The team at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is well-placed to assist its sector-spanning portfolio of clients on the remit of complex insurance work. In litigation, the team frequently defends insurers in both domestic and overseas contexts, in matters ranging from mass claims regarding investment-linked insurance products, to those involving solvency-related disputes. Eelco Meerdink specialises in such disputes work. The group’s regulatory work includes advising on governance, business operation and liquidity-related issues, amongst other areas. Mariken van Loopik has a notable banking and insurance specialism, while team head Dennis Horeman is experienced in product and professional liability.

The practice at Houthoff is well-equipped to assist its client roster on complex regulatory matters, including on insurance and reinsurance issues, on insurtech and product launches, and on the array of related commercial and corporate issues. Matters regarding the mis-selling of unit-linked insurance products is a particular area of expertise. The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Berry van Wijk oversees the practice and has noteworthy expertise handling financial regulatory work. Lucas Dröge and Huib Lebbing are experienced handling liability claims, including defending insurers in toxic chemical disputes and mass claims. Gijs Hamelijnck has expertise assisting insurtech companies.

The practice at Kennedy Van der Laan has strong capabilities advising its insurance sector clientele on the gamut of EU and Dutch regulatory matters, as well as assisting with intricate aspects of policy formation. In addition, the team is well-placed to handle complex contentious matters, including product liability cases spanning industry sectors from property to engineering, and handling fraud-related issues. A number of specialists sit at the team’s head, being Erik van Orsouw whose expertise includes professional liability, D&O claims and international coverage disputes; liability specialist Chris van Dijk; ‘smart and modest lawyer’ Peter van den Broek; regulatory expert Jan Broekhuizen; Petra Oskam who assists insurers in PI cases; and professional indemnity and liability specialist Marit van der Pool.

The group at NautaDutilh is well-known for its abilities advising its noteworthy insurer clients on the broad range of matters, including in high-value liability settlements such as mass claims regarding defective products. In addition, the team is capable of advising on the regulatory aspects, contractual arrangements and company policy elements of insurance cases. It is co-headed by Stijn Franken who specialises in insurance, reinsurance, regulatory, and liability matters, and ‘expert in the field’ Sjoerd Meijer who represents clients including accountancy firms and insurance companies in both mass and individual claims regarding professional liability and life insurance policies. Christine Vreede is noteworthy also for her class action and unit-linked life insurance-related work in particular. Roel Theissen is also a key contact.

Van Doorne‘s practice is considered to be ‘excellent in determining strategies’ by its clients. Representing auditors and civil notaries in complex professional liability cases concerning malpractice forms a significant portion of the team’s workload, as do D&O liability cases. Furthermore, the team handles warranty and indemnity matters, and general liability claims of considerable value including those in the insurtech sector. Experienced advisor to clients in distressed financial situations and ‘go-to lawyer in the Netherlands’ Annemieke Hendrikse heads up the offering. Simone Hoogeveen, liability litigator Pieter de Jong Schouwenburg and the ‘very strong and forward-thinking’ London-based Saloua Tanouyat are names to note in the group.

CMS‘ group is well-known for its abilities advising in the broad range of high-profile insurance cases, including those involving PI, D&O, and product liability and recall claims. Insurtech, cyber, and warranty and indemnity matters all feature prominently in the team’s workload. Bas Baks has expertise litigating in PI, D&O, financial lines and construction project-related work and ‘leads the team in a profound manner’ alongside experienced insurance litigator Leonard Böhmer. Oskar van de Weijer also has litigious expertise in both domestic and cross-border contexts.

The group at Dirkzwager legal & tax ‘know all there is to know about insurance’ according to clients. The cohort’s work includes representing insurers in civil fraud disputes, advising in D&O matters involving bankruptcies, and in matters where insurance claims fail as a result of administrative errors. Joost Bindels, experienced litigator Tom van Malssen and René Wildenburg co-head the team alongside Henriek Kragt. Departures include Bindels’ former co-lead Harry Kruitwagen, in April 2024, and Daan Baas and Wim Weterings, who both departed in December 2023.

