Litigation

Geschillen zijn aan de orde van de dag. Zeker in de (internationaal) competitieve markt waarin de meeste cliënten van Houthoff opereren. Een geschil kan een bedrijfsvoering lamleggen. Daarom is ons ervaren Procesrechtteam van 80 advocaten altijd gericht op de oplossing van een geschil en het voorkomen van verrassingen. Het strategisch belang voor de cliënt verliezen onze advocaten daarbij nooit uit het oog.

Waar geschikt kan worden, onderhandelen onze procesrechtadvocaten de beste schikkingsvoorwaarden uit. Waar geprocedeerd moet worden, bijten onze specialisten zich erin vast. Zowel in nationale en internationale mediationprocedures en arbitrages als in procedures bij de Ondernemingskamer, de Hoge Raad en het Hof van Justitie van de Europese Unie.

First Tier firm

Chambers Global Dispute Resolution (2022 Edition)
First Tier firm

Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2021 Edition)
“A client recognises the practice for its scope, saying that ‘the performance is always excellent, both in terms of legal advice as well as understanding of any risk.’”

Chambers Europe, Dispute Resolution (2021 Edition)
“They are prepared to explain how the law applies, and how the process is in the Netherlands and Europe, helping counsel from other jurisdictions to understand their views and adapt.”

Chambers Europe, Dispute Resolution (2021 Edition)
First Tier firm

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial litigation (2021 Edition)
“Smart lawyers who understand what is relevant to the client.”

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial litigation (2021 Edition)
“Analytical thinkers, easy to communicate with, keep their promises.”

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial litigation (2021 Edition)
“Sources praise the firm for being ‘very proactive and creative’ and ‘always very well prepared in supporting us.’”

Chambers Europe, Dispute Resolution (2020 Edition)
“Clients highlight the team’s international capabilities, noting that they are ‘very good at dealing with cross-border work’ and have ‘very good knowledge of international financing and documentation, and are very good at adapting to different litigation systems.’”

Chambers Europe, Dispute Resolution (2020 Edition)
First Tier firm

Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2020 Edition)
First Tier firm

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
“Leading arbitration team in the Netherlands, active both on investor-state and commercial arbitration matters. Successful in the world’s most high-value complex disputes matters.”

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
“Ability to think outside the box in very complex and high-stakes matters.”

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
“Houthoff has a large and outstanding arbitration team that is capable of handling high-end and large-scale arbitrations. They have extensive experience with ICC and other international arbitrations.”

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
“The team consists of lawyers with different capabilities/areas of expertise which makes the team well equipped to handle a variety of cases.”

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
“This practice is unique because Houthoff helped us eventually win the case and as client of Houthoff, I feel very delighted to be working with such a professional, responsible and talented team of lawyers. They are always patient and work with great passion and efficiency.”

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
“A well balanced team with outstanding arbitration skills. The really know when to push through and when to settle. Compared to other firms the Houthoff team combines outstanding legal knowledge with practical business skills.”

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
First Tier firm

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial litigation (2020 Edition)
“The team is very quick to respond, friendly, easy to talk to. They team is efficient and very hard-working.”

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial litigation (2020 Edition)
“The team is very experienced in a wide range of disputes and provides commercial and user-friendly advice.”

Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial litigation (2020 Edition)

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. They are known for their success and it’s not without reason that for many years they have ranked highly in legal guides such as the Legal 500 and Chambers Global. We can scale up our litigation teams to any desired size and conduct multiple complex national and international proceedings at the same time without compromising on quality.

Highlighted Matters

Represented Ola Cabs in data access request proceedings before the Amsterdam District Court. This was the first judgment by an EU court on data portability.
Highlighted Matters

Represented RDW (Dutch Vehicle Licence Authority) before the Dutch DPA and administrative courts in defence of complaints raised by a group of data subjects.
Highlighted Matters

Advised Marktplaats, a classified advertising site based in the Netherlands, on preliminary relief proceedings brought by a professional advertiser who was blocked from the platform.
Highlighted Matters

Representing Kroonenberg, one of the largest real estate investors in the Netherlands, in a high-profile dispute against the bankruptcy trustees of Memid and Midreth, a large construction company in the Netherlands.
Highlighted Matters

Representing members of the supervisory board of Imtech N.V. in various proceedings.
Highlighted Matters

