Praised for having the ‘highest level of ambition’, the team at A&O Shearman leverages its network of offices across Europe to advise its varied client base of medtech and biotech companies as well as financial institutions. IP litigator Frits Gerritzen and Christiaan De Brauw jointly head the practice. Gerritzen is known for his vast knowledge of patent enforcement actions and the validity of IP rights, particularly in relation to medical equipment and antibodies, while de Brauw has vast transactional expertise, advising pharma and biotech clients on IPOs, public takeovers, and public M&A. Leading the firm’s investment management practice, Ellen Cramer de Jong advises investors on regulatory and corporate issues.

Hogan Lovells International LLP‘s team has ‘excellent‘ expertise across a wide variety of areas, including orphan designations, pharma advertising, and supply chain structures. Practice head Hein van den Bos is well known for his IP and technology expertise, which he utilises to advise international pharma and biotech companies on EU marketing authorisation applications and disputes concerning data exclusivity. Bert Oosting is particularly skilled at handling international patent disputes before the European Patent Office (EPO), while Karen Jelsma assists clients with regulatory issues, including clinical trial agreements and distribution disputes. The ‘exceptionally intelligent‘ Gertjan Kuipers is a ‘sharp and gifted‘ litigator who primarily focuses on patent infringement cases.

The team at Loyens & Loeff acts for a lucrative, varied client base of healthcare insurance, diagnostics, and pharma companies on an array of regulatory, corporate, and tax related matters. The group regularly represents clients in administrative proceedings involving alleged breaches of transparency laws within the healthcare procurement process. Tom van Helmond, Kim Lucassen, and Vincent van der Lans jointly head the practice. Lucassen is well known for her expansive expertise in data protection and cybersecurity, advising a number of biotech companies and research institutions, while van Helmond is noted for his vast knowledge of procurement and competition issues and van der Lans maintains a tax-focused practice that encompasses a range of financing transactions and M&A. Regulatory expert Dieuwke Hooft Graafland handles a broad range of healthcare disputes concerning insurance and financing, in addition to advising on joint ventures and corporate governance. Céline van Waesberge left the team in June 2023.

AKD‘s ‘remarkable, talented‘ team frequently assists healthcare providers with contractual issues and strategic alliances in addition to representing clients in proceedings against health insurers and government authorities. The group also advises a number of pharma, medtech, and biotech companies on matters concerning inducements and product advertising. The ‘sharp, genuine‘ Joris Rijken co-heads the practice from Amsterdam, primarily acting for healthcare providers in matters concerning contracts with the Dutch Healthcare Authority and care procurement. Working out of the Eindhoven office, co-head Barbara Mutsaers is praised by clients for her ‘very keen eye‘ and is particularly skilled in advising on clinical trials, R&D agreements, and disputes against administrative fines.

BarentsKrans is known for handling the full gamut of regulatory issues for hospitals, health insurers, and pharma companies. The Hague-based group is well-placed to advise on marketing authorisations, government healthcare programs, and patent disputes. Practice head and IP litigator Jaap Bremer has a great deal of experience in acting for technology clients, while also advising on non-contentious IP mandates, such as cooperation and distribution agreements. Competition and procurement specialist Tim Raats advises both tendering authorities and tenderers within the healthcare sector, with a particular emphasis on those in the youth mental healthcare and home care spaces. Raats is also noted for his broad knowledge of vertical agreements and merger filings.

In The Hague, Marc van Wijngaarden and Michiel Wurfbain jointly lead the team at Bird & Bird, which maintains its strong reputation for advising clients on the regulatory, data, and privacy aspects of digital health mandates. The group advises biotech and pharma companies, and funds on their investments and listings. Wurfbain is noted for his vast expertise in advising on capital markets transactions and cross-border M&A, and van Wijngaarden is an IP specialist who acts for pharma, biotech, and medical device clients. Tjibbe Douma is adept at representing clients in EPO opposition proceedings and advising on UPC strategy, while Hester Borgers is known for her expertise in regulatory disputes and multi-jurisdictional patent litigation.

The team at CMS exhibits broad expertise across a diverse range of matters, including the restructuring of licenses, joint projects between pharma companies and healthcare institutions, and pricing and reimbursement negotiations. Practice head Ellen Gielen is known for her vast regulatory expertise, particularly in relation to pricing and reimbursement as well as manufacturing and distribution mandates. Judith Kok maintains a regulatory-focused practice, advising on the handling and marketing of medical devices and biocides, while Gertie Lintjens primarily advises clients in the pharma and medical device industries on early access issues and R&D projects, in addition to advertising and transparency disputes.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek acts for a broad range of clients, including medical supply companies, investors in the sector, and high-profile pharma companies. Joining the team in July 2023 from NautaDutilh, practice co-head Anne Marie Verschuur is noted for her skill in advising on UPC issues and patent infringement actions, while IP litigator Tobias Cohen Jehoram frequently appears before the Supreme Court of the Netherlands in patent cases on behalf of high-profile pharma companies. Reinier Kleipool has broad expertise in handling corporate governance issues, and private equity expert Lennard Keijzer primarily advises on governance arrangements between co-investors and private equity funds. Bertrand ter Woort maintains an IP and tech focused practice, frequently assisting clients with R&D collaborations and licensing issues.

