Insights & Opinions

Reinier advises on public and private mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and general corporate matters. He is the trusted adviser to various of listed companies and large multinationals on corporate governance matters, anti-takeover responses (including relating to shareholder activism) and various legal and practical aspects of their listing. His M&amp;A practice has a particular focus on (public) cross-border transactions.

Reinier kleipool

Reinier Kleipool

Partner

Pete focuses on private equity and private M&amp;A transactions, including advising on governance arrangements, management participation, and warranty and indemnity insurance.
He works with financial sponsors and strategic corporates, both Dutch and international. Pete has spent a large part of his career in New York, London and Tokyo working on transactions with clients all around the world. He frequently leverages this experience helping both Dutch and international clients on their cross-border transactions.
Pete works across all sectors and with any deal structure, but has particular expertise in transactions in the financial services and infrastructure (including digital infra) sectors, as well as other transactions considered "difficult". Legal 500 praises that he has "a strong intrinsic understanding of commercial and financial points and drafts elegant solutions much more effectively and efficiently than competitors, who often need considerable guidance on these matters from principals and financial advisers".
Pete also has particular expertise in transactions involving Japanese parties, having spent nearly ten years working and studying in Japan.
Pete is a key member of the firm’s Financial Institutions Group and Private Equity practice. He co-authors the Netherlands chapters in Lexology Panoramic: Financial Services M&amp;A, Lexology Panoramic: Private Equity (Transactions), Lexology In-Depth: Private Equity (Investing), and the International Comparative Legal Guide – Fintech.
Pete's representative work includes advising:
<ul><li>BlackFin Capital Partners on several transactions, including the carve-out acquisition of Aon's personal lines insurance brokerage and MGA business, the acquisitions of IBS Capital Allies and DEAS Asset Management, and the sale of Ravelin</li><li>Leading infrastructure manager DIF Capital Partners on the sale of the business to CVC Capital Partners</li><li>Aquiline Capital Partners on the sale of insurance broker Quintes to Brown &amp; Brown</li><li>NN on several transactions, including the sale of NN Investment Partners to Goldman Sachs and the acquisition of MetLife's Greek and Polish businesses </li><li>Achmea on its life insurance and pensions strategic partnership with Sixth Street</li><li>Aegon on the combination of its Dutch operations with a.s.r. for EUR 2.5 billion and a 29.99% shareholding in a.s.r. </li><li>LeasePlan (now Ayvens) on its EUR 4.9 billion sale to ALD by a consortium led by TDR Capital, and various divestments by LeasePlan across Europe</li><li>Japan Industrial Partners on the Dutch aspects of the USD 15bn acquisition of Toshiba</li><li>Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Fudosan on the Dutch aspects of the proposed USD 42 billion take-private of Toyota Industries </li><li>Sojitz Corporation on the acquisition of Capella Capital via a Dutch investment structure</li><li>Ocean Network Express on its investment in Rotterdam World Gateway</li><li>Blackrock on its investment in Zhero</li><li>Thomas H. Lee Partners on its acquisition of Bynder</li><li>Just Eat Takeaway.com on various transactions including the combination of Just Eat and Takeaway.com and the acquisition of Delivery Hero's German business</li><li>Warburg Pincus portfolio company Infinite Electronics on its acquisition of Cable Connectivity Group from TKH and Torqx</li><li>CVC Capital Partners and Joop van den Ende on the sale of Stage Entertainment to Advance Publications</li></ul>

