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Key contacts
Managing partner: Carlos Pita Cao
Quick facts
Number of lawyers

293

Languages

Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish

Network memberships

Exclusive member in the Netherlands for Interlaw, the premium international association of independent law firms with lawyers in nearly 80 jurisdictions and more than 130 cities worldwide

Key practice areas
Banking
Project finance
Capital markets : Debt
Financial and corporate
Financial services regulatory
Restructuring and insolvency
M&A
Project development
Firm overview

With over 475 lawyers, tax advisers, civil-law notaries and support staff in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, AKD is a leading Benelux law firm. For our clients, we are the gateway from, to and in the Benelux.

Full-service approach

For over a century now, we have combined a full-service approach and a broad sector focus to consider any question from a range of angles and provide quality solutions - anywhere in the world. Literally. From our own offices, of course, and also through our various country teams and our extensive, worldwide Friends Network.

Practising Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg law, we have the size, the expertise and the experience to assist in national and international M&As, solve complex public-sector issues, conduct minor and major litigation, and advise on substantial projects such as the energy transition and issues concerning privacy and data security.

Value pricing

Our goal is to give our clients the best advice possible in a contemporary, efficient manner. That is why we offer various fee arrangements. Any fee arrangement is negotiable, from fixed hourly rates to fee caps, from contingency fees to success fees. Feel free to discuss this with your AKD contact and we are certain to find the arrangement most suited to your situation

Doing business, winning cases

We help you do both. With committed, ambitious professionals who have no use for legalese but speak your language. We turn complex into coherent and give it to you straight. Rather than leaving your doubts linger, we resolve them. Exactly as you would expect from an adviser.

Client feedback

“Responsive, diligent and competent.” 

They have a solid and well experienced team consisting of lawyers and notaries, supporting the banks/financial institutions as well as us. 

Reliable and professional partner.

Key practice contacts and recent transactional highlights

Banking and finance
Vincent Bettonville
+31 88 253 5210
vbettonville@akd.nl

Corporate and M&A:
Carlos Pita Cao
+31 88 253 5575
cpitacao@akd.nl

Restructuring and insolvency:
Barend de Roy van Zuidewijn
+31 88 253 5102
bderoyvanzuidewijn@akd.nl

Project finance
Marc Wintgens:
+31 88 253 5759
mwintgens@akd.nl

Other offices

Rotterdam
Wilhelminakade 1 (Maastoren)
3072 AP Rotterdam
T: +31 88 253 5000
info@akd.eu

Eindhoven
Flight Forum 1
5657 DA Eindhoven
T: +31 88 253 5000
info@akd.eu

Breda
Vlaszak 67
4811 GX, Breda
T: +31 88 253 5000
info@akd.eu

Brussel
5, Place du Champ de Mars
1050 Brussels
T: +32 2 629 42 11
T: +31 88 253 50 51
info@akd.eu 

Luxembourg
42, Avenue Monterey
 L-2163 Luxembourg
T: +352 26 75 82 
info@akd.eu

Address:
Gustav Mahlerlaan 2970
1081 LA Amsterdam
Tel:+31 88 253 5000 Email:Contact Us Web Address:http://www.akd.eu
Rankings published in 2026
Banking
Tier 4
25 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

A&O Shearman
11 practice areas
View profile
Clifford Chance
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

DLA Piper
9 practice areas
View profile
Dentons
7 practice areas
View profile
Loyens & Loeff
11 practice areas
View profile
NautaDutilh
10 practice areas
View profile
Stibbe
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 3

CMS Derks Star Busmann
8 practice areas
View profile
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
10 practice areas
View profile
Freshfields
14 practice areas
View full profile
Heussen
3 practice areas
View full profile
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
9 practice areas
View profile
Linklaters
10 practice areas
View profile
Norton Rose Fulbright
12 practice areas
View profile
Stek
7 practice areas
View profile
Van Doorne
12 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 4

