Corporate Litigation

Houthoff is a well-established key player in litigation in the Netherlands and has an excellent track record in both national and cross-border dispute resolution.

Our Corporate Litigation team advises managing boards, joint ventures and shareholders on shareholder’s disputes, corporate and director's liability, and corporate governance matters. In addition, Houthoff represents targets, bidders, white knights, investment banks, major shareholders and other participants in takeover situations and other contested corporate matters.

First Tier firm
Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2022 Edition)
“A client specifies that ‘the quality is good, the lawyers are responsive and they understand both the legal issue and the business’.”
Chambers Europe, Dispute Resolution (2022 Edition)
“Houthoff's services are at a very high level.”
Chambers Europe, Dispute Resolution (2022 Edition)
“A client describes the team as ‘highly responsive, committed and with great insight and knowledge’.”
Chambers Europe, Dispute Resolution (2022 Edition)
“Sources praise the firm for being ‘very proactive and creative’ and ‘always very well prepared in supporting us.’”
Chambers Europe, Dispute Resolution (2020 Edition)
“Clients highlight the team’s international capabilities, noting that they are ‘very good at dealing with cross-border work’ and have ‘very good knowledge of international financing and documentation, and are very good at adapting to different litigation systems.’”
Chambers Europe, Dispute Resolution (2020 Edition)
First Tier firm
Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2020 Edition)
First Tier firm
Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
“Leading arbitration team in the Netherlands, active both on investor-state and commercial arbitration matters. Successful in the world’s most high-value complex disputes matters.”
Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
“This practice is unique because Houthoff helped us eventually win the case and as client of Houthoff, I feel very delighted to be working with such a professional, responsible and talented team of lawyers. They are always patient and work with great passion and efficiency.”
Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
First Tier firm
Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial litigation (2020 Edition)
“A well balanced team with outstanding arbitration skills. The really know when to push through and when to settle. Compared to other firms the Houthoff team combines outstanding legal knowledge with practical business skills.”
Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
“The team is very quick to respond, friendly, easy to talk to. They team is efficient and very hard-working.”
Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial litigation (2020 Edition)
“Ability to think outside the box in very complex and high-stakes matters.”
Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
“The team is very experienced in a wide range of disputes and provides commercial and user-friendly advice.”
Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial litigation (2020 Edition)
“The team consists of lawyers with different capabilities/areas of expertise which makes the team well equipped to handle a variety of cases.”
Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
“Houthoff has a large and outstanding arbitration team that is capable of handling high-end and large-scale arbitrations. They have extensive experience with ICC and other international arbitrations.”
Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2020 Edition)
“Sparring partners who have a lot of trial experience and the ability to assess risks.”
Chambers Europe, Dispute Resolution (2019 Edition)
“One client says: ‘The team is excellent and the quality of work is outstanding,’ and adds that the lawyers are ‘very technical, objective and clear and deliver high-quality services.’”
Chambers Europe, Dispute Resolution (2019 Edition)
“Houthoff’s ‘exceptional’ group has 'considerable experience in ICC arbitrations’ and stands out for the ‘accuracy and clarity of its legal advice’; it is also a key name for large-scale investment arbitration.”
Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2019 Edition)

The Corporate Litigation team is highly experienced in litigating before the Enterprise Chamber (Ondernemingskamer) of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal and regularly acts as counsel in preliminary relief proceedings. The team effectively manages risks and disputes through in-depth knowledge as well as strategic anticipation, and provides solutions both inside and outside the courtroom.

Houthoff is recognised as one of the leading firms handling corporate litigation matters at the Dutch Supreme Court level. We are one of the few firms with a Chambers Global Tier 1 listing for litigation in the Netherlands, and Houthoff has been involved in virtually all high-profile contested takeover and corporate governance matters in recent years.

Highlighted Matters
Advised OSX Brasil S.A. and its Dutch subsidiaries. on the restructuring of their consolidated debt of over US$ 2.5 billion, including representing the OSX companies in various litigation matters in the Netherlands as well as coordinating litigation abroad. The team worked also on the debt restructuring of OSX 3, the USD 450 million bond structure and the syndicated debt of USD 850 million.
Highlighted Matters
Assisted Elliott in inquiry proceedings at the Enterprise Chamber against the paints and chemical group AkzoNobel. Elliott was one of AkzoNobel’s largest shareholders, with an interest in AkzoNobel of more than 5%.
Highlighted Matters
Represented Swiss/Spanish Teka Group in inquiry proceedings before the Enterprise Chamber in Amsterdam. Teka is in dispute with a cluster of minority shareholders. In the action before the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, they alleged that Teka has been mismanaged on a number of issues. The court of appeal denied all claims against Teka.
Highlighted Matters
Represented Danube Logistics in a significant litigation matter in the Netherlands against several Dutch and Moldovan parties regarding Danube's acquisition of the Giurgiulesti International Free Port in Moldova, including its oil and cargo/container terminals. In this massive international litigation, on behalf of the Danube Logistics group of companies, Houthoff successfully lodged a claim in 2015 before the Amsterdam Court. Opposite parties launched an appeal.
Highlighted Matters
Advised Vi Holding, the largest shareholder of aluminum multinational Vimetco N.V. on several proceedings in the Netherlands and the UK relating to a transaction with regard to a significant minority stake in Vimetco. Disputes arose with respect to certain obligations under this transaction, and also a third party initiated proceedings in both the UK and the Netherlands following it.
Highlighted Matters
Advised Aurelius, through its investment vehicle Capricorn, in lodging several claims in the Netherlands, relating to, among others, (a) the voidance of several intercompany transactions of the Oi Group which have been to the detriment of the group's creditors and (b) to prevent the ailing Brazilian parent company from borrowing any more money from one its Dutch subsidiaries.
Highlighted Matters
V&D was a landmark brand of high street located department stores (63 stores) in the Netherlands and was founded in 1887. Houthoff advised the company in a wide array of matters, including the restructuring of its debt, and representing the company in several high profile litigation matters related to real estate and labour law.
Highlighted Matters
Advised Ballast Nedam on an appeal case against Max Bögl, a former joint venture partner. Ballast Nedam wins court of appeal case against Max Bögl. The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal in cassation, lodged by Max Bögl. For Ballast Nedam this ruling means an elimination of a risk of over 9 million euros, without further financial impact. Ballast Nedam brought action in 2003 against Max Bögl for breach of contract in the tendering stage of three underground stations on the North-South Line.