinum and its portfolio company Landal GreenParks on the significant employment aspects of its acquisition by Roompot, a portfolio company of the private equity fund KKR.
  • Advising Sopra Steria on the significant employment issues involved in its takeover of Ordina, including a works council process in the Netherlands, the settlement of Ordina’s long-term incentive plans, and the negotiation of the future agreement for Ordina’s board members.
  • Assisting Onderlinge ‘s-Gravenhage with all pensions issues linked to its agreement with Athora Netherlands regarding the transfer of its second-pillar pension portfolio to Zwitserleven.

Loyens & Loeff

Loyens & Loeff advises on both national and international employment law issues, with a particular focus on cases involving the Benelux and Sweden. The employment practice handles numerous restructuring and collective dismissal cases, as well as collective pensions litigation. The firm mainly acts for international companies in a variety of sectors, including automotive, financial services, and private equity. Team head Klaas Wiersma has over 20 years of experience in employment law and leads the advice on the employment aspects of M&A deals, co-determination, restructurings and collective dismissals. Hermine Voûte specialises in the dismissal of managing directors and other high-level management. Youssef el Harchaoui focuses on the employment issues involved in M&A deals and restructurings.

Practice head(s):

Klaas Wiersma


Other key lawyers:

Hermine Voûte; Youssef el Harchaoui


Testimonials

‘Klaas Wiersma is always available, knows exactly when I need something dealt with urgently and he always comes up with very practical advice. I respect him for his confidence during tough calls and what I like is that he also gives me confidence- working together is really a collaboration and a learning opportunity for me.’

‘Loyens & Loeff is an excellent firm with many legal disciplines. This breadth of professional knowledge is very functional in a case with multiple legal aspects. The lawyers can thus function as each other’s back office. Collaboration with the team is extremely pleasant. The team is very flexible and they step in for each other, ensuring 24/7 availability. They are flexible in their working methods: at their office, on location with us, via Teams and Whats App, email and by telephone. The team operates in a very client-friendly manner – our interests are always central.

‘Klaas Wiersma is an excellent lawyer, with highly developed social and empathetic skills. He is businesslike, but always knows how to find the right balance between business and personal interests. That’s a nice combination. In short, a top lawyer and top advisor!’

‘I was referred to Klaas Wiersma and he very much lived up to his reputation as one of the outstanding lawyers in the field of Dutch labour law in general and settlement agreements in particular. I was impressed by his expertise, the upper-hand position he was continuously able to attain within the negotiations and his ability to define the right related tactics. Personally I was very satisfied with the result he achieved.

‘Extremely responsive, inside and outside business hours. Strong employment law expertise, balancing compliance with pragmatic and business-enabling advice. A partnership, rather than a service. Klaas Wiersma is excellent and I really appreciate working with him. I have known him for many years and Klaas and his team provide excellent support.’

‘Youssef el Harchaoui is an incredibly talented and competent lawyer who provides top-notch advice in difficult situations.’

‘Loyens & Loeff combines expertise in labour law, tax law and corporate law under one roof and – this is important – works as a team. Our go-to advisor for practical solutions and advice on complex matters.’

‘Youssef el Harchaoui is at the top of his game, tapping into a wealth of hands-on experience which enables him to provide clients with solid and practical advice and solutions in real time. He is very responsive.’

Key clients

Aegon


Bloomberg


BMW


Bol.com


Carrefour


EQT


EY


Givaudan


JP Morgan


Vivendi


Work highlights


  • Advising on the employment issues involved in the sale, resale and rebranding of a large number of Jan Linders supermarkets into Albert Heijn stores, including negotiations with the trade union, and preparing and attending several extensive meetings with the works council.
  • Represented Euronext in litigation before the Supreme Court relating to compliance with indexation rules in the pensions agreement, insofar as these rules provide for an increase (indexation) of the pension entitlements and pension rights after leaving employment and insofar as these rules applied until 2014.
  • Represented the former management team of the Dutch House of Representatives (five members) in their request for an internal investigation, and later, in their resignation and the negotiations of a package as they could no longer take responsibility for an organisation which was not able to ensure the safety of its employees.

NautaDutilh

The employment and pensions practice NautaDutilh is led by Maartje Govaert, who is an expert in whistleblower claims and continues to handle whistleblowing investigations for the firm's international and national client base. Reorganisations, cross-border mergers, and litigation concerning executive contracts and non-competes are also pillars of the practice. Homme ten Have has notable expertise in reorganisations, employee consultation rights, and corporate governance-related issues, while Albert van der Kolk is known for his focus on flexible work solutions, privacy, and pensions. Drawing on the expertise of pensions specialist Pieter de Jong, the team is also well versed in handling both advisory and contentious matters for clients and their pension funds.

Practice head(s):

Maartje Govaert


Other key lawyers:

Homme ten Have; Albert van der Kolk; Pieter de Jong; Daniël Kuiper; Annette van Beers; Peter Vogels


Testimonials

‘They are very accessible and provide quick and practical advice.’

‘Good cooperation between the labour and corporate law teams and as a result quick feedback. Also quick coordination with the other party’s counsel.’

‘Excellent services meeting the highest possible standards. They really partner up with their clients, and are super fast, flexible and knowledgeable.’

‘Maartje Govaert brought great expertise to the table and was very committed.’

‘From the partners to the associates to the management assistants, all those who we have been in contact with from NautaDutilh have met or exceeded our expectations. With their extensive knowledge and experience, they are able to advise us in the best way possible, providing us with creative solutions to complex issues while ensuring a good relationship and collaboration between us and our organisational counterpart.’

‘Maartje Govaert is very experienced and knowledgeable. Her positive attitude and innovative way of explaining the law and case law to a lay audience make it a pleasure to work with her. We feel immensely strengthened in our position just by having Maartje support us. Annette van Beers is great at combining our organisational input with the application of the law.’

‘Exceptionally skilful and intelligent attorneys who are able to explain legal matters patiently and simply to non-lawyers within the business. They are able to make business people feel at ease during court cases, always make themselves available when you need them and their advice is always pragmatic and helpful.’

‘Homme ten Have is an excellent partner of the firm. He is pragmatic and strategic at the same time. His knowledge and experience of the field are remarkable, and he will always tailor his advice to the client’s context. He will guide, steer and challenge us, which is highly appreciated.’

Key clients

Achmea


Boston Consulting Group


Deloitte


UTC/Carrier


Petrobras


Shell


Works council of easyJet


Europe Combined Terminals (ECT)


PZEM


Reckitt Benckiser


Central Work Council of Johnson & Johnson (works councils of different subsidiaries)


Picnic Technologies B.V.


Allianz Nederland Groep NV


TakeAway.com Group B.V.


McKinsey & Company, Inc.


a.s.r.


Lightyear


Accell


Autoriteit Financiële Markten


Bol.com


Work highlights


  • Advised a.s.r. on the employment aspects of its business combination with Aegon Nederland.
  • Assisted PZEM with the employment aspects of the restructuring of its wholesale activities, and the subsequent sale of PZEM’s wholesale activities, ZBL pipeline and its 50% stake in the Sloe power plant to Czech energy company EPH.
  • Advised Accell on the information and consultation obligations with respect to the recommended public offer on the shares of Accell.

Baker McKenzie

The employment team at Baker McKenzie makes use of its expertise to advise on the full range of collective dismissals, reorganisations, restructurings and acquisitions. The team is also routinely engaged by clients to handle individual dismissal cases and provide boardroom advice. Mirjam De Blécourt, Remke Scheepstra, and Daniëlle Pinedo  jointly lead the practice. De Blécourt is a leading employment lawyer who is well versed in advising the boards of multinationals on labour law issues and large-scale redundancies. Scheepstra focuses on collective employee dismissals, negotiations with works councils, and employment fraud matters, while Pinedo is key for employment litigation mandates.

Practice head(s):

Mirjam de Blécourt; Remke Scheepstra; Daniëlle Pinedo


Other key lawyers:

Anna van Bracht; Roderick Beudeker


Testimonials

Deep knowledge of relevant employment matters.

The Baker McKenzie employment team in the Netherlands is my go-to for all things employment related. The team is incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and practical. Baker McKenzie has provided me with one billing contact, which has been very efficient and saved me so much time.

Anna Van Bracht is the standout lawyer – she has an amazing ability to think strategically, consider the client’s needs and to find a solution whatever the issue. She has become my Baker McKenzie contact across all countries and will support me in finding the right contact to provide advice no matter which country I have an issue in.

Key clients

Astellas


Abbott


ALD/LeasePlan


Bergman Clinics


Ecolab


Eli Lilly


ECCO


Novo Nordis


DLA Piper

Global firm DLA Piper utilises its international connections to advise on employment and pension issues, notably in relation to cross-border restructurings and M&A transactions. The team is experienced in matters involving workforces, dismissals, and transfers of undertaking. Johan Zwemmer chairs the practice and centres his work on corporate employment law and non-standard labour relations. He is a key figure for flexible workforce issues in the Dutch market. Hélène Bogaard is a transactional employment specialist who largely advises US clients, while Erik Lutjens is the go-to for pensions advice. Another notable team member is Jasper de Bok, who handles employment-related restructurings and M&A.

Practice head(s):

Johan Zwemmer


Other key lawyers:

Hélène Bogaard; Erik Lutjens; Jasper de Bok


Testimonials

‘The team are on top of our files, they are very aware of our strategy and proactively advise us on any developments (including in the markets) which could potentially impact us.’

‘Johan Zwemmer is a well seasoned, very practical and pragmatic advisor, who does not shy away from advising in a transparent way on opportunities and challenges.’

‘Johan Zwemmer is a really smart, thoughtful and creative lawyer who understands our business really well. His practical solutions combined with humour make working together really fun.’

‘First-class service – extremely approachable and responsive. Of course, they are experts in their field and have great knowledge of our business.’

‘Jasper de Bok is my favourite external lawyer! Just an absolute superstar – he is always there when I need him but, more than anything, offers me value-add, practical, solutions-based advice, making clear recommendations on how to proceed. Jasper has an intimate knowledge of our business and is a trusted adviser for the business. Jasper is friendly and approachable.’

‘The team in the Netherlands are an integral part of our business. They really get to the heart of our challenges and provide real, practical, creative and implementable advice. We like our law firms to provide concise, digestible and business-focused guidance which drives results. This firm do that incredibly well.’

‘The partners and associates of the team really have a “get it done” mentality and get to the heart of problems quickly. They are easy to work with, have a sense of humour and genuinely care about outcomes, not billing and pricing.’

‘The people within DLA are quick at answering, provide good-quality advice, make the law accessible and have the ability to place themselves in the context of the organisation.’

Key clients

Accell


Crawford


Arcadis


El Al


G4S


NetApp


Ballast Nedam


PVH


Stichting Pensioenfonds Metaal en Techniek


Talpa Network


Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP


Work highlights


  • Successfully acted for SITO in a high-stakes dispute with the trade unions over the interpretation of the Orsima collective labour agreement and whether it mandated a wage increase in line with the consumer price index.
  • Successfully represented Stichting Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds voor het Beroepsvervoer over de Weg in appeal proceedings following a court ruling that Deliveroo is active in the road haulage sector and is therefore liable to pay pension contributions.
  • Advised PVH’s EMEA headquarters in the Netherlands on a complicated restructuring and headcount reduction in 10 EMEA countries.

