This week the Legal 500 published its’ 2022 edition. We are honoured to again have received excellent rankings this year. BarentsKrans has been ranked as Top Tier Firm in Employment Law and has been recommended in no less than ten practice areas. A special mention goes to Joost Fanoy who was listed as Leading Individual for the first time this year.
Some of our clients’ testimonials:
- ‘Down to earth and pragmatic, but high technical expertise.’
- ‘Senior partner dedication, sector expertise and technical skill.’
- ‘As a client, you can be sure that your interests will be taken care of.’
Legal 500: the rankings
Each year, Legal 500 analyses the performance of law firms in more than 100 jurisdictions across the world. The rankings are based on feedback from clients, submissions by law firms and interviews with legal advisers.
We would like to thank our clients for participating in the Legal 500 research and the testimonials that we have received.
Below you can find an overview of our rankings, or view our profile on Legal500.com.
Employment: tier 1
BarentsKrans fields ‘a very competent team, which is easy to reach and swift in its replies’. The team focuses on high profile contentious matters and handles litigation in the Appeals Court and Supreme Court. Max Keulaerds and Laurens de Graaf head the practice, with Keulaerds recommended for high stakes litigation and transfer of undertakings (protection of employment) (TUPE) matters. De Graaf handles a wide range of employment issues, including reorganisations and collective dismissals, works council negotiations and equal pay disputes, and acts for clients in the transport, banking, oil and gas, construction and software development sectors. Senior associate Frank Dekker is also recommended.
‘In-depth knowledge of the sector, the issues affecting us, and how the legal issues they deal with could impact our business’.
‘The contact is very personal, open and strictly confidential’.
Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation: tier 2
The Hague-based BarentsKrans is ‘very hands on and responsive, and proceeds by way of very deep analysis and research’. It focuses on corporate, commercial and financial litigation, and stands out for its track record of Supreme Court cases. The practice is headed by Martijn van Maanen, Rieme-Jan Tjittes and William Schonewille; with van Maanen recommended for M&A disputes, insolvency and fraud cases; Tjittes handling commercial litigation, arbitration and Supreme Court litigation; and Schonewille dealing with financial litigation for investors, consumers and financial institutions. Philip Fruytier joined from Houthoff in April 2021.
‘The interaction with the various members of the team is very smooth’.
‘They understand without any difficulty very complex situations and subject matters’.
Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences: tier 2
The health care and life sciences industry group at BarentsKrans offers clients ‘dedication combined with exceptional knowledge of the field’. The Hague-based practice focuses on regulatory, transactional and IP issues, including disputes and litigation. It acts for a range of companies, from smaller domestic clients to global pharmaceutical firms, and also as local counsel to foreign law firms. Marleen van den Horst heads the team and has notable experience in contentious and non-contentious patent, regulatory and product liability matters. Jaap Bremer is recommended for patent and trade mark litigation.
‘As a client, you can be sure that your interests will be taken care of’.
‘With enthusiasm and skill, Marleen van den Horst clearly shows why she rightly belongs at the top in the Netherlands’.
Environment and planning: tier 3
BarentsKrans’ ‘partners and associates work together as a well-oiled machine’ to provide clients with a range of environment and planning expertise and considerable expertise in associated litigation. As part of its real estate offering, the practice group also has a strong focus on project development, along with zoning law, acting for both public and private clients, including central government and regional and local authorities. Nicole Soliana heads the team and focuses on private law as it relates to the public sector, while Remco Bäcker specialises in administrative and environmental law.
‘A strength of the team is that they combine their knowledge of environment and planning (public law) with their knowledge of private law.‘
‘High standards of knowledge and direct contact between the client and the partners of this firm.‘
EU and competition: tier 3
BarentsKrans‘ practice, which is led by Joost Fanoy is highly-reputed in matters involving the food and agriculture, construction and financial services industries. It is also increasingly sought after for advice on long-term sustainability initiatives. The firm has a particularly strong track record acting for claimants in multijurisdictional follow-on cartel damages actions. In addition, it is equally strong defending companies in ACM behavioural investigations. On the non-contentious side, key workstreams include merger control, compliance advice, cooperation agreements and vertical agreements. Elsewhere, the firm has a growing public procurement practice. Senior associates Stephanie Vreede and Sophie Gilliam joined from NautaDutilh and DLA Piper respectively.