Pete lawley

Pete Lawley

Jaap is a corporate partner and specialises in M&amp;A, venture capital, capital markets and corporate governance. He has advised on numerous (friendly and hostile) public offers and strategic M&amp;A deals and has been involved in most of the largest Dutch venture capital funding rounds. He has also assisted various issuers in Dutch IPOs and regularly advises clients on a wide range of corporate matters (including board structures, fiduciary duties, disclosure obligations and activist shareholders).
Jaap has been ranked as 'Next Generation Partner' by Legal500 in both Corporate/M&amp;A and Equity Capital Markets. Jaap is a noted expert in company law. He holds the position of Professor of Legal Aspects of Corporate Transactions at the University of Groningen, has authored numerous publications on corporate law and M&amp;A, and is a regular speaker at conferences. 
Jaap's recent work includes advising:
<ul><li>JAB Holdings in relation to the EUR 15.7 billion public offer on JDE Peet's by Keurig Dr Pepper (2025)</li><li>Iveco Group on the recommended public offer by Tata Motors, together with the concurrent sale of its defence business valued at EUR 5.5 billion (2025)</li><li>Coincheck Group on the acquisitions of Aplo and Next Finance Tech Co (2025)</li><li>One Click LCA on its acquisition of PRé Sustainability (2025)</li><li>JAB on the acquisition of Mondelez's stake in JDE Peets for EUR 2.16 billion (2024)</li><li>NEA and its shareholders on the sale of the Dodewaard nuclear plant (in safe enclosure) to the Dutch State (2024)</li><li>DataSnipper on its acquisition of Uplink Inc. (2024) </li><li>Pollen Street Capital on its acquisition of Keylane Group from Waterland (2024) </li><li>IVP as lead investor in the USD 73 million Series B funding round of Cradle Bio (2024)</li><li>DataSnipper and its founders on the USD 100 million Series B funding round at a USD 1 billion valuation (2024)</li><li>Hydratec Industries on the recommended public cash or share offer by Ten Cate Investeringsmaatschappij (2024)</li><li>Accsys on its relationship agreement with Teslin and De Engh as part of its equity raise (2023)</li><li>Beter Bed on the recommended all-cash public offer by Torqx Capital Partners (2023)</li><li>SMART Photonics on attracting EUR 100 million in additional funding (2023)</li><li>Heineken N.V. on its participation in the EUR 3.7 billion (second) FEMSA selldown (2023)</li><li>DataSnipper and its founders on the USD 100 million Series A funding round (2022)</li><li>Backbase on its EUR 120 million Series A funding round at a EUR 2.5 billion valuation (2022)</li><li>Stonepeak and EQT on their acquisition of Delta Fiber (2021)</li><li>Mollie on its EUR 665 million Blackstone Growth-led Series C funding round at a EUR 5.4 billion valuation (2021)</li><li>CTP on its EUR 850 million IPO on Euronext Amsterdam (2021)</li><li>Philips on its dual track EUR 3.7 billion IPO/sale of Domestic Appliances (2021)</li><li>The Dutch State in its joint venture with FMO, and their subsequent launch of Invest International (2021) </li><li>Bergson Holdings on the EUR 384 million public offer for Hunter Douglas (2020)</li><li>Fiat Chrysler Automobiles on its USD 50 billion cross-border merger with PSA Groupe (2019)</li><li>Pfizer on its USD 20 billion spin-off of its Upjohn business and merger with Mylan (2019)</li><li>CB&amp;I on its USD 6 billion combination with McDermott (2018)</li><li> Q-Park shareholders on their EUR 3 billion sale to KKR (2017)</li><li>Teva Pharmaceuticals on its unsolicited EUR 40 billion offer for Mylan (2015)</li></ul>

Jaap Barneveld 2

Jaap Barneveld

Arne Grimme is head of De Brauw’s Corporate M&amp;A practice. He advises on public and private transactions, leveraged buy-outs, and complex cross-border transactions and corporate restructurings.
Arne has been repeatedly recognised as a leader in his field, having been nominated for the Best M&amp;A Lawyer Award every year since 2007. He won this annual award from 2013 to 2018 and in 2022. Legal 500 EMEA has also consistently named Arne a leading individual from 2009. Moreover, IFLR 1000 has recognised Arne as one of the leading practitioners in mergers and acquisitions every year since 2006. Arne was named "Lawyer of the Year" in the Best Lawyers 2014-2015 edition (Netherlands community) in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions law and private equity law. In 2018 he was also inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame. 
Arne is a trusted adviser to many of De Brauw's clients, and counts among his diverse client base: Philips, AkzoNobel, NXP, Rabobank, BAM, Corbion, Fugro, NN, Aegon, Achmea, Arcadis, Bain Capital and Schiphol Airport. 
Arne's recent work includes advising and representing:<ul><li>Koninklijke Philips N.V. in the EUR 2.5 billion cornerstone investment by EXOR N.V.</li><li>Teleperformance SE on the EUR 3 billion mixed cash/share public offer for Amsterdam Euronext-listed Majorel</li><li>AEGON N.V. on the combination of its Dutch operations with a.s.r. for EUR 2.5 billion and a 29.99% stake in a.s.r.</li><li>Consortium of Pon, Volkswagen and Attestor on the launch of a EUR 2.9 billion recommended takeover offer for Europcar</li><li>Intertrust on the EUR 1.8 billion public offer by Corporation Service Company</li></ul>

