THE FIRM:

The firm was established in 2000 by partners from various reputable Dutch law firms and rapidly earned itself an excellent reputation. Spearheads of the Amsterdam office are corporate litigation, financial law and tax law. The Netherlands Antilles office is considered the leading law firm in the Netherlands Antilles.

Spigthoff is presently assisting an international bank in a dispute which is considered to be one of the largest ever to be brought before a Dutch court, involving the defence of the client against class actions brought by former securities clients. Present representation also includes the supervisory board of directors in relation to one of the largest insolvencies in Dutch history. Partners of the firm are representing and have represented foreign and foreign-owned clients in proceedings in the Netherlands and Netherlands Antilles courts, in particular in securities-related conflicts/ disputes with the authority for the financial markets (AFM), directors' liability claims and banking disputes.

Acclaimed tax lawyer Mr Charles Langereis is advisor to the firm. Mr Langereis and the tax firm's partners have extensive experience in representing various multinational corporations in the Dutch tax courts. The Curaçao Department, headed by Mrs Xandra Kleine-Van Dijk, formerly with Baker & McKenzie in Washington DC, is in particular experienced in international financing structures involving the Netherlands Antilles.

The Curaçao office serves an international client base investing in or through the Netherlands Antilles. The firm was involved in the divestiture of a major bank's Caribbean retail network and in the privatisation of Curaçao international airport, in addition to having been involved in numerous other privatisation projects. Services offered to the international client base cover the full spectrum of local laws. The Amsterdam office has extensive (international) experience in M&A, private equity and venture capital.

Partners of the firm have a vested reputation for conducting successful defences in a number of highly publicised cases (and have managed to keep other potentially explosive cases away from the media). Defended cases include, in particular, insider trading and tax evasion. Arbitration: Members of the firm are experienced in the conduct of foreign language arbitration, both under local and international arbitration rules.

Spigthoff is recognised as a leading practioner in this area of law, with a large number of specialists in this extensive field. Practice areas include sanctions law and enforcement, market abuse, investor disputes, compliance and support for the compliance function and the structuring of investment funds. The firm has successfully advised a great many financial institutions, corporations and business leaders in these areas. The Curaçao office is frequently assisting international banks and corporations in the documentation and negotiation of tax driven transactions through the Netherlands Antilles. Insolvency: The firm has ample experience in restructuring distressed corporations, both as advisers to the company and as advisers to creditors.

Dutch, English, French and German.

• Netherlands
  Dispute Resolution (Band 3)
  Jacob Cornegoor (Band 3)
  Jerry Hoff (Band 3)
  Leo C J M Spigt (Band 3)