This merger with Deterink, whose partners until 2010 operated as part of EY Law, is part of Taylor Wessing’s wider strategy to service the demands of the firm’s international client base operating in the industries and economies of tomorrow. Ensuring a depth of coverage in Western, Central and Eastern Europe a key element of that strategy, in tandem with the firm’s expansion plans for Asia and the Middle East.
Thirty-four of Taylor Wessing’s Top 50 clients have a presence in the Netherlands and many of those multinationals base their European headquarters there, so this presence will help the firm to serve those clients even more effectively. The fact that the Netherlands is among the world’s largest recipients of FDI means future growth opportunities are significant.
Tim Eyles, Managing Partner of Taylor Wessing UK, comments: “Deterink is a perfect partner for Taylor Wessing, typical of our merger partners in that it is a local business with superb knowledge of and connections within the Dutch business community, but also has an international mentality and a significant international client base. This merger is building on our ability to offer our clients the combination of international expertise tailored to local legal environments, cultures and market conditions, an amalgam that we pride ourselves on across all our offices. These offices will not just be ‘hubs’ for international clients, but also leaders for national work.”
Marc Van Gelder, Managing Partner of Deterink, comments: “Deterink and Taylor Wessing have built a strong relationship over the past four years and have worked together successfully on numerous occasions. We’re extremely enthusiastic about taking a leap forward with our international cooperation by opening the doors of Taylor Wessing’s Netherlands offices. By means of this merger with Taylor Wessing we are expanding our international expertise and taking our advisory role to our valued clients and our standing as a firm overall to the next level.”
Deterink, which numbers seven partners and 47 lawyers, has been working closely with Taylor Wessing since 2011. In line with Taylor Wessing’s expertise, Deterink is particularly known for Corporate/M&A (including Corporate Litigation), IP/IT (including Data Protection) and Employment, and the two firms have worked together on numerous common mandates in these areas. Growth areas for the Dutch offices in future include Disputes and Real Estate.
Deterink formally became part of Taylor Wessing on 1 September 2015. The merger takes Taylor Wessing’s fee earning headcount to more than 1,200 across 28 offices in Europe, the US, Middle East and Asia.
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