Bird & Bird built up its Dutch investigations and white-collar crime practice in September 2025 with the arrival of David Schreuders from Simmons & Simmons, alongside Ruben Dijkhuis. Schreuders brings a focus and a wealth of experience regarding financial crime, corporate investigations, and ESG compliance.
Fraud and white-collar crime in Netherlands
Bird & Bird
A&O Shearman
A&O Shearman is a go-to firm for international and domestic corporate entities and financial institutions requiring representation in investigations and enforcements. Alongside its expertise handling white-collar crime and tax proceedings in court, the team is also well-versed in navigating internal investigations, sanctions regulation, and the implications of the new self-reporting and cooperation guidelines issued by the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service. Patrick Ploeger specialises in advising corporates and financial institutions on regulatory and criminal investigations and proceedings. Kim Helwegen is experienced in representing companies, directors and executives in tax and criminal proceedings.
Praxisleiter:
Patrick Ploeger
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Kim Helwegen; Simon Aarts; Jasper Strijder; Iris van den Oord
Referenzen
‘Patrick Ploeger is focused on solutions, clear on risks and open for feedback and challenges.’
‘A key strength of the A&O Shearman team is the ability to combine different areas of expertise that may be required for a particular investigation. The team has extensive experience in resolving criminal investigations out of court and is able to use that experience to guide clients through such negotiations.’
‘Patrick Ploeger adds real value by being able to guide clients through the sometimes unpredictable course of an investigation. He also stands out with his ability to manage relationships during an investigation. He strikes the right balance between firmly defending the client’s position and maintaining a constructive relationship with the authorities.’
Kernmandanten
Glencore
Royal BAM Group
ABN Amro Bank
BinckBank .
Open Pass
ING Bank .
EY Accountants
Koninklijke Jumbo Food Groep
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Royal Dutch BAM on the resolution with the Dutch criminal authorities of an investigation into allegations of corruption in certain African projects.
- Advised ABN Amro on the resolution of an investigation into allegations of being an accessory to dividend stripping by an international bank.
- Advised Glencore on the dismissal of the Dutch criminal investigation into allegations of corruption related to activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is known for its expertise in domestic and cross-border criminal and regulatory investigations, leveraging particular experience regarding financial market regulation and corporate governance issues. Marnix Somsen co-leads the team and is a go-to for issues involving the US, while fellow co-head Roan Lamp focuses on multi-jurisdictional matters involving China. Somsen excels in cross-border enforcement issues such as bribery and corruption and elsewhere assists in internal investigations. Lamp is sought-after by Dutch multinationals for his knowhow in sensitive investigations. Marlies de Waard is noted for her work on economic sanctions and export controls.
Praxisleiter:
Marnix Somsen; Roan Lamp
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Marlies de Waard; Youmi Jun
Referenzen
‘Deep expertise in both legal and regulatory frameworks. The team comprises seasoned professionals with extensive backgrounds in criminal law, compliance, and corporate governance, which enables them to navigate complex cases effectively.’
‘Marnix Somsen is by far the most respected and trustworthy advisor you would like to have at your side in sensitive and complex cases.’
‘The team has worked together for a long time and each person is equipped to execute what is needed. The teams is quick to get going.’
Kernmandanten
Glencore International
ABN Amro
Philips
Uber
Shell
NXP
Arcadis
Booking.com
Arcadis
Ennia
Lelystad Airport
Astra Oil Trading
SBM Offshore
GasTerra
ITV
Erasmus Hospital
AMG
Scotiabank
Ikea
Highlight-Mandate
- Represented Glencore in relation to alleged bribery issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo that is being investigated by the Dutch Public Prosecutions Office.
- Assisted Philips with its two-year periodic compliance reporting to the US Securities and Exchange Commission which ended in May 2025.
- Represented ABN Amro Bank in connection with a criminal investigation into the bank’s compliance with applicable AML requirements.
De Roos & Pen
De Roos & Pen represents a mix of executives, companies and individuals in proceedings and investigations concerning issues such as bribery, tax and environmental fraud and money laundering. Lisa van der Wal is noted for her work on international criminal cases, defending clients in an array of matters such as money laundering, corruption, and fraud and financial fraud. Niels van der Laan is a go-to for public companies, banks and businesses for criminal defence and criminal liability cases. Thomas Felix who is adept at handling sensitive internal investigations and prosecutions for corporates and executives. Jantien Dekkers specialises in fraud and money laundering cases.