AKD
8 practice areas
View full profile
Baker McKenzie
9 practice areas
View profile
Bond Advocaten
3 practice areas
View full profile
Houthoff
10 practice areas
View profile
Simmons & Simmons
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 5

Greenberg Traurig
8 practice areas
View profile
Lexence
6 practice areas
View profile

Notable

Orange Clover
4 practice areas
View profile
Taylor Wessing
3 practice areas
View profile
Capital markets : Debt
Notable
13 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

A&O Shearman
11 practice areas
View profile
Clifford Chance
10 practice areas
View profile
Linklaters
10 practice areas
View profile
NautaDutilh
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

Simmons & Simmons
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 3

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
10 practice areas
View profile
Freshfields
14 practice areas
View full profile
Houthoff
10 practice areas
View profile
Loyens & Loeff
11 practice areas
View profile
Stibbe
10 practice areas
View profile

Notable

AKD
8 practice areas
View full profile
Baker McKenzie
9 practice areas
View profile
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
9 practice areas
View profile
Financial services regulatory
Tier 3
15 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
10 practice areas
View profile
NautaDutilh
10 practice areas
View profile
Stibbe
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

A&O Shearman
11 practice areas
View profile
Clifford Chance
10 practice areas
View profile
Loyens & Loeff
11 practice areas
View profile
Simmons & Simmons
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 3

AKD
8 practice areas
View full profile
CMS Derks Star Busmann
8 practice areas
View profile
Dentons
7 practice areas
View profile

Notable

Baker McKenzie
9 practice areas
View profile
Bird & Bird
7 practice areas
View profile
FG Lawyers
2 practice areas
View profile
Freshfields
14 practice areas
View full profile
Lexence
6 practice areas
View profile
M&A
Tier 3
39 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

A&O Shearman
11 practice areas
View profile
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
10 practice areas
View profile
NautaDutilh
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

Clifford Chance
10 practice areas
View profile
Freshfields
14 practice areas
View full profile
Stibbe
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 3

AKD
8 practice areas
View full profile
Baker McKenzie
9 practice areas
View profile
DLA Piper
9 practice areas
View profile
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
9 practice areas
View profile
Houthoff
10 practice areas
View profile
Lexence
6 practice areas
View profile
Linklaters
10 practice areas
View profile
Loyens & Loeff
11 practice areas
View profile
Van Doorne
12 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 4

CMS Derks Star Busmann
8 practice areas
View profile
Dentons
7 practice areas
View profile
Florent
3 practice areas
View profile
Greenberg Traurig
8 practice areas
View profile
Jones Day
4 practice areas
View profile
Norton Rose Fulbright
12 practice areas
View profile
Simmons & Simmons
10 practice areas
View profile
Stek
7 practice areas
View profile

Tier 5

DeBreij
1 practice area
View profile
Heussen
3 practice areas
View full profile
Taylor Wessing
3 practice areas
View profile

Tier 6

Bird & Bird
7 practice areas
View profile
Eversheds Sutherland
4 practice areas
View profile
Fieldfisher
4 practice areas
View profile
Orange Clover
4 practice areas
View profile
Osborne Clarke
2 practice areas
View profile
Vriman M&A Lawyers
2 practice areas
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Windt Le Grand Leeuwenburgh
3 practice areas
View full profile

Notable

9Corporate
1 practice area
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BarentsKrans
3 practice areas
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DVDW Advocaten
4 practice areas
View full profile
JB Law
2 practice areas
View profile
Ploum Lodder Princen
4 practice areas
View profile
Rutgers & Posch
4 practice areas
View profile
Project development
Tier 1
13 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

A&O Shearman
11 practice areas
View profile
AKD
8 practice areas
View full profile
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
10 practice areas
View profile
NautaDutilh
10 practice areas
View profile
Stibbe
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

Clifford Chance
10 practice areas
View profile
Habraken Rutten
3 practice areas
View profile
Norton Rose Fulbright
12 practice areas
View profile
Pels Rijcken
4 practice areas
View profile
Simmons & Simmons
10 practice areas
View profile