Kennedy Van der Laan

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.

Practice head(s):

Chris Nekeman; Soo-Ja Schijf; Ester Damen


Testimonials

‘The team always go out of their way to assist our ever-changing business. Due to the relationship which we have built over the years, thy understand our ways of working as well as our quirks so when we do have any issues which we require guidance on, they are up to speed immediately.’

‘Soo-Ja Schijf’s instincts are always to protect the company but also provide caution on the impact on the employee so we can ensure that we are doing the right thing and minimising risk.’

‘They are proactive, knowledgeable, approachable, good communicators and deliver as promised. They show outstanding levels of integrity and achieve an excellent balance between the personal and business aspects and perspective. They are involved and committed, creative and solutions oriented, and are not afraid to provide bold advice and take legal action. It is a pleasure to work with them.’

‘Ester Damen is knowledgeable, dedicated, engaged and committed.’

‘Great approach and leadership through the entire legal process. Always supportive and available.

‘They are readily available, and they know our business and industry very well. Their advice is always focused on being ahead of things. They are proactive in involving team members with other areas of expertise.’

‘The employment team is dynamic, collaborative and really human.’

‘Soo-Ja Schijf is just brilliant. She is super bright, well connected and very commercial. She seeks out opportunities to collaborate for the benefit of her clients.’

Key clients

KLM


GKN Aerospace/Fokker


Central Works Council IBM


Microsoft


Nike


Booking.com


Coca-Cola Europacific Partners


PricewaterhouseCoopers


Rabobank


VodafoneZiggo


Work highlights


  • Represented Mediahuis in 19 cases before the Court of Appeal of Amsterdam in which contractors of Mediahuis claim that they are actually employed by the client on the basis of an employment contract.
  • Advised Lucid Motors on the employment and pensions aspects relating to the setting up of its European headquarters in the Netherlands.
  • Advised Convatec on a cross-border restructuring project involving a large-scale collective redundancy, the collective consultation process with the works council and trade unions, and the negotiation of a social plan.

Lexence

Employment disputes, employee participation issues, and corporate fraud cases all form a part of the employment practice at Lexence. The employment aspects of restructurings are often handled by the team, which also advises on updating the employment conditions of Dutch municipalities. The team is co-chaired by Mark Keuss, Judith Schulp, Floor Damen, and Frank ter Huurne. Keuss is an expert in collective redundancies, Schulp focuses on employment termination law and disputes over employee participation, Damen handles collective reorganisations, and Ter Huurne both advises on employment law issues and handles litigation. Anneke Nijk is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Mark Keuss; Judith Schulp; Floor Damen; Frank ter Huurne


Other key lawyers:

Anneke Nijk; Lucas Stuurop


Testimonials

‘Floor Damen is a great strategist. He is a real team player and gets close to the client to get a real understanding of the demand and the dynamics and characteristics of the overall situation and content.’

‘Anneke Nijk is a true legal business partner with a critical eye on all the options available and is ready for a flexible approach that is in line with a fast and relevant solution.’

‘Lexence’s team has some excellent employment lawyers. The team advises on individual and collective employment matters and M&A related work, and has a strong footing in litigation.’

‘The standout individual to mention here is without a doubt Judith Schulp. She is a really gifted lawyer, with a lot of legal creativity, finding new angles to solve complex cases. Moreover, she is fun to work with and extremely easy to get along with.’

‘This team excels in labour law. Their expertise is matched by their remarkable accessibility and quick response times. For legal matters demanding both precision and efficiency, this firm is a standout choice.’

‘Anneke Nijk stands out for her exceptional expertise in labour law. What truly impresses me, as a fellow jurist, is her ability to combine profound legal knowledge with a pragmatic approach. Her practical advice and strong legal arguments make her an invaluable resource for complicated labour law matters.’

Key clients

Apollo Vredestein


Asito


Ballast Nedam


Centerparcs


DPG Media


ECP Factoring


Engie


Flynth Advisors & Accountants


I-SEC


IMC


JD Peet’s


Odin Group


Plukon Food Group


TBauctions


Uber Drivers’ Association


Van Caem Klerks Group


Work highlights


  • Representing an organised group of Uber drivers in an appeal before the Court of Appeal in Amsterdam regarding a landmark dispute with the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV) on the applicability of a collective labour agreement.
  • Representing Centerparcs in litigation against the Dutch state in which the client is seeking the repayment of wage subsidies.
  • Assisted Henkel with the dismissal of one of its managing directors, a French national who planned to return to France as soon as possible.

Osborne Clarke

Osborne Clarke often handles cross-border mandates such as the employment aspects of global restructurings, disputes with works councils, and collective dismissals. Implementing employment policy designs and advising on employment issues are also part of the practice. Its client base spans the tech, fintech, retail, and manufacturing sectors. Jorgo Tsiris and Jim Margry co-lead the team, with office founding partner Tsiris specialising in workforce solutions and cross-border matters and Margry advising on employment issues in relation to M&A transactions and post-takeover restructurings.

Practice head(s):

Jorgo Tsiris; Jim Margry


Other key lawyers:

Wyke Schilstra


Testimonials

‘The individuals in the employment practice distinguish themselves with a blend of legal acumen and industry-specific insights. Their dedication, adaptability, and client-centric approach set them apart, ensuring exceptional service.’

‘Jorgo Tsiris and Jim Margry stand out for their good communication and fast response times.’

‘The team works to the agreed deadlines and is capable of working under pressure. It is a mix of experienced and new people. They manage a variety of legal issues, particularly employment law and governmental subsidies.’

‘They have clear and concise communication, a good overview of strategies and risks, keep the momentum going and are a seamless part of the business team. Good content knowledge and good representation in court.’

Key clients

Bitpanda


Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP)


Diageo Great Britain Limited


Doordash, Inc.


Las Vegas Sands Corp.


MessageBird


O-I Netherlands B.V. (Owens-Illinois)


Synthomer


Twin Disc, Inc.


Work highlights


  • Assisting Bitpanda with a global restructuring involving more than 400 redundancies.
  • Acting for Owens-Illinois in various matters, including a high-profile corporate governance dispute with the works council before the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court, and works council advisory and consent procedures regarding the automatisation of certain personnel software that is being implemented within the O-I group.
  • Advising MessageBird on the implementation of a ‘work from anywhere’ policy to allow its 1,000+ employees to work from any country globally.

Van Doorne

The employment and pensions practice at Van Doorne is jointly led by employment experts Marjolijn Lips, Steven Sterk, and recently promoted partners Cara Pronk and Sijbren Kuiper. The team boasts a well-rounded employment offering, including advising on executive and boardroom conflicts, workers' participation issues, the employment aspects of restructuring and M&A, and investigations into issues such as inappropriate behaviour and misconduct. The team is also known for its strength in pension fund transactions and pensions litigation.

Practice head(s):

Marjolijn Lips; Steven Sterk; Cara Pronk; Sijbren Kuiper


Testimonials

‘Substantive expertise combined with a pragmatic approach and highly effective, actionable advice. They understand the dynamics in boardrooms and act accordingly.’

‘Cara Pronk is an excellent employment lawyer – very clear and decisive advice, very responsive.’

‘I have worked with Steven Sterk. During this period, which for myself was sometimes emotional and with an uncertain outcome, I felt supported and understood by Steven. But most important of all, I felt sure that he would get the best result for me. The way Steven has guided me in my considerations was very valuable and appreciated.’

‘The employment team of Van Doorne exhibits remarkable responsiveness, an impressive depth of knowledge, and a strong focus on business. They consistently provide high-level advice while maintaining a warm and personal approach. They are very pleasant to work with.’

‘Cara Pronk is not only extremely knowledgeable but also hands-on, sharp and solution-oriented. She is keen on understanding the client’s business and is an excellent sparring partner, with an exceptional ability to find practical solutions for complex legal issues. Sijbren Kuiper is distinguished by his extensive legal expertise, unwavering responsiveness and ability to always think about the client’s needs.’

‘Marjolijn Lips clearly sees the bigger picture, which gives us trust that the matter will be handled successfully. She is not afraid to address difficulties and risks at the client’s end.’

‘Deep knowledge regarding pension matters – not only the legal side, but also the financial and governance side are taken into consideration when giving advice. Smooth cooperation with other legal areas within the firm.’

‘Sijbren Kuiper is knowledgeable, cooperative, flexible and pleasant to work with. The best result was achieved with a lot of patience.’

Key clients

ADG dienstengroep


Agrifirm


Asito B.V.


Athora


Blackboard


Central Works Council of LeasePlan


Enviolo


Getir


GGzE


Gucci


Headfirst


Hedin Automotive


Intel


Intertek


Klarna


KPMG N.V.


Navitas Capital


Pension fund Metal Sector (PME)


Pension fund PostNL


Starbucks


Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (TU/e)


Van Wijnen


Volta Trucks


Xior Student Housing


Work highlights


  • Advising Intertek on negotiating and giving notice of termination of the company collective labour agreement, dealing with the subsequent and long-term strikes organised by trade union FNV, the structure and implementation of a large reorganisation, and negotiating a social plan with the relevant trade union and the consultation process with the works council.
  • Advising Getir on the employment and pension aspects in relation to the EUR 1.2bn acquisition of Gorillas.
  • Acting as defence counsel for Reiswerk Pensioenen in a claim involving around 900 participants who started court proceedings against the client, pension fund PGB and the Dutch Central Bank regarding alleged breaches of EU law.

AKD

AKD gives ongoing regulatory advice to its multinational and local clients on employment matters, as well as advising on the employment aspects of issues such as takeovers of publicly listed companies, reorganisations, and transactions. The team has expanded its offering to include numerous Asian companies and continues to be strong in employed-related healthcare matters. The practice also advises a number of pension funds and handles indexation and pension litigation mandates. Pieter Huys leads the practice and is an expert litigator. Conny Staudt-Bos and Pascal van Schaik are also noted.

Practice head(s):

Pieter Huys


Other key lawyers:

Conny Staudt-Bos; Pascal van Schaik; Jorn de Bruin


Testimonials

‘Pascal van Schaik stands out because of his knowledge, communication skills and practical advice. He is able to give the advice needed without writing long reports or memos. He is always available to give his opinion or to help solve a problem.’

‘Pascal van Schaik at AKD is the best I can wish for. He is definitely an expert in his field and that’s what I need when I get in touch with him. He always takes my stress away with his advice and after his advice I always know how to proceed with my case. I feel supported and he is really good for our company. And on top of all this: he is also a very nice guy!’

‘I’ve had the pleasure of working with Pieter Huys. Pieter has the skills to combine a wealth of knowledge with a very down-to-earth attitude and personal touch. Working with a business is not about the business, it’s about the people in it. For me, Pieter embraced this approach.’

‘In particular, it is the triangle of legal knowledge, industry knowledge and pragmatism that makes AKD’s legal team unique. In addition, the quality of the lawyers in the employment law section is extraordinarily high. I would like to mention Pieter Huys. His distinguishing qualities are: deep, up-to-date knowledge of labour law, and legal creativity.’

