A&O Shearman is tasked by individual banks, syndicates and alternative credit providers on the structuring of a variety of facilities, ranging from term loans to revolving credit facilities for corporate acquisitions and development proposals. The team, which is led by syndicated and leveraged finance specialist Niels de Ru, is also tasked with organising the refinancing of existing credit structures. Erik-Jan Wagenvoort‘s practice covers TLB facilities and a range of direct lending matters, with Luke Whibley focusing on advising credit funds on the provision of a range of loan facilities, including mezzanine and unitranche structures.

Clifford Chance is called upon by banks and private equity lenders for advice on the structuring of acquisition and asset-based financing, in addition to assisting with the restructuring or refinancing of existing facilities. Heading the group are Angela McEwan, whose expertise spans syndicated lending and sustainability-linked finance, and Folko de Vries, a specialist in private credit and leveraged facilities. Titus de Vries‘ practice covers real estate, project and corporate deals, handling both syndicated facilities and club structures, with Jelle Hofland taking on layered leveraged financing mandates in addition to offering assistance with the restructuring of loans.

DLA Piper‘s advice is sought by banks and credit funds for assistance with the structuring of syndicated acquisition, asset-backed and corporate finance solutions, and under the stewardship of Gerard Kneppers, is also well versed in restructuring non-performing loan portfolios and uncommon credit structures, including FOLOs. Netherlands managing partner Lex Oosterling is adept at overseeing both leveraged financing arrangements and real estate facilities, while Max Mayer focuses his efforts on the private credit sector. Adam Abou Habaga, who was made partner in May 2024, specialises in debt-based financing options.

NautaDutilh acts for a number of Dutch and international banks in relation to their lending activities, handling, inter alia, the structuring of corporate acquisition and real estate financing facilities. In Amsterdam, the team is headed by Diederik Vriesendorp, whose primary focus is on real estate financing. New York-based Elizabeth van Schilfgaarde specialises in the Dutch law aspects of US-originated credit facilities, with particular expertise in asset-based and acquisition lending. Saskia Heumakers was made partner in April 2024 and co-heads the firm’s London office, advising on both corporate and asset-based lending.

Dentons administers a broad range of loan structures for banks and non-traditional lenders, with particular expertise in the field of  green project finance loans for energy projects, including battery storage developments. The team is also adept at assisting with financing for projects in developing economies. Marcel Janssen takes the lead on the firm’s green financing work, with particular expertise in cross-border facilities. He heads the team alongside loan restructuring specialist Duco Postma. Gerard Koster's practice marries together asset-based and project finance.

Hogan Lovells International LLP is equally adept at advising bank syndicates and private equity sponsors on the financing for corporate acquisitions structured as unitranche senior facilities, with further expertise in the restructuring of credit facilities. The practice leadership team is made up of Wouter Jongen, who focuses on both acquisition and real estate finance, and Robert Masman, a specialist in asset and portfolio financing.

Loyens & Loeff‘s finance practice operates broadly across a number of lending structures, advising on acquisition, real estate, structured and transport finance, with the latter focused in particular on ship finance. Practice head Kim Koops handles a variety of secured transactions, including both real estate and acquisition credit facilities. Ehsan Shirzadi specialises in project and transport finance, with additional experience in secured finance, while Sharita Willigenburg combines expertise in transportation finance with experience in handling restructuring mandates.

Norton Rose Fulbright brings its banking expertise to bear for clients looking to provide acquisition financing as well as for private equity clients looking to grow their portfolios, and is also instructed by bank syndicates that wish to provide project financing for sustainable projects across Europe. Practice head Wouter Hertzberger is the key contact for energy and infrastructure project financing mandates, and he is also an expert in the financing of shipping and export credit deals. Joris Ravelli maintains a niche focus on the financing of data centres, while Marjolein Pichel is tasked with overseeing cross-border financings of PPP energy and real estate undertakings.

