Established in 1930, Van Doorne is an independent domestic Dutch firm with a base in Amsterdam and an office in London. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm is well-known in the Dutch market for mid-market banking, M&A, project finance and restructuring and insolvency work. 

In the banking and project finance space the firm specialises in real estate and healthcare sector financings and does a fairly even mix of borrower and lender side work. 

In M&A the firm can often be seen on mid-sized domestic deals or as local counsel on large cross border deals. It advises on both strategic and financial M&A and is experienced on the buy and the sell side. The firm is experienced advising management in the context of private equity exits and investments. It is often involved in deals in the energy, life sciences, real estate and technology sectors. 

The restructuring and insolvency practice focuses on transactional work and is known for its superlative speed and execution power. The firm has a strong reputation for its work on debt restructuring, special credit and distressed debt transactions. 

Key clients 

Some of the firm’s notable clients include Aareal Bank, Annexum, Barings/MassMutual, BentallGreenOak, BerlinHyp, Canada Life, Deutsche Hypo, DRC Capital, Goldman Sachs, Helaba, HSBC, ING Diba, Kildare, McArthurGlen, MetLife, OLB, OVG, Patrizia, PGIM, ABN AMRO, Argentem Creek Partners, Centerbridge, Davidson Kempner, Elliott,Rabobank, RiverBank, Rothesay Life, York CapitalBentallGreenOak, DRC Savills IM, Hamburg Commercial Bank, Deutsche Hypo/NordLB,  Garbe, OVG, Patrizia, Snippe, Amvest, Amsterdam UMC and RadboudUMC hospitals, CEVA Logistics and G&S. 

Research period review: 32nd edition (2021/2022) 

During the research period the firm was active across the areas of banking and finance, project finance and restructuring and insolvency. 

In banking work, the firm was active in acquisition finance, refinancing, real estate finance for clients connected with financial services, real estate investment and investment management. 

In project finance the firm's recent deal include various project finance deals for clients connected with healthcare, financial services and investment management sectors.   

The restructuring and insolvency practice was primarily involved in financial restructuring proceedings, refinancing, distressed sales, insolvency proceedings and restructuring litigation dealsfor banks and borrowers in several sectors. 

Meltem Koning-Gungormez joined the firm as partner in the M&A area. 

Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2021/2022) 

Atlantic Park Strategic Capital Fund €440 million refinancing 

Byldis€230 construction financial restructuring 

Goldman Sachs International Bank €298 million real estate financing 

Goldman Sachs, CDPQ, Deutsche Bank and UniCredit Bank €440 million refinancing 

Maastricht UMC €230 million project finance 

Parnassia Groep €231 million project finance on the issuance of bonds 

York Capital financial restructuring and subsequent sale of Aldel 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2021/2022)  

Bank lending: Lender side 

"Very pragmatic approach and with deep knowledge of Pfandbrief-related matters that were important for us." 

"The firm provided a very appreciated service in finding solutions that work for us and the syndication partner; there were quite some points to consider in respect of our covered pool; the firm was also leading the negotiations with the borrower and the syndication partner in a very professional way." 

Banking and finance 

"Real estate and finance is an area fully covered by the firm. The lawyers are experienced and have a good introduction in the domestic real estate market and the international banking sector." 

"Pragmatic, solution-oriented approach." 

Insolvency 

"Very responsive, knowledgeable and a committed partner to our business." 

M&A 

"Very professional, hands-on, solution-oriented." 

Project finance 

"They are proactive and really drive the matter. " 

"Van Doorne is a law firm with in-depth market knowledge and in a size sufficient to maintain a personal approach. " 

"The firm's team is very experienced in this field. In addition, they operate in a very pragmatic and solution-oriented way and sincerely think with you about what is in the interest of the client and at the same time achievable. This makes the process efficient and saves time and costs." 

"Provide very good advice, legal but also understand the commercials and focus on the key concerns." 

"The team is very experienced and they have broad market knowledge. They provide opportunities and are really seen as a leading legal team in financing." 

Restructuring 

"Excellent service, very professional, experts in the field." 

Angelique Thiele 

"Very experienced lawyer, very good in negotiating and explaining the key points, pragmatic in a way to find solutions/compromises." 

"She is a very experienced lawyer and extremely good at finding solutions and negotiating these with the borrower. She is very focused on getting the deals done." 

"Readily accessible and highly skilled in the area of real estate loan documentation." 

"She and her team are all very pragmatic and solution-oriented." 

"Angelique has a profound knowledge of the industry and latest developments in contracting and LMA documentation. She has the ability to listen carefully during contract negotiations and then find appropriate wording convenient to all parties involved, enabling parties to close the transaction." 

"She really invests in understanding the client's needs and knows the real estate financing market extremely well." 

"She knows all the ins and outs of CRE lending and is extremely experienced in this field. At the same time, she always manages not to get bogged down in details, but to focus on what is really in the customer's interest (and see what is less essential). She is also always readily available and ensures that she always responds within good time." 

"Really understands key issues and finds solutions. Very accessible." 

"She is a well-known name in the Dutch property financing market. She is approachable and has in-depth market knowledge. She has a problem-solving attitude which contributes to getting the job done." 

Stefan van Rossum 

"Very commercial, engaged, sensible advice and lots of experience and market knowledge." 

"Restructuring expert, knowledge, reliable partner." 

Jeroen Sombezki 

"Very professional, hands-on, solution-oriented."