Bart‑Adriaan de Ruijter is an attorney and partner with over twenty years’ experience in commercial dispute resolution. He advises and represents companies, their boards of directors, supervisory boards and shareholders in complex corporate and commercial disputes, directors’ and officers’ (D&O) liability matters and crisis situations.

Strategic litigator in complex disputes
Bart‑Adriaan is a strategic litigation specialist with a sharp awareness of both the legal and the governance and commercial context of disputes. He has extensive experience in, among other things, shareholder disputes, contractual disputes – in particular in the context of M&A transactions and cooperation agreements – collective actions, damages claims, and attachment and enforcement proceedings. He also represents parties before the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal and acts as counsel in arbitrations under the rules of the NAI and the ICC.

His broad background as an in‑house counsel, executive and supervisory board member enables him to approach disputes not only from a legal perspective, but also strategically and with a strong focus on practical solutions.

Broad experience and thought leadership
In addition to his practice, Bart‑Adriaan is active as a lecturer in the field of (corporate) dispute resolution and regularly publishes on topics including takeover disputes, directors’ liability, collective actions, ESG‑related issues and boardroom counselling. With his Kroniek Overnamegeschillen (Chronicle of Takeover Disputes) and related courses, he is regarded as an authority in this area of law.

Bart‑Adriaan is a member of the Corporate Disputes Committee of the Dutch Arbitration Association and of the ICC Netherlands Arbitration & ADR Committee.

Academic Background

• Supervisory Board Executive Programme (Commissarissencyclus) – Nyenrode Business University (2026)
• Postgraduate specialisation programme in National and International Contract Law – Grotius Academy (2011, cum laude)
• Professional Training Programme for the Bar (Beroepsopleiding Advocaten) (2005)
• Public Economic and Corporate Law and Private Law – Utrecht University (2003, cum laude)

Recommendations
Chambers Global 2026:

• Bart‑Adriaan is always accessible, highly responsive and acts as a true sparring partner throughout the deal process.
• He has the ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative strategies.
• What truly sets Bart‑Adriaan apart from his peers is his rare combination of legal sharpness, strategic thinking and calm, practical leadership. He does not just advise; he guides.
• Bart‑Adriaan is always available, razor‑sharp in his advice and exceptionally tenacious. His dedication consistently leads to outstanding results.

Legal 500 2026:

• Bart‑Adriaan de Ruijter stands out as a leading figure in corporate litigation and arbitration in the Netherlands, distinguished by his extensive experience and deep sector knowledge. He brings a level of insight and judgement that is rare in the market.
• Bart‑Adriaan de Ruijter is easy to approach, hands‑on and pleasant to work with.
• I have worked most closely with Bart‑Adriaan de Ruijter, who is exceptional. His communication is outstanding, as is his understanding of the market in general and the disputes he handles in particular.
• Bart‑Adriaan de Ruijter keeps pushing until a satisfactory solution is achieved.