Dispute Resolution | Europe

The firm has an exceptional disputes team handling an impressive array of commercial and financial litigation. The law firm represents clients in class action damages claims and bankruptcy litigation. It advises blue-chip clients from the finance, energy and TMT sectors, in addition to governmental bodies. The team further assists clients with international arbitration, acting on complex, high-value contractual disputes before the ICC. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is a market-leading dispute resolution practice, advising clients on high-profile, cross-border disputes. The firm is highly regarded for its work defending clients in mass damages claims and liability disputes. The team offers notable expertise in the enforcement of arbitral awards and other judgments. The law firm represents clients in expropriation disputes and commercial and financial litigation, as well as acting for NGOs on public law disputes. The firm's lawyers are experienced in handling disputes under a number of arbitral rules, including those of ICSID, ICC and UNCITRAL, as well as being particularly active in energy sector arbitration.

Houthoff is one of the leading firms in the Netherlands for defending clients in class actions and damages claims. The law firm also handles a number of high-value commercial disputes, including post-M&A and joint venture litigation, as well as shareholder disputes. The team boasts a number of lawyers with notable experience handling contentious matters before the Supreme Court. Houthoff further assists clients with enforcement proceedings, real estate disputes, financial litigation and liability issues in bankruptcy cases. Additionally, the firm handles a number of cross-border arbitrations involving expropriation and arbitral award issues. The lawyers often act on cases under NAI, ICC and ICSID rules.

NautaDutilh is a Benelux firm with a leading presence in the enforcement and setting aside of arbitral awards. The law firm is also highly regarded for handling arbitrations involving bilateral investment treaties, as well as disputes under the ICC rules and post-M&A disputes. NautaDutilh is also esteemed for its litigation practice, representing clients in class actions and liability disputes as part of bankruptcy proceedings. The team also advises clients on financial litigation and damages claims. The firm's lawyers are experienced in Supreme Court disputes.

Pels Rijcken has an outstanding reputation for advising clients from the public sector and for representing clients before the Supreme Court. The law firm has notable experience advising on a number of high-profile environmental disputes and human rights cases. The team defends clients in several major mass damages claims and class action proceedings. The lawyers in the team have notable expertise in disputes in a range of areas, including liability in bankruptcy proceedings, tax litigation, commercial disputes and financial litigation. In addition to the firm's impressive litigation matters, the team also represents clients in ICSID, ICC and NAI arbitrations.

Stibbe is one of the top law firms in the Dutch market for class actions and damages claims, predominantly representing the defendants. The firm is also popular with clients from the energy, banking and transportation industries for advice on high-profile disputes. The team is highly regarded for assisting with post-M&A disputes and cases concerning liability in bankruptcy proceedings. Stibbe boasts lawyers with notable experience in arbitration, including under ICC rules, and works closely with the firm's well-regarded white-collar crime and corporate investigations practice to advise on allegations of money laundering.

BarentsKrans boasts a strong claimant-side practice in damages disputes and class action cases. The law firm is also particularly active in commercial litigation, representing clients in contractual disputes and shareholder disputes, as well as in financial litigation. Team members are noted for their ability to handle Supreme Court litigation.

Clifford Chance has a notable litigation practice, representing clients in a range of contentious cases. The law firm has a particular focus on corporate litigation and shareholder disputes, as well as advising clients on contentious bankruptcy proceedings, including issues relating to liability. The team also handles financial litigation and defends clients in collective actions. In addition, team members have the enforcement of arbitral awards.

Evers Soerjatin is one of the leading Dutch law firms for advising plaintiffs and litigation funders on collective action damages claims. The law firm also has a strong focus on commercial litigation, representing clients in shareholder disputes. In addition, the team advises on bankruptcy and expropriation proceedings, D&O liability and financial litigation.

Loyens & Loeff notably assists clients with commercial litigation, including shareholder and contractual disputes, as well as restructuring and insolvency proceedings. The law firm also acts for defendants on collective action claims, in addition to representing clients in real estate disputes and D&O liability cases. The team offers further expertise in arbitration mandates, particularly the enforcement of arbitral awards, as well as disputes under the ICC rules.