Notable

Bird & Bird
7 practice areas
View profile
Freshfields
14 practice areas
View full profile
Van Doorne
12 practice areas
View full profile
Project finance
Tier 3
20 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

A&O Shearman
11 practice areas
View profile
Clifford Chance
10 practice areas
View profile
Norton Rose Fulbright
12 practice areas
View profile
Stibbe
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
10 practice areas
View profile
NautaDutilh
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 3

AKD
8 practice areas
View full profile
Baker McKenzie
9 practice areas
View profile
Freshfields
14 practice areas
View full profile
Habraken Rutten
3 practice areas
View profile
Houthoff
10 practice areas
View profile
Linklaters
10 practice areas
View profile
Loyens & Loeff
11 practice areas
View profile
Pels Rijcken
4 practice areas
View profile
Simmons & Simmons
10 practice areas
View profile
Stek
7 practice areas
View profile
Van Doorne
12 practice areas
View full profile

Notable

Bird & Bird
7 practice areas
View profile
CMS Derks Star Busmann
8 practice areas
View profile
Dentons
7 practice areas
View profile
Restructuring and insolvency
Tier 3
25 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

A&O Shearman
11 practice areas
View profile
Clifford Chance
10 practice areas
View profile
Houthoff
10 practice areas
View profile
NautaDutilh
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
10 practice areas
View profile
Freshfields
14 practice areas
View full profile
Resor
4 practice areas
View profile
Stibbe
10 practice areas
View profile

Tier 3

AKD
8 practice areas
View full profile
DLA Piper
9 practice areas
View profile
DVDW Advocaten
4 practice areas
View full profile
Linklaters
10 practice areas
View profile
Loyens & Loeff
11 practice areas
View profile
Norton Rose Fulbright
12 practice areas
View profile
Van Doorne
12 practice areas
View full profile
Wijn & Stael
2 practice areas
View profile
Windt Le Grand Leeuwenburgh
3 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 4

CMS Derks Star Busmann
8 practice areas
View profile
Dentons
7 practice areas
View profile
Florent
3 practice areas
View profile
HVG Law
2 practice areas
View profile
Simmons & Simmons
10 practice areas
View profile

Notable

Baker McKenzie
9 practice areas
View profile
Jones Day
4 practice areas
View profile
Van Benthem & Keulen
1 practice area
View profile
AKD
Linked Reviews
Financial and corporate

Founded in 1903, AKD is an international law firm with offices in Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. In The Netherlands the firm operates Amsterdam, Breda, Eindhoven and Rotterdam offices.  As a full service law firm practicing Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg law, the firm has a wide range of expertise and cross border capabilities representing leading financial service institutions and foreign investors.  

The firm offers  high quality service in many legal services available, with a strong projects practice in the Netherlands, particularly in real estate and large PPP projects. The firm also has a recognizable reputation in M&A, restructuring and insolvency, banking and financial service regulatory matters.

 

Highlights  

 

In M&A, the firm advised Samskip, a global multi modal logistics company, on its acquisition of Matrans Rotterdam Terminal realising a new green terminal in Rotterdam. The acquisition will focus on sustainable paths to optimize logistics and multimodal transport through innovative digital solutions 

 

Testimonials  2025

 

“Super professional, responsive, hands on and availability, alongside completing services upon request” - Banking and finance 

 

Key clients

ILFA, Tryg Garanti, Newion, Unzer Luxembourg, Vitec Software Group, Nafinco, VDL, Hittech, Samskip 

 

 

