MAKING OUR CLIENTS AND PEOPLE SUCCESSFUL

We are Houthoff - an independent full-service Dutch law firm. We have leading practices in, among others, Corporate/M&A, Litigation & Arbitration, Real Estate and Restructuring & Insolvency. We place the client at the heart of everything we do. Whatever their market, strategy or ambition, our clients trust our people to be behind them every step of the way, just as much as they trust our advice to take them where they desire to go.

Today's clients gravitate towards trusted advisers who are collaborative and extremely capable in every aspect of their highly complex and strategic transactions or disputes. Advisers who are as proactive, innovative and commercial as they are – not just as lawyers, but as business advisers and sector experts. Whether our clients are local or global corporations, financial institutions, private equity firms or governments, we concentrate on bringing energy, insight and integrity to every conversation. We combine this with an expert grasp on the opportunities and challenges our clients face today and in the future, helping them manage risk and reward.

We have a clear focus on our mission, purpose and values, which reflect those of our clients and their environment. Like them, we also believe in giving back to the communities we live and work in and the world we all share.

We make our people successful and provide a culture in which our employees can thrive and grow, because of, not in spite of our differences. Diversity of thought and approach is essential to us commercially and culturally. We mirror our client base as we collectively strive towards ensuring an inclusive and supportive attitude, with trust at its heart.

With offices in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, London and New York, as well as a representative in Tokyo, we are able to offer an extensive global service network.  In addition to our own extensive and highly prized network of experts, we work collaboratively with our clients to ensure their international success.

Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions

Houthoff is one of the most esteemed market leaders within the M&A market. This is confirmed by our top rankings in legal guides like the Legal 500, Chambers Global and Chambers Europe. Our Corporate/M&A Team assists multinationals, listed companies and other large companies, government bodies and private equity parties. Clients engage our Corporate/M&A Team for pragmatic advice on matters such as national and international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances. Our specialists have gained an important position within the food, energy and other sectors. 

Our multi-disciplinary Corporate/M&A Team comprises no less than 89 specialists. We can scale our teams up to any desired size and can work on multiple large transactions at the same time. We combine our expertise in the area of mergers and acquisitions with our knowledge of insurance, financial institutions, IT, energy, agrifood, manufacturing and other sectors. Thanks to our comprehensive sector approach, we are able to offer clients the highest level of service within the most important sectors.  

Banking & Finance

Houthoff’s Banking & Finance Team has a comprehensive knowledge of the financial sector, and the laws and regulations that govern it. The experienced Banking & Finance Team provides services to domestic and foreign banks, investors, other financial institutions, large companies and supervisory authorities. Our specialists give advice on a large variety of banking and financial transactions. This can involve high-end acquisition, real estate, asset or project financing, syndicated or bilateral loans, or restructuring, all of this in the context of complex financial regulations and legislation.

Our experienced Banking & Finance Team is engaged by financial institutions, foreign law firms, investors and other market parties for effective advice and support. Our specialists integrate their tax, legal and notarial expertise with their sector knowledge to provide well-considered advice and practical solutions. Thanks to our  offices in London and New York, Houthoff has an extensive international network that affords us access to the right expertise on foreign laws and regulations.

Litigation

Disputes are the order of the day, especially in the competitive international market where most of Houthoff’s clients operate. A dispute can bring a company’s operations to a standstill. That is why our 80 experienced Litigation Team lawyers are always focused on bringing disputes to a satisfactory conclusion and preventing surprises. Our lawyers never lose sight of our clients' strategic interests.

Where settlement is an option, our litigators negotiate the best settlement conditions. Where litigation is unavoidable, our specialists commit themselves to the process with energy and enthusiasm - in national and international mediation procedures and arbitrations, and proceedings before the Enterprise Chamber, the Dutch Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice.

Our litigators represent national and international companies, government bodies and independent professionals. Houthoff has gained a unique position when it comes to complex disputes involving a multitude of parties and jurisdictions. Our Litigation Team doesn't shy away from questions that lead parties and the court into uncharted territories.

Our litigation specialists work in concert with our experts in sectors such as financing, M&A, environmental law and insurance, and employ a strategic and result-orientated approach to disputes.