‘The employment law practice is a group of experienced lawyers who, in addition to having broad and deep knowledge of employment law, always know how to place legal issues in the business context. Honest in setting expectations, formulating a joint strategy and executing it in the interest of the client.’

‘The main reason why we have worked for many, many years with AKD lawyers with so much trust is that they do not have an everyday approach – they look further into the case than you would expect, going beyond the borders of the legal issues but always in a very professional way. They always keeping the time line in mind and they are in control. This goes especially for Conny Staudt-Bos.’

‘I value Pascal van Schaik in particular. He is super friendly, hands-on and smart and able to translate this into useful and creative advice.’

‘I truly like to work with Pieter Huys. Pieter is very professional and a perfect partner to work with. Highly experienced, always on time and with a dose of humour. It’s a pleasure to work with Pieter.’

Key clients

General Electric


Port of Rotterdam Authority


Royal Boskalis Westminster


LG Electronics


Dopper


Korean Airlines


Nielsen Company


Du Pont de Nemours


Deloitte


China Southern Airlines


Brand SafWay


Siemens Energy


Work highlights


  • Advised Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services on a variety of matters, with expertise in cross-border labour matters.
  • Represented RHG in legal proceedings before the Dutch Enterprise Chamber against one of its works council in relation to the demerger of RHG.
  • Successfully acted for Royal Boskalis in two delicate court cases concerning vaccination against COVID-19 which were at the intersection of Dutch labour law and fundamental rights (i.e. privacy) meet.

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird has been active in the restructuring arena, assisting clients with the related employment issues, including in connection with cross-border restructurings. The team also handles litigation involving the termination of contracts. Practice head Philip Hartman is well versed in mass redundancy cases and is skilled in matters that involve multiple jurisdictions. Marcus Huisman advises on co-determination matters.

Practice head(s):

Philip Hartman


Other key lawyers:

Marcus Huisman; Annemarieke van Vlodrop; Hanneke Senden; Yaser Aziz


Testimonials

‘This team are not only able to facilitate our company’s requests in multiple languages, but they do it to a high professional standard. They are also well connected throughout Europe, which simplifies any international questions and approaches needed. The team are incredibly friendly and easy to work with and are always available and willing to find flexible solutions to any problem.’

‘Their incredible level of detail in their work is outstanding. Furthermore, they are all caring yet professional. They are clear communicators and never leave a stone unturned. I will need to give a special mention here to Philip Hartman for his continuous support.  Not only is he able to support on complex issues, but makes sure to always arrive prepared and informed with the latest developments before any discussion.’

‘All great communicators, quick to respond, open to feedback and very knowledgeable. Great cooperation, always!’

‘Pragmatism is a big added value that distinguishes Bird & Bird from the majority of the law firms in the Netherlands and in Europe. I also like their flexibility and their understanding of companies’ logistics and internal processes.’

‘Philip Hartman has extremely significant knowledge and expertise, is clear about converting regulations into the most appropriate actions, and approachable.’

‘Very to-the-point and pragmatic advice, which is definitely not the standard but it is exactly what we are looking for as an employer.’

‘Philip Hartman is very authentic and a pleasure to work with – he puts himself in the shoes of the employer and considers the impact very well from different angles. He is critical and will keep challenging until he feels you have the right information that is needed for your case, but he does it in a respectful way and shows it comes from a place of wanting the best outcome for his clients.’

‘Knowledgeable, result-focused approach whilst keeping an eye on cost versus impact.’

Key clients

Philip Morris


Royal Conservatoire and Academy of Art


Sentinel One


DAZN


SMEG


Neste


Glaukos


Verint


WorldRemit


Ricoh


Envista


Recor Medical


Unit4


ICON


Enphase


Swappie


Nitro


Fit for Me


Gartner


Mews Systems


Bet365


tesa


Asics


Work highlights


  • Advising a leading global business software firm on multiple restructuring rounds involving mass redundancies.
  • Advising a global leading interior design and manufacturing company on a multi-jurisdictional restructuring.
  • Acted for the Royal Conservatoire and the Royal Academy of Art in successful court proceedings related to the rescission of the employment contract of the director of the Academy of Art.

Bronsgeest Deur Advocaten

Boutique employment firm Bronsgeest Deur Advocaten is part of the global Ius Laboris alliance of employment law specialists and covers a variety of issues, such as redundancies, disputes with works councils, and the employment aspects of reorganisations and acquisitions. Philip Nabben focuses on privacy issues, Benjamin Vaandrager handles employment litigation, Hylda Wiarda specialises in cross-border issues, and Cathelijn Derks is an employment specialist and mediator. The four aforementioned lawyers lead the practice. Another key team member is Joost Verlaan.

Practice head(s):

Philip Nabben; Benjamin Vaandrager; Hylda Wiarda; Cathelijn Derks


Other key lawyers:

Joost Verlaan


Testimonials

‘Good collaboration, always available, friendly, client oriented and respectful. Plus very knowledgeable about our industry.’

‘Phlip Nabben is very pragmatic and to the point. Very responsive.’

‘Hylda Wiarda and her team are incredibly responsive, and pragmatic and commercial in their advice.’

‘Very personable. Nothing is a problem. An understanding of our industry and company. Creative and innovative problem solvers.’

‘This team are unique because they are down to earth and they keep life simple. They get to know you in such a way that they truly understand your needs. The best innovation they have is that they answer the phone personally. They are simply there for you when you need them.’

‘I work with Joost Verlaan and he is exceptional. He has been our go-to person for a couple of years and I love working with him. He really fits the profile of his firm. Down to earth, easy accessible, professional and fun. He has not let us down and we had some serious cases together. He advises us without pressure and gives his honest opinion on the pros and cons of our choices.’

‘Cathelijn Derks is a true professional. Very responsive, flexible and solution oriented. It is a pleasure working with her.’

‘Extensive depth of knowledge throughout the team. Great responsiveness to ad-hoc requests.’

Key clients

Remote


Kraft Heinz


Lotus/Koninklijke Peijnenburg


Atlassian


BSI (British Standards Institute)


Thermo King


Lankhorst Taselaar


Solina


Mars


Lineas


Yuki (part of Visma)


Friss


Heineken


Mastercard


TotalEnergies


FedEx


Cisco


EssilorLuxottica


Volkswagen Finance


Coca Cola


Johnson & Johnson


ViacomCBS/Paramount


I-SEC


Lenovo


Lufthansa


Canon Europe


LinkedIn


WeTransfer


Air Liquide Medical


Meyn Food Processing Technology


DS Smith


Lego


Agilent Technologies


Amdocs


Dekra


Datalogic


Logitech


NCR


Spadel


CHC Helicopters


Keter Group


ABB


TomTom


ICL Group


Mattel


ENGIE


Work highlights


  • Assisted Essilor Luxxottic with the employment aspects of the acquisition of GrandVision in the Netherlands, including co-determination issues, the departure of board members and the harmonisation of the terms and conditions of employment.
  • Assisted Floricultura with the collective redundancy of approximately 120 employees in the Netherlands due to the energy crisis as HR partner.
  • Assisted Johnson & Johnson with employment due diligence investigations for an acquisition and prepared retention schemes for key employees.

CLINT | Littler

CLINT | Littler is a boutique firm that is affiliated with global labour and employment firm Littler Mendelson, P.C., enabling access to a worldwide network of employment law experts. The team specialises in both employment and labour law issues and is sought out by clients for its expertise in collective employment and co-determination matters. Domestic and international mandates are handled by the practice, including advising on the employment aspects of cross-border M&A. Employment specialists Dennis Veldhuizen, Eric van Dam, and Wouter Engelsman all co-lead the practice.

Practice head(s):

Dennis Veldhuizen; Eric van Dam; Wouter Engelsman


Testimonials

‘The team work well together and have vast legal knowledge. They refer you to other colleague firms more specialised on a topic if necessary. Someone is always available for consultation in the absence of the regular contact person.’

‘Wouter Engelsman and his staff are quick, very knowledgeable and hugely responsive. I can consult well with them on individual issues and make decisions based on their advice. They listen well to us and Wouter, in particular, understands what is important to us and guides us in the right direction.’

‘A strong team, with highly up-to-date knowledge. Easy to reach, always available, and give quick and high-quality answers and support.’

Key clients

Trymex Semiconductors


STAR Group BV


Delpharm


Samsung Electronics Benelux


AccorInvest


T-Mobile


Hilton


Sanofi


Hillrom


Faurecia


Starbucks Manufacturing (EMEA)


Under Armour


Flink


Tate & Lyle


FNV


Holland Casino


GrandVision Benelux


Underwriters Laboratories Solutions UL TS BV


Work highlights


  • Advised Delpharm on the employment issues relating to the expansion of its pharmaceutical development services by acquiring the Leiden Development Center in the Netherlands from Dr. Reddy’s and a high-quality medicines manufacturing plant and business based in Meppel from Astellas.
  • Represented Faurecia’s management in the consultation and negotiations process with the Dutch works council and the trade unions with respect to the sale of its Dutch business activities.
  • Acted for WEX Europe Services in a discrimination claim brought before the Human Rights Board (College voor de Rechten van de Mens).

CMS

The employment practice at CMS uses its global perspective and connections to advise its largely international client base on employment issues in the Netherlands. Reorganisations and related employment issues have become an increased focus of the firm, alongside advising on dismissals, collective bargaining agreements, and redundancies. Team lead Katja van Kranenburg-Hanspians is well versed in issues related to ESG and the TMT sector, often advising on whistleblower and compliance matters. Michiel van Dijk combines his sports and employment law expertise to advise sports organisations on various employment issues.

Practice head(s):

Katja van Kranenburg-Hanspians


Other key lawyers:

Michiel van Dijk


Testimonials

‘Extremely professional, knowledgeable and reliable.’

‘Really experienced and pragmatic individuals who provide client-friendly advice. Very good at supporting us on cross-border work. Really helpful in guiding foreign companies through the complex works council environment.’

‘Katja van Kranenburg is super experienced and gives very client-friendly and pragmatic advice.’

Key clients

RTI Blockchain


TJX


Snyk


Kuehne + Nagel


NEM Energy


Amgen


KNVB


Work highlights


  • Advising RTI Blockchain on legal discussions and negotiations related to the validity of non-compete and non-relationship clauses.
  • Advising Snyk on the impact in the Netherlands of a global reorganisation.
  • Advising Kuehne + Nagel on a number of high-profile and sensitive dismissal matters.

Dentons

The employment and labour practice at Dentons regularly advises corporate management on labour law issues such as collective labour agreements and negotiations with trade unions. Advising on employment issues related to M&A transactions, restructurings, and outsourcing is another strength of the firm. Eugenie Nunes chairs the practice and is experienced in advising corporate entities on employment law issues, as well as representing companies in employment disputes. She is also well versed in negotiating collective bargaining agreements and works closely together with Marije Ozinga. Pensions specialist Johanne Boelhouwer, who was promoted to partner in May 2023, is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Eugenie Nunes


Other key lawyers:

Johanne Boelhouwer; Sascha Kuit; Marije Ozinga


Testimonials

‘Johanne Boelhouwer is able to quickly get to the essence of a matter and is able to easily explain things to people regardless of their HR experience level. Furthermore, she is always there when a matter is high priority and speed is required.’