15 results15 results
Deal Highlights
65 results65 results
Deal Name Deal Date Firm Name Jurisdiction Deal Type Lawyer Names Client Names Client Role
LIFE Europe - Real estate acquisition
2021-02-25
AKD
Netherlands
Real estate acquisition
Frenk Huisman
LIFE Europe
Acquirer
Maassluis - Real estate development
2021-02-25
AKD
Netherlands
Real estate development
Frenk Huisman
Maassluis
Developer
Group of Butchers BV - M&A
2022-03-16
AKD
Netherlands
M&A
Group of Butchers BV
Buyer
Zalando SE - Real estate project
AKD
Netherlands
Real estate project
Rotimi Akapo Kemi Sijuwade
Zalando SE
Developer
Panattoni Europe - Real estate project
AKD
Netherlands
Real estate project
Ola Alokolaro Sams Ugbeda
Panattoni Europe
Project developer
AP Møller; Mærsk A/S - Real estate acquisition
AKD
Netherlands
Real estate acquisition
OLA ALOKOLARO
AP Møller, Mærsk A/S
Acquirer
Braskem SA - Bond issue
2021-06-01
AKD
Netherlands
Bond issue
Vincent Bettonville
Braskem SA
Issuer
VolkerWessels - Project development
AKD
Netherlands
Project development
Marc Wintgens
VolkerWessels
Project developer
Foodmate - M&A
2021-06-30
AKD
Netherlands
M&A
Carlos Pita Cao
Foodmate
Seller
KidsKonnect - M&A
2021-12-01
AKD
Netherlands
M&A
Carlos Pita Cao
KidsKonnect
Seller
ViCentra - Asset finance
2021-12-01
AKD
Netherlands
Asset finance
Nathalie van Woerkom
ViCentra
Borrower
ISA Pharmaceuticals - Asset finance
2021-06-01
AKD
Netherlands
Asset finance
Nathalie van Woerkom
ISA Pharmaceuticals
Borrower
De Hoge Dennen - M&A
2022-02-01
AKD
Netherlands
M&A
Nathalie van Woerkom
De Hoge Dennen
Seller
Denkavit Group - M&A
2021-05-01
AKD
Netherlands
M&A
Carlos Pita Cao
Denkavit Group
Acquirer
Defenture BV - Asset finance
2021-03-01
AKD
Netherlands
Asset finance
Carlos Pita Cao
Defenture BV
Borrower
Combinex - M&A
2021-07-01
AKD
Netherlands
M&A
Lennart Crain
Combinex
Seller
Pax8 Inc - M&A
2021-07-01
AKD
Netherlands
M&A
Lennart Crain
Pax8 Inc
Acquirer
Jeveka BV - M&A
2021-10-01
AKD
Netherlands
M&A
Nathalie van Woerkom
Jeveka BV
Seller
Verdonck Klooster & Associates - M&A
2021-04-01
AKD
Netherlands
M&A
Carlos Pita Cao
Verdonck Klooster & Associates
Target
Happy Italy - M&A
2021-07-01
AKD
Netherlands
M&A
Nathalie van Woerkom
Happy Italy
Seller
2
of
4
IFLR1000
Benelux firm hires four partners as US firm exits Belgium
IFLR1000
Benelux firm adds two partners to Luxembourg office
IFLR1000
Partner moves across from De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
IFLR1000
Dutch firm expands into Benelux region
Sponsored

Sponsored

  • IFLR1000
    Sponsored by AKD
    February 2026 – AKD expands its tax practice in Brussels with the appointment of Elien Van Malder as partner, alongside tax adviser Adrien D’Heure. Their expertise reinforces AKD’s position in complex transactions, M&A, corporate structuring, financing, real estate deals and tax disputes for Belgian and international clients.
  • IFLR1000
    Sponsored by AKD
    AKD welcomes Mathilde Ostertag as partner in its Luxembourg Tax team. Mathilde brings extensive experience in cross-border tax and corporate structuring, helping clients navigate complex rules in a practical way. With Luxembourg playing a central role in international investment flows, her expertise is especially valuable for international groups and investment funds.
  • IFLR1000
    Sponsored by AKD
    AKD continues to strengthen its presence across key disciplines. The latest step in this momentum is the arrival of Eric Perru, who joins as partner in our Luxembourg litigation practice effective 1 October. Eric brings extensive experience in civil and commercial disputes, with a focus on financial services litigation.