Rankings Ploum in the Legal 500 2021 edition

The prestigious Legal 500 has published their annual ranking of law firms. We are proud to announce that our firm has been ranked again in 2021.

The Legal 500 is an annual research of law firms based and results are based on client feedback and extensive independent research in the market. Read our rankings below or view our profile on the website of the Legal 500.

Energy: transactional – Tier 2

Rotterdam-based Ploum is noted for its expertise in the oil and gas sector. It draws on strength from its public and environmental law, and commercial and corporate law experts, to provide advice on midstream and downstream activities. Its team also has experience of mandates in the upstream sphere.

Client quotes

• ‘The quality of the advice and deep energy sector knowledge is not only seen by clients but also recognised by competitors in the market’.
• ‘The energy transactional practice is very strong and has an outstanding track record’.
• ‘Stephan Sluijters is a respected and recognised dealmaker’.

Environment & Planning – Tier 2

Ploum’s environmental and planning department acts at the forefront of developments in the energy industry, including the energy transition, climate change and the nitrogen deposition crisis; it has recently been involved in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and (green and blue) hydrogen production projects.

Client quotes

• ‘The Lawyers take the time and effort to understand the organisation of the client in relation to the concerning legal issues.’
• ‘Bright, no-nonsense, helpful lawyers who understand the needs of their client’.
• ‘I mostly worked with Maayke Maas-Cooymans, she is a terrific lawyer, creative, approachable, kind and always willing to help out’.

Industry: Food – Tier 2 – New

The food and product safety team at Ploum advises a range of clients on regulatory requirements, compliance, insurance, liability issues and litigation. As part of the Food Lawyers Network and the Greenlane network of law firms specialising in international trade law, the firm is well placed to provide food safety advice inside and outside the EU.

Client quotes

• ‘In-depth knowledge of the food industry and compliance issues’.
• They have 25 years’ experience in leading food issues in the Netherlands’.
• ‘Marijn van Tuijl is excellent and he understands business and the law better than most’.

Data privacy & data protection – Tier 3

The multidisciplinary privacy team at Ploum is regularly instructed by clients on data matters relating to software, technology innovations, e-commerce work, marketing issues and e-health mandates.

Client quotes

• ‘The approach of this team is very responsive and hands-on. They have good knowledge of how to approach things from a business perspective, which as a client I find very helpful.’
• ‘I am very satisfied. All lawyers with whom I work have a great deal of relevant professional knowledge, are available 24/7, have a pragmatic approach, take our commercial interests into account and are very much aligned with our business. My overall impression is very positive. Ploum has mainly highly qualified and kind people on board.’
• ‘The client service is always excellent, as is the quality of the advice. Dennis Zieren stands out. There is deep data privacy and data protection knowledge across the team. Client driven, focused and always there when you need them.’

Insurance – Tier 3

Ploum acts for insured companies and insurers and has particular expertise in health and safety matters, and matters involving hazardous or toxic substances. Its multi-disciplinary team draws on strength from its regulatory, environmental, corporate and criminal law practices.

Intellectual Property: trade marks, copyrights & design rights – Tier 3

Ploum provides a comprehensive offering in respect of trade mark, design, and copyright work for clients in sectors as varied as automotive, technology, luxury goods, food/beverage, and tobacco industries. It undertakes pan-European) litigation, extensive anti-counterfeiting and parallel trade work as well as tech-related copyright cases.

Client quotes

• ‘I am very satisfied. All lawyers with whom I work have a great deal of relevant professional knowledge, are available 24/7, have a pragmatic approach, take our commercial interests into account, and are very much aligned with our business. My overall impression is very positive. Ploum has mainly highly qualified and kind people on board.’
• ‘Very good knowledge of our business, practical and business-oriented solutions, easy to deal with’
• ‘Willem Leppink, Sabin Tigu. Both very capable, easy to talk to, business-oriented.’

Corporate, commercial and M&A – Tier 4

The ‘no-nonsense, pragmatic and highly knowledgeable’ team at Ploum ‘offers firms in Amsterdam stiff competition’ from its Rotterdam base. The mid-sized firm has a substantial focus on the energy sector and counts Eneco, Engie Services and GroenLeven as clients; it has also expanded its expertise in the transport and logistics industry.

Client quotes

• ‘The Ploum team is very hands-on with a can-do mentality. They have an entrepreneurial spirit and are always busy with getting the deal done.’
• ‘Tom Ensink is an overall outstanding transactional lawyer, who has evidently more than mastered all phases and all aspects of an M&A transaction. He superbly handles cross-border transactions involving many parties, with different interests, be it (strategic) buyers/sellers, investors, banks, borrowers or partners. In addition, he is very down-to-earth, very accessible, always available.’
• ‘Jeroen Terstegge provides the best of both worlds; a friendly, personal service combined with dedication, in-depth knowledge of the sector and cleverness. He provides excellent analysis and solutions in addition to flagging issues quickly. Next to being a real dealmaker he is able to zoom in to the detail to solve extremely difficult issues – always there when you need him.’

Leading individual: Albert Wiggers

Dispute Resolution: commercial litigation – Tier 4

Clients of Rotterdam-based Ploum praise the 'in-depth knowledge', 'quick and decisive' reactions and 'excellent communication' of this substantial litigation team.

Client quotes

• The dispute resolution team of Ploum, more specifically the corporate litigation team, has extensive knowledge on D&O and insolvency issues. The lines are short and effective. I would definitely request their assistance as defence counsel.’
• ‘The Ploum team of commercial litigation is a seasoned team of professionals working closely with their notarial services team. That way they are able to react quickly and decisively with optimum cooperation between the teams.’
• ‘Partners Maurice Verhoeven and Vincent Terlouw are seasoned, experienced litigators with all the necessary in-depth knowledge. They are also well known with the D&O insurance industry. An honorary mention is associate Thomas Munnik. He is definitely the new kid on the block with regards to corporate litigation (D&O and professional liability, more specific to the liability of accountants). I would describe him as a heavyweight associate on the terrain of corporate litigation. He definitely has an eye for the (necessary) details.’

Employment – Tier 4

Ploum’s employment practice is integrated with its M&A and privacy offerings. Noted for its strong capabilities in contentious and non-contentious matters, the firm acts for large multinational corporations, as well as smaller domestic companies.

Client quotes

• ‘Response is quick and the team is diverse, with specialists on a diverse set of topics’.
• ‘Long-term relationship building, understanding of business and critical factors’.
• ‘Rutger Ploum stands out for not only concrete and to the point advice, but also for being fun to work with’.

Leading individual: Rutger Ploum