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Lisa van der Wal; Niels van der Laan; Thomas Felix; Jantien Dekkers; Brendan Newitt
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‘Hands on and focused, very clear in their treatment and assessment of case at hand. Very high quality of professional knowledge and impeccable behaviour.’
‘All extremely professional and at the same time having an open eye for the human in the process. Special mention in this for Brendan Newitt and Thomas Felix for their commitment and their support, as lawyers and people, and their legal prowess.’
‘This is a very personal practice. They take great interest in your case and give you a defense second to none. Aside from being very knowledgeable they do not leave any stone unturned.’
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JahaeRaymakers
JahaeRaymakers is a specialist white-collar crime firm which specialises in corporate risk, reputational issues, and economic crime. Dian Brouwer focuses on high-profile fraud cases, international corruption cases and also guides companies through internal investigations. Jurjan Geertsma centres his practice on disciplinary law, sanctions and reputational issues, while Susanne van Breukelen excels in advising on confidentiality obligations and legal privilege. Cathalijne van der Plas guides clients through international judgement enforcement and financial crime matters. Thom Dieben handles cross-border criminal, civil and administrative cases. Han Jahae is a longstanding expert in corporate criminal liability, while Oscar Pluimer is noted for his focus on financial, economic and tax sanctions law.
Praxisleiter:
Jurjan Geertsma; Dian Brouwer; Thom Dieben; Susanne van Breukelen; Cathalijne van der Plas
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Oscar Pluimer; Han Jahae; Luca van der Hoeven
Referenzen
‘The team was highly supportive, consistently knowledgeable, and communicated clearly and effectively.‘
‘The team was exceptional from start to finish, and I felt fully supported throughout the process. In particular, I’d like to highlight Susanne van Breukelen and Luca van der Hoeven. Both demonstrated outstanding legal knowledge and strategic thinking.‘
‘Cathalijne van der Plas understands her clients‘ needs and is always looking for innovative solutions.’
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NautaDutilh
NautaDutilh‘s corporate crime and corporate investigations practice assists financial institutions and corporations with contentious and non-contentious issues such as AML and sanctions, bribery and corruption cases, health and safety compliance and ESG integrity risks. The firm is also well-versed in professional liability and compliance matters within regulated sectors. Practice head Marike Bakker represents corporations, board members and senior executives in criminal and regulatory enforcement cases. Tax litigation, criminal law and disciplinary law are all focus areas for Léon Wijsman. Simone Honig is experienced in handling financial crime and ESG issues, acting for domestic and multinational companies, auditors and financial institutions.
Praxisleiter:
Marike Bakker
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Léon Wijsman; Simone Honig; Nosh van der Voort
Referenzen
‘Marike Bakker combines her extensive knowledge and experience in this field with a very pleasant and personal approach.’
‘During the whole process the team has done an excellent job. The team has helped us all, in particularly to defending multiple interrogations.’
‘Marike Bakker and Léon Wijsman have been very crucial in my whole process. I’m extremely thankful to them.’
Kernmandanten
Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A.
Shell
Nam (Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij)
Payvision (ING)
Deutsche Bank
Nobian
KPMG
Deloitte
EY
PWC
ASR
Achmea
Chemcom Industries
Chevron
AFC Ajax NV
BDO
Gemeente Amsterdam
Ministerie van Financiën
ABN Amro Bank
Petronas
Volksbank
Highlight-Mandate
- Represented Rabobank in a criminal investigation into alleged violations of Dutch anti-money laundering legislation.
- Advised Shell on an international investigation into alleged Nigerian bribery.
- Represented the former CEO of ABN Amro in a criminal investigation concerning alleged violations of Dutch AML regulations, achieving a dismissal due to insufficient evidence of personal liability.
Stibbe B.V. and Business Development
Stibbe B.V. and Business Development boasts a strong corporate criminal law practice, representing corporates, management, and executives in a mix of advisory and contentious work. Jointly led out by fraud and white-collar crime specialists Daan Doorenbos and Muriël Rosing, the team handles investigations and proceedings concerning market abuse, tax fraud, corruption and money laundering. Doorenbos excels at representing the C-suite in proceedings, settlements and criminal investigations. Rosing focuses on fraud, corruption and money laundering cases for companies and executives. Monique van der Linden is experienced in representing audit and accountancy firms in disciplinary proceedings.