‘Dentons has an extreme quick turnaround in replying. There is a lot of continuity in the team so the contact person really gets to know the company. Furthermore, their advice is always to the point, easy to read and does not leave a lot of room for interpretation. So you have close collaboration and a high level of service.’

‘Good responsiveness, very professional, and they understand our business and environment because we have built a longer-term relationship. They simplify the answers and options, and really connect and collaborate, and are solution driven even if we have taken a different approach in the beginning, bringing us back on track.’

‘Eugenie Nunes is one of a kind – very dedicated and client focused, with excellent knowledge of the legal framework and creative in finding solutions for complicated matters. She has an out-of-the-box mindset.’

‘Eugenie Nunes is our go-to employment attorney, and she is responsive, practical, and easy to work with.’

‘Dentons’ Netherlands office stands out in the legal landscape for its exceptional commitment and unwavering passion for serving clients. What truly sets them apart is their relentless dedication to providing practical, commercially sound advice. Clients can trust Dentons to go beyond the ordinary, offering innovative solutions and a deep understanding of their business needs.’

‘Eugenie Nunes and Marije Ozinga form an exceptional team, each bringing unique strengths to the table. Eugenie stands out for her highly specialised knowledge, which she combines with an exceptional talent for finding practical, commercially driven solutions to our business challenges. Marije distinguishes herself with her ability to comprehend the intricacies of our business and its specific needs. Her friendly and composed demeanour make every interaction a pleasure.’

‘Great team with Eugenie Nunes and Marije Ozinga as my key partners. Proactive, highly motivated, and provide a good translation of legal advice into all different jurisdictions.’

Key clients

AXA


Regus (IWGPlc)


CBRE


Kohlberg Kravis Roberts


Nike


Pathé Theatres


Yanmar


Mott MacDonald


Village Farms


Foot Locker


Works council Microsoft


Lighthouse Netherlands


Sonder Inc.


Wajer Yachts


Movendo Capital


Cushman & Wakefield


Syniti


The Social Hub


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


Hoshizaki


Repeats Group


Delin Property


CaseWare


Qualitas Energy


Valvoline


Nelipak


Rackspace


Work highlights


  • Assisting Sonder Holdings with managing all the relevant employment issues when acquiring new locations within the Netherlands and abroad.
  • Advising Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, as co-counsel with Simpson Thatcher Bartlett and as part of a large international Dentons team, on and coordinating the employment and labour aspects of the acquisition of S&P Global’s engineering solutions business, for $975 million in cash.
  • Acting for a global professional services and insurance firm in an ongoing pensions dispute, where the insurance firm is being challenged on advice it gave to its client over its pension scheme arrangements, specifically regarding the indexation of a group of former employees’ pensions.

Eversheds Sutherland (Netherlands) B.V.

Eversheds Sutherland (Netherlands) B.V. has a specialised pensions team alongside its employment practice which handles advisory and litigation matters within the pensions sphere. Typical issues handled by the team include advising on pre-retirement provisions, de-risking liabilities of pension funds, and leading discussions between employers and pensions funds on the scope of pension funds and their eligibility. Employment issues relating to restructurings and general labour law advice are also a part of the practice. The team is jointly led by Marieke Koster, Anique Bitterlich-Straver, and Eric Bergamin. Taoufik Yekhlef is also noted for his negotiation skills in employment matters.

Practice head(s):

Marieke Koster; Anique Bitterlich-Straver; Eric Bergamin


Other key lawyers:

Taoufik Yekhlef


Testimonials

‘A strong team who are able to think outside the box and in line with clients’ expectations, especially Taoufik Yekhlef.’

‘Taoufik Yekhlef is a very reliable lawyer. Always reachable when you need him. Friendly, but a fierce representative on the client’s behalf. Very knowledgeable on strategic topics, such as restructuring and negotiations with unions and works councils.’

‘The team are collaborative and reliable. They’re so knowledgeable about local laws, but they don’t stop there. They seek to understand our business and what we need and provide practical and actionable advice.’

‘Taoufik Yekhlef is a true professional and the reason why we keep going back to Eversheds’ Netherlands office. Over the years, he’s become a trusted advisor to the business and has guided us through several challenging projects with expertise, poise, and a steady hand.’

‘The firm stands out for its client focus and specialised knowledge. They’re good at using technology to make legal processes quicker. Overall, the firm is a reliable choice for employment law services.

‘Marieke Koster is extremely responsive and has a lot of experience and knowledge of Dutch employment law.’

‘We appreciate the quick reaction times, comprehensive advice, practical feedback and open communication.’

‘Eric Bergamin is always available to give practical advice.’

Key clients

Expedia Group


Juniper Networks


G4S


Rockwell Automation


Pentair


Work highlights


  • Assisted Italian energy company Eni with the Dutch employment law and pension-related aspects of the EUR 5.5 billion acquisition of Neptune Energy.

Florent

Florent launched its employment practice in January 2023 with the arrival of practice head Joris Oster from Simmons & Simmons. Oster handles both advisory and contentious employment matters and is experienced in assisting clients with dismissals, collective redundancies, and investigations. The practice also supports a number of clients with the employment issues related to corporate transactions.

Practice head(s):

Joris Oster


Testimonials

‘The team knows us very well and therefore understands what we need and is able to advise us in a very hands-on way, with practical solutions.’

‘Joris Oster is a storyteller. He understands what his clients need and he is able to put their issues into the wider context. It is very pleasant to work with him and he is always available to help.’

Key clients

Warner Bros.


Roku Inc.


OranginaSchweppes


Vanderlande Industries


RAI


Driscoll’s


GarantiBank


Betterup


Indeed


Douglas


Work highlights


  • Advising Warner Bros. Discovery on employment matters including the termination of individual employment agreements, changes to employment terms, transfers of undertaking and template updates to various agreements.
  • Acting as Roku’s exclusive employment counsel and extensively advising the company in respect of downsizing its EMEA headquarters in Amsterdam.
  • Acting as OranginaSchweppes’ lead employment counsel in the Netherlands, assisting the client with sensitive employment matters.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

The employment team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is led by Brechje Nollen, who advises on the employment aspects of large corporate transactions and post-transactional issues such as management changes. Cross-border employment issues such as restructurings are another focus of the practice. Clients are typically large multinationals, financial institutions and technology companies.

Practice head(s):

Brechje Nollen


Other key lawyers:

Babette Koning; Thom Veldhuizen


Testimonials

‘Approachable, knowledgeable and hands-on, practical advice.’

‘Passionate about her work and very hands-on, Brechje Nollen is always there to help in a relaxed manner.’

Key clients

Advent International


Alteri


Americold


Apax


APG Asset Management


Ardagh/Trivium Partners


Ardian


Argenx


Besi


Boskalis


Bristol-Myers Squibb


Cargill


Cinven


Compagnie Saint-Gobain


Coty


CNH Industrial


CVC Capital Partners


Carlson Wagonlit


DVB Bank


Eldorado Gold


Engie


Eon/Essent


EQT/EQT Growth


Stellantis (formerly named Fiat Chrysler Automobiles)


Goldman Sachs


Hexion


Honeywell


Hutchison Ports


Industrikapital


ING Bank


Infinera


J.P. Morgan


Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize


Koninklijke Boskalis Westminster


Marubeni Corporation


McCain


Mediq


Mitsui


Nomura


Nordic Capital


NPM Capital


PAI Partners


Permira


PGGM


Prysmian


Puma


RELX Group


RWE


Saluda Medical


Save the Children


Springer


Talpa


Talpa Holding


Uber


Universal Music Group


UPS


Vermaat


Vitruvian Partners


Walki


Warburg Pincus


Weight Watchers


Wereldhave


Work highlights


  • Advised KLAR Partners on the employment aspects of its proposed acquisition of Hallo, Group, an ICT service provider for mid and small-sized businesses in the Netherlands.
  • Advised Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on its long-term investment partnership with Power2X.

Hogan Lovells International LLP

Maria Benbrahim leads the employment practice at Hogan Lovells International LLP, which focuses on assisting clients with corporate employment law matters such as restructurings, M&A, collective dismissals, and executive arrangements. Multi-jurisdictional issues such as outsourcing arrangements are also key. Benbrahim was promoted to partner in January 2023 after Anita de Jong stepped down from partner to senior counsel, and she works closely together with the firm’s corporate teams to assist clients with employment issues and investigations.

Practice head(s):

Maria Benbrahim


Other key lawyers:

Anita de Jong


Testimonials

‘Very hands on and responsive. Excellent knowledge and very proactive.’

‘The way Maria Benbrahim deals with clients and always goes the extra mile is really what makes her stand out. She is very flexible, cooperative, responsive, involved and proactive, and of course very skilled and knowledgeable.’

‘Great service and always very pleasant communications.’

‘Their knowledge and their ability to explain things to a layman make the firm stand out.’

‘Pragmatic support in providing good solutions.’

‘The Hogan Lovells employment team in the Netherlands distinguished themselves by demonstrating their ability to take on an extremely complex matter and providing actionable advice while taking into consideration the client’s business needs.

‘It’s important for clients to have partners who are not only knowledgeable about the law, but who also understand the business context and maintain good communications. Maria Benbrahim and her team demonstrated that they possessed all the attributes needed for a good partner.’

‘The level of responsiveness to client needs has been phenomenal and is beyond what I have seen in other firms. Additionally, team was excellent in providing clear, comprehensive summaries of the situation and clear statements of the next steps.’

Key clients

Red Hat


PerkinElmer


Labcorp


Covestro


PVH


QTS


Work highlights


  • Assisting Red Hat with coordinating a global outsourcing from Nokia to the client in 31 different jurisdictions across the world, involving the transition of approximately 400 employees.
  • Assisting PerkinElmer with the divesture of its applied, food and enterprise services businesses worldwide, including works council negotiations and negotiations with trade unions, the review of transactions documents and the applicability of collective labour agreements before and post-closing, and advice on mandatory pensions issues.
  • Assisting LabCorp with the employment issues related to the global spin-off of its clinical development business, including the transfer of employees’ data.

Holla legal & tax

Holla legal & tax advises clients across sectors such as healthcare, IT, and goods on employment issues including the employment aspects of M&A, restructurings, and works council negotiations. In addition, the team has been growing its capabilities in fraud-related dismissal cases and has advised on whistleblower issues. The firm also has an alliance with Belgian firm GSJ Advocaten and UK firm TLT, enabling it to handle potential cross-border issues. Petra Domevscek, Martijn Huisman, and Ralph Jan van der Ham co-lead the practice.

Practice head(s):

Petra Domevscek; Martijn Huisman; Ralph Jan van der Ham


Other key lawyers:

Harriët Strik; Joost Schunselaar; Marloes Stuurop; Fons Smid; Bert van den Boom


Testimonials

‘It is a professional team that communicates in a natural and accessible way. They focus on the main aspects of a case and know how to translate legal issues quickly. From my perspective, there was an immediate connection with the team and that inspires confidence.’

‘Mainly I work with Joost Schunselaar and Harriët Strik. They are both very accessible. They are well attuned to each other, which means that communication and cooperation runs very smoothly. In terms of content, they have a lot of knowledge and they ensure that there is constructive cooperation. In all the experience I have with lawyers, I am of the opinion that they are focused on what matters and that time is used efficiently.’

