Disclaimer
The content of the website, summaries of court decisions, including our comments thereon, does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you believe you have a similar issue at hand as summarized above our firm would be most delighted to provide you with specific advice taking into account the specific circumstances of your case.
Further information provided in accordance with the EU Services Directive:
- All lawyers practising in the firm have been registered with the Dutch Lawyers Association (Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten), Neuhuyskade 94, 2596 XM The Hague, tel. no.: +31 (0)70 – 335 35 35.
- Our VAT No: 8151.93.622.B.01
- In accordance with the statutory requirements of the Dutch Lawyers Association (NOvA) we have taken out Professional Liability Insurance with Amlin Corporate Insurance N.V., Prof. J.H. Bavincklaan 1, 1183 AT Amstelveen, policy No. 20120523. The amounts covered: EUR 5.000.000,– per claim and EUR 10.000.000,– max. per policy year.
- For complaints about services performed: please write to or contact Mr. Jasper R Groen at the office address stated above.
- The professional Rules of Conduct applicable to all lawyers can be found at: http://home/mainportl/domains/mainportlawyers.com/public_html.advocatenorde.nl/wetenregelgeving/vademecum.asp.
- For lawyers that are also qualified as Mediator the following Rules of Conduct are applicable to services performed as Mediator: http://home/mainportl/domains/mainportlawyers.com/public_html.nmi-mediation.nl/english/nmi_rules_and_models.php.
Client Identification
In the context of the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism, the Dutch Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act applies to the providing of services by lawyers, civil law notaries and tax advisers. On the basis of this Act we are obliged to identify the client, prior to establishing a business relationship. If the client for whom we will have to act is a legal entity incorporated in the Netherlands, the identity can be established on the basis of an excerpt from the Trade Register or by means of a deed executed by a civil law notary. If the client is a foreign legal entity, the identity can, for example, be established on the basis of an excerpt from the Trade Register of the country of origin or on the basis of in international business accepted documents, data or information which are acknowledged by law as a valid means of identification in the country of origin. Further, it is required to ask for the name and date of birth of the person(s) representing the company and to store these data. For local and foreign legal entities the ultimate beneficial owner must also be identified. The UBO is considered to be the natural person who, directly or indirectly, own more than 25% of, or who has otherwise control over, the client. The identity of natural persons can be established on the basis of a passport. If the client is a non-resident and is qualified as a politically exposes person, we are obliged to carry out additional investigations. To the above rules there are exemptions e.g. for referrals between professionals where within the European Community a single identification may suffice.
Internal complaints procedure
- If a client should contact our office with a complaint about our services, the lawyer in question shall be notified of this as soon as possible. The Internal Complaint Procedure Regulation will be send to the client immediately.
- In the first instance, the lawyer in question will try to resolve the problem together with the client, if necessary after consulting the firm’s complaints’ officer. Mr. J. Groen will act in this capacity.
- If the problem cannot be resolved, the client will be invited to discuss the matter with the lawyer in question and the complaints’ officer. If required, the client can choose to be accompanied by another person. A report of this meeting will be sent in writing to the client.
- If the complaint is not settled to the satisfaction of the client, the complaints’ officer will point out the possibility on the part of the client to contact the dean of the Bar Association (Orde van Advocaten) in Rotterdam, to make their complaint known there.
More information about this possibility and about the Rotterdam Bar Association’s regulations covering complaints (in Dutch) can be found on the website of the Rotterdam Bar Association (www.advocatenorde-rotterdam.nl). Further details can also be obtained by contacting the aforementioned complaints’ officer.
Practice area registration
The lawyers listed below have registered the following principal (and secondary) legal practice areas in the Netherlands Bar’s Register of legal areas:
- Arnold van Steenderen is registered for the law of obligations practice area;
- Jasper Groen is registered for the law of obligations practice area;
- Martina Smit is registered for the insurance law practice area;
- Charlotte van Steenderen is registered for the law of obligations practice area;
- Jennifer Hoovers is registered for the law of obligations practice area;
Based on this registration, they are required to obtain ten training credits per calendar year for each registered principal legal practice area in accordance with the standards set by the Netherlands Bar.