Praxisleiter:
Daan Doorenbos; Muriël Rosing
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Monique van der Linden; Jakoline Winkels
Referenzen
‘The team is very experienced. Very high level and hands on mentality. They never give up, albeit they will also take practicality into account.’
‘The individuals are very approachable, no nonsense and very likeable; it’s in their DNA.’
‘What sets Muriël Rosing apart is not just her legal proficiency, but also her commitment to client service. She takes the time to understand each client’s unique needs and approaches every case with focus, discretion, and a results-driven mindset.‘
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Van Doorne
Van Doorne’s criminal defence, investigations and business conduct practice is experienced in handling the full gamut of white-collar crime, compliance and investigation issues. Alongside a focus on economic crime including anti-money laundering and sanctions, the team also supports corporates through business conduct issues. Jan Leliveld focuses on fraud, environmental criminal law, human rights and economic offences. Vanessa Liem is sought after for her experience handling internal investigations, including cross-border investigations and enforcement across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Neyah van der Aa stands out on enforcement cases, defending companies in national and international investigations. Frederike Ahlers is noted for her work on environmental crime issues.
Praxisleiter:
Jan Leliveld; Vanessa Liem; Neyah van der Aa
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Frederike Ahlers
Referenzen
‘Jan Leliveld is without question, a top-of-the-market lawyer – a trusted advisor and a fierce advocate.’
‘I was struck by how grounded and approachable they were. They communicated in a way that made sense across stakeholder groups, helped navigate delicate internal dynamics, and were simply a genuinely nice group of professionals to work with.’
‘Vanessa Liem stands out for her exceptional ability to combine technical expertise with practical, client-focused delivery. Her advice was always clear, actionable, and grounded in a deep understanding of both the legal and human dimensions of the issue.’
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Wladimiroff Advocaten
Wladimiroff Advocaten is well-versed in fraud and white-collar crime defence, handling fraud, corruption, and economic and environmental criminal cases and enforcement. Robbert de Bree represents clients in antitrust sanction cases, civil fraud challenges and international criminal law matters. Gert-Jan Elsen mainly acts for listed companies, government organisations and directors in criminal law cases. Jop Spijkerman centres his practice on bribery, fraud and money laundering. Alexander de Swart excels in customs, criminal tax, fraud and money laundering cases. Léon de Jager and Frans Sijbers left the firm in 2024.
Praxisleiter:
Robbert de Bree; Jop Spijkerman; Gert-Jan Elsen; Alexander de Swart
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Ybo Buruma; Carolien Noorduyn
Referenzen
‘Excellent white-collar practice with international/cross-border expertise.’
‘Alex de Swart and Ybo Buruma are both outstanding.‘
‘Wladimiroff Advocaten is a boutique criminal law firm with a strong reputation, known for its thorough approach and involvement in high-profile cases. Carolien Noorduyn has years of experience in the fraud and white-collar crime practice.’
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Greenberg Traurig LLP
Greenberg Traurig LLP‘s white-collar defense and investigations practice acts for corporations, managing directors and supervisory boards from a wide array of sectors such as energy, banking and finance, professional services and real estate. The team is able to advise clients on numerous areas such as corruption, sanctions and export control, AML legislation, money laundering and ESG. Francien Rense advises corporates and executives on compliance and enforcement issues, while Vincent de Bruijn is sought after for his knowledge in regulator and internal investigations.
Praxisleiter:
Francien Rense; Vincent de Bruijn
Referenzen
‘Francien Rense is highly experienced in her field.’
‘Vincent de Bruijn is very knowledgeable in sanctions and exports law. Vincent has a quick legal mind and is able to translate complex legal questions into practical advice that is also sound from a business perspective.’
‘They are client-focused, which I like best.’
Kernmandanten
Shell
Nam
Chemelot Site Permit
Liander
Nobian
Kroll
McCain
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Hertoghs advocaten
Hertoghs advocaten combines white-collar crime and tax litigation expertise to assist domestic and international corporates and high-net-worth individuals in litigation and out-of-court matters. The firm handles corporate crime issues ranging from money laundering, tax and VAT fraud, to corruption and sanctions. Anke Feenstra leads the practice and is experienced in white-collar crime cases, including tax and bankruptcy fraud and customs issues. Also co-heading the team, Judith de Boer is an expert in cross-border matters, defending domestic and international companies as well as individuals in fraud investigations.
