Selected directory listings

Recommended in Chambers (band 3) and Legal 500 (tier 3) 

'This "highly competent and hard-working" team has a great deal of experience in class actions. It continues to represent Stichting Verliespolis in a EUR 2.2 billion damage claim against insurance companies on behalf of policy holders. In another recent case, it acted for investor rights group Deminor in a class action against Wijs & Van Oostveen, which was responsible for advertising financial products of Lehman Brothers. William Schonewille was the lead lawyer on both cases.' - Chambers Europe 2011

Publications and lectures

William is co-author of a book on the duty of care in the financial services sector.

He has published various scientific articles on financial and litigation issues. Moreover, he is a lecturer of the Postgraduate Master of Financial Planning course, Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Education

Harvard Business School, Leading professional service firms (2009)

Grotius Postgraduate Law Course on Business and Liability (2007)

TIAS Business School, Master of Finance (cum laude), (2005)

Postgraduate course: NMI mediator (2001)

University of Leiden, LL.M. (cum laude) in International Business Law (2000)

Grotius Postgraduate Law Course on Securities Law (2000)

Grotius Postgraduate Law Course on Corporate, Commercial and Business Law (1998)

University of Leiden, law degree (1996)

Affiliation

Member of the Hague Bar

Prior associations

De Clercq, Van Win & Wols Advocaten, associate (1996 - 1999)

Languages

Dutch and English (fluent), German (working knowledge)
Jan A.N.

Baas, Jan A.N.

partner
department: Real Estate

T +31-70-376 06 28
E baas@barentskrans.nl
Pierre V.F.

Bos, Pierre V.F.

partner
department: Litigation
practice group: Antitrust & Public Procurement

T +31-70-376 06 53
E bos@barentskrans.nl
Jaap J.E.

Bremer, Jaap J.E.

partner
department: Litigation
practice group: IP & Technology

T +31-70-376 06 21
E bremer@barentskrans.nl
Gidget J.

Brugman, Gidget J.

partner
department: Litigation
practice group: Financial Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 09
E brugman@barentskrans.nl
Dirk C.

Buijs, Dirk C.

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Corporate Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 87
E buijs@barentskrans.nl
Ireen H.

Castenmiller-van Hoorn, Ireen H.

associate
department: Labour Law

T +31-70-376 06 79
E castenmiller@barentskrans.nl
Tsong Ho

Chen, Tsong Ho

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Antitrust & Public Procurement

T +31-70-376 06 25
E chen@barentskrans.nl
Frank M.

Dekker, Frank M.

associate
department: Labour Law

T +31-70-376 07 66
E dekker@barentskrans.nl
Guido R.

Den Dekker, Guido R.

associate
department: Supreme Court Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 81
E dendekker@barentskrans.nl
Laurens B.

De Graaf, Laurens B.

associate
department: Labour Law

T +31-70-376 06 16
E dgraaf@barentskrans.nl
Johan

Den Hoed, Johan

associate
department: Supreme Court Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 81
E dhoed@barentskrans.nl
Annelies

Dijkman-Derkman, Annelies

associate
department: Real Estate

T +31-70-376 07 00
E dijkman@barentskrans.nl
Maartje P.A.J.

Dings, Maartje P.A.J.

associate
department: Supreme Court Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 51
E dings@barentskrans.nl
Jerre W.

De Jong, Jerre W.

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Financial Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 46
E djong@barentskrans.nl
Inge

De Kroes, Inge

associate
department: Real Estate

T +31-70-376 06 26
E dkroes@barentskrans.nl
Roeland C.

De Mol, Roeland C.

partner
department: Litigation
practice group: Corporate Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 87
E dmol@barentskrans.nl
Rogier A.A.

Duk, Rogier A.A.

partner
department: Labour Law

T +31-70-376 07 26
E duk@barentskrans.nl
Max A.M.

Essed, Max A.M.

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Corporate Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 84
E essed@barentskrans.nl
Joost W.

Fanoy, Joost W.

