General Terms and Conditions

BarentsKrans N.V. (“BarentsKrans”) is a public limited company (naamloze vennootschap). Next to the name mentioned in the articles of association, the public limited company uses BarentsKrans as its trade name.

1. A professional services agreement will only be concluded after BarentsKrans has accepted the client’s instructions. For the purposes of concluding a professional services agreement, BarentsKrans can be represented only by its attorneys at law and (junior) civil law notaries and by personnel holding written authorization. 
2. Instructions will be accepted and handled by BarentsKrans only, even if it is a client’s explicit or implicit intention to have his instructions handled by a particular person. 
3. BarentsKrans will confer with the client as far as possible before engaging any third parties. BarentsKrans does not accept any liability for any shortcomings on the part of such third parties.

Sections 404 and 407 (2) of Book 7 of the Netherlands Civil Code are not applicable.

1. BarentsKrans’ liability to clients and third parties for any damages arising from or relating to the performance of a services agreement is limited to the amount paid out in the case in question under the professional liability insurance policy/policies taken out by BarentsKrans, plus the deductible which under the policy conditions will not be borne by the insurers. Information about our professional liability insurance will be sent upon request.
2. If and to the extent that no payment is made under the policy/policies referred to, for any reason whatsoever, BarentsKrans liability is limited to the amount of the fee charged by BarentsKrans for the work in question, subject to a maximum of € 100,000, and a maximum of € 50,000 for its liability to third parties.
3. The limitation of liability also applies if BarentsKrans is liable for the errors made by third parties engaged by BarentsKrans or if the equipment, software, data files, registers or any other items (none excluded) used by BarentsKrans for the purposes of performing the services agreement do not function properly.
4. The client authorizes BarentsKrans to accept – on the client’s behalf – any limitations of liability of third parties.

The client will hold BarentsKrans harmless against any and all claims made by third parties and the costs of legal assistance, pertaining in any way to the services provided for the client.

1. The client is required to pay a fee, plus out-of-pocket expenses, office expenses (a percentage of the fee charged) and VAT, for the performance of a services agreement.
2. If the performance of a services agreement covers a period of more than one month, interim invoices may be billed for the services rendered.
3. BarentsKrans is entitled at any time to request the client to pay a deposit. Any deposits received will be set off against the final invoice.
4. BarentsKrans is entitled as per January 1 of each year to alter its fee in proportion to the time billed according to the hourly rates fixed by BarentsKrans.

1. Amounts billed by BarentsKrans must be paid within 14 days of the billing date. If the period allowed for payment is exceeded, the client will be in default by operation of law and will be liable to pay default interest at a rate equal to the current statutory interest rate.
2. If BarentsKrans takes debt collection measures to obtain payment from a defaulting client, the costs incurred on that account will be payable by the client, subject to a minimum of 10% of the outstanding bill.
3. The client is not entitled to defer payment or to set off any amounts.

1. These General Terms and Conditions are stipulated also on behalf of those who work for the public limited company or have done so in the past.
2. Any and all agreements between the client and BarentsKrans are governed by the laws of The Netherlands.
3. Disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in the district of The Hague, The Netherlands. BarentsKrans is also entitled to submit disputes to the competent courts in the client’s place of residence.
4. These General Terms and Conditions are available in English and Dutch. If there is any discrepancy between the English text and the Dutch text, the latter shall be binding.
5. BarentsKrans is entitled to amend these General Terms and Conditions at any point in time. The most recent version of the General Terms and Conditions is accessible via BarentsKrans’ website (www.barentskrans.nl).

Unless otherwise agreed in writing before a services agreement is concluded, these General Terms and Conditions govern all professional services agreements.