Praxisleiter:
Anke Feenstra; Judith de Boer
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‘Judith de Boer stands out for her management of the criminal practice. She is very forward thinking.’
‘Hertoghs advocaten is a strong firm with a deep bench of white-collar experience.’
‘Anke Feenstra is a fantastic lawyer. I was very impressed by her judgment about the case. She’s fantastic!’
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Houthoff
Houthoff‘s investigations and public enforcement practice often assists clients in regulated sectors such as banking and finance and professional services through investigations, regulatory and criminal enforcement actions and prosecutions. Vincent Affourtit heads the team and is well-equipped to handle regulatory enforcement issues for corporates and financial institutions. Affourtit also handles international sanctions issues and cross-border investigations related to alleged market abuse by listed companies. Further key contacts include Marianne Bloos and Frank Mattheijer; Bloos focuses on fraud investigations, while Mattheijer works on fraud, corruption and international sanctions law issues.
Praxisleiter:
Vincent Affourtit
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Marianne Bloos; Frank Mattheijer
Kernmandanten
Babboe B.V.
Credit Agricole Consumer Finance BV
Hef Wonen
Fortenova Group
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Credit Agricole Consumer Finance Nederland B.V. on enforcement investigations by the Dutch financial regulators.
- Advised Hef Wonen on a large-scale fraud involving over 50 suspects, which took place in the 2015-2018 period.
- Advising the Dutch holding company of the Fortenova Group, a major European retail group with over 47,000 employees, after its majority depository receipt holder, SBK became subject to EU Sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Loyens & Loeff
Loyens & Loeff is well-versed in handling corporate and internal investigations, criminal proceedings, and compliance issues. The team advises clients on sanctions, cybercrime, environmental offences, asset tracing and recovery as well as fraud, money laundering and corruption. Practice head Sidney Berendsen is adept at representing corporates in white-collar crime cases, particularly those involving asset tracing and recovery. Marleen Velthuis co-leads the practice and is an expert in enforcement and criminal law, guiding clients through money laundering, sanctions, environmental law, corruption and forgery cases.
Praxisleiter:
Sidney Berendsen; Marleen Velthuis
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Hamasa Osmani; Willemijn Warnaars
Referenzen
‘Marleen Velthuis is a great lawyer and easy to work with.’
‘Good advisory and litigation practice for white collar crime.’
‘Marleen Velthuis is experienced and very involved with her clients and cases, bold and can make hard decisions where necessary.’
Kernmandanten
Rabobank Vastgoed
Bakker
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisted a Rabobank Netherlands subsidiary with asset tracing and recovery in a large fraud case.
- Advised a corporate director on a criminal investigation concerning alleged environmental violations and a multi-million-euro confiscation claim.
Jebbink Soeteman advocaten
Jebbink Soeteman advocaten is highly sought-after among directors, executives, and employees through fraud and crime proceedings. Typical issues the firm advises on include embezzlement, forgery, money laundering and environmental offences. Jeroen Soeteman leads the team alongside fellow criminal law experts Rosa van Zijl and Petra van Kampen. Van Zijl excels in handling financial crime cases, Soeteman leads on criminal court proceedings, and van Kampen specialises in fraud cases, environmental issues and industrial accidents.
Praxisleiter:
Rosa van Zijl; Jeroen Soeteman; Petra van Kampen
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Jaantje Kramer
Referenzen
‘This firm understands the counterpart very well and they know what the best strategy is to follow.’
‘The team stands out in its high level thinking. They see things which I do not see.’
‘Perfect team! Good communications and good strategy.’
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Norton Rose Fulbright
Norton Rose Fulbright‘s regulatory, compliance and investigations practice assists multinational clients with global risk assessments, sensitive domestic and cross-border investigations and enforcement matters.The team is well-versed in numerous risk areas such as bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering, insider trading, tax evasion and ESG compliance. Sharon Oded heads the practice and is experienced in advising corporations and financial institutions on regulatory compliance issues, corporate incidents and investigations.
Praxisleiter:
Sharon Oded
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Jessie Steinebach
Referenzen
‘Super responsive, pragmatic, always solution focused and proactive. Excellent with management and business communications. ’
‘Sharon Oded is an absolute star and has become indispensable integrated part of the team. His whole team has the same focus and training, they are excellent.’