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Antitrust & Public Procurement

T +31-70-376 07 50
E fanoy@barentskrans.nl
Harry

Ferment, Harry

partner
department: Real Estate

T +31-70-376 06 40
E ferment@barentskrans.nl
Eric

Grabandt, Eric

partner
department: Supreme Court Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 06
E grabandt@barentskrans.nl
Jan Paul

Heering, Jan Paul

partner
department: Supreme Court Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 51
E heering@barentskrans.nl
Gilles

Hooft Graafland, Gilles

of counsel
department: Litigation
practice group: Financial Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 10
E hooft@barentskrans.nl
Joost A.

Huijgen, Joost A.

partner / member managing board
department: Real Estate

T +31-70-376 06 26
E huijgen@barentskrans.nl
Lizette (E.S.)

Jaques, Lizette (E.S.)

associate
department: Real Estate

T +31-70-376 06 26
E jaques@barentskrans.nl
Lianne

Kelkensberg, Lianne

associate
department: Supreme Court Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 51
E kelkensberg@barentskrans.nl
Max J.M.T.

Keulaerds, Max J.M.T.

partner
department: Labour Law

T +31-70-376 06 16
E keulaerds@barentskrans.nl
Jeffrey R.

Koenecke, Jeffrey R.

partner
department: Real Estate

T +31-70-376 07 92
E koenecke@barentskrans.nl
Annemieke W.

Kooy, Annemieke W.

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: IP & Technology

T +31-70-376 06 21
E kooy@barentskrans.nl
Bregje

Krijnen, Bregje

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Financial Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 10
E krijnen@barentskrans.nl
Anne-Laure

Kruit, Anne-Laure

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Corporate Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 87
E kruit@barentskrans.nl
Mark R.

Lim, Mark R.

partner
department: Real Estate

T +31-70-376 06 26
E lim@barentskrans.nl
Emilie C.

Maclaine Pont, Emilie C.

associate
department: Corporate and M&A

T +31-70-376 06 95
E maclainepont@barentskrans.nl
Michiel R.

Martin, Michiel R.

partner
department: Corporate and M&A

T +31-70-376 06 95
E martin@barentskrans.nl
Joost A.

Möhlmann, Joost A.

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Corporate Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 84
E mohlmann@barentskrans.nl
A. Julia

Nicolaescu, A. Julia

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Corporate Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 84
E nicolaescu@barentskrans.nl
Mariëtte J.

Plomp, Mariëtte J.

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Antitrust & Public Procurement

T +31-70-376 06 75
E plomp@barentskrans.nl
Tim

Raats, Tim

associate
department: Supreme Court Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 81
E raats@barentskrans.nl
Ingrid E.

Reimert, Ingrid E.

associate
department: Real Estate

T +31-70-376 06 28
E reimert@barentskrans.nl
Martijn

Rijnhart, Martijn

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Financial Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 44
E rijnhart@barentskrans.nl
Evelien C.

Rozeboom, Evelien C.

associate
department: Supreme Court Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 51
E rozeboom@barentskrans.nl
Arie (Aai)

Schaberg, Arie (Aai)

partner
department: Corporate and M&A

T +31-70-376 06 82
E schaberg@barentskrans.nl
Eline J.

Schiebroek, Eline J.

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: IP & Technology

T +31-70-376 06 25
E schiebroek@barentskrans.nl
William M.

Schonewille, William M.

partner / Chief Executive Officer
department: Litigation
practice group: Financial Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 50
E schonewille@barentskrans.nl
Dorieke

Smedts, Dorieke

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Corporate Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 87
E smedts@barentskrans.nl
Judith H.H.

Smit, Judith H.H.

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: IP & Technology

T +31-70-376 06 25
E smit@barentskrans.nl
Niall C.

Stive, Niall C.

associate
department: Corporate and M&A

T +31-70-376 06 95
E stive@barentskrans.nl
Nick J.

Surber, Nick J.

partner
department: Corporate and M&A

T +31-70-376 06 61
E surber@barentskrans.nl
Sander (A.J.C.)

Theunissen, Sander (A.J.C.)

associate
department: Corporate and M&A

T +31-70-376 06 95
E theunissen@barentskrans.nl
Rieme-Jan (R.P.J.L.)