Arne Grimme 1

Arne Grimme

Jolling heads De Brauw's competition practice, which is one of the four nominees of the European Law Firm of the Year Award 2021 of Global Competition Review. He specialises in Competition Law and Competition Litigation. Jolling has extensive experience in EU and domestic merger control, cartel and abuse of dominance investigations and competition damage claims. 
Jolling advises major international companies on their most complex competition issues. He has wide experience in handling international investigations, developing and coordinating the global defence strategy in cross border competition cases and in handling multijurisdictional filings. He also regularly appears as a litigator before the European Courts in Luxembourg and before courts in the Netherlands. 
Jolling has established a network of contacts with legal and experts working for first tier law firms and economic and forensic consultancy firms in all major jurisdictions outside the Netherlands.
Jolling enjoys an excellent market reputation. He won GCR's prestigious global Litigator of the Year Award 2020. Clients note that he “is very knowledgeable and provides hands-on advice and practical solutions.” Jolling is ranked Band 1 in Chambers. 

Jolling’s recent work includes representing and advising:

<ul><li>DAF on the EUR 2.9 billion settlement with the European Commission of its investigation into alleged anticompetitive practices by European truck manufacturers and on the defence against follow-on damage claims based on the settlement decision</li><li>Philips on the EUR 20 million settlement with the European Commission bringing an end to its investigation into resale price maintenance and e-commerce</li><li>Philips on the defence against follow-on damage claims based on the decision by the European Commission imposing EUR 1.5 billion in cartel fines on manufacturers of television and monitor tubes (CRT). Jolling also advised Philips during the investigations inside and outside Europe and managed to secure a 30% fine reduction from the European Commission under its Leniency Notice.</li><li>British Airways on its defence against follow-on damage claims based on the EC decision imposing EUR 776 million in fines on air cargo carriers for participation in an alleged cartel</li><li>Schiphol Airport on an investigation by the Dutch ACM into alleged anticompetitive coordination with KLM. The ACM terminated its investigation without finding an infringement following commitments on future behaviour offered by Schiphol and KLM.</li></ul>

Jolling depree

Jolling de Pree

Bart is a partner in the De Brauw's Competition practice that won the prestigious Global Competition Review's European Law Firm of the Year awards in 2021 and 2022. He divides his time between Amsterdam and Brussels and specialises in EU and international competition law matters. Bart represents companies in a wide range of sectors, including high-tech industries, the financial sector, FMCG, the energy sector and manufacturing. ​
Bart has significant experience in acting as lead counsel in multi-jurisdictional merger filings and he has established working relationships with first tier competition experts in all major jurisdictions. He has successfully litigated in abuse of dominance cases and regularly advises clients on related topics. His work includes advising and defending clients in investigations by European and national regulators. ​

Bart's recent work includes representing and advising:
<ul><li>GrandVision in the global merger filings concerning the acquisition by EssilorLuxottica​</li></ul>
<ul><li>NN Group in relation to the acquisition of MetLife's businesses in Poland and Greece​</li></ul>
<ul><li>Aegon on the combination of its Dutch activities with a.s.r.​</li></ul>
<ul><li>Pon in relation to the creation of e-mobility joint ventures with Porsche</li></ul>
<ul><li>Royal Philips in relation to the sale of its Domestic Appliances business to Hillhouse Capital </li></ul>
<ul><li>Albert Heijn in relation to its acquisition of DEEN supermarkets</li></ul>