‘This team shines with its fresh, pragmatic and innovative approach to partnering and problem-solving. They turbo-boost the capacity and ability of the in-house team, with a thoughtful balance of speed, context analysis and high quality deliverables – always built to address the stakeholder’s questions and perspectives.‘
Kernmandanten
AFI Europe
Arcadis
Alcon
BCD Travel
Braskem
Building Care
Coca Cola
Decathlon
Danone / Nutricia
HSBC
Hyva Group
KWS Group
NXP Semiconductors
Pop Vriend Seeds
Prosus
Royal Philips
SBM Offshore N.V.
Signify
Unilabs
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Sjöcrona van Stigt
Sjöcrona van Stigt has a wealth of experience in corporate criminal defence, handling cross-border cases for public and regulated sector clients. The team was recently strengthened with the arrival of criminal and tax law specialist Léon de Jager in January 2025, following his departure from Wladimiroff Advocaten. Enide Perez focuses on fraud and corruption cases, Sabine ten Doesschate is a go-to for medical institutions facing criminal investigations, while Hans de Jong is a key key contact among professionals, including accountants and tax advisors, on white-collar crime cases.
Praxisleiter:
Enide Perez; Sabine ten Doesschate; Hans de Jong; Léon de Jager
Referenzen
‚Sjöcrona van Stigt is a long-term and very pleasant and knowledgeable advisor in the field of criminal law and administrative law enforcement. The lines of communication are short and the advice is directly applicable.’
‘Enide Perez has a good knowledge of the healthcare sector, the environment in which we work, and always remains practical and results-oriented in her advice.’
‘The knowledge in the cases is always present, the quality of the advice and research is extraordinary.’
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Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance‘s regulatory investigations and financial crime practice advises corporate clients and financial institutions on international criminal investigations and regulatory issues. The practice is led by litigation specialist Guido Bergervoet, who is well-versed in regulatory enforcement matters. Roel de Jong is a key member of the team, handling criminal investigations involving bribery, corruption, anti-money laundering and other issues. Charlotte Spierings is noted for her work on sanctions.
Praxisleiter:
Guido Bergervoet
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Roel de Jong; Charlotte Spierings
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Florent
Florent‘s civil fraud and asset recovery team focuses on cross-border asset recovery, civil crime claims, and financial fraud investigations. The practice also leverages the firm’s expertise in insolvency to represent court-appointed trustees in fraud-related bankruptcy proceedings. The team is led by Kees van de Meent, who is a go-to for international asset recovery.
Praxisleiter:
Kees van de Meent
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Merijn Moeilijker
Referenzen
‘Kees van de Meent is an expert in asset recovery and a pleasure to work with. ’
‘Florent is one of the preeminent firms in asset recovery in the Netherlands. Its experience and knowledge of advanced asset recovery techniques makes them a go-to firm, at least for me.’
‘Kees van dee Meent stands out for his knowledge and experience in judgement enforcement and asset recovery. In addition, Kees regularly acts as a court-appointed liquidator and administrator in insolvency proceedings in the Netherlands, which gives him a unique angle on recovering misappropriated value or enforcing judgments and awards.‘
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Taylor Wessing
Taylor Wessing advises on cross-border fraud cases, international sanctions and compliance as well as environmental criminal law and corporate negligence. Practice head Charlotte Posthuma aids a mix of domestic and international clients fraud and corruption compliance cases and proceedings. Posthuma is supported by Bilal Chababi, who handles financial and economic criminal law matters.
Praxisleiter:
Charlotte Posthuma
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Bilal Chababi
Referenzen
‘The firm stands out for its individual approach, objective analysis and focus. The work reflects both thorough research and careful attention to detail. The conclusions and recommendations are well-reasoned and supported by strong arguments.’
‘Charlotte Posthuma has a high ability to explain complex matters in a very clear simple way.’
‘Excellent team, strong thinking together with client. Hands-on.’
Kernmandanten
Hans Vrijvogel/Freebird Aluminium B.V.
Nederlandse Airsoft Belangen Vereniging
Strukton Groep N.V.
Strukton Milieutechniek B.V.
Marc Bemelmans/Bemelmans Beheer B.V.
Jan Hendriks/Fourage-Weihandel Toontje Hendriks B.V.
Highlight-Mandate
- Advise Strukton Groep N.V. on a bribery case in Saudi Arabia resulting in an out of court settlement of €10m.
- Represented Hans Vrijvogel/Freebird Aluminium B.V. in corruption cases in the Netherlands.
- Advised Bemelmans Beheer B.V. on a environmental law fraud case.