Best contract lawyers in the Netherlands (2025)

List of English-speaking contract attorneys in the Netherlands

Who are the best contract lawyers in the Netherlands?

Choosing the best contract lawyer in the Netherlands can be a challenge, especially if you do not speak Dutch and are not familiar with the Dutch legal system. The Dutch Law Institute has therefore compiled the following list of recommended Dutch contract lawyers to assist English speakers in their search. However, making this selection from the approximately 19,000 lawyers in the Netherlands ('advocaten', members of the Dutch Bar Association) was anything but easy.

Using a variety of sources, the committee compiled the following list of English-speaking contract lawyers in the Netherlands who can be recommended:

Name	Law firm	Email
Remko Roosjen https://www.maak-law.com/contract-attorney-netherlands/	MAAK Advocaten https://www.maaklaw.com	remko.roosjen@maakadvocaten.nl
Lisa Jie Sam Foek https://fennekadvocaten.nl/en/lawyers/contract-lawyer-netherlands/	Fennek Advocaten https://fennekadvocaten.nl/en/	lisa@fennekadvocaten.nl
Heleen Kersten https://www.stibbe.com/people/heleen-kersten	Stibbe https://www.stibbe.com	heleen.kersten@stibbe.com
Aroon Gonesh https://law-office-netherlands.com/contract_lawyer_netherlands	Gonesh Advocatuur https://law-office-netherlands.com	aroon@goneshadvocatuur.nl
Martin Krüger https://www.maak-law.com/english-speaking-lawyer-in-the-netherlands/	MAAK Advocaten https://www.maak-law.com	martin.kruger@maakadvocaten.nl
Rieme-Jan Tjittes https://www.barentskrans.nl/onze-mensen/rieme-jan-tjittes/	BarentsKrans https://www.barentskrans.nl/en/	riemejan.tjittes@barentskrans.nl
Gregory Crookes https://www.cliffordchance.com/people_and_places/people/partners/nl/gregory_crookes.html	CliffordChance https://www.cliffordchance.com	gregoy.crookes@cliffordchance.com
Mohammed Almarini https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/people/a/almarini-mohammed	Baker & McKenzie https://www.bakermckenzie.com	mo.almarini@bakermckenzie.com
Arne Grimme https://www.debrauw.com/people/arne-grimme	De Brauw https://www.debrauw.com/	arne.grimme@debrauw.com
Klaas de Vries https://www.debrauw.com/people/klaas-de-vries	De Brauw https://www.debrauw.com	klaas.devries@debrauw.com
Jacqueline Clement https://www.nautadutilh.com/en/our-people/clement-jacqueline/	NautaDutilh https://www.nautadutilh.com	jacqueline.clement@nautadutilh.com
Marcel Fruytier https://www.flib.nl/en/lawyers/marcel-fruytier-partner	FLiB https://flib.nl/en	mfruytier@flib.nl

When should I consult a Dutch contract lawyer for business deals?

Seeking advice from a Dutch contract lawyer is wise before signing or drafting any significant agreement. Early involvement helps identify legal risks, clarify obligations, and ensure contract terms comply with Dutch law. Working with a lawyer in the Netherlands can also prevent costly disputes down the line, especially if you’re negotiating cross-border contracts with complex jurisdiction or language issues.

Are oral agreements legally valid in the Netherlands?

Under Dutch contract law, oral agreements are in most cases binding if all essential elements are met: offer, acceptance, and intention to create legal relations. Still, written contracts provide stronger evidence of agreed terms and conditions. A lawyer in the Netherlands can confirm whether oral arrangements are valid in specific cases, and recommend written documentation to prevent misunderstandings or disputes.

What are the main elements of a valid Dutch contract?

A valid contract typically requires mutual consent, a lawful cause, and a clear obligation. Dutch law also stresses good faith and fair dealing, meaning the parties must act honestly during contract formation. A Dutch lawyer reviews agreements to check if all essential requirements are satisfied. Failure to include these elements can render contracts unenforceable, leaving you vulnerable to legal risks.

How can a lawyer in the Netherlands help with cross-border contracts?

A Dutch contract lawyer identifies local legal requirements, aligns them with international regulations, and negotiates favorable terms. This guidance covers choice-of-law clauses, dispute resolution methods, and key contract provisions like liability and indemnities. Such expertise helps reduce cross-border complexities, ensures your business interests are protected, and minimizes any misunderstandings arising from linguistic or jurisdictional differences.

What remedies are available if a Dutch contract is breached?

Remedies under Dutch contract law can include damages, contract termination, or enforcement of performance. Courts will assess the financial impact of the breach and may award compensation. Specific performance, where a party must fulfill its obligations, is also possible. Legal guidance can help determine which remedy is most effective and arrange the necessary steps to pursue it efficiently.

How do termination clauses work under Dutch law?

Termination clauses outline how and when a contract can end. These provisions typically specify notice periods, grounds for termination, and any exit fees. A lawyer in the Netherlands can ensure these clauses comply with Dutch contract requirements. Unclear or unfair terms risk disputes or unenforceability. Clarity prevents legal complications, maintaining smooth business relationships when contracts must conclude early.

What is the function of a penalty clause in Dutch contract law?

Penalty clauses incentivize timely and correct performance by imposing financial consequences if obligations aren’t met. Under Dutch law, courts can reduce an excessively high penalty if deemed unfair. Including a well-drafted penalty clause can encourage compliance and streamline dispute resolution. Consulting a Dutch lawyer ensures the clause is valid, proportional, and effectively serves as a deterrent without becoming unenforceable.

Should I include choice-of-law clauses in my Dutch contracts?

Choice-of-law clauses let parties specify which jurisdiction’s rules govern their agreement. This is crucial for international deals. A Dutch contract lawyer can advise if Dutch law offers advantages, such as clear provisions on liability and well-established dispute resolution pathways. Including such clauses helps parties avoid uncertainty. If conflicts arise, the agreed legal framework speeds up decisions and reduces legal ambiguity.

When is arbitration preferable to litigation in Dutch contract disputes?

Arbitration often offers a faster, confidential alternative to court proceedings. Under Dutch law, parties can opt for institutional arbitration (e.g., NAI) or ad hoc processes. Arbitration awards can generally be enforced internationally. A Dutch lawyer can clarify whether arbitration is beneficial for your dispute, weighing cost, privacy, enforcement prospects, and procedural flexibility against traditional litigation in the Netherlands.

How can a Dutch contract lawyer help with compliance and risk management?

Identifying potential legal pitfalls and implementing strategies to avoid them is essential for businesses. A lawyer in the Netherlands offers tailored compliance advice, ensuring your contracts adhere to relevant Dutch regulations. Guidance on liability clauses, data protection, and industry-specific obligations helps mitigate financial risk. With proper foresight, your company can focus on growth while maintaining legally sound contract practices.

Challenges in compiling the list of the best contract attorneys in the Netherlands

By definition, it is impossible to provide a comprehensive, objective and measured assessment of all contract lawyers in the Netherlands in all respects. Nevertheless, the review committee, which was first assembled by the Dutch Law Institute in 2024, has endeavored to make a careful and useful selection based on a variety of sources. The sources consulted for this purpose were the following:

• Case law: The committee looked at case law and past decisions involving contract lawyers.
• Legal articles and publications: Attorneys' academic and other legal work was analyzed to assess their expertise within the area of Dutch contract law.
• Client testimonials and statements from other lawyers: The experiences of clients and other lawyers played a role in understanding the quality of service.

The members of the review committee tried to strike a balance between legal expertise, practical experience and client satisfaction. However, any selection remains subjective to some extent and depends on the quality and availability of information.

Selecting Dutch contract lawyers obviously involves significant challenges and intricate considerations. Lawyers had to be assessed on multiple aspects, including quality, reputation and specialization. However, not all contract lawyers are equally assessable based on publicly available information, and there are numerous factors that may influence their performance.