Bart derijke

Bart de Rijke

Ranked both in Chambers and Legal 500, Helen has extensive experience in all aspects of competition law, including merger control, cartels, dominance and vertical restraints. Clients value her in-house and private practice expertise, which allows her to understand business drivers and offer clear and practical advice, even in the most complex of matters.
She regularly advises international companies on their European and international M&amp;A and competition law matters including AkzoNobel, Booking.com, Just Eat Takeaway, Celanese, DSM-Firmenich, TomTom and SHV. 
Helen is one of the ACM's five non-governmental advisors supporting the development of competition policy within the International Competition Network. She teaches students of the Grotius Academie and of the Brussels School of Competition Masters programme. She is dual-qualified as both a solicitor (England &amp; Wales) and Dutch advocaat. Helen is also included in Global Competition Review's prestigious Women in Antitrust list and is part of the leadership team of W@ NL, a platform to promote female talent in the area of competition law.
"She is very knowledgeable and comes up with pragmatic solutions."- Chambers Europe 2024
Helen's recent work includes advising:
<ul><li>SHV on its sale of ERIKS to Lone Star, requiring multiple regulatory filings</li><li>Akzo Nobel on its attempted acquisition of paint competitor, Kansai, in Africa requiring multiple merger control filings, including a South African Phase-2 merger control litigation process</li><li>Booking.com in relation to litigation in the Court of Amsterdam and before the European Court of Justice in relation to price parity clauses</li><li>Takeaway.com on all competition aspects of its acquisitions of Delivery Hero in Germany, Just Eat in the UK and Grubhub in the US</li><li>A large IT provider in relation to the ACM's Cloudservices market study</li><li>Various digital and tech clients in relation to digital regulation, including the Digital Markets Act, the Data Act, parity clauses, online advertising and abuse of dominance</li><li>Two clients on consumer law matters examined by the Dutch ACM, linking to issues of transparency, algorithms and data provision</li><li>HEMA on its sale to Parcom and Mississippi Ventures</li><li>Coca Cola in relation to a sustainability-related packaging reduction initiative with competitors</li><li>Various other companies in relation to sustainability collaborations and preventing greenwashing / consumer law concerns</li></ul>

Helen Gornall

Yi is a partner at De Brauw’s Corporate M&amp;A practice. He is experienced in general corporate and M&amp;A matters, specialising in private M&amp;As, joint ventures, and carve-out transactions. Prior to joining De Brauw, Yi practised law at both US and Chinese law firms in China. 
Drawing on his diverse practice, Yi is highly valued for his experience in complex M&amp;As and cross-border transactions. His Chinese background adds legal and cultural depth to transactions involving Chinese companies. In addition to his legal expertise, clients also prize Yi's financial skills, which help bridge the gaps across different M&amp;A workstreams. 
Yi received his LLM degrees from New York University and National University of Singapore. Yi is admitted to practice in California (US) and holds the Chinese lawyer qualification.
Yi's recent work includes representing and advising: 
<ul><li>Philips on the sale of its domestic appliance business to Hillhouse Capital</li><li>Paine Schwartz Partners on its strategic investment in Hendrix Genetics</li><li>Parcom Capital on the acquisition of Euramax from OmniMax and the acquisition of Simadan group</li><li>NXP Semiconductors on the divestment of Nexperia to JAC Capital and Wise Road Capita</li><li>G Square on the sale of the Duomed Group to Palex Medical</li><li>Ardian on the acquisition of Attero from 3i and DWS</li><li>Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile Netherlands on the sale of the Dutch tower business to Cellnex</li><li>Paulig in its acquisition of Conimex from Unilever</li><li>BC partners on the sale of Pharmathen</li><li>Waterland on the sale of Attero to 3i infrastructure and DWS</li><li>T-Mobile Netherlands on the acquisition of Simpel</li></ul>

Yi duan

Yi Duan

Ferdinand is a partner in our Corporate group and specialises in international debt restructuring, corporate recovery and special situations financing deals. His broad practice encompasses both tailor-made finance deals and insolvency-sensitive transactions or litigation, always in a cross-border context.
Ferdinand is trusted adviser to boards of directors on their corporate governance, fiduciary duties and liability considerations around funding and scenario planning in a more stressed environment. 
Ferdinand’s recent work includes advising:
<ul><li>Pan-European high street retailer HEMA on its EUR 750 million bond restructuring, including negotiations, court proceedings in UK, US and the Netherlands and a parallel M&amp;A process, resulting in a 60% debt reduction</li><li>Shareholders to IHC Merwede, one of the Netherlands’ largest shipping companies, on a debt restructuring, new money injection and debt-for-equity</li><li>Restructuring of ENNIA Caribe, the largest insurer in the Netherlands’ Antilles, including the (unprecedented) recognition of the Curacao emergency regulation (noodregeling) under US Chapter 15</li><li>Brazilian giant Oi Telecom on its restructuring and Dutch court litigation, including of the EUR 3.8 billion notes issued by its Dutch financing vehicle</li><li>Isolux Corsán on the consensual restructuring of its debt, including a debt-for-equity swap, using Dutch court proceedings and a US chapter 15 process</li><li>A variety of debtors in the gaming, casino, theatre and travel sectors on the impact of COVID-19 and closures, including emergency funding, covenant waivers, and liability management</li><li>Royal Imtech on its restructuring and refinancing, and the strengthening of its balance sheet after the discovery of a massive fraud; the largest Dutch restructuring and bankruptcy in the Netherlands to date</li></ul>

