Greenberg Traurig 'disappointed' after Dutch court orders $17m negligence payout to DJ Tiësto

Amsterdam’s Court of Appeal has ordered that Greenberg Traurig pay $16.9 million plus interest and legal costs to world famous DJ Tiësto after the firm’s tax advice left him with a substantial unexpected US tax bill.

The Dutch DJ, whose real name is Tijs Verwest, won the professional negligence suit after a protracted legal battle with the firm, which said it is looking at appeal options.

The dispute arose after former GT shareholder - the firm’s equivalent of a partner - Frank Butselaar gave the DJ flawed advice regarding his tax residency, leaving him exposed to over $17 million in liabilities and penalties.

As reported by ICLG, Butselaar advised Verwest between 2008 and 2013, designing a tax structure for his worldwide income that was supposed to ensure he would not become a tax resident in any single jurisdiction - including in the US.

In the US, a non-citizen can be obliged to pay tax on their worldwide income if they spend enough time there. The EDM superstar ended up overstaying in the US, causing him to become a US tax resident and exposing him to substantial additional tax liabilities.

The ruling overturned a previous decision by the Amsterdam District Court which accepted the firm delivered improper advice, but concluded that Verwest was unlikely to have rearranged his schedule in order to stay below his US tax residency threshold.

Butselaar, who left Greenberg Traurig in 2013, was left unnamed by the court, but it was noted that he was later embroiled in a US investigation into the organisation of tax evasion schemes.

He was sentenced to a 30-month jail term in February 2025 for concealing wealthy clients’ money from US tax authorities.

‍GT exploring options

“We are disappointed in the Dutch Court of Appeal’s decision,” a GT spokesperson said in a statement shared with Non-Billable. 

“The tax assessments for which Mr. Verwest seeks reimbursement concern tax years long after Mr. Butselaar left our firm in 2013 – over 13 years ago.

“We believe the District Court in its judgment was correct in dismissing most of Verwest’s claims against the firm and in finding that Verwest suffered no tax loss at all.

“We are studying the decision and exploring further Dutch Supreme Court appeal options.”