Founded in 2013, Rotterdam based FIZ Advocaten is a highly specialised Dutch boutique.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm has a narrow focus, advising on structured finance capital markets transactions as well as more complex financing transactions which involve multiple levels of debt and/ or equity providers. The team represents a mix of structured finance, restructuring and financial regulatory professionals working side-by-side on complex mandates.
The firm is deeply rooted in the Dutch mortgage sector, but has more recently been involved in leasing transactions, and often provides guidance on the use of similar financing structures in various sectors of the Dutch economy.
Key clients
Key clients include BCMGlobal Nederland, PCI Nederland, Adaxio, Credit Management & Investor Solutions, ESGood, WebFinLeningen and WebfinFinancieringen and SmartFunding.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Throughout the research cycle, the firm displayed a notable level of activity in handling securitisations, asset finance, cross-border financing structures, asset-backed securities, and acquisition finance transactions. These efforts were directed towards clients within the financial services, investment management, insurance, and real estate sectors.
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Asset finance
“Mean and lean firm. Pragmatic advice.”
Bank lending
“FIZ advocaten is very well known for their knowledge and experience when it comes to capital markets. Moreover, we have a long-standing relationship in which FIZ again and again proves that it understands our business and provides high-quality advice.”
“Besides a lot of knowledge, FIZ lawyers also bring a very business-savvy approach to the table in contract negotiations. They are hard-working and creative in their solutions, all with the goal of closing a deal in mind.”
Banking and finance
“Know-how. Friendliness. Practical.”
“Professional, pragmatic, commercially driven and in-depth case knowledge.”
“FIZ lawyers' product is very all-round in the field of financial service contracting, being to support both the consumer (b2C) and the corporate side of things (b2b). They are experts in financial structuring and regulatory affairs, so able to ensure contracting complies with the most optimal setup from a law and regulations perspective as well as financial and security point of view.”
Capital markets
“They are very proactive and happy to take the additional step without asking them to do so. In addition, they don't mind working additional hours in order to get the transaction done. They have more (transaction) knowledge compared to the big letter firms.”
“They have huge expertise, behave highly professionally, know the market very well. Moreover, they're great people to work with.”
“They provide us with the needed solutions on how to prevent risks. They are very good at negotiating in a way that risks can be litigated in our favour.”
“Highly specialised and skilled on capital market transactions, understanding very well the commercial interests involved on the client side, but also readily able to provide advice on corporate law matters, insolvency, tort law and contracts. Well connected with other niche law firms, if needed. Honest when required knowledge should be obtained elsewhere. At all times focused on the best legal advice.”
Financial services regulatory
“Flexible, fast and legal knowledge of the market we are in.”
“The FIZ attorneys provide excellent advice and are very helpful with finding solutions that fit your company's needs.”
“FIZ is a local market expert in this area. They respond quickly and know when to engage and when to hold back. They ask reasonable fees for their services.”
“Our company chose for FIZ advocaten thanks to the name they have built over the years. It is a very well known boutique firm with a great reputation and that’s why we chose to work with them. Over the years we have built a strong and long working relationship. Their service has been outstanding. At FIZ you will find a proactive approach, hands-on mentality, on-time delivery of results, creativity and they are well informed on every topic. They are all very approachable and very good communicators.
"Very clear in their communication, very knowledgeable and responsive."
“The team at FIZ is very knowledgeable and easily accessible. They really delve into (the business of) their clients and thus are able to customise their service perfectly to our needs.”
Investment funds
“FIZ is very pragmatic and hands-on, understanding the needs and rationale of the client.”
“Very hands-on, professional and very fast.”
M&A
“Cost-effective. Knowledgeable. Customer-centric.”
Michiel Claassen
“He is an expert in his field and very pleasant to work with.”
"He's an expert in his field, very flexible."
“Michiel is, besides being a very composed, thoughtful and knowledgeable lawyer, also hard-working and fast in his output with high-quality content. He is pragmatic and wants to deliver where need be. Above all, Michiel is the regulatory specialist of FIZ which makes him a vital partner for managing a financial service company like we do.”
“Besides strong contracting skills, Michiel is also a regulatory expert, both on the various EBA requirements as well as GDPR, etc.”
“Passionate, extensive knowledge of WFT, accessible.”
Belgin Renkers-Is
"She is very responsive and reliable on deadlines, pragmatic and hands-on. You can bet on her if there is a tight deadline. Also she understands the needs of the client and keeps monitoring her work as close to the agreed as possible.
Jurian Snijders
“Jurian is a real go-getter, focused on getting a contract and deal done with our counterparts with the best possible legal result for us in mind. He is pragmatic, hard-working, quick turning around work to be delivered and creative in his solutions.”
“Jurian is a specialist on financial deal structuring and contracting. He is particularly sharp on how to manage contractual risks and ensure sufficient safeguards and warranties for us as customer.”
“Driven, knowledgeable, industry expert.”
“Very good listener, always calm under stress, highly analytical, 100% aware of legal and regulatory developments and latest jurisprudence, knows how to translates law to practice, understands commercial interests of clients.”
“Extremely smart, hands-on and proactive lawyer.”
“Accessible, driven and good knowledge of business.”
“Very professional lawyer in every attribute.”
“Very sharp and knowledgeable.”
“Jurian is a very skilled and knowledgeable lawyer, who’s focused on the details of his work. He’s to the point, practical and gives clear advice.”
Youri Tonino
"Youri is an excellent lawyer who is a good addition to Jurian. He has his own approach and angles and when working together, they complement each other.”
“They have the same mindset and understand each other very well. This is important, especially when one of them is not available, the other one is well informed and is able to help further. "
“Very communicative, deadline-driven in-depth knowledge of both jurisdiction and company inside information.”
“Huge expertise, highly professional behaviour, knows the market very well. Moreover, he's a great person to work with.”
“Calm, professional attitude, good listener.”
“Very accessible; knowledgeable about our business and the markets; listens well; responds very quickly to questions.”
“Youri is very accessible and transparent. He has a lot of legal knowledge and knows the market and our business. He seamlessly translates this knowledge into very practical and useful advice.”
“Youri is very easy to reach and is very accommodating. He is also very good at listening to our concerns and tries his best to find the right solution to it. Youri is very detail-orientated and has a lot of knowledge about the business.”
Jurian Snijders
“Very communicative, deadline-driven, in-depth knowledge of both jurisdiction and company inside information.”
“Jurian is very knowledgeable about our business, accurate and quick.”
“Jurian is very knowledgeable about the business, he thinks along and has knowledge about not only the legal aspects of a matter but also the commercial ones. Jurian is very helpful, he is able to put himself in our shoes and has quite a tactical way of thinking.”
“Practical. Knowledge. Understanding of the business.”
“Jurian Snijders is an excellent lawyer. He is a very good listener, creative and also a very friendly person. As a professional, he is analytical, pragmatic, very knowledgeable and definitely a great problem-solver.”
“He is very knowledgeable, a pleasant person to work with.”