The group at Loyens & Loeff has established capabilities handling the remit of contentious insurance matters and is well-regarded by clients for its ‘very strong performance in litigation’. Practice overseer Merel van Asch is experienced representing clients in litigation ranging from coverage disputes, to cases regarding the duty of care of intermediaries, in addition to her experience handling high-value arbitration cases. Duty of care claims are an area of focus of Rens Markus, and Rutger Noordermeer is considered a ‘sharp lawyer’. Kitty Lieverse departed the team in January 2024.

The practice at Norton Rose Fulbright is well-placed to assist its roster of clients on the array of disputes, which is the area of focus of team head Jan Duyvensz, who ‘goes above and beyond’ for his clients. The disputes side of the practice was bolstered in November 2023 with the arrival from Jones Day of Niels van Loon. Financial services specialist Floortje Nagelkerke is a practitioner to note in the team who advises clients on the impacts on the insurance sector of such market changes and developments as Brexit, cryptocurrency and fintech, as well on corporate transactions.

The practice at Ploum is renowned by clients for its ‘high level of insurance law expertise and in-depth sector knowledge’. The team is well-equipped to handle the array of contentious insurance issues across industry sectors, as it sits within the firm’s broader litigation offering. Head of insurance Natalie Vloemans has particular expertise in the petrochemical, HSE and construction industries wherein she advises on the breadth of coverage disputes and arbitrations. Maurice Verhoeven has strength acting on behalf on insurers in professional and D&O liability cases, and the ‘thorough and enthusiastic’ Berry Pasztjerik is also a key contact.

The group at Van Traa Advocaten assists its portfolio of well-known clients on complex liability issues in both domestic and cross-jurisdictional contexts, including those involving fatal PI, company damage caused by infrastructural issues and natural disasters, and matters regarding professional liability claims. Robert de Haan is a transport and insurance specialist whose workload includes advising on matters relating to Covid-19-related travel cancellations. Derk-Jan van der Kolk has expertise in PI and loss of dependency cases caused by fires and environmental events. Marko Jongkind is a noteworthy name in the team, which is helmed by Robert Pessers.

Bird & Bird‘s group is equipped to assist its clientele with the range of professional, D&O, and cyber liability cases. The insurance side of the firm’s international disputes practice is helmed by ‘impressive lawyer’ Evelyn Tjon-En-Fa who is experienced handling liability matters from machinery breakdown cases, to cyber breaches. Laura Grijpma has expertise handling the insurance side of commercial disputes at civil court and at the Dutch arbitral tribunal.

Cox Ten Bruggencate Advocaten‘s team harnesses capabilities advising insurers on liability matters from those in which buildings have been fire damaged or collapsed, vessels have been seriously damaged, or items have been lost or stolen. ‘Very good lawyer’ Jacco van de Meent heads up the offering alongside Carlijn ten Bruggencate and Joeri Cox. Construction and heavy equipment specialist Josine Potharst is a key contact.

Ekelmans Advocaten - Insurance & Corporate‘s practice has broad ranging expertise, including matters of healthcare insurance and professional liability, amongst others. ‘Renowned insurance lawyer’ Jan Ekelmans is at the helm of the group and harnesses particular experience in casualty, life and health insurance-related matters, expertise shared by Astrid van Noort. ‘Powerhouse duo’ Frank Schaaf and disputes specialist Fleur van Kersbergen are names to note.

Hogan Lovells International LLP‘s group is well-placed to handle high-value reinsurance and insurance transactions, as well as to advise on regulatory aspects of insurance policies at both domestic and international level. Victor de Vlaam has expertise handling complex insurance and reinsurance matters and advises well-known clients on issues of considerable value therein, while Manon Cordewener is an experienced litigator. The pair co-lead the offering.