‘Professional, good knowledge, and good-quality advice. They come up with solutions and are creative.’

Key clients

Royal Philips


GEA group


The Greenery


Vion


OTTO Work Force


Corbion


Hutten


Panasonic


Outsourcing Inc.


Enexis


Cathay Investments


JCDecaux


Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis


Welten


Holland &B arret


Works council ForFarmers


De Banketgroep


Top Mondzorg


Forbo Flooring


SEB PROFESSIONAL


Euroresins


Dacapo Stainless


Works council Royal Smit


OPACK Group


MCB


SSI-Schäfer


Vitalis Woonzorg Groep


L1


BrabantZorg


Ricoh


Wij zijn Jong (formerly KSS/Korein)


idverde Netherlands and idverde Group


Sitel


Synechron


SintLucas


MijnGemeenteDichtbij


Össur


Puy du Fou


Lowlander Beer


Janssen de Jong


ICT Group


Blueprint Automation


Huboo Technologies


Brabant Water


Agristo


Reinier van Arkel


Mapscape


Waterschap Aa en Maas


Novadic-Kentron


Koning Willem I College


Team Liquid


Foundever


Interchemie


Edufax


Works council Additive Industries


Work highlights


  • Advising on the employment issues relating to the large-scale global reorganisation of Royal Philips, supervising the part of the reorganisation relating to Philips’ entities and employees in the Netherlands.
  • Acted for RPO (the Regional Public Broadcast Companies) in a three-party dispute regarding the payment of wages.
  • Acting as GEA’s trusted legal advisor regarding all Dutch employment matters and advising on issues such as support in dismissal cases, employee participation issues, and works council matters.

L&A Advocaten

Boutique employment firm L&A Advocaten centres its practice on advising large Dutch and international companies and is known for its all-round skills in both contentious and non-contentious employment issues. Investigations and cases involving transgressive behaviour have been an increased area of focus for the firm. Clients also seek out the practice for its experience in collective and individual dismissals, restructurings, workplace privacy issues, and collective employment arrangements. Employment specialists Arlette Putker-Blees and Irene Francken co-lead the practice.

Practice head(s):

Arlette Putker-Blees; Irene Francken


Testimonials

‘A strong employment law practice with several seasoned employment lawyers. The firm has built a strong brand in the Dutch employment law market. They are unique as an all-female firm.’

‘Arlette Putker-Blees has a strong employment law practice and is highly regarded by clients and colleagues in the field. Arlette is a tough negotiator.’

‘Irene Francken stands out for her practical, solution-oriented approach. She is commercially very strong.

‘This practice is unique in the way it combines juridical expertise with empathic sensitivity and imagination. They are very friendly and pay attention to the emotions of the other party, and at same time they are very result oriented.’

‘Arlette Putker-Blees is a very good lawyer who understands not only the legal issues but also the human dynamics behind her cases. She is accurate, clear and outspoken, which works very well when deciding how to approach the case. Irene Francken is empathic and her approach is pragmatic, which is very useful.’

‘L&A is an all-women law firm with a can-do mentality. Their advice is to the point and they bring a lot of expertise to the table. They keep the best interests of the client at the forefront and are not afraid to give feedback and give advice to the client. Their legal products are excellent.’

‘Arlette Putker-Blees and Irene Franken are very strong in terms of content and are empathetic, and they manage to achieve the optimal result.’

‘The L&A employment law team is always fast, practical and business focused. They have good values, bring balance to the discussion, but nevertheless firmly represent the company’s position in negotiations. They have always achieved the objectives we agreed.’

Key clients

Vesteda Investment Management B.V.


Avery Dennison Materials Nederland B.V.


Visma Software B.V.


Koninklijke Jumbo B.V.


Park Plaza Hotel Europe B.V.


Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel (Marriott Group)


Coöperatie Klaverblad Verzekeringen U.A.


Universal Music Group B.V.


Maatschap JB Law


Looye Kwekers B.V.


CRH Nederland B.V.


Stichting Levvel


KinderRijk Holding B.V.


ERIKS B.V.


Work highlights


  • Advised Coöperatie Klaverblad Verzekeringen U.A. on the employment aspects of a substantial organisational change and restructuring process, including guidance sessions and the drafting of relevant documentation relating to the advisory process with the works council.
  • Advised one of the main suppliers for road transport in the Netherlands on negotiations with the trade unions aimed at establishing a new collective labour agreement.
  • Assisting CRH with the steps that should be taken in order to comply with the in-growth quota and target scheme regulations.

Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV

Best known for assisting public employers with employment issues, the team at Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV also advises private employers; its client base includes listed companies, ministries, regulatory authorities, and municipalities. Due to the nature of its clients, the firm typically handles sensitive cases such as whistleblowing allegations, reorganisations, and disputes with works councils. The team also handles pensions matters. Erika Wies leads the practice, while other key team members include Peter Mauser, Wiecher van Lingen, and Ephraim Dekkers.

Practice head(s):

Erika Wies


Other key lawyers:

Peter Mauser; Wiecher van Lingen; Ephraim Dekkers; Berend-Bram Heinen


Testimonials

‘The team stands out compared to others due to its highly skilled individuals, excellent knowledge and quick responses.’

‘Peter Mauser is highly competent and I would like to highlight his ability to formulate a very balanced judgement in complex situations. His judgement never lets us down.’

‘Erika Wies is very approachable, has attention to detail and has great analytical skills. Erika is a professional who knows what she is talking about and is able to explain to others even though they are not legally trained. She can take the lead but always takes others into account.’

‘Ephraim Dekkers is approachable and is very dedicated. No matter what time or day, he is always willing to help and advise. Ephraim is reliable and always delivers. As someone who didn’t study law, I appreciate the way Ephraim is always willing and able to explain things to me. Also he takes my opinion and point of view seriously.’

‘I worked with Erika Wies. The quality of work was exceptional, with good input and thoughts as well as realistic options. Communication was quick and easy – I could contact her in the evenings and mornings if needed given the speed of developments. She was also able to bring in the expertise of other partners.’

‘Peter Mauser is a very amiable and skilled employment lawyer. A pleasure to work with and a valuable sparring partner for our business.’

‘Pels Rijcken has all the knowledge that is needed to advise us. They have a good position in our field of work and know our stakeholders and their interests.’

‘Pragmatic and very practical, with in-depth knowledge of the client’s needs and understanding of different aspects of the types of work within the company. Easily able to communicate at different levels, which makes them very easy to work with.’

Key clients

KPN


Worley Netherlands


Jacobs NL


Onefit


Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rijkswaterstaat (Traffic and Water Management) and the Ministry of Defence


Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers


Public Prosecution Office


TU Delft


University of Amsterdam


Erasmus University Rotterdam


Municipalities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam


National Police


Besix


Provinces of Gelderland, Noord-Holland and South Holland


CBR (Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing)


Work highlights


  • Represented the state successfully in high-profile preliminary relief proceedings against Uber.
  • Advising the state of the Netherlands/the Ministry of Defence on a matter concerning the interpretation of the pension agreement for military personnel.
  • Representing the state in proceedings before the District Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court initiated by several senior citizens’ organisations against the Dutch state because they believe that the Dutch Pension Act conflicts with European regulations.

Ploum

The Rotterdam-based employment and incentives practice at Ploum excels in co-determination matters, restructurings, collective dismissals, and issues involving works councils. The firm brought in Daniël van Gerven from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek in January 2023 to serve as practice co-head, adding to the strength of the firm’s remuneration, incentives, and internal investigations offering. Managing partner and co-head Rutger Ploum is known for his skills in conflicts between enterprises, unions, and works councils, while co-head Simon Tan handles private client cases involving executives.

Practice head(s):

Rutger Ploum; Simon Tan; Daniël van Gerven


Other key lawyers:

Astrid van Toledo; Bo Leeuwestein


Testimonials

‘Rutger Ploum is an outstanding leader, a connector, a mentor, a mediator, and a good listener, and has a practical mindset with a lot of knowledge. A great person to work with. He is living the core values of the firm in every thing he does. He built the team and every individual is living the core values of the company. You see that, you feel that.’

‘The employment law team has multiple specialisms that can be deployed as needed. There is no question that cannot be answered. Moreover, they never get in each other’s way, but all have knowledge of the case.’

‘Excellent people who are on the ball and very professional. A pleasure to work with. Definitely a firm that will become more and more important, specifically in the field of employment law.’

‘Daniël van Gerven is an excellent lawyer. His combination of experience in practice and as a university lecturer makes him a true expert. Client handling is extremely professional and good.’

‘The Ploum team is always very professional, responsive, accessible and able to accommodate the different needs that we have as an ever-changing organisation.’

‘Daniël van Gerven stands out in terms of its in-depth knowledge of the employment landscape in the Netherlands, its availability and engagement. He is an excellent lawyer and great person to work with – a real asset to the Ploum team.’

‘Ploum has an excellent team that is always professional, available and able to work across different areas of employment law. They are real specialists, who are focused, on the ball and always there when you need them.’

‘Simon Tan is a real veteran and trusted boardroom advisor. A very affable and humble man, who is widely respected in the market. Easy to deal with, approachable and provides excellent insights and advice. Able to break down complex issues very effectively. Great commitment to his clients.’

Key clients

Allianz


Aluchemie


APM Terminals Maasvlakte II


Arbo Unie B.V.


Atlas Copco International


Bastion Hotel Group


Bolidt Kunststoftoepassingen B.V.


Bonduelle Nederland B.V.


Brand New Day


British Petroleum


Cardialysis B.V.


Cefetra Group


Chemours Netherlands B.V.


Conservator


Customs Support Group


Digital Realty Inc.


DFI Food


Ecorys


ekaterra Netherlands (Lipton Teas)


Eon


Essent Nederland B.V.


FinCoEnergies


FNV and CNV


Gate Terminal


Gorillas


Greenergy Biofuels Amsterdam


Groenleven


Hutchinson Ports Delta II


Klépierre S.A.


Kodak Nederland B.V.


Koninklijke Verkade N.V.


Maersk Line Netherlands B.V.


Mammoet Holding B.V.


Marlow


Mennens Group


Michael Lewis Company Inc.


Municipality Breda


NIBC Bank


Nutreco N.V.


OCI N.V.


One-Dyas


Peinemann


Pladis Global (Koninklijke Verkade)


Puma Benelux


RanMarine Technologies B.V.


RobeCo B.V.


Rotterdam Short Sea Terminal (RST)


Royal Keune B.V.


Royal Vopak


Safescan


Scarabee aviation group B.V.


SHV Holdings N.V.


Sprenkels&Verschuren B.V.


Stichting Boijmans van Beuningen Museum


Stichting Kunsthal Rotterdam


Teleplan


TempOil Nederland B.V.


Tony’s Team B.V.


Transtrend


TUI Nederland N.V.


Unilever


Upfield Foods UK Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised on the intended closedown of the Aluchemie plant and the reorganisation resulting in a downsizing of 220 employees.
  • Advised APM Terminals Maasvlakte II on the investment in a new terminal and the related employment transitions.
  • Advised Unilever on several large-scale reorganisations.