Banks and alternative credit providers form the core client base of Stibbe‘s lender-side practice, which advises on a mixture of corporate, acquisition and project and development finance, and with noted expertise in complex restructuring of non-performing loans. Marieke Driessen is often tasked with the establishment of a variety of credit facilities, including project and structured finance. She heads the group alongside London-based Rein van Helden, an experienced advisor on cross-border syndicated facilities, and Maarten de Bruin, who finds his niche in the real estate lending arena.

The team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer assists lenders in providing a variety of financing structures, including acquisition and real estate credit. The team is jointly led by Thijs Flokstra, whose expertise lies in both leveraged and real estate financing, and Mandeep Lotay, who advises banks and private credit funds on the structuring of asset-based facilities. Both are also able to assist with the restructuring of existing RCFs and other credit facilities.

Houthoff advises a client base consisting of Dutch and German banks and alternative lenders on the provision of acquisition financing, syndicated facilities and the refinancing of existing facilities. The latter falls within the practice of team head Loet Venrooy, who is also adept at overseeing transactions concerning loan portfolios. Jessica Terpstra splits time between the firm’s Amsterdam and London offices, advising clients on leveraged and project finance facilities.

Banks and alternative credit lenders come to Linklaters for assistance with the structuring of a variety of acquisition financing and corporate facilities, and for its expertise in handling project financing for energy sector undertakings. Practice head Paul Kuipers specialises in the restructuring of loans, including project finance and revolving facilities. Mees Roelofs maintains a broad approach to lender-side mandates, with considerable experience in advising on sustainability-linked loans.

Stek expanded its financial services offering with the July 2024 hiring of Kelly Visser-van der Vooren from A&O Shearman, who leads the firm’s newly established restructuring and insolvency team. This adds to the firm’s existing lender-side practice, which advises Dutch banks on providing acquisition and project finance. The core team consists of energy project finance specialist Sharon Kaufmann, debt financing expert Herman Wamelink, Maarten van der Graaf, who focuses on cross-border financing arrangements and Marleen Veenstra, whose competencies include acquisition and corporate financing.

Described as ‘leader in real estate finance,’ Van Doorne is the firm of choice for several banks and alternative lenders operating in the property finance arena, and the firm is also able to advise on general corporate borrowing. Heading the team are Angelique Thiele, a notable name for real estate financing who also advises on the purchase and sale of loan portfolios, restructuring specialist Stefan van Rossum and Jelmer Baukema, who handles the firm’s leveraged and corporate finance mandates.

Baker McKenzie is well positioned to handle a variety of cross-border financing arrangements, with acquisition and project finance forming the core of the team’s work. The team is headed by Fedor Tanke, who counts banks and private equity firms amongst his clients and advises them on the origination or restructuring of acquisition and project credit. Corinne Schot continues to advise clients in an Of Counsel capacity, to which she switched in July 2024.

Bird & Bird‘s lending expertise lies primarily in advising on the financing for innovative projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors, including the development of data centres and battery storage developments. Practice head Roger van Buuren focuses his efforts on handling the financing of digital infrastructure projects, while Floor van Heijst, who joined from NautaDutilh in August 2024, augments the firm’s ability to oversee leveraged and acquisition finance, in addition to corporate lending.

While it focuses primarily on real estate finance, CMS is also well placed to advise banks on the structuring of corporate term loans and RCFs and their restructuring if the need arises as the facilities approach maturity. Eduard Scheenstra steers the practice, advising bank syndicates on corporate, real estate and asset financing. Made partner in January 2024, Etiënne Courbois provides further expertise in cross-border syndicated loans.

Heussen is frequently instructed as local counsel on cross-border acquisition and project financing transactions, and is also called upon when the aforementioned deals require amending or restating. The team is led by Martijn Koot, whose expertise lies in multi-jurisdictional syndicated and asset-based lending, while Sandy van der Schaaf uses her dual Dutch and German qualifications to oversee a range of cross-border credit facilities.

Simmons & Simmons handles a variety of financing structures on behalf of Dutch and other European banks, ranging from the restatement of existing credit facilities to the origination of new acquisition, corporate and real estate credit lines. The practice is headed by Ivo van Dijk, a specialist in cross-border syndicated lending. Emrecan Karacaoglu advises in real estate and project finance.