Primarily based in Amsterdam, the team at Houthoff dispays vast experience in advising on competition mandates, with particular emphasis on merger clearance and investigations, in addition to damages claims. Practice co-head Weijer VerLoren van Themaat is noted for his broad expertise in acting for hospitals and private clinics in cases against public authorities and restructurings, while co-head Freeke Heijne primarily handles regulatory matters for healthcare insurers and investors. Rotterdam-based litigator Huib Lebbing represents clients in class actions and collective claims, having deep knowledge of contractual liability related disputes. Having previous experience working for the Dutch Healthcare Authority, Murat Duman is well-placed to represent associations of hospitals and private clinics in cases before government authorities.

The group at NautaDutilh displays vast expertise in handling a broad array of corporate matters for its varied client list, including seed rounds, share offerings, and private placement financings. Practice co-head Ruud Smits has a great deal of transactional expertise within the healthcare and life sciences space, advising start-ups and investors on M&A and VC-backed financing rounds. Co-head Jeroen Boelens is an IP specialist who focuses on technology within the pharma and biotech spaces, frequently assisting clients with biotech IPOs and licensing M&A. Anne Marie Verschuur departed the practice in May 2023.

Simmons & Simmons is adept at handling the full spectrum of disputes, with particular emphasis on product liability, SPC extensions, and EPO proceedings. The team is jointly led by Johan Renes and Bas Berghuis van Woortman. With longstanding IP expertise, Renes represents clients in patent disputes and non-contentious matters, including license and collaboration agreements, and the securing of investments. Berghuis van Woortman advises numerous pharma, biotech, and medical device clients in IP disputes and R&D agreement negotiations. Oscar Lamme is known for acting in multijurisdictional mandates concerning patent and competition law.

Willemien Bischot and Dimitri van Hoewijk jointly lead the team at Van Doorne, which is noted for its vast expertise in healthcare governance, particularly from a regulatory perspective. The group also handles numerous digital health mandates involving patient data. Healthcare specialist Bischot primarily advises academic hospitals, and elderly and special needs providers with corporate governance and funding issues, while van Hoewijk focuses on market access, often assisting pharma companies and investors with reimbursement matters. Louis Jonker is an expert in technology who has vast regulatory knowledge, particularly in relation to digital innovations and disruptive tech. Tax specialist Daniëlle Westerhoff advises on M&A and collaborations, while Siego Boslooper is well-versed in handling restructuring and corporate governance-related mandates.

Dirkzwager legal & tax houses a broad team, predominantly based in Nijmegen, which is known for representing healthcare providers and medical specialists across the Netherlands in matters involving data leaks, civil disputes, and employment law. Practice co-head Koen Mous is known for his expertise in civil law, handling a vast range of matters including in relation to the procurement of healthcare services and the organisation of specialist medical care within hospitals. Co-head Marieke van Dongen primarily advises the supervisory boards as well as boards of directors of numerous hospitals, mental health institutions, and independent treatment centres on partnerships and M&A.

A 'large team with very broad and in-depth knowledge', Kennedy Van der Laan‘s practice is known for advising a diverse range of medical device companies and institutes, with a particular specialism in the oncology space. Practice co-head Fenna van Dijk is noted for her longstanding corporate expertise, advising numerous directors of healthcare institutions and branch organisations on collaborations and M&A, while Eline Lam is well versed in governance and collaboration mandates. IP specialist and co-head Maarten Schut is particularly adept at handling matters concerning trade secrets and publishing for academic hospitals and other not-for-profit institutions. Additionally, Schut regularly represents clients in negotiations and disputes concerning R&D and licensing. Anne ten Brummelhuis has vast knowledge of patient rights, tariff regulation, the Youth Act, and the Social Support Act, allowing her to handle a range of e-health and regulatory mandates.

Competition law boutique Maverick Advocaten N.V. is well-known for handling merger and administrative proceedings before the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets as well as the Dutch Healthcare Authority. Praised for his ‘outstanding‘ knowledge, practice co-head Diederik Schrijvershof acts for pharma companies and healthcare providers in court proceedings against prohibition decisions, in addition to competition disputes involving tariffs, while co-head Martijn van de Hel regularly acts in approval proceedings concerning joint ventures and takeovers.

Based in The Hague, Wemmeke Wisman, Marije Batting, Elisabeth Pietermaat jointly co-lead the team at Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn NV, which is known for handling the full spectrum of healthcare-related matters for the Dutch Government and healthcare providers. Wisman is a litigation expert who often acts in civil procedures concerning the fundamental right to medical treatment. Batting leads the public law practice at the firm, primarily handling issues relating to quality of care, with particular emphasis on the approval of medicines, in addition to pricing and reimbursement mandates, while Pietermaat is noted for her extensive regulatory expertise, with her primary area of focus being the financing of healthcare.

Pinsent Masons LLP‘s team is noted for its vast knowledge of IP issues within the life sciences space. Practice head Judith Krens is particularly adept at acting in SPC and cross-border patent disputes, in addition to advising on regulatory mandates concerning pharma and medical device law. Krens is also noted for her expertise in non-contentious IP related matters, including transfer agreements and IP licenses. In May 2023, András Kupecz left the team to become a judge at the Unified Patent Court, and Machteld Hiemstra also departed the practice.