News & Analysis

Dutch law firm opens in London

Boekel de Nerée will set up shop in the UK’s capital, streamlining legal services for clients including private equity firms that utilise Dutch NVs to exit investments.

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Netherlands-based law firm Boekel de Nerée has opened an office in London to help “meet demand for Dutch legal experts in the City as capital markets recover”, the firm said in a statement. 

A favourable tax system means that Dutch public limited liability corporations, or Naamloze vennootschaps  (NV), are becoming increasingly popular in places like London and elsewhere around the globe. 

“We have quite a number of private equity firms, particularly East European conglomerates that are looking for exit strategies,” said Ferdinand Mason, who will head up the firm’s London office, in an interview with PEM. “Nine out of 10 times, somewhere in that group a Dutch company is involved,” added Mason, who has been with the firm for the past decade.

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Ferdinand Mason

 

Aside from divestments, Boekel provides private equity firms counsel in mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance and other legal services.

The firm is in the process of further recruitment for the new London office, the statement said.

“Current market conditions and the fact that half of all our corporate and M&A work is now run through London means that now is a shrewd time to move in to the City,” stated Mason, who added closer proximity to UK-based banks and firms meant greater ability in advising on private equity deals and other opportunities.