Nicolien van den Biggelaar is an experienced litigator and expert in public law, including Dutch and European environmental law and spatial planning, and regulatory and enforcement matters. Her main focus is on the energy sector, including energy transition and climate change, and on state-owned companies responsible for vital networks and infrastructure.

Nicolien regularly represents clients in negotiations with regulatory authorities and in litigation before administrative and civil courts. She communicates easily with stakeholders and regulatory authorities alike, and actively works with environmental and technical specialists to build strong cases which withstand judicial review proceedings by third parties. Her expertise is regularly sought in M&A transactions.

Nicolien is ranked first tier in Chambers Europe. Legal 500 EMEA consistently recognises her as a leading environmental lawyer and she was inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame – Environment and Planning. In 2019 Nicolien was awarded the Euromoney European Women in Business Law Awards 'Best in Environment'.

Nicolien’s recent work includes advising:

• TenneT on the expansion of the high voltage electricity transmission system, as well as litigating on TenneT’s behalf in civil and administrative courts
• North Sea Wind Power Hub project, a consortium of Energienet. TenneT, Port of Rotterdam and Gasunie
• Port of Rotterdam on the expansion of the industrial area ‘Maasvlakte 2’ and all zoning plans for the industrial area of the Port of Rotterdam
• Various clients in the chemical industry sector on environmental and sustainability issues and litigation on their behalf
• TransitieCoalitie on legal topics regarding the energy transition
• Gemini (offshore wind) on regulatory issues