Tjittes, Rieme-Jan (R.P.J.L.)

partner
department: Supreme Court Litigation

T +31-70-376 07 89
E tjittes@barentskrans.nl
Martijn G.P.

Van Ansem, Martijn G.P.

partner
department: Corporate and M&A

T +31-70-376 07 51
E vansem@barentskrans.nl
Peter C.

Vas Nunes, Peter C.

partner
department: Labour Law

T +31-70-376 06 85
E vasnunes@barentskrans.nl
Dirk J.A.

Van den Berg, Dirk J.A.

partner
department: Real Estate

T +31-70-376 06 28
E vdberg@barentskrans.nl
Lisette

Van den Eshof, Lisette

associate
department: Supreme Court Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 51
E vdeshof@barentskrans.nl
Marleen H.J.

Van den Horst, Marleen H.J.

partner
department: Litigation
practice group: IP & Technology

T +31-70-376 06 21
E vdhorst@barentskrans.nl
Anne-Rieke (H.M.C.)

Van der Linden, Anne-Rieke (H.M.C.)

associate
department: Corporate and M&A

T +31-70-376 06 94
E vdlinden@barentskrans.nl
Elze W.

Van der Minne, Elze W.

associate
department: Real Estate

T +31-70-376 06 28
E vdminne@barentskrans.nl
Mies (C.M.)

Verhage, Mies (C.M.)

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Financial Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 10
E verhage@barentskrans.nl
Caroline I.

Van Gent, Caroline I.

partner
department: Labour Law

T +31-70-376 06 79
E vgent@barentskrans.nl
Lotte R.

Van Heck, Lotte R.

associate
department: Labour Law

T +31-70-376 07 66
E vheck@barentskrans.nl
Maarten van

Van Luyn, Maarten van

partner
department: Litigation
practice group: Financial Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 30
E vluyn@barentskrans.nl
Martijn H.J.

Van Maanen, Martijn H.J.

partner
department: Litigation
practice group: Corporate Litigation

T +31-70-376 07 91
E vmaanen@barentskrans.nl
Roderick J.

Watson, Roderick J.

associate
department: Litigation
practice group: Financial Litigation

T +31-70-376 06 09
E watson@barentskrans.nl
Jesse L.

Zijlma, Jesse L.

partner
department: Real Estate

T +31-70-376 06 26
E zijlma@barentskrans.nl
Robert-Jan E.

Zwaan, Robert-Jan E.

partner
department: Corporate and M&A

T +31-70-376 07 36
E zwaan@barentskrans.nl

Schonewille,William M.

Schonewille, William M.

partner / Chief Executive Officer
department: Litigation
practice group: Financial Litigation
T: +31-70-376 06 50
F: +31-70-356 33 37
E: schonewille@barentskrans.nl

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William is managing partner of the firm since 2007. He has been practising law since 1996 and had been a partner at BarentsKrans since 2001. William is a specialist in the field of financial litigation. He acts on behalf of investors and consumers as well as for financial institutions. William has extensive experience in complex litigation, both on an individual as class action basis. He is reputed for his work in high-profile class action litigation cases in banking and securities law, such as Via Claim, Leaseverlies (share leasing schemes) and most recently Verliespolis (information and costload of unit-linked life insurance). William also assists in the field of legislation on financial regulation and advises on the development of new financial products.

Examples of relevant work

Foundation Verliespolis / various Life Insurance Companies
Via.Claim v. Consortium of banks (IPO) 
Foundation Volendam v. Fortis Bank (breach of due care)
Foundation Leaseverlies / Dexia Bank Nederland (misleading advertisement of share leasing products)
Foundation Eegalease / Dexia Bank Nederland (acceptance share leasing products by spouses / registered partners)
ObliDAF / ABN AMRO Bank and Ofasec (prospectus liability)

Professional activities 

Member of AIJA, l’Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats 
Member of the Vereniging Handelsrecht 
Member of the Nederlandse Juristen Vereniging 
Member of the Vereniging voor Effectenrecht 
Lecturer post graduate program Master of Financial Planning, Erasmus University, Rotterdam