Pot Jonker Advocaten

Haarlem-based firm Pot Jonker Advocaten advises multinationals on employment issues related to their Dutch operations and is skilled at handling both advisory and litigation work. In addition to domestic employment advice, the team also advises on cross-border matters, and has handled several notable whistleblower and dismissal cases. Practice head Muriel Middeldorp is a key name for transfer of undertaking issues, as well as matters involving dual positions of managing directors. Hester Tonino combines her expertise in healthcare, privacy, and employment to advise healthcare institutions on issues such as discrimination or negotiations with works councils. Martyn Top focuses on reorganisations, the termination of employment agreements, and employee participation.

Practice head(s):

Muriel Middeldorp


Other key lawyers:

Hester Tonino; Martyn Top


Testimonials

‘I am very happy with the way Pot Jonker supported us. They worked quickly, with clear advice and solid actions for us to follow. We got concise, step-by-step labour law support, which was much appreciated by our team.’

‘We have come to fully trust and rely on Martyn Top’s advice, which is timely and solid. We’re so very happy to work with Martyn.’

‘Very approachable and able to convey complex material in a simple manner. Honest about the chances of success. In addition, they are always aware of the latest changes and proactively share this with their clients.’

‘Pragmatic and very strong in terms of content. They are also aware of their own limitations and, if necessary, can call in a colleague who is more specialised in a certain area of law. The client is the central focus and it is all about how they can best be represented.’

‘Fast and very understandable communication, pragmatism and great personalities to work with.’

‘I very much enjoy working with Muriel Middeldorp. Her knowledge, pragmatism and personality form a unique combination and make her stand out from competitors. It is a true pleasure having her and her colleagues as our lawyers.’

‘Muriel Middeldorp has very extensive knowledge and the ability to make difficult structures easy to understand.’

‘Martyn Top’s practical approach, problem-solving prowess, and commitment to effective communication makes him a great lawyer to work with. We look forward to continued collaboration with him in the future.’

Key clients

Amadeus Hospitality Netherlands BV


Apotheek der Haarlemse Ziekenhuizen


Atalmedial


Belangenvereniging ‘Het Gilde van examinatoren bij het CBR’


Congregratie van OLV van Liefde van De Goede Herder in Nederland


Danish Crown Netherlands


Dutch Flower Group


European Cultural Foundation


Filippa K


Google Netherlands works council


Township Haarlemmermeer


Grünenthal


De Hartekampgroep


Hoyng Rokh Monegier


HDI Global SE


Kennemerhart


Royal Kampert en Helm Rotaform


Levensmiddelenhuis NL


LiteBit (2525 Ventures)


Nestlé


Société des Produits Nestlé


Nespresso


Nieuw Unicum


Oldenburg Bonsel


Orthoclinics (the Knee Clinic)


PHIL


PPG Coatings


Prologis Management


RedWave (formerly USG Energy)


RIBW K/AM


Royal Ahold Delhaize (Albert Heijn)


Simon Levelt


Streeklaboratorium voor de Volksgezondheid Kennemerland


Stichting Het Raamwerk


Super Micro


TRS Staffing Solutions


Vibe Group


Viva! Zorggroep


Warner Music Benelux


ZorgBalans


Work highlights


  • Represented Congregratie van OLV van de Goede Herder in a court case where several women started proceedings against the Congregation claiming to have been the victims of forced labour/slavery.

Simmons & Simmons

Simmons & Simmons is known for its sector expertise in TMT, asset management and finance, where it assists clients with both employment and pension issues. The employment aspects of corporate transactions and reorganisations, redundancy projects, and cross-disciplinary employment matters such as compliance investigations and remuneration issues all fall within the scope of the practice. Pensions specialist Laurie Kuijpers co-leads the practice with recently promoted partner and employment expert Annemarie Elenbaas.

Practice head(s):

Laurie Kuijpers; Annemarie Elenbaas


Testimonials

‘Hands-on and practical approach.’

‘Annemarie Elenbaas is always able to be reached, has up-to-date knowledge, good and constructive brainstorming, and quick and practical answers.’

‘The team offers highly tailored, commercial advice on a very timely basis. The team is very responsive and easily grasps the issues at hand, providing very clear and concise oral and written advice.’

Key clients

Meta Global Inc/Facebook Netherlands B.V.


Booking.com


VEON


Zimmer Biomet


BP Plc.


Broekman


Gilde Equity Management (GEM) Benelux


AXA XL


Sodastream


Progress


Monument Re/Monument Assurance Luxembourg


Redefine Meat


Lemonade Insurance


Biscuit International


Billups


Lightrock LLP


Air Products Nederland B.V.


Work highlights


  • Advising Meta Inc/Facebook Netherlands B.V. on the implementation of large-scale global lay-offs which are affecting the Netherlands and the set-up of the Dutch works council.
  • Advised and assisted Monument Limited Assurance (Monument Re Group) with the employment aspects of the acquisition of Integrale and its Dutch and Luxembourg pensions portfolio.

Taylor Wessing

Taylor Wessing has offices in Amsterdam and Eindhoven and specialises in advising on the intersection of US and Canadian employment law with Dutch employment law for its largely US and Canadian-based client base (with an emphasis on acting for clients in the technology sector). The team routinely advises these companies on their operations in the Netherlands and handles issues such as dismissals, reorganisations, TUPE, and pensions. The employment, pensions, and mobility practice is co-headed by Bart Hunnekens and Marc van Gelder, while Roos Seesing is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Bart Hunnekens; Marc van Gelder


Other key lawyers:

Roos Seesing


Testimonials

‘The team is very helpful and knowledgeable, and puts client service at the forefront of whatever they do. They are responsive and live up to their commitments in a timely manner. They are also well presented and make us feel heard and understood.’

‘The personalised care and positive attitude that Roos Seesing displayed were impressive. She approached every situation attentively and made sure that she gave specific and honest advice where needed.’

‘Responsive. Commercial. Pragmatic. Always go the extra mile.’

Key clients

Adobe


Databricks


TIER Mobility


Lightspeed


WeTransfer


Bipi Mobility


Cribl


Premier Tech


DeepL


Lidl


Work highlights


  • Assisted Zapp with the employment issues relating to the termination of its activities in the Netherlands.
  • Assisted Cribl with employment matters relating to setting up its business in the Netherlands.
  • Advised Adobe on setting up a works council in the Netherlands.

Wijn & Stael Advocaten N.V.

The employment practice at Wijn & Stael Advocaten N.V. is jointly led by Else Loes Pasma and Leendert Kruidenier, with Pasma advising on complex governance, compliance, and integrity issues, while mediator Kruidenier assists with complex dismissals and restructurings. The firm often advises shareholders and supervisory boards of companies, trade unions, and works councils on a range of non-contentious employment issues and disputes. The practice is particularly well known for handling employment matters involving foreign senior executives. Maaike Faber and Karlijn van der Heijden are the go-to contacts for works councils issues.

Practice head(s):

Else Loes Pasma; Leendert Kruidenier


Other key lawyers:

Maaike Faber; Karlijn van der Heijden; Sophie Wierenga-Heintz


Testimonials

‘Wijn & Steel has strong expertise and is very responsive. They are fully committed to your case.’

‘Else Loes Pasma is able define an excellent strategy, taking into account the specific circumstances. She is very dedicated to the case and keeps focused on working to the desired end result.’

‘Wijn & Stael is an elegant, no-nonsense group of highly qualified lawyers and support staff that treats each individual with respect, as well as providing insightful advice. The differentiating factor is they are very confident they are giving the right advice, they will pay close forensic attention to the case details, and should a case end up in front of a judge, Wijn & Stael will win, the law permitting!’

‘Maaike Faber specialises in employment law and really knows her stuff! She knows how to compile a compelling narrative that can highlight the injustice of a situation and swiftly ties it to the decrees and code of the Dutch legal system. Her energy is next to none and she will see the case through to the end.’

‘Leendert Kruidenier is to be commended as an employment specialist. With his ‘iron fist in a velvet glove’ approach, he was able to step in when needed and in tandem with Maaike deliver fair but brilliant results.’

‘Very communicative, easy access 24/7 and fast responses. A perfect match of professional and personal approach. They are simply very nice to work with, and get good results.’

‘We have a very good relationship with Wijn & Stael. The follow up is always fast and reliable. We’re looking forward to continuing our collaboration.

‘Most of the time we work with Else Loes Pasma. The input and feedback she gives is always helps us. We really appreciate our business relationship and have absolutely no doubt about continuing it.’

Key clients

Evidensia


Works Council Microtek Medical


OnderhoudNL


Vereniging Nederlands Cabinepersoneel VNC


5CA


SV Kampong Hockey


ONVZ


Theo Pouw


Work highlights


  • Advised VNC on various employment issues relating to the restructuring of KLM and the collective bargaining agreements of cabin personnel.

Buren

The employment and benefits team at Buren is often sought out for its expertise in Chinese employment law, which is supported by the firm's other locations in Shanghai and Beijing. The firm handles corporate employment matters such as restructurings, acquisitions, and reorganisations. Suzan van de Kam and Epke Spijkerman lead the practice.

Practice head(s):

Suzan van de Kam; Epke Spijkerman


Testimonials

‘The firm is able to translate our Dutch ways into Chinese law and customs. This team provide us with lots of information about the why behind their actions and explain to us the consequences of Chinese law.’

‘Availability and expertise characterise the service from Buren.’

‘The employment team at Buren, especially under the guidance of Suzan van de Kam, have exactly the right approach – they are fair to both parties, their advice is straightforward and correct, and they are very trustworthy.’

‘Suzan van de Kam is very valuable to us. We can always count on her, and she is friendly and amiable but also firm and clear. She solves conflicts very quickly and works efficiently and smartly.’

‘They are excellent at providing support to international companies where the decision makers are outside the Netherlands, and are able to explain laws and practice in terms that are easily understood, which helps to avoid unnecessary complexity, litigation and costs. They have supported us across the spectrum of HR challenges.’

‘Epke Spijkerman is very clear and concise in his discussions and explanations. He offers practical, business-orientated solutions, and is flexible with timing for global stakeholders. Very knowledgeable across the field.’

‘Pragmatic approach and understanding of our business.’

‘The firm stands out for the experience and seniority of the people.’

Key clients

Samenwerkende Kinderopvang


Marsh B.V.


Lindt & Sprüngli Netherlands B.V.


ISG


CS Group


Bausch Health


Planon Group


Zeeman TextielSupers B.V.


Lincoln Electric


Bally


Canon Medical Systems Europe B.V.


Work highlights


  • Advised ISG on all its employment-related matters in the Netherlands, including but not limited to individual dismissal cases, board changes and the introduction of employment-related policies such as retention schemes.
  • Assisted French-listed CS Group S.A., together with Fides Partner, with the employment aspects of the envisaged acquisition of shares in HE Space Holding B.V. from Millican Management B.V.
  • Advising Planon on employment issues relating to various acquisitions of smaller software firms, such as employment due diligence and the drafting/negotiating of consultancy agreements and employment agreements.