Ferdinand hengst

Ferdinand Hengst

Tobias has a broad litigation practice, with a particular focus on cross-border litigation, Supreme Court litigation, litigation before the European Courts of Justice and intellectual property law. This includes state aid litigation, soft IP litigation and Supreme Court patent litigation. In addition, Tobias is part of the De Brauw UPC team and is a registered UPC representative. 
 
Tobias regularly advises multinationals and foreign counsel on litigation strategies in the Benelux, the EU and beyond, and manages such litigation. He also provides strategic IP advice in complex M&amp;A transactions.
Tobias is considered one of the leading Dutch lawyers for IP infringement proceedings. This includes actions before the EUIPO, General Court, ECJ and Dutch Supreme Court. This covers trademarks, trade secrets dispute, copyright infringement cases and patent litigation. MIP named Tobias "Netherlands Practitioner of the Year" in 2022 and 2023 and trademark and copyright star in 2024. Tobias won the award for Soft IP Practitioner of the year in both 2023 and 2024.
Tobias’ team appears in the top tier of all leading rankings for IP. Legal500 explains how "the team [uniquely] combines its IP expertise with its litigation, corporate, and competition skills to provide a full service to both regional and international clients".
The Legal 500 calls Tobias Cohen Jehoram a "rock star with a formidable intellect, deep experience who provides pitch-perfect advice", before adding, "Tobias Cohen Jehoram is our go-to partner for high-stake trade mark matters. His knowledge and level of expertise is unrivalled. He is extremely pragmatic, business savvy and a lot of fun to work with. In addition, he is highly effective and efficient, leading to truly outstanding value for money. He is very accessible, with a fantastic sense of humor. Always a pleasure to work with!"
<a href="https://www.legal500.com/c/netherlands/intellectual-property-trade-marks-copyrights-and-design-rights/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IP: Soft IP</a>: De Brauw - Tier 1. "Under the leadership of ‘IP luminary’ and Supreme Court litigator Tobias Cohen Jehoram, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek acts for clients from across a spectrum of industries in multi-jurisdictional soft IP disputes, including infringement and validity proceedings, counterfeiting issues and complex issues tied to copyright levies. Selmer Bergsma litigates contractual IP disputes, in addition to trade secrets matters, with Roos van der Poel taking the lead on transactional matters, advising on IP transfers tied to M&amp;As and assisting on the structuring of IP portfolios. Gertjan Harryvan assists Cohen Jehoram with Supreme Court appeals."
<a href="https://www.legal500.com/c/netherlands/intellectual-property-patents/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IP: Patent</a>: De Brauw - Tier 2. "De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek moved to strengthen its patent litigation practice with the July 2023 arrival from NautaDutilh of Anne Marie Verschuur, who focuses on tech-related patent infringement and invalidity proceedings. She leads the team alongside Tobias Cohen Jehoram, who appears for pharmaceutical sector clients in patent appeals before the Dutch Supreme Court, in addition to the EUIPO and ECJ. Roos van der Poel handles transactional IP matters, advising on licensing and cooperation agreements, as well as matters of competition and contract law. Bertrand ter Woort's practice encompasses both life sciences and tech-focused patent disputes."
Also according to The Legal 500, "Tobias Cohen Jehoram is an IP luminary, though very approachable and pragmatic in his advice. His team consists of talented lawyers with the same mindset." "Very good firm, in particular for Supreme Court litigation in these cases. Very strong in high-end matters."
Chambers 2023: "Tobias Cohen Jehoram is one of the leading Dutch lawyers for trade mark litigation proceedings, both before the EUIPO and before the Supreme Court. He also offers notable experience in trade secret disputes, copyright infringement cases and parallel import proceedings."
According to one client, Tobias "has good authority in the eyes of a judge to outline why to follow one argument and not the other."
Who's Who Legal ranks Tobias as "EMEA Global Elite Thought Leader", adding, "Tobias Cohen Jehoram at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is 'still top of the bill', state impressed sources who add that he is a 'renowned professor of trademark law".
World Trademark Review notes that Tobias "thrives on a challenge and is sought out for the most complex big-ticket disputes. His client roster includes prominent Dutch national companies, along with high-profile foreign corporations", and "One of its top stars, Tobias Cohen Jehoram is an outstanding and well-respected lawyer who achieves excellent results. Tobias is one of the most prominent figures on the market (…)."
IAM PATENT 1000: "Making his debut in the IAM Patent 1000 this year, Tobias Cohen Jehoram is a well-known figure and considered a leading IP litigator, particularly in the trademark space. He is a familiar face before all levels of the courts, frequently handling disputes at the Supreme Court, and has been involved in the bulk of cases pending before the highest court."

