Tax

Loyens & Loeff is an outstanding tax firm with a broad coverage of expertise across the Benelux region. It is a market-leading team on a range of contentious and advisory tax matters, including tax audits, corporate income tax, VAT, transfer pricing and withholding tax. The team also boasts notable experience in the tax aspects of transactions, assisting clients with M&A-related tax matters and cross-border restructurings, including corporate migrations. The firm's deep bench of specialists represents clients from a broad range of sectors, including a number of high-profile financial and private equity sector companies.

Praising the firm's regional strength, a client enthuses: "Loyens & Loeff is really a top firm in both Belgium and the Netherlands for tax."

An interviewee praises the team's "deep knowledge of Dutch tax laws, anticipation, very high standards, true understanding of clients' needs and responsiveness."

Advised Vivendi on the tax aspects of divesting a stake in Universal Music Group.

Bartjan Zoetmulder has substantial experience acting for real estate investors on real estate transfer tax matters relating to the sale and purchase of assets in the Netherlands. Additionally, he has experience in corporate income tax and VAT matters.

Guido Derckx is noted for his long-standing history of advising prominent clients on tax matters. He offers particular expertise in contentious mandates, including disputes around Dutch corporate income tax legislation. One interviewee enthuses that he is the "smartest tax lawyer in the Netherlands, and he is super creative."

Jeroen Janssen enters the rankings this year on the back of a broad practice advising clients on double taxation treaties, withholding tax issues and the tax aspects of corporate transactions and corporate migrations. An interviewee reports that he is "strong, with a technical mindset and business-oriented approach."

Marco de Lignie leads the firm's investment funds team and is highly respected for his tax-related work in this area, including advising on the tax aspects of fund formations.

Margriet Lukkien advises clients on the tax aspects of debt restructurings and cross-border corporate restructurings and migrations. She enters the rankings on the back of positive referee feedback, with one client particularly enthusing: "Margriet Lukkien is very result and customer orientated," adding that "she has a very strong commercial awareness."

Roderik Beckers has a prominent practice advising multinational investment funds on tax matters relating to transactions in the Netherlands. A commentator opines that Roderik Beckers "has outstanding technical skills, and is at the same time very accessible," and adds that "his ability to explain Dutch tax concepts stands out, as does his creativity in thinking of multi-jurisdictional issues."