Therefore, we want to emphasize that a listing does not guarantee a successful case, nor is it an absolute assessment of the contract lawyer's skills. We encourage individuals and companies seeking an contract lawyer in the Netherlands to always make their own conscious and informed choice and find the appropriate Dutch attorney to suit their particular situation.

Independence and value of this 2025 listing of contract lawyers

The Dutch Law Institute and the members of the review committee have not been paid for the listing of Dutch contract attorneys in this list, and do not have any business relationship with the listed contract attorneys or their law firms.

The Institute and the review committee worked independently and are solely focused on providing objective and useful information to English-speaking individuals and businesses. This means that the selection is purely based on quality and reputation of the selected contract lawyers, with no undue commercial influences of any kind.

In our experience, this independence ensures that a listing in this directory of Netherlands contract lawyers has more value than in many other English-language directories in which lawyers can be listed for a fee. After all, unlike such commercial directories, which often charge high fees to be visible, the contract attorneys in this list are selected on the basis of substantive merit and not because of a financial contribution. This makes the recommendation by the Dutch Law Institute valuable to all who seeking reliable and adequate legal support in the Netherlands.

Other directories of contract lawyers and law firms in the Netherlands

Legal 500 and Chambers are two prominent directories for law firms worldwide. They offer reviews and rankings of legal services. Yet there is some criticism of the usefulness of these listings.

• One of the most common criticisms is the question of the objectivity of the reviews. Legal 500 and Chambers rely on information provided in part by the firms themselves. This means that firms with better resources and a larger marketing budget are more likely to receive positive mentions. This gives the impression that it is sometimes more about who can invest the most time and resources, rather than the actual quality of service.
• Many lawyers and legal professionals view listings in Legal 500 and Chambers as a popularity contest. The larger the network and the better the relationships with so-called researchers, the greater the chance of a listing. This can result in good but lesser-known law firms not getting the recognition they deserve. The system may be biased in favor of larger firms with extensive networks and connections.
• In addition, the high costs associated with participating in this type of directory are often pointed out. Law firms often have to invest a significant amount of time and resources in the application processes. For smaller firms, this is sometimes not feasible, thus excluding them from participation. This makes the directories in a sense exclusive, targeting firms that can afford the investment, rather than providing a representative overview of the legal market.
• A final point of criticism is that the directories often seem to favor large firms. Niche firms or specialized lawyers are less likely to get the attention they deserve. As a result, clients may mistakenly believe that only large, full-service firms offer high quality, when in reality there are many specialized lawyers who actually excel in specific areas.

So, while Legal 500 and Chambers can certainly provide valuable information, there is clearly also criticism of the way the information is gathered and presented. Objectivity, accessibility and measurement of actual quality remain controversial. For prospective clients, it is important to consider these criticisms when interpreting the rankings. It remains wise to look beyond the listings in these directories and also use other sources and your own research when choosing a lawyer or law firm.

The listing by the Dutch Law Institute does not imply a guarantee or endorsement

The Dutch Law Institute is not responsible for the quality of services provided by the attorneys listed. The listing does not imply that Dutch Law Institute has a formal relationship with the attorneys or their firms. Also, the order of the names does not indicate any preference or ranking; it is arbitrary.

Your experience with a listed Dutch contract lawyer is important to us

In order to improve the quality of our list, we greatly appreciate your feedback. If you have engaged one of the lawyers or firms on the list, we would like to hear your experiences. This feedback will help us to adjust the list, if necessary, and support litigants even better in the future.

For Dutch contract lawyers who want to be on this list

Are you an English-speaking, qualified and experienced contract lawyer in the Netherlands and do you think you should also be on the list of contract lawyers?

We are open to suggestions and want to continue to improve our list.

Please contact us at mail@dutch-law.com if you feel your expertise would be a valuable addition. All applications are subjected to the same evaluation criteria, with quality, experience, reputation and client satisfaction being key.