Tobias cohenjehoram

Tobias Cohen Jehoram

Constantijn advises on corporate structuring, corporate governance and general corporate matters.
He is trusted adviser to various founder-led businesses and family-controlled companies, both listed and privately held, on their corporate structure and founder/family governance matters. A substantial part of his practice is cross-border in nature, reflecting his experience in international transactions involving IPOs, strategic mergers and demergers, corporate structurings, joint ventures, and strategic deals. 
Constantijn has led or advised on the following corporate matters and M&amp;A deals:
<ul><li>Pon Holdings on its joint venture of the URUS Group with CRI and CVC</li><li>Nolet on its public offer for Lucas Bols</li><li>Exor on its buyback tender offer</li><li>Detailresult on the separation of the joint venture between Dirk van den Broek and DekaMarkt</li><li>CTP on its public offer and cross-border merger with Deutsche Industrie REIT AG</li><li>CTP on its listing on Euronext</li><li>the underwriters on the IPO of CureVac on NASDAQ</li><li>CM.com on its listing on Euronext through a business combination with an SPAC</li><li>the Dutch State on the launch of Invest-NL and its joint venture Invest-International with FMO</li><li>IGEA on its listing on SIX Swiss exchange</li><li>Topicus and its founders on their strategic direction leading to a business combination and listing in Canada</li><li>Vitol on its joint venture with Sargeant Marine </li><li>Various state-owned companies on their governance and corporate structuring</li><li>Various founder-led and family-owned companies on transactions and structuring</li></ul>

Constantijn Voogt 2

Constantijn Voogt

Kees specialises in investment management. His work includes providing regulatory advice to domestic and foreign investment funds and asset managers, and advising on the structuring and restructuring of investment funds, including retail and private equity funds.
Kees also advises asset managers and pension funds on discretionary and fiduciary asset management agreements and asset pooling. 
Kees’s recent work includes advising:
<ul><li>NNIP on the migration of its Luxembourg management company to the Netherlands</li><li>ABN AMRO on the spin-off of ABN AMRO Participaties</li><li>APG Asset Management on MiFID II</li><li>Robeco on the outsourcing of back- and mid-office functions</li><li>Redevco on Urban Retail Ventures, a joint-venture with PGGM</li></ul>

Kees groffen

Kees Groffen

Geert is a partner in our Litigation group and co-heads our Data protection and cybersecurity practice. He covers all facets of data protection law in the EU and beyond. He is best known for assisting multinational companies in major enforcement actions by data protection authorities and for defending companies against mass claims brought by NGOs and consumer organisations seeking multi-million euro damages. In addition, he assists companies with high-risk data protection projects and data and cybersecurity breaches. Geert divides his time between the Amsterdam and Brussels office, which is at the heart of our EU practice. He regularly teams up with our European competition and financial regulatory practice to deliver the best integrated service to our clients. 
Clients praise Geert for his strategic thinking, analytical skills and pragmatic approach to complex issues. His experience as managing partner of the firm from 2016 to 2020 makes him a sought-after adviser on board dynamics. 
Geert’s recent work includes advising:
<ul><li>Landmark class action lawsuit initiated by a claim vehicle against a leading Silicon Valley tech firm, based on the new regulatory regimes for class actions under both EU privacy law and Dutch civil law</li><li>Four-year investigation by Dutch DPA into a leading social network that was closed without further enforcement mid 2018; assisted in EU-wide coordination of enforcement cases by DPAs into the social network’s data practices.</li><li>Ongoing strategic advice on data governance issues to leading internet platforms with EMEA HQ in Amsterdam</li><li>Strategic legal advice to leading vehicle manufacturers in the context of an industry scan of the Dutch DPA</li></ul>

