Clydes makes Dutch debut with Rotterdam office and 17-lawyer team

Clyde & Co has entered the Dutch market with a new Rotterdam office, following a merger with local insurance specialist Stadermann Luiten Advocaten (SLA) and the hire of partner Frits van der Woude.

The move gives insurance and shipping powerhouse Clydes a base in Europe’s largest port city and one of its key maritime insurance hubs. The office will be co-led by Wence Rupert and Peter Knijp of SLA, alongside van der Woude, who joins from Kennedy Van der Laan. They bring more than 25 years’ experience each and will be supported by fourteen additional lawyers and six staff members.

SLA, active in Rotterdam for 25 years, has built a strong track record advising insurers and policyholders on coverage disputes, liability claims and litigation before Dutch courts, arbitration panels and tribunals.

The Rotterdam launch is the latest step in Clydes' international expansion. In January, the firm opened in Dallas via a merger with US insurance litigation boutique Tillman Batchelor. Outside the UK, the firm has existing European offices in Dublin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Warsaw.

What they said

CEO Matthew Kelsall said: "The opening of our Rotterdam office marks an important milestone in our European expansion strategy.

"Rotterdam's strategic location, its role as a major trading and logistics hub and the historic base of operation of both national and international insurance companies and even the (former) insurance bourse make it an ideal base for us to serve our clients in the region."