De Clercq Advocaten Notariaat

The Leiden-based employment team at De Clercq Advocaten Notariaat is led by Renate Vink-Dijkstra and Henriëtte van Baalen, who both excel at advising clients on a range of employment issues, with Vink-Dijkstra in particular leading the strong employee participation practice. The firm is often sought out by works councils and also advises a number of airlines and other public and private companies on issues such as collective bargaining.

Practice head(s):

Renate Vink-Dijkstra; Henriëtte van Baalen


Other key lawyers:

Jaouad Seghrouchni; Renée Huijsmans


Testimonials

‘De Clercq’s team is responsive, has excellent knowledge of up-to-date law in the Netherlands, is committed to delivering high-quality advice and is keen on collaborating with us.’

‘DeClercq has diverse knowledge and experience, which is of crucial help on all topics on which we need them to assure us that everything is checked from a legal perspective. They work in a very practical and efficient way.’

‘Renate Vink-Dijkstra takes ownership of the case, dividing the work, if needed, between herself and colleagues with the right expertise. It is always easy to contact her via different communication channels, which is really something that helps us to make it easy and efficient to work with her. Her communication skills are very good, which helps when involving the works council members but also in meetings we have with our stakeholders.’

Key clients

Central Works Council of ICT Group Holding B.V.


Works Council of ICT Netherlands B.V.


Stichting GGZ Rivierduinen


Works Council of Medux B.V.


MEDE


European Growth Referent B.V.


Works Council of Roche Diagnostics Nederland B.V.


Works Council of Roche Nederland B.V.


Stichting Confessioneel Onderwijs Leiden


Galapagos B.V.


Intergraph Benelux B.V.


3M Nederland B.V.


Works Council of Benu Apotheken B.V.


Cornelis Vrolijk B.V.


Industrial Physics Inks & Coatings B.V.


TUI Airlines Nederland B.V.


Universiteit Leiden


Sapienza Consulting B.V.


WelThuis B.V.


Saybolt Nederland B.V.


Central Works Council Unilever Nederland B.V.


Webasto Thermo & Comfort Benelux B.V


Works Council of B&S International B.V.


Proton Ventures Engineering B.V.


Works Council of Sony Benelux B.V.


Rexel Nederland B.V.


Works Council of Surf B.V.


Stichting Marente


Stichting Naturalis Biodiversity Center


Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden Basketball


Works Council of the municipality of Amsterdam


NTNT Rotterdam


Works Council Lipton Teas & Infusions (Ekaterra) B.V.


BaseClear B.V.


Stichting Bibliotheek Rotterdam


Work highlights


  • Assisted TUI Airlines in Supreme Court proceedings against the Dutch trade union FNV regarding admission to collective bargaining.
  • Advised Galapagos on the employment aspects of a large-scale merger with CellPoint, as part of the integration of CellPoint within the Galapagos group.
  • Acted for the works council of the municipality of Amsterdam in a dispute concerning the implementation by the municipality of a timetable arrangement for a large number of employees.

HDK Advocaten

HDK Advocaten is actively involved in numerous takeovers and restructurings in the Netherlands, assisting clients with related employment issues. The firm is known for its corporate-centred employment practice and knowledge of co-determination law. Founder Juliette Huyzer leads the practice and is an expert in negotiating with and on behalf of works councils, trade unions, and managing directors.

Practice head(s):

Juliette Huyzer


Other key lawyers:

Emma Harlaar


Testimonials

‘Good and swift advice. Always fast and accurate work. The lawyers also have a good understanding of the entrepreneur behind the client.’

‘Very practical approach and good knowledge of the subject.’

‘This is the best law firm I have ever worked with. They are proactive, always reachable, and always able to explain to me so I understand. Emma Harlaar and Juliette Huyzer always make it work.’

Key clients

Koninklijke Volker Wessels B.V. (Royal Volker Wessels Group and affiliates)


Maersk Logistics & Services International B.V.


PepsiCo


Becton Dickinson


Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP


Dutch Medical Group


Nederlandse Vereniging van Banken


DFDS


Acta Marine B.V.


Toolstation


Work highlights


  • Advised VolkerWessels on the employment issues relating to a merger of multiple entities within the group, resulting in changes and closures of business locations, redundancies and the integration of organisations, as well as the relevant codetermination procedures.
  • Assisted Toolstation with the dismissal of sick employees, contributing to developing case law through these procedures.
  • Advised the A.P. Moller-Maersk group on employment matters relating to its ongoing shift of focus, resulting in organisational changes, including the consequent restructuring of departments and layoffs.

Höcker Advocaten

Höcker Advocaten advises on an array of employment matters, including executive issues, sensitive topics such as discrimination, collective labour agreements, and assisting with employment-related issues in M&As. The team often assists with employment contracts and flexible employment arrangements. Practice head Jasper van Hulst is well versed in representing clients such as publishing companies, law firms, and healthcare providers. Mick Hurks excels in complex negotiations.

Practice head(s):

Jasper van Hulst


Other key lawyers:

Mick Hurks


Testimonials

‘We have a very good relationship with the team and especially with Mick Hurks. He’s always very responsive and all our dealings have been satisfactory.’

‘The employment team is knowledgeable and always quick to respond.’

‘Mick Hurks is smart and creative.’

‘Their unique qualities are personal attention and genuine commitment, speed and incisiveness.’

‘They perform the work as efficiently as possible, and are focused on the intended goal and outcome. Good communication with other legal advisors who were needed in our case.’

‘Jasper van Hulst is an excellent lawyer – sharp and with a very kind, professional attitude.’

‘Mick Hurks is an excellent, very experienced employment lawyer.’

‘I like working with Jasper van Hulst, as he is friendly, knowledgeable and has a pragmatic, hands-on approach.’

Key clients

House of Sports


Delta Airlines


Nemo Science Museum


Omnicom Group


Dutch Association of Performing Arts


HF Sinclair Corporation


MOJO Concerts


Dutch National Opera & Ballet


Amerborgh International


BNNVARA


Centraal Boekhuis


Smurfit Kappa


Work highlights


  • Advised Sonneborn on several employment law issues, including complex dismissal cases and fraud matters.
  • Advising Jump! Communicatie in connection with a company-wide reorganisation that resulted in the loss of nine positions, including the position of managing director.
  • Acted for Mr. Van de Hurk in several proceedings brought by his employer, Van Kruijsdijk Notarissen, a Netherlands-based notary firm, resulting in a landmark decision of the Court of Appeal regarding wage components and equitable compensation.

HVG Law LLP

HVG Law LLP has a sizeable employment team based all over the Netherlands which covers a range of advisory matters, such as assisting with the employment issues relating to restructurings, as well as advising on dismissals and non-competes. The team is jointly led by Laila Berrich, Huub Van Osch, and Nicky Ten Bokum.

Practice head(s):

Laila Berrich; Huub van Osch; Nicky ten Bokum


Key clients

Prologis


Mainfreight


Amplifon/Beter Horen


Esses Capital Partners


Harvest House


First Dutch


Novomatic


B-Modesto


Yokogawa


Braskem


Work highlights


  • Advised Diasorin SA on the employment aspects of an international reorganisation after the acquisition of Luminex.
  • Assisted Braskem with various employment matters relating to its Dutch legal operations.
  • Assisted Novomatic with a reorganisation and work force transformation process in the Netherlands.

Liber Dock

Liber Dock is an employment law boutique that frequently assists with collective matters such as dismissals or works council processes. The team also often handles international employment mandates. Marian van Eck and Boudewijn Kanen lead the practice and are supported by Mandy Ruijssenaars and Heleen Foesenek.

Practice head(s):

Marian van Eck; Boudewijn Kanen


Other key lawyers:

Mandy Ruijssenaars; Heleen Foesenek


Testimonials

‘Very good understanding of the business. Very pragmatic.’

‘Heleen Foesenek is extremely hands on and pragmatic. She is always available and really collaborates with us. The same goes for Mandy Ruijssenaars.’

‘They are very responsive and friendly, and have a good knowledge of the law and commercial requirements.’

Key clients

De Nederlandsche Bank


GXO


Reckitt Benckiser


Crisp


Merck Sharp & Dohme


Freshbooks


Gilead Europe Ltd


Ogletree Deakins International


Lemonade


Brand Loyalty International BV


Citco Group


Mercer


Weidmann


Topigs Norsvin


Work highlights


  • Assisting the works council of a large bank with the highly sensitive restructuring of the worldwide organisation, including advising on the consultation process and negotiation of a social plan.
  • Advising De Nederlandsche Bank on employment law issues including pensions and collective bargaining agreements.
  • Assisting Crisp with reviewing and rewriting all Dutch employment contracts and advising from a Dutch law perspective on different international issues, such as the intra-concern contracting of employees.

Palthe Oberman

Historic employment boutique firm Palthe Oberman continues to handle a range of employment issues, such as dismissals, restructurings, and works council processes. Founding partner Christiaan Oberman leads the team alongside Nadia Adnani, who is praised for her expertise in Dutch employment law, especially in relation to individual and collective redundancies, reorganisations, and employment contracts.

Practice head(s):

Christiaan Oberman; Nadia Adnani


Other key lawyers:

Lydia Milders; Noor Cuppen


Testimonials

‘The team offers everything you’d expect from high-quality legal support: reliability, reactivity, the feeling that they are a partner with a good knowledge of your file and its history, providing advice that is always practical, and offering solutions to any legal or practical issue. Everything goes smoothly with this team.’

‘What is highly appreciated in Nadia Adnani is that she manages to be instructive and clear without drowning her interlocutor in too much detail. She knows how to explain things so that you understand the legal reasoning while retaining the conclusion very clearly – which is quite rare! This is a person who knows how to take into account the non-legal aspects of a situation and adapt to them. Nadia is a very friendly person with whom you can have a cup of tea without getting bored for a second!’

‘Christiaan Oberman is very close to his clients, develops a personal connection and understands their requirements very well.’

Key clients

Deutsche Bank A.G.


GrandVision N.V.


Ankorstore


Sixt B.V.


KomathaGroup


Coar Global


Ubisoft


Works Council TripleA


SWIFT


Russell Advocaten B.V.

The employment practice at Russell Advocaten B.V. is led by Jan Dop, who specialises in advising foreign authorities, embassies, and consulates on employment matters. The team assists with a range of employment law issues, but is particularly strong in the retail sector, including acting for fashion and luxury brands, as well as IT. The practice offers day-to-day employment advice to clients from these sectors, including at boardroom level. Priscilla C.X. de Leede is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Jan Dop


Other key lawyers:

Priscilla C.X. de Leede


Testimonials

‘The team at Russell has extensive knowledge about employment law in the Netherlands and keeps us informed, with monthly updates on important issues.’

‘Jan Dop is our direct contact for employment matters, Jan Dop is well informed and professional and available 24/7 for issues that need immediate attention. We have been working with Jan for many years and are very satisfied.’

‘We have worked a lot with Jan Dop and Priscilla C.X. de Leede, who are both experts in the field of employment law.’

Rutgers & Posch

Rutgers & Posch combines corporate and employment expertise to actively assist clients with the employment aspects of corporate matters such as M&A transactions, restructurings, and reorganisations. Dismissals are also regularly handled by the team and it is well versed in assisting works councils with a slew of employment issues. The team is co-led by employment specialists Tijmen Noordoven, Inge de Laat, and Dirk Jan Rutgers. Also key to the team are Annemarth Hiebendaal and Annemeijne Zwager.

