International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer was founded in 1743 and has a global presence with 28 offices and over 400 partners. The firm’s Dutch office is located in Amsterdam.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is particularly strong in banking and capital markets work and has a robust corporate and restructuring offering.
The capital markets team is recognised for its strength in the structured finance and securitisation space and is also widely recognised as a top performer for both debt and equity work.
In M&A the firm works on high-end mandates in the market, often assisting on multi-jurisdictional transactions and on European private equity work. The firm works on a range of acquisitions, sales and joint venture mandates in key sectors such as energy, healthcare and technology.
The firm’s restructuring and insolvency practice is active and notably advises on a mix of nationally prominent bankruptcies and cross-border restructurings.
Key clients
Big names in the firm’s client list include Ardian, CVC, Universal Music Group, iCON Infrastructure, APG Asset Management, Getronics, ING Bank, Universal Music Group NV, Ferrari NV, Exor NV, NN Group, Exor NV, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, Rabobank, Barclay's Bank, KoninklijkeAhold Delhaize, Cinven, Permira, Cargill, Goldman Sachs, HSBC and Getronics.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Within the banking sector, the firm actively participated as both borrower and lender, engaging in various lending endeavors. These activities included financing acquisitions and negotiating borrowing base credit facilities for clients operating in the private investment, transportation, and banking sectors.
The equity capital markets practice was extensively involved in managing numerous Initial Public Offering (IPO) and Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) mandates.
The firm demonstrated remarkable engagement in structured finance and securitisation transactions, encompassing activities such as real estate portfolio acquisitions, securitisation support for TIP Trailers' lease portfolios, and providing counsel on both new and existing warehouse facilities. These endeavors primarily catered to clients within the financial sector.
The M&A team has provided counsel on a range of transactions including acquisitions, mergers, disposals, financial investments, and refinancing deals for clients within the real estate, energy, technology, and financial institutions sectors.
Within the realm of restructuring and insolvency, the firm actively engaged in various restructurings, bankruptcy proceedings, and liquidation transactions, serving clients across diverse sectors including corporate, retail, healthcare, insurance, transport, education, finance, and government.
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Financial restructuring
"Professional and strong technical competence, availability and meeting the demands precisely."
"They could support us through the entire process that overwhelmed us following the implementation of EU sanctions and subsequent bankruptcy of one of our senior lenders. Strong on both sanctions regulations and restructuring and insolvency. Experts in various jurisdictions."
Insolvency
"We were provided with timely, insightful and smart advice and legal structuring on how, under what conditions, and when, we should be willing to provide credit. The team was very accessible and willing to go the 'extra mile' in an unpredictable process."
"Up-to-date knowledge; streetwise advice; fair price; quick response; continuous availability for sparring; gentle people."
M&A
"Technically excellent, always available and a pleasure to deal with."
Private equity
"The restructuring team is extremely bright with thorough knowledge of current developments."
Project development
"Excellent analytical skills. Balanced approach. Market norms."
Michael Broeders
"Expertise of insolvency, bankruptcy and restructuring. Kept us well informed on expected developments and potential next steps so we could make well-informed decisions."
"To the point, solution-orientated, sharp on assessing risks, able to see a route to solutions minimising exposure."
"He is a solid and reliable adviser."
"Michael Broeders is a very intelligent and sharp restructuring specialist."
Tim Elkerbout
"High involvement, accessibility."
Huub Boekhorst
"Huub played a very supportive role in the advisory process and, I believe, played an instrumental role in securing timely progress."
Marco Vogels
"Marco Vogels is very thoughtful and a creative adviser."
Huub Boekhorst
"Huub is an extremely bright young restructuring specialist and good strategist."
