De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has appointed six new partners, strengthening several key areas of the firm. 

Irina Buga (international arbitration), Tes Flapper (arbitration and litigation with an energy focus), Michelle Massart (corporate litigation and arbitration) and Johan Valk (supreme court litigation and mass claims) will be partners in our Disputes practice. Lisa de Boer will become partner in our Finance & Restructuring group (complex financing and debt solutions), and Rik van Haeringen in Employment & Employee Benefits (strategic boardroom and workforce matters).

Dennis Horeman, managing partner at De Brauw: “We are proud to welcome six excellent lawyers to our partnership. Clients entrust us with their most important work on a wide range of matters, and we make our decisions to ensure that we serve them in the best possible way. The new partners each bring their own unique, in-depth expertise to the firm.” 

Irina Buga 

Irina is a leading practitioner in international investment and commercial arbitration, with a strong track record in high-value disputes under ICC, NAI, ICSID, and UNCITRAL rules. She combines deep knowledge of public international law with practical experience before Dutch courts, making her a go-to adviser for complex cross-border matters. Beyond her expertise in investment arbitration, Irina advises on a wide range of commercial disputes, ensuring comprehensive support for clients in global proceedings. Before joining De Brauw in 2015, she worked at the International Court of Justice. She is also listed on the EU’s roster of arbitrators for disputes under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. 

Lisa de Boer 

Lisa is a trusted adviser to large companies on debt capital markets transactions and corporate financing strategy. She is an expert on capital markets dynamics, regulatory and disclosure considerations, and structuring options. Her experience designing innovative financing structures for high-stakes situations gives her an edge in unprecedented situations. Her client base includes listed and non-listed corporates, financial institutions, and private equity investors, many of whom operate in the London and other financial markets outside the Netherlands. 

Tes Flapper 

Tes is recognised as an expert in international commercial arbitration and litigation, representing clients in high-stakes disputes across multiple sectors, particularly in the energy sector. She regularly acts in matters under ICC, NAI, LCIA, UNCITRAL and UNUM rules and represents clients before national courts. While highly regarded for her arbitration work, Tes also advises on complex litigation strategies, offering clients broad dispute resolution capabilities. Having started her career in De Brauw’s corporate tax team before moving on to complex dispute resolution, Tes brings a unique combination of arbitration and tax law insight.

Rik van Haeringen 

Rik is a leading adviser on employment law and employee benefits, focusing especially on strategic boardroom issues and litigation at the intersection of employment and corporate law. He has extensive experience dealing with co-determination processes and workforce reorganisations, often in the context of major restructurings and cross-border M&A transactions. In addition to these special areas of expertise, Rik advises on all aspects of employment law, from individual disputes to collective negotiations. This makes him a versatile and trusted partner for clients facing sensitive and high-impact employment challenges. 

Michelle Massart 

Michelle has a strong profile in corporate litigation and commercial disputes, with particular expertise in disputes arising from joint ventures and M&A transactions. She provides comprehensive advice on contractual and governance issues and represents clients before the Dutch courts, including the Enterprise Chamber, as well as in arbitration proceedings under ICC and NAI rules. In addition to her work in corporate disputes, Michelle handles a wide range of commercial conflicts and enforcement matters, providing strategic advice at every stage of dispute resolution. 

Johan Valk  

Johan is well known in the market for his in-depth expertise in mass claims and complex, cross-border litigation. He advises on consumer protection laws, including those in the digital sphere, and is known for his strategic approach in high stakes matters. Johan is also highly regarded for his work on Supreme Court appeals, but his experience spans all levels of the Dutch judiciary and covers a broad range of commercial litigation matters. Johan's combination of legal breadth and depth makes him a key figure in shaping the outcomes in high-profile disputes.