We are proud of the rankings in the recently published Legal 500 EMEA edition. Wijn & Stael Advocaten is mentioned with the following practices: Restructuring & Insolvency (Tier 2), Commercial Litigation (Tier 3), Employment (Tier 4) and Environment and planning (Tier 3). We are very grateful for the great feedback we received from our clients. See the overview of the entries and quotes from our clients below.

RESTRUCTURING AND INSOLVENCY
Wijn & Stael Advocaten N.V.‘s Utrecht-based cohort is known for its abilities handling cross-jurisdictional and domestic restructuring and bankruptcy matters. Financing, securities and insolvency specialist Noor Zetteler and Remco Vermaire, who counsels the broad range of clients on restructuring matters, co-lead the practice alongside corporate, insolvency and liability litigator Thijs van Zanten. Former co-lead of the team Willem Jan van Andel retired in April 2024, and former co-lead Ida Lintel departed to an in-house role in September 2024. Anne Mennens is a key contact.

Leading partner: Noor Zetteler
Leading associate: Anne Mennens

Testimonials:

• What makes Wijn & Stael unique is not only their in-depth knowledge but also their client-centric approach. They understand that each client faces unique challenges and tailor their advice and strategy accordingly. Potential clients will particularly appreciate the care and precision with which the team operates, as well as the personalized attention they receive, fostering trust and long-term relationships.'
• 'Wijn & Stael stands out for its strong commitment to meeting clients' needs, with a team that is not only highly skilled but also exceptionally supportive and pleasant to work with. Their expertise spans various disciplines, enabling them to handle complex matters effectively.'
• The individuals I work with stand out due to their exceptional competence and the ease with which they interact. They possess not only deep expertise in their respective fields but also the unique ability to translate complex, technical matters into clear, understandable language for clients. This skill fosters a sense of trust and confidence, as clients feel informed and empowered to make decisions based on well-communicated advice.'
• ‘A great team of great individuals.'
• 'Thijs van Zanten's responses were always timely and his advice was absolutely helpful.’
• ‘The team members are complementary to each other. The quality of the entire team is high. The team members speak to each other constructively and help each other.’
• ‘Thijs van Zanten is an authority in the field of litigation at the Supreme Court in the field of insolvency and civil procedural law. A good dose of humour and a sharp eye.’
• ‘The team has deep knowledge, experience and expertise of the law, the courts and the stakeholders involved. The team is aligned with clients' interests and business objectives, including the need for practical, on-point advice.’

DISPUTE RESOLUTION: COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
Wijn & Stael Advocaten N.V.'s dispute resolution practice is jointly led by litigation experts Noor Zetteler, Thijs van Zanten and Remco Vermaire. The Utrecht-based team specialises in handling disputes and insolvency matters for financial institutions. Van Zanten leads on Supreme Court proceedings and handles insolvency, corporate, contract and liability law cases. Zetteler is the go-to for disputes involving liability of directors, supervisory directors and accountants, while Vermaire advises financial institutions on contentious matters. The practice acts for both Dutch and international financial institutions and companies.

Testimonials:

• ‘Wijn & Stael stands out for its strong commitment to meeting clients' needs, with a team that is not only highly skilled but also exceptionally supportive and pleasant to work with. Their expertise spans various disciplines, enabling them to handle complex matters effectively. Communication is consistently clear and efficient, ensuring that clients feel well-informed and understood. Through close collaboration and a culture of openness and teamwork, Wijnenstael continues to innovate and adapt to the rapidly changing legal landscape, giving them a competitive edge.’
• ‘The individuals I work with stand out due to their exceptional competence and the ease with which they interact. They possess not only deep expertise in their respective fields but also the unique ability to translate complex, technical matters into clear, understandable language for clients. This skill fosters a sense of trust and confidence, as clients feel informed and empowered to make decisions based on well-communicated advice.’
• ‘The team has deep knowledge, experience and expertise of the law, the courts and the stakeholders involved. The team is aligned with clients' interests and business objectives. Including the need for practical, on-point advice.’

EMPLOYMENT
Utrecht-based firm Wijn & Stael Advocaten N.V. houses an employment team with solid expertise in representing senior executives, works councils and international board members on a wide range of employment law issues. Key areas of instruction include reorganisations, disputes, and privacy matters. Else Loes Pasma handles individual and collective dismissals, restructurings and senior management-level disputes; she co-heads the practice with Leendert Kruidenier.

Testimonials:

• 'The team is unique in its legal expertise and customer care. The entire customer experience was excellent.’
• ‘My interactions were primarily with Else Loes Pasma and Maaike Faber. They both stood out because they are both experts in their field of labour law and have an excellent network in the legal community. This allowed them to give pro-active advice on what to expect.'
• ‘Maaike Faber is my first point of contact and I really appreciate her way of working. Apart from being a approachable and pleasant person to work with, she has the ability to not over legalize issues when it's not needed. Her approach is very practical and she has in depth knowledge about our business.’
• ‘The team at Wijn & Stael knows how to settle disputes efficiently. They are personable yet straight to the point.’
• ‘Maaike Faber is a stand-out specialist employment lawyer. She is a terrific character and someone who inspires trust.’
• ‘The team is solid and strong in cooperation and knowledge sharing.'
• ‘It is a team of experts who coordinate efficiently with each other to ensure synergy of available knowledge. They are working pro-actively.'
• ‘The individual lawyers provide fast and sound advice.'

ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANNING
Wijn & Stael Advocaten N.V. houses ‘an outstanding team of lawyers who understand the difficult matters of spatial planning‘. The group is equally strong in advising municipalities on a wide spectrum of environmental issues. Practice head Shanna Derksen brings extensive experience in zoning and permitting matters.

Testimonials:

• ‘The Environment and planning practice is unique. The world of spatial planning in the Netherlands is difficult. What makes the team unique is that they don't only understand the law but they can also translate the law into a useable answer for your project. Their communication and knowledge of spatial planning stands out compared to other firms.'
• ‘I think the distinctive character of the practice lies in the combination of personal involvement, down-to-earth/pragmatism but also exceptional expertise. It doesn't matter whether I contact a partner or associate, they are all involved and enthusiastic.'
• ‘Within the environmental department I work intensively with Shanna Derksen. In addition to the fact that she has a very nice personality, she is extremely knowledgeable and also very eager to learn. The way she sorts things out, makes connections and can also explain them well to us is very valuable.’
• ‘Shanna Derksen and Dominique de Haas truly stand out in their approach.’
• ‘Shanna Derksen is no-nonsense.'
• 'Shanna Derksen understands the importance of easy-to-speak-to lawyers with a lot of knowledge. You can trust Shanna and their team, they will take excellent take of your question or legal case and will provide the advice or legal assistance you need. And last but not least, the advice is provided as soon as possible so you can move forward.’
• ‘Shanna Derksen quickly absorbs the contents of the whole case in question.'

More information about our listing can be found on The Legal 500 website.