Jan Willem de Groot
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Jan Willem leads Houthoff's Litigation and Arbitration practice groups, and is a member of the firm's International Board.
He specialises in corporate and commercial litigation, focussing on transaction-related disputes, post-public bid litigation, shareholder disputes, Enterprise Chamber proceedings and liability claims. He represents corporates, and national and international investment companies in complex proceedings often involving multiple jurisdictions. Jan Willem led Houthoff's litigation teams in, among other cases, the multi-billion dollar take-over dispute Elliott/AkzoNobel, Sligro's EUR 83 million take-over dispute with Jumbo and the massive Altice litigation regarding the majority shareholder's public bid before the Amsterdam Enterprise Chamber. He also headed the litigation team in Novamedia's significant corporate governance dispute before the Enterprise Chamber with a minority stakeholder. Jan Willem has received Band 2 ranking from Chambers Global and Chambers Europe for his Dispute Resolution practice. Legal 500 has recognised him as a Leading Individual in the field of Commercial Litigation.
He is also part of a multidisciplinary team with experts in corporate governance, and regulatory and corporate litigation. The team conduct governance stress tests to improve and reinforce governance practices.
Jan Willem teaches lawyers at various institutions. For example, he is a senior lecturer at the Law Firm School (LFS) and teaches the M&A course at the Academie voor de Rechtspraktijk (Academy for Legal Practice). Jan Willem is also a member of the Dutch Corporate Litigation Association and the Dutch Association for Procedural Law. He frequently publishes and speaks on topics related to corporate litigation.
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"Jan Willem de Groot is very knowledgeable and responsive. Parisa Jahan is a pleasure to work with and clear in her communications."Legal 500, Dutch Caribbean (2024 Edition) -
Ranked in Tier 2Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2024 Edition)
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“A client mentioned that 'Jan Willem has the ability to make complex matters manageable. He is quick and resourceful and well connected in the field'.”Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2024 Edition)
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Leading IndividualLegal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation (2024 Edition)
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"A client mentioned: ‘Jan Willem de Groot and Marjolein Heuten are truly brilliant. They work as a team and are worth any number of partners in other law firms’."
Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation (2024 Edition) -
"A client says: 'He is a great lawyer who is calm under stress and has impressive courtroom skills'."Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2023 Edition)
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Leading IndividualLegal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation (2023 Edition)
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"One client said: ‘Jan Willem de Groot is leading his team by example. He is very knowledgeable, and a strategic thinker'."Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation (2023 Edition)
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"One client mentioned: ‘Jan Willem de Groot and Marjolein Heuten are exceptional'."Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation (2023 Edition)
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“One interviewee reports that he is ‘creative, very dedicated to the client and the client's interest, and highly responsive and proactive’.”Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2022 Edition)
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Leading IndividualLegal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation (2022 Edition)
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Leading IndividualLegal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation (2022 Edition)
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“Jan Willem de Groot is a superb advocate and very assured and prepared in court.”Legal 500, Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation (2022 Edition)
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“He is creative and a very good pleader.’”Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution (2021 Edition)
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“Clients also highlight his ‘strategic thinking and analytical skills.’”Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution (2021 Edition)
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Next Generation PartnerLegal 500, Dispute Resolution: commercial litigation (2021 Edition)
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“Clients describe De Groot as ‘smart, down to earth, pragmatic and committed.’”Chambers Global & Europe, Dispute Resolution (2020 Edition)
- Lex Mundi Cross-Border Dispute Resolution
- Lex Mundi Foundation Management
- Grotius Academy specialisation course on Corporate Structures
- Private Law (University of Groningen)
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Represented Fortenova Group, the largest food producer and retailer in South-Eastern Europe with an annual turnover of EUR 5 billion and 47.500 employees, in the implementation of a comprehensive restructuring resulting from the presence of sanctioned debt and equity holders in its capital structure and cross-border litigation in connection therewith.
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Advised OLA Electric on the acquisition of electric scooter company Etergo B.V.
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Advised OSX Brasil S.A. and its Dutch subsidiaries. on the restructuring of their consolidated debt of over US$ 2.5 billion, including representing the OSX companies in various litigation matters in the Netherlands as well as coordinating litigation abroad. The team worked also on the debt restructuring of OSX 3, the USD 450 million bond structure and the syndicated debt of USD 850 million.
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Assisted Elliott in inquiry proceedings at the Enterprise Chamber against the paints and chemical group AkzoNobel. Elliott was one of AkzoNobel’s largest shareholders, with an interest in AkzoNobel of more than 5%.
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Represented Swiss/Spanish Teka Group in inquiry proceedings before the Enterprise Chamber in Amsterdam. Teka is in dispute with a cluster of minority shareholders. In the action before the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, they alleged that Teka has been mismanaged on a number of issues. The court of appeal denied all claims against Teka.
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Represented Danube Logistics in a significant litigation matter in the Netherlands against several Dutch and Moldovan parties regarding Danube's acquisition of the Giurgiulesti International Free Port in Moldova, including its oil and cargo/container terminals. In this massive international litigation, on behalf of the Danube Logistics group of companies, Houthoff successfully lodged a claim in 2015 before the Amsterdam Court. Opposite parties launched an appeal.
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Advised Vi Holding, the largest shareholder of aluminum multinational Vimetco N.V. on several proceedings in the Netherlands and the UK relating to a transaction with regard to a significant minority stake in Vimetco. Disputes arose with respect to certain obligations under this transaction, and also a third party initiated proceedings in both the UK and the Netherlands following it.
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Advised Aurelius, through its investment vehicle Capricorn, in lodging several claims in the Netherlands, relating to, among others, (a) the voidance of several intercompany transactions of the Oi Group which have been to the detriment of the group's creditors and (b) to prevent the ailing Brazilian parent company from borrowing any more money from one its Dutch subsidiaries.
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V&D was a landmark brand of high street located department stores (63 stores) in the Netherlands and was founded in 1887. Houthoff advised the company in a wide array of matters, including the restructuring of its debt, and representing the company in several high profile litigation matters related to real estate and labour law.
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Advised Ballast Nedam on an appeal case against Max Bögl, a former joint venture partner. Ballast Nedam wins court of appeal case against Max Bögl. The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal in cassation, lodged by Max Bögl. For Ballast Nedam this ruling means an elimination of a risk of over 9 million euros, without further financial impact. Ballast Nedam brought action in 2003 against Max Bögl for breach of contract in the tendering stage of three underground stations on the North-South Line.