Geert potjewijd

Geert Potjewijd

Axel is a partner in our Litigation group and co-head of our Data Protection and Cybersecurity practice. Axel is best known for assisting clients facing landmark data class action lawsuits and investigations by Data Protection Authorities or related regulators across Europe. Axel also advises on high-risk and cutting-edge technology projects, cyber-attacks and personal data breaches. 
Axel divides his time between the Amsterdam and Brussels office, the latter of which is at the heart of our EU practice. He is dedicated to delivering fully integrated services to our clients, together with our European competition, administrative law and financial regulatory practices and international litigation partners.
He was selected as one of Global Data Review's <a href="https://globaldatareview.com/survey/40-under-40/2021/person-profile/axel-arnbak">40 under 40</a> in April 2021. Clients tell Legal500 and Chambers that Axel "is very connected and a brilliant lawyer", has "excellent knowledge and strategic awareness" and that he "is one of the top experts on data privacy and data protection laws. He brings a fresh, pragmatic approach and always seems to find creative solutions."
Axel is a columnist for the Dutch Financial Times and a Fellow at the University of Amsterdam. From 2009-2011, Axel restarted the Dutch digital rights organisation, Bits of Freedom. From 2013-2015, Axel was a Fellow at Princeton's CITP, and the Berkman Center at Harvard University. In 2015, he obtained the first ever PhD thesis on the intersection of EU cybersecurity and data protection law. His academic work has been published in major academic journals, and covered in media across the world, including FT, CNN, CBS and The Wall Street Journal.
Axel’s recent work includes advising on:
<ul><li>several global groundbreaking class action lawsuits initiated by claim vehicles funded by litigation funders against leading tech firms, based on the new regulatory regimes for class actions under both EU privacy law and Dutch civil law</li><li>ongoing investigations by the Dutch DPA as Lead Supervisory Authority </li><li>landmark litigation against a leading tech firm on the scope of automated decision-making under the GDPR, covered by leading media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times </li><li>ongoing strategic advice to leading internet platforms with EMEA HQ in Amsterdam</li><li>over a dozen Data Protection Impact Assessments for a globally leading software provider </li></ul>

Axel arnbak

Axel Arnbak

Barbara advises and litigates across the full spectrum of employment-related matters. She has significant expertise in traditional, individual employment matters, as well as in corporate transaction-related projects.
Barbara and her team lead relevant employment issues in transactions throughout the preparatory phase and completion; this includes assisting in transfers of undertaking (TUPE). Barbara identifies employment-related priorities and issues in other jurisdictions and is highly experienced in dealing with their impact on relevant transactions. 
Barbara also concentrates on individual matters at board and management level, such as dismissals, remuneration, promotions or demotions. 
Barbara’s recent work includes:
<ul><li>Takeaway Just eat transaction consultation aspects</li><li>ABP pension litigation</li><li>TataSteel Thyssenkrupp consultation aspects</li></ul>

Barbara kloppert

Barbara Kloppert

An important focus of Stefan’s practice is litigating before the Dutch Supreme Court, where he has represented companies, individual employees, and trade unions in several high-profile, landmark cases. 
Stefan regularly works closely with other De Brauw practice groups, particularly the pension practice.
In ranking Stefan as a "Star Individual" since 2020, Chambers described him as "the most active and prominent employment lawyer when it comes to cases brought forward to the Supreme Court."
Stefan has twice won ILO’s Client Choice Award for the best Employment and Labour Lawyer in the Netherlands.

