CMS Derks Star
Busmann dates back to 1900. Today the firm has two branches in the Netherlands in Amsterdam and Utrecht.
Globally international firm CMS has 77 offices across 43 countries.
The firm is best known for its banking and M&A work in the Netherlands, with the firm maintaining a good share of the market’s significant deals in the real estate sector.
The firm’s banking team is involved in a variety of transactions for borrowers and lenders – though its key strength lies in real estate financing.
In M&A the firm is experienced in deals in financial services, energy and climate change, life sciences, consumer products, TMC and hospitality industries.
The firm has an active restructuring and insolvency practice. The team is experienced in acting as administrator and bankruptcy trustee in insolvency proceedings.
Notable clients of the firm include
Aspen Real Estate Investment,
Capreon,
CitizenM, Deutsche
Pfandbriefbank, ING Bank, Fidelity,
LandesbankSaarbrücken, M&L Hospitality,
MünchenerHypothekenbankeG, Oaktree, Rabobank, PayPal,
AEB, Allego, ArcelorMittal, Coca-Cola European Partners,
Equitix,
Ferrovial, FD Media Group, Ford,
Glennmont Partners, ABN AMRO Bank, ING Bank, Schroder Securitisation / Neos and Invesco.
Research period review: 31st edition (2020 / 2021)
Besides maintaining a solid grasp of some of the market’s significant real estate financing mandates, the firm’s work in banking has been diverse featuring a plethora of acquisition finance, asset finance and securitisation mandates.
In banking the firm was active, on both the borrower and lender side, on a range of lending work including refinancing mandates, acquisition finance, project/ real estate finance.
In regulatory financial services the firm continued to provide full legal support on several regulatory matters for clients connected with the aviation and insurance markets.
The M&A team has advised on acquisitions,
mergers, disposals, financial investment, financing deals for clients connected with
energy, technology, transport, financial institutions and automotive sectors.
In restructuring and
insolvency, the firm worked on several
bankruptcy and liquidation deals for clients connected with healthcare, tourism,
agriculture, good and services sectors.
Deal highlights:
32nd edition (2022/2023)
Midas International Asset Management €215 million
acquisition and financing of real estate
Turn/River Capital €315 million acquisition of Redwood
Slotervaartziekenhuis €65 million bankruptcy of a hospital
Client feedback:
32nd edition (2022/2023)
"CMS are truly experts in the field. They know our business and they know our wishes."
"Diligent, timely, responsive, sector specialist, thorough, analytical and thoughtful."
"In particular in respect of tax, the firm are very responsive and pragmatic."
"Efficient, but diligent, good quality of work."
"Marc van Zanten and Marlous de Groot were easy to cooperate with."
"Very qualified legal services. Professional but friendly approach."
"The team were very skilled in managing the complex stakeholder group involved in an insolvency, keeping an eye on the interest at stake while maintaining a carefully considered position for the bankrupt estate."
"Knowledge and experience. They are thorough, adequate, timely and available around the clock."
"Quick response; good knowledge of all legal issues related to insolvencies and with recovery of collateral value."
"Up-to-date knowledge, loads of experience, keen strategists."
"Quick response on questions and/or issues. Clear approach on recovery possibilities. Always looking for the possibilities for each recovery. Good knowledge of the Dutch market and the Dutch legal environment. Working closely on several recoveries."
"Incredibly responsive, committed and pragmatic tax adviser with a wealth of experience in multiple jurisdictions."
"She is enthusiastic and a hard worker."
"Very good professional with extraordinary knowledge of all legal aspects of recoveries in the Netherlands. Accessible. Keeps appointments."
"Proactive professional with a very high standard of working. Clear advice on approach and possible next steps to be taken. Very accessible as a person. "
"We consider Mark to be part of our team. He fully understands our wishes and business motives. As such he makes the deal happen even in the most challenging environments."
"Very experienced, plenty of knowledge, smart in case analysis, effective communication."
"Excellent lead lawyer who manages the stakeholder group."
"Good listener, switches easily between aggregation levels, emphatic, very experienced and hard-working."
"Proactive. Good negotiator. Good organiser. Very qualified."
"Client focus, responsive, quick thinking, direct advice."
"Diligent, good knowledge of the law, easy to work together with."
