Jan Willem de Groot
Advocaat | Partner
Sectors
Languages
Dutch
English
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Jan Willem specialises in corporate and commercial litigation, with a particular focus on transaction-related disputes, shareholders' disputes, Enterprise Chamber proceedings and liability claims.
He represents corporates, and national and international investment companies in complex proceedings often involving multiple jurisdictions. Jan Willem led Houthoff's litigation teams in the multi-billion dollar takeover dispute Elliott/AkzoNobel and the multi-billion dollar Oi restructuring case. He is currently leading the AlbaniaBEG/Enel and the Raga litigation teams.
Jan Willem is also part of a multidisciplinary team with experts in corporate governance and regulatory and corporate litigation, carrying out governance stress tests to improve and reinforce governance practices. Read more about the governance stress test.
Jan Willem is a member of Houthoff's International Board. The International Board coordinates the firm's close relationships with leading independent law firms around the world.
He represents corporates, and national and international investment companies in complex proceedings often involving multiple jurisdictions. Jan Willem led Houthoff's litigation teams in the multi-billion dollar takeover dispute Elliott/AkzoNobel and the multi-billion dollar Oi restructuring case. He is currently leading the AlbaniaBEG/Enel and the Raga litigation teams.
Jan Willem is also part of a multidisciplinary team with experts in corporate governance and regulatory and corporate litigation, carrying out governance stress tests to improve and reinforce governance practices. Read more about the governance stress test.
Jan Willem is a member of Houthoff's International Board. The International Board coordinates the firm's close relationships with leading independent law firms around the world.
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“One interviewee reports that he is ‘creative, very dedicated to the client and the client's interest, and highly responsive and proactive’.”Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2022 Edition) -
“He is creative and a very good pleader.’”Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution (2021 Edition)
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“Clients also highlight his ‘strategic thinking and analytical skills.’”Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution (2021 Edition)
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Next Generation PartnerLegal 500, Dispute Resolution: commercial litigation (2021 Edition)
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“Clients describe De Groot as ‘smart, down to earth, pragmatic and committed.’”Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2020 Edition)
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“He is described as being ‘responsive, practical and pragmatic’ and valued by clients for his impressive courtroom manner.”Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2019 Edition)
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“Jan Willem de Groot is ‘good at handling clients and giving them confidence’ and is ‘willing to take a view.’”Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: commercial litigation (2019 Edition)
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"According to one client, he is 'a great lawyer, very much engaged and committed, excellent in pleadings, technically skilled and experienced'."Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2018 edition)
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RecommendedLegal 500, Dispute Resolution: commercial litigation (2018 Edition)
He is a lecturer at the Law Firm School (LFS), and a member of the Dutch Corporate Litigation Association and the Dutch Association for Procedural Law. Jan Willem also frequently publishes and speaks on topics related to corporate litigation.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Lex Mundi Cross-Border Dispute Resolution
- Lex Mundi Foundation Management
- Grotius Academy specialisation course on Corporate Structures
- Private Law (University of Groningen)
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Advised OLA Electric on the acquisition of electric scooter company Etergo B.V.
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Advised OSX Brasil S.A. and its Dutch subsidiaries. on the restructuring of their consolidated debt of over US$ 2.5 billion, including representing the OSX companies in various litigation matters in the Netherlands as well as coordinating litigation abroad. The team worked also on the debt restructuring of OSX 3, the USD 450 million bond structure and the syndicated debt of USD 850 million.
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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.
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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.
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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%.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