Stefan’s recent work includes:
<ul><li>advising and representing companies, such as RELX, Schiphol, AkzoNobel, Rabobank, Shell, Booking.com and Uber, in numerous collective and individual employment matters (including transfer of undertakings, collective dismissals, collective bargaining, industrial action, co-determination, as well as unilateral amendment of employee benefits).</li><li>assisting Volksbank in litigation against a former CFO who unsuccessfully claimed millions in wrongful termination compensation.</li><li>participating in Supreme Court proceedings which held that the employer is under a duty of care (stemming from the standard of reasonableness and fairness) to agree to a proposal by an employee on sick leave for two years, to terminate the dormant employment agreement between the parties and to pay the statutory severance.</li><li>participating in Supreme Court proceedings on behalf of the Dutch union FNV, where it was determined that the employment relationship of Deliveroo riders qualifies as an employment agreement and that Deliveroo has to apply the collective bargaining agreement used by the road haulage industry to these riders.</li><li>participating in Supreme Court proceedings on behalf of Shell, which defined the scope of the statutory obligation to reinstatement (“herplaatsingsplicht“).</li></ul>

Stefan sagel

Stefan Sagel

Wiebe specialises in international and Dutch tax law, focusing on corporate transactions, investment funds and tax controversy. Since joining De Brauw, Wiebe has advised numerous multinationals and funds on complex cross-border M&amp;A transactions, investment structures and tax disputes. Wiebe is actively involved in the tax expert group of the Dutch association of asset managers (DUFAS), the committee on legislative proposals of the Dutch association of tax advisors (NOB) and frequently lectures on international tax law, including at IBA conferences and at the universities of Amsterdam and Groningen. He is recognised by Chambers and Legal 500 with Chambers describing him as “very accessible, sharp, responsive and to the point” and Legal 500 referring to him as a “top-notch tax professional”.
Wiebe’s recent work includes advising:
<ul><li>a multinational on a high-profile state aid investigation into its Dutch tax rulings</li><li>NXP on the aborted USD 47 billion acquisition by Qualcomm and two multi-billion dollar divestments</li><li>Pfizer on the USD 48 billion combination of its Upjohn business with Mylan</li><li>GrandVision on the EUR 7 billion takeover by EssilorLuxottica</li><li>Elastic NV on its NYSE listing valued at USD 2.2 billion</li><li>ABN AMRO on the spin-out of its private equity business</li><li>APG on the EUR 450 million sale of Loyalis to ASR</li><li>Port of Rotterdam on the impact of the introduction of its corporate income tax liability further to the European Commission’s state aid ruling</li><li>a major Dutch banking and insurance group on setting up and restructuring its investment fund range</li></ul>

Wiebe dijkstra

Wiebe Dijkstra

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Crystal Ball Gazing 2020

Breadcrumbs

De Brauw is widely recognised as a leading international law firm in the Netherlands. For nearly 150 years, we have been standing by our clients as a strong and spirited collective of leading legal experts. Through profound engagement with the business of our clients and a deep understanding of their ambitions, we build relationships of trust - some of which already stand for more than one hundred years.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek

De Brauw is widely recognised as a leading international law firm in the Netherlands. For nearly 150 years, we have been standing by our clients as a strong and spirited collective of leading legal experts

De Brauw is widely recognised as a leading international law firm in the Netherlands. For nearly 150 years, we have been standing by our clients as a…

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Crystal Ball Gazing 2020

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Reinier Kleipool

Pete Lawley

Jaap Barneveld

Arne Grimme

Jolling de Pree

Bart de Rijke

Helen Gornall

Yi Duan

Ferdinand Hengst

Tobias Cohen Jehoram

Constantijn Voogt

Kees Groffen

Geert Potjewijd

Axel Arnbak

Barbara Kloppert

Stefan Sagel

Wiebe Dijkstra

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Areas of expertise

Sector

Topic

Areas of expertise

Sector

Topic

experts

Reinier Kleipool

Pete Lawley

Jaap Barneveld

Arne Grimme

Jolling de Pree

Bart de Rijke

Helen Gornall

Yi Duan

Ferdinand Hengst

Tobias Cohen Jehoram

Constantijn Voogt

Kees Groffen

Geert Potjewijd

Axel Arnbak

Barbara Kloppert

Stefan Sagel

Wiebe Dijkstra

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