Walter van Overbeek

Advocaat | Partner

Contact

Walter van Overbeek
Amsterdam
+31206056161
+31651608209
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Practice Areas

Litigation
EU
Competition
Privacy and Data Protection

Sectors

Automotive
Manufacturing
Retail & Consumer Products

Languages

Dutch
English
German
French
Portuguese

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Walter has a general commercial practice and specialises in contract law, litigation and competition law. He advises on and litigates matters concerning production, distribution and agency, and regularly assists producers, importers and retailers in disputes with other parties in the chain. He was a managing partner at Houthoff between 2012 and 2015. Walter also leads the Automotive Industry Group, representing mainly manufacturers and importers of luxury consumer products. Walter has successfully assisted several distribution network restructurings. He is regularly asked by manufacturers to coordinate large projects in different countries.
Walter has been involved as counsel in many important legal disputes related to his areaof practice. He also litigates with some regularity against non-authorisedinternet dealers of products - including cars, bicycles, electronics and cosmetics that are marketed within the EU via selective distribution systems - and is highly experienced in advising on omni-channel retailing in, among other things, the food and drinks industry. Walter is a guest lecturer in commercial contracts on the 'Zuidas Master' at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and also the author of various publications. He has been a speaker at several conferences, including the annual conference on competition law in the automotive industry. He worked in EU competition law in Brussels for five years.

Walter is country expert for distribution at the International Distribution Institute (IDI).

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

  • Dutch Law (cum laude) (Utrecht University)
  • LL.M. International Business Law (with distinction) (University of Hull)
  • Highlighted Matters
    Advised and represented the shareholders of Fe Corporation B.V. on the sale of the IKEA retail operations in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to Inter IKEA.
  • Highlighted Matters
    Advised ZWIN B.V., Aletschwald B.V., Michel Kerres Management B.V. and KERAM OG B.V. on the sale of the Limburg BMW dealer group Keram (K2M Holding B.V. and its affiliates) and the real estate property owned by the group to Emil Frey (Ekris).
  • Highlighted Matters

    Early 2017, Profile launced a campaign in which it alleged that 'Profile Brand Service' (Profile Merkonderhoud) was much cheaper (up to 28%) than the service of the authorised repairers. It did not use and trademark rights of car manufacturers.

    Again, Houthoff acted on behalf of 18 car manufacturers and made an end to the Profile campaign, as Profile was unable to demonstrate that it was always much cheaper than the authorised repairers.

  • Highlighted Matters

    Car importers usually appoint two types of repairers: those that also sell new vehicles on the basis of a dealer agreement and stand-alone repairers, that only repair vehicles. Obviously, the temptation for the latter to also sell new vehicles is big. In a recent case, where a Hyundai repairer sold new vehicles without a dealer agreement, the importer terminated the repairer agreement for cause. The repairer subsequently challenged the validity of the termination, arguing that he acted as an intermediary. Houthoff successfully defended the position of the Hyundai importer; the termination was upheld.

  • Highlighted Matters
    The growing importance of e-commerce creates conflicting interests between manufacturers or wholesalers and retailers, particularly if these retailers perceive the activities of their suppliers as unfair competition for their stores. Houthoff has supported the franchisees of one of the Ahold banners in working out a solution that seeks to find a solution for this by introducing rules, a compensation scheme and clear rights and obligations for both parties.

Publications

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