Houthoff is defending a major European truck manufacturer against several cartel damages mass claims submitted by claim vehicles allegedly representing haulier companies.
Highlighted Matters

Houthoff represented a former CFO of a Belgian bank/insurance company in his defence against several prospectus claims, including a mass claim brought by the Dutch Shareholders Association (VEB).
Highlighted Matters

Houthoff advised Ballast Nedam on an appeal case against Max Bögl, a former joint venture partner. Ballast Nedam wins court of appeal case against Max Bögl. The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal in cassation, lodged by Max Bögl. For Ballast Nedam this ruling means an elimination of a risk of over 9 million euros, without further financial impact. Ballast Nedam brought action in 2003 against Max Bögl for breach of contract in the tendering stage of three underground stations on the North-South Line.
Highlighted Matters

V&D was a landmark brand of high street located department stores (63 stores) in the Netherlands and was founded in 1887. Houthoff advised the company in a wide array of matters, including the restructuring of its debt, and representing the company in several high profile litigation matters related to real estate and labour law.
Highlighted Matters

Represented Goodyear Dunlop in litigation resulting from a series of incidents.
Highlighted Matters

Houthoff represented Nationale Nederlanden (NN) in proceedings that were brought by the foundation Vereniging Woekerpolis.nl in relation to investment-linked insurance offered by NN. The court ruled that generally speaking NN had provided sufficient information on costs and premiums.
Highlighted Matters

Represented a South Korean listed electronics manufacturer in its defence against several cartel damages claims submitted by major CRT purchasers regarding the manufacture of television screens and computer monitors.
Highlighted Matters

Houthoff is representing Singapore Airlines Singapore Cargo in various Dutch private enforcement proceedings before the Amsterdam courts. These proceedings were initiated by claim vehicles Equilib, EWD and Stichting Cartel Compensation (SCC) following the EC's decisions in the air cargo case. The first action was initiated in 2010 and all the cases are ongoing.
Highlighted Matters

Assisted Elliott in inquiry proceedings at the Enterprise Chamber against the paints and chemical group AkzoNobel. Elliott was one of AkzoNobel’s largest shareholders, with an interest in AkzoNobel of more than 5%.
Highlighted Matters

Represented Danube Logistics in a significant litigation matter in the Netherlands against several Dutch and Moldovan parties regarding Danube's acquisition of the Giurgiulesti International Free Port in Moldova, including its oil and cargo/container terminals. In this massive international litigation, on behalf of the Danube Logistics group of companies, Houthoff successfully lodged a claim in 2015 before the Amsterdam Court. Opposite parties launched an appeal.
Highlighted Matters

Advised Vi Holding, the largest shareholder of aluminum multinational Vimetco N.V. on several proceedings in the Netherlands and the UK relating to a transaction with regard to a significant minority stake in Vimetco. Disputes arose with respect to certain obligations under this transaction, and also a third party initiated proceedings in both the UK and the Netherlands following it.
Highlighted Matters

Advised Aurelius, through its investment vehicle Capricorn, in lodging several claims in the Netherlands, relating to, among others, (a) the voidance of several intercompany transactions of the Oi Group which have been to the detriment of the group's creditors and (b) to prevent the ailing Brazilian parent company from borrowing any more money from one its Dutch subsidiaries.
Highlighted Matters

Represented Swiss/Spanish Teka Group in inquiry proceedings before the Enterprise Chamber in Amsterdam. Teka is in dispute with a cluster of minority shareholders. In the action before the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, they alleged that Teka has been mismanaged on a number of issues. The court of appeal denied all claims against Teka.
Highlighted Matters

Houthoff is the lead counsel to the private owner of the vast Dutch polder Duchess Hedwige (adjacent to the Belgian border in the southern part of the Province of Zeeland). Houthoff advises the owner and litigates against the Dutch Government regarding the planned project of the Dutch Government to submerge the privately-owned polder (more than 300 hectares of cultivated land) and turn it into estuarine nature.
Highlighted Matters

Assisting Petróleo Brasileiro - Petrobras and its subsidiaries, as well as former directors, in respect of a Dutch class action threatened by the Dutch foundation named Stichting Petrobras Compensation Foundation representing non-US investors in securities issued by Petróleo Brasileiro - Petrobras and Petrobras Global Finance B.V.