‘Preeminent competition damages litigation group works in a very tight and seamless manner. Every team member has considerable individual merit and experience.’
‘Due to the longstanding relationship that is present between our company and BarentsKrans, it is always possible to exchange thoughts on business topics without a further introduction on the connected conditions. This makes for a great collaboration.’
Intellectual property: Patents: tier 3
BarentsKrans undertakes complex litigation in addition to transactional work such as cross-border licences and joint development agreements. It also routinely assists clients with strategies to protect its key patents. Its deep knowledge of the pharma, life sciences, technology and agri-food sectors, includes mechanical engineering, electronics, telecoms and biotech. Clients also highlight an appreciation for the firm’s transparency and ‘excellent value‘ on the billing front. Jaap Bremer heads the IP and technology work, while Marleen van den Horst heads the healthcare and life sciences industry group. Both are highly rated talents for complex patent litigation and advisory work.
‘Marleen van der Horst and Jaap Bremer are in an excellent team and is really a go-to outfit for patent litigation in the Netherlands.’
‘The BarentsKrans team shows a great combination of a skilled and experienced team together with deep insights in the pharma patent litigation sphere.’
Banking and finance: borrower side: tier 4
Led by Jason van de Pol, the team at BarentsKrans handles domestic and cross-border transactions for corporate borrowers from sectors such as construction, food and agriculture, hotels and leisure, oil and gas and chemicals. The firm also has a particularly strong profile in the financial services sector, where it generates mandates from clients ranging in size from start-up companies to large multinationals. In a recent highlight, van de Pol led the advice to Zwanenberg Food Group on the financing aspects of its acquisition of Struik Foods Europe and its subsidiaries. The group also includes Michiel Martin.
‘Easy access to the partner (not only at the start of the project, but throughout…).’
‘They were knowledgeable and responsive and readily able to handle English language documents and inquiries.’
Intellectual property: Trademarks, copyrights and design rights: tier 4
BarentsKrans covers a full range of contentious and non-contentious trade mark, copyright and design right matters, complemented by expertise in advertising, unfair competition and anti-counterfeiting actions. Jaap Bremer heads the IP and technology practice and is considered a ‘top expert in software related IP matters‘, and IP and technology specialist Marleen van den Horst litigates multi-jurisdictional IP cases in addition to assisting clients in negotiating and drafting IP agreements. The firm is a partner with the start-up/spin off initiative Yes!Delft of Delft University and is also a member of Pro Bono Connect.
‘Highly qualified lawyers, very efficient. Good communication and availability. Good standing in the Netherlands.’
‘BarentsKrans is a full service law firm but manages to keep its IP practice working as a boutique firm. Strong practice in patents but certainly in soft IP issues as well.’
Private equity: tier 4
BarentsKrans is noted for its work for regional development companies targeting start-ups and innovative SMEs. The practice also represents a number of international private equity funds, often in respect of inbound investments, and is especially well-versed in industries including technology, biotech, safety and security. Harry Rek is the practice head.
‘Senior partner dedication, sector expertise and technical skill.’
‘Partner involvement and commercial focus/ negotiating. Our partner Rhamsey Croes always helps us evaluating things and is not just merely a lawyer but a commercial partner.’
Real estate: tier 4
BarentsKrans fields a team with ‘excellent knowledge of the real estate business’ under the leadership of Nicole Soliana and Jeffrey Koenecke. Its broad expertise includes experience in transactional work, financings, disputes, and environmental and zoning law. Koenecke has over 20 years’ experience in notarial matters pertaining to commercial real estate transactions and Soliana is a name to note for contract and liability work.
‘The most important thing is their way of solving problems in a personal manner’.
‘Jesse Zijlma is able to address solutions in new situations and can oversee complex projects’.
Commercial, corporate and M&A: tier 5
BarentsKrans is predominantly instructed for buy-side representation though it is also proficient in sell-side representation which forms approximately a third of its recent caseload. The practice counts the trade and services, technology, production and construction industries as its most fruitful sectors of activity and is jointly led by Rhamsey Croes, who has considerable experience serving as lead counsel in cross-border deals, and Lisanne Vissers.
‘Down to earth and pragmatic, but high technical expertise.’
‘BK delivers high quality and reliable services, a full services firm.’