Loyens & Loeff, the third- largest independent firm in Europe by turnover, has elected Amsterdam tax partner Maarten van der Weijden as its new managing partner.
He begins his term at the helm of the Dutch-headquartered firm, which has a significant presence in the Benelux region, on 1 June.
Van der Weijden will replace Pim Bertels, who has served Loyens’ maximum of two two-year terms as managing partner.
“I feel fortunate to have been the managing partner of the firm for the past four years,” said Bertels. “It’s been very successful, thanks to the efforts made by all the partