Domestic and international, corporate and financial transactions

... at home and abroad, with tax authorities and with clients: our expertise pivots.

Our team of Tax experts excels in M&A and intra-group reorganisations, capital markets and structured finance transactions, assisting large Dutch and non-Dutch multinational companies and banks with their complex tax matters.

Across the full gambit of Dutch tax law, (including corporate income tax and dividend withholding tax), and all international tax issues, we provide tailored advice for our clients. We frequently negotiate their tax matters with the Dutch Tax Authorities, and with a substantial legal opinion practice, we regularly provide assistance to foreign counsel on the Dutch tax aspects of corporate and financial transactions.

We also advise on the tax aspects of innovative financial instruments, stock option and shares plans, and provides advice on the structuring and analysis of investment funds for retail and institutional investors, as well as the private equity industry.

Recent Matters

23 January 2025

De Brauw advises Generali on the combination of its asset management business with BPCE

De Brauw advised Assicurazioni Generali SpA, a leading global integrated insurer and asset manager, on the combination of its asset management operations with Natixis Investment Managers, part of Groupe BPCE, a leading French banking group. The deal is valued at EUR 9.5 billion.
23 January 2025

De Brauw advises Pontegadea on the acquisition of a minority stake in Q-Park

De Brauw advises Pontegadea, the investment vehicle of Inditex founder Amancio Ortega and focused on a wide range of sectors as real estate, energy, infrastructure or retail, on the acquisition of a 20% stake in Q-Park from its existing majority shareholder KKR. Q-Park is a leading European parking infrastructure owner and operator, with a large and diversified portfolio of approximately 4,400 owned, leased and managed parking facilities in The Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark. Q-Park focuses on off-street, strategic prime locations and works together with municipalities and landlords to implement sustainable urban mobility plans, leveraging its industry-leading digital capabilities, strategic growth framework and its sizeable and rapidly expanding EV charging offering.
23 December 2024

De Brauw advises BAM on divestment of its 50% share in Invesis to joint venture partner PGGM

De Brauw advised Royal BAM Group N.V. on the divestment of its 50% share in Invesis to joint venture partner PGGM Infrastructure Fund. The parties have reached conditional agreement on this divestment. The closing of the transaction, which is subject to obtaining relevant authority clearance and completion of the works council consultation process, is expected to take place early 2025.

Clients cite 'pragmatism, high quality of service, pro-active, a good level of awareness', and 'excellent tax technical know-how'. It 'provides for a comforting cooperation, even on the most complex of matters'.

Legal 500, 2021
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Tax Dispute Resolution

We have a strong track record of developing innovative and holistic strategies for resolving tax disputes, and we are pioneers in international dispute resolution mechanisms. Due to our unique position, we can assist regardless of the authority involved or what type of proceedings this concerns.

Our fully integrated team of market-leading tax and litigation lawyers combine their extensive knowledge of, and proven expertise in, cross-border and domestic tax issues, with their unrivalled capacity to handle (often high-profile) tax disputes.

Our international outlook guarantees a truly coherent strategy to deliver on cross-border matters, such as where MNE or investment management and fund structures are concerned. Our independence and privilege protection assures an unbiased approach.

Insights

23 January 2025

The US withdraws support for Pillar II: protective measures expected

On 20 January 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order relating to Pillar II (link). It is no surprise that the new administration, as part of the broader trade policy, withdraws the support of the US for the Global Tax Deal's Pillar II. More interesting, the Secretary of Treasury is tasked with proposing protective measures against countries that do not comply with US tax treaties or have in place, or are likely to have in place, perceived extraterritorial taxes that affect US companies. These seem to include countries that would apply the UTPR (Undertaxed Profits Rule) to profits of US group companies. While the way the new administration announced the order and measures seems to be strongly political, the compatibility of the (extraterritorial) UTPR with tax treaties has been questioned before.
23 July 2024

Dutch government seeks to clarify criteria for assessing employment relations, in new bill

On 3 July 2024, the Dutch government published the Bill Clarifying Assessment of Employment Relations and Legal Presumption (Wet verduidelijking beoordeling arbeidsrelaties en rechtsvermoeden (VBAR)) as amended after an internet consultation. The bill introduces two additions to current legislation: (i) clarification of "relationship of authority", which is one of the defining elements of an employment agreement; and (ii) a legal presumption that an employment agreement exists, when working at an hourly rate of EUR 33 or less.
21 February 2024

De Brauw contributes chapter on financial services M&A in the Netherlands

Arne Grimme, Pete Lawley, Mariken van Loopik, Bart de Rijke, and Wiebe Dijkstra, contributed a comprehensive chapter on the financial services mergers and acquisitions (M&A) sector in the Netherlands. This contribution forms part of the Panoramic Financial Services M&A Guide 2024, available on Lexology.