Practice head(s):

Tijmen Noordoven; Inge de Laat; Dirk Jan Rutgers


Other key lawyers:

Annemaart Hiebendaal; Annemeijne Zwager


Testimonials

‘Dirk Jan Rutgers is one of the most distinguished lawyers I have known in the Netherlands, who is very thoughtful and at the same time a great person to know personally.’

‘Inge de Laat is a very accomplished lawyer.’

‘Tijmen Nordooven is very reliable, providing assistance even on short notice.’

‘Annemaart Hiebendaal is a great person to work with and one of the promising young lawyers in the firm.

‘The responsiveness and the in-depth knowledge of all the lawyers are excellent. They are very good in restructuring matters but also in works council issues, individual employer-employee related matters and disputes. They are also very involved in each case and are nice, hands-on people.’

‘Tijmen Noordoven is a business-oriented person. He takes his work very seriously but he is also the type of lawyer who can bring laughter to tough cases. Tijmen is a focused person and gets the job done and besides that I also like the fact that we have an informal working relationship.’

‘Strong, specialist team, all focused on employment.’

‘Annemeijne Zwager is commercial, knowledgeable, and great to deal with. Inge de Laat is very experienced and knowledgeable.’

Key clients

Works Council Centric


Brabant Groep


Schoeller Allibert


Works Council Fox-IT


Euronext Amsterdam NV


Armada Music


uniQure


Kuijpers & Kuijpers


Royal IHC


AEB Amsterdam


TMF Group


Amazon


Media Markt Saturn Holding


FD Mediagroep


Work highlights


  • Advising Royal IHC on all employment aspects of its reorganisation and the process and timing.
  • Advising the company, shareholders and stakeholders on the employment aspects of the restructuring process and the sale of the service division to Ebert HERA Esser Group.
  • Advising the Centric works council on discussions with the board regarding the termination and appointment of executives, and discussions with the public prosecutor regarding the investigation to start inquiry proceedings in the public interest.

Sagiure Legal

Sagiure Legal focuses on contractual issues within employment law, as well as aiding clients with advice from the recruitment phase to the termination and post-contractual phases. The team often works on matters which involve other jurisdictions. Practice heads Madeleine Molster and Rachida el Johari are both experienced in a variety of employment issues, including corporate employment matters.

Practice head(s):

Madeleine Molster; Rachida el Johari


Other key lawyers:

Patrick Rojer


Testimonials

‘Rachida el Jorhari and Madeleine Molster were both very knowledgeable, willing to listen to our concerns and help us achieve our goals, and timely in responding to our queries.’

‘Rachida el Johari and Madeleine Molster have been a crucial support while managing our activity in the Netherlands. They show deep technical knowledge, ensuring we are following the best possible practice, and they make an effort to understand the specificities of our business to give the best advice and the best possible perspective on the topic. Besides that, they have an excellent work environment which makes us feel good about working with them.’

‘Personal service. They are only focused on employment law and know what they are talking about. It gives me confidence. It is easy to contact them.’

‘Rachida el Johari and Madeleine Molster are perfect for us. Simple, easy communication. We get the personal service of dealing with a boutique firm.’

‘The team is really invested in delivering good advice and they follow up on earlier matters. The partners are easily accessible and available.’

‘The team at Sagiure just complement each other and that is why I like working with them so much.’

‘The team makes the firm – their personal, hands-on approach makes them all a pleasure to work with.’

‘Rachida el Johari and Madeleine Molster both have the ability to understand the client’s requirements and are extremely good at pointing out the risks and possibilities that clients are unaware of. We have worked together on numerous cases and they are always professional and fun to work with, despite sometimes difficult issues. With these two superwomen we are always confident that we are in good hands. Our personal experience has been nothing but positive.’

Key clients

Kraft Heinz


IDEX Corporation


Farfetch


W.P. Carey


EXIN Holding BV


The Sunrise Project Australia Ltd


Bioseutica


Shearwaters

Boutique firm Shearwaters is known for its expertise in corporate employment law and often acts as local counsel to international law firms on their employment mandates in the Netherlands. The firm also assists various international clients with the employment aspects of M&A transactions and potential follow-up litigation. Martijn van Broeckhuijsen and Maarten Vestering co-chair the practice, supported by Hester van den Dorpel.

Practice head(s):

Martijn van Broeckhuijsen; Maarten Vestering


Other key lawyers:

Hester van den Dorpel


Testimonials

‘We regularly rely upon Shearwaters for employment matters. We have a longstanding collaborative relationship with Martijn van Broeckhuijsen and Maarten Vestering.’

‘We value the responsiveness of Shearwaters. Hester van den Dorpel is exceptional.’

‘Martijn van Broeckhuijsen’s vast experience means that he can predict how counterparties will respond, which makes him very good at strategising for a case.’

Key clients

Scandit


The Aurora Group


Vistra Netherlands


Shin-Etsu Silicones


BTS & Partners


Bioriginal Food & Science Corporation


West Coast Supply Group


Financial firms XR Trading, Radix Trading and Blue Fire Capital (Galaxy Digital)


Amino Technologies/24i Unit Media (p/o stocklisted Aferian plc.)


Work highlights


  • Advised Scandit on various employment-related topics, including advising on a restructuring and resulting individual dismissals and litigation.
  • Advised Vistra Netherlands on various employment-related topics.

Vestius

Vestius has been increasing involved in employment matters relating to contracts, in addition to advising on corporate employment mandates such as restructurings, mergers, and collective dismissals. Bart de Vroe and Michiel van Haelst co-lead the team; de Vroe is the go-to for the employment elements of corporate transactions and is well versed in dealing with works councils, while van Haelst is experienced in individual dismissals, collective layoffs and transfer of business cases.

Practice head(s):

Bart de Vroe; Michiel van Haelst


Testimonials

‘The Vestius team is always very well prepared in respect of the facts and findings of the specific case. They know their clients and the needs of their clients. They distribute a newsletter that gives a very good insight into the evolution of Dutch employment law.’

‘Michiel van Haelst is an expert in labour law, is accessible, and gives practical advice regarding all interests. Very pleasant to work with!’

‘Bart de Vroe, after many years of working with him, still surprises me with his knowledge and his creative way of looking at a case. He challenges clients in a good way and is eager to get the best results!

‘The Vestius team give good and fast support, investigating when there are labour law-related issues in transactions. In employee-related issues, they manage the process properly to get the optimal result for the client.’

‘Michiel van Haelst is an outstanding employment lawyer whose solution-oriented approach makes him a pleasure to work with.’

‘They are ahead of the game and always keep me informed of what’s new and what’s coming up. And they make an extra effort to understand our business and look for solutions for our dilemmas. They always have a very personal approach. Their team is multi-skilled and they have an expert for any area of law.’

‘The team have a sense of humour, make complex matters simple, and think in terms of solutions instead of possible roadblocks.’

‘Bart de Vroe is a brilliant lawyer.’

Key clients

FedEx


AAK


Advario


HelloFresh


Sandvik


Cesi – Kema


Collins Foods


Electude


Fontys Hogescholen


Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANP)


GIGA Storage


Greif Nederland


AFS Group


Everbridge


Urban Outfitters


Betcity.nl (Betent)


QlikTech


InShoring Pros


Work highlights


  • Advised FedEx on the Dutch law on foreign workers in order to draw up a policy for applications for work permits by foreign truck drivers.
  • Acted for Sandvik in an appeal against the government’s decision relating to the repayment of the NOW subsidy granted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Assisted Advario with the employment issues relating to the relocation of Oiltanking’s headquarters from Amsterdam and Hamburg to Rotterdam.

Windt Le Grand Leeuwenburgh

The employment practice led by Steven Palm at Windt Le Grand Leeuwenburgh is known for its sector strengths in logistics, maritime, healthcare, and transport. The team regularly advises on payroll and temporary work issues, as well as assisting works councils with co-determination matters. Collective labour disputes are also a primary focus of the team. Sandra van Steekelenburg and Yente Bijloo provide advice on various employment issues.

Practice head(s):

Steven Palm


Other key lawyers:

Yente Bijloo; Sandra van Steekelenburg


Testimonials

‘At Windt Le Grand Leeuwenburgh, they understand that potential clients seek not only exceptional legal counsel but also a distinctive, personal approach that sets them apart from other firms. It is for this reason that we work closely with Steven Palm when we need employment law-related assistance.’

‘I recommend Steven Palm for his exemplary expertise. His astute legal counsel and strategic guidance have delivered favourable outcomes for us. Steven possesses an ability to navigate through complex employment scenarios, ensuring compliance and safeguarding client interests. His dedication, ethical approach, and both effective and down-to-earth communication makes him a valuable asset in employment law.’

‘Yente Bijloo is also highly recommended.’

‘Sandra van Stekelenburg stands out for her quick responses and pragmatic advice.’

‘Knowledgeable with regard to our specific business. Flexible, swift responses. Easy to reach.’

‘The team stand out for their level of experience and detailed knowledge. They are very accessible and easy to connect with.’

Key clients

Erasmus Universitair Medisch Centrum


Hunter Douglas


Vinçotte Nederland


Plantise


Work highlights


  • Advising the executive board of the Erasmus University Medical Centre and the Netherlands Federation of University Medical Centres on co-determination and collective labour agreements.

Workx Advocaten

Niche employment firm Workx Advocaten has a sizeable employment team with a focus on corporate employment matters. Other key work includes individual and collective dismissals, and other employment issues related to termination proceedings. The practice is co-chaired by Marnix Ritmeester, Jochem de Roos, Maaike de Jong, and Bas den Ridder.

Practice head(s):

Marnix Ritmeester; Jochem de Roos; Maaike de Jong; Bas den Ridder


Testimonials

‘Workx Advocaten have a good understanding of our company’s structure and internal ramifications. They have guided us through the implementation of international and local employment matters. Workx has up-to-date knowledge of the most recent jurisprudence and current legislation.’

‘The English skills of Jochem de Roos and his team are outstanding and beneficial for our interactions. The prompt responsiveness of the team is always highly appreciated. Even though Workx has been expanding, we still feel that we get very detail oriented and personal attention. They lived up to our expectations.’

‘Workx has redefined client-centricity in the legal industry. In a legal landscape defined by tradition and precedent, Workx stands as a beacon of innovation and client-focused service. With a commitment to delivering exceptional value for money, Workx has not only carved a niche for itself but has also set new standards for the legal profession.’

Key clients

Stek advocaten B.V.


Lineage B.V.


Accenture B.V.


Dura Vermeer Infra B.V.


Picnic B.V.


Eye Wish Opticiens


Booking.com


Eriks N.V.


Adevinta B.V. (Ebay)


Works council AEGON


Johan Cruyff Arena


Stratasys Netherlands B.V.


RWE


Work highlights


  • Assisting the works council of AEGON Nederland N.V. with the merger of the larger part of the Dutch AEGON organisation with a.s.r.
  • Assisted the CFO of a multinational media company with termination proceedings, managing to convince the court to grant an additional severance of EUR 750,000 on top of the already paid EUR 300,000 compensation.
  • Successfully represented two whistleblowers in an ongoing case against one of the world’s largest energy suppliers.