Van Doorne has notable activity in commercial litigation and arbitration proceedings, representing clients in contractual disputes, shareholder litigation and contentious M&A mandates. The law firm also has experience defending clients in class actions and liability disputes, as well as representing plaintiffs in damages claims. Team members have notable expertise acting on the enforcement and setting aside of arbitral awards, as well as assisting clients with investment treaty and construction arbitrations. The firm also handles criminal law cases and real estate disputes. It is popular with clients from the energy, financial services and public sectors.

AKD undertakes notable activity representing plaintiffs in class action damages claims. The firm also handles a range of commercial litigation, including shareholder disputes. Additionally, the team advises clients on product liability cases and liability disputes in bankruptcy proceedings. Team members have experience acting for clients on ICC arbitrations.

Baker McKenzie has a strong commercial litigation practice, advising clients on shareholder disputes, joint venture disputes and franchising issues. The law firm also represents clients in class actions and follow-on damages proceedings. The team acts on construction litigation and energy sector disputes, as well as product liability cases. Team members have experience in arbitration proceedings.

bureau Brandeis has a strong focus on collective action cases, acting for plaintiff groups, defendants and funders on a range of class action claims. The law firm represents clients in commercial and contractual disputes, as well as directors' and officers' liability cases. The team also has a notable focus on contentious cases linked to environmental law and climate change regulations.

DLA Piper has a notable focus on contentious cases concerning directors' and officers' liability. The law firm additionally represents clients in financial disputes, shareholder disputes and construction litigation. The lawyers also advise clients on follow-on damages and class actions. Team members have experience in NAI and ICC arbitrations.

Lemstra Van der Korst is well known for representing clients in liability disputes, particularly as part of bankruptcy proceedings. The law firm also acts for both defendants and plaintiffs on class action and follow-on damages claims. The team provides further experience in investment litigation, commercial and shareholder disputes, environmental cases and litigation concerning technology and data protection issues.

Linklaters often defends clients in high-profile class actions and liability litigation, as well as representing clients in arbitration under a number of rules, including those of UNCITRAL, SIAC and the NAI. The law firm advises on investment arbitration, in addition to setting-aside and enforcement proceedings. The team has additional expertise in financial disputes, commercial litigation and construction cases. Clients benefit from the firm's large network of offices for assistance with multi-jurisdictional mandates.

Florent often represents clients in directors' and officers' liability proceedings as part of bankruptcy disputes. The law firm also has a notable focus on commercial litigation, acting for clients on shareholder disputes and contractual cases. In addition, the team assists with construction litigation, financial disputes and criminal cases. The firm advises clients on the enforcement of arbitral awards and represents defendants in class action claims.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is known for defending clients in follow-on damages claims and class actions. The law firm also has a strong reputation for handling commercial litigation, advising on post-M&A litigation. The team additionally acts on product liability and ESG litigation, as well as assisting with the enforcement and annulment of arbitral awards.

Kennedy Van der Laan enters the rankings this year following a strong showing in litigation and arbitration matters. The firm handles a broad range of litigation including class actions, contractual and shareholder disputes. Team members have notable experience with ESG litigation and professional liability proceedings.

Lexence is particularly active in commercial litigation, including representing clients in shareholder and contractual disputes. The law firm also acts for clients on liability cases, as well as mismanagement proceedings. The team has additional experience in financial disputes, insolvency proceedings and criminal litigation.

Stek frequently advises clients on commercial litigation, including contractual disputes and contentious cases involving M&A transactions and joint venture agreements. The law firm also acts for claims funders, defendants and third parties on follow-on damages cases and class actions. The team has additional experience representing clients in criminal cases.

Wijn & Stael handles a range of contentious matters, including acting for clients on commercial disputes. The law firm is also well regarded for assisting clients with insolvency proceedings. Team members have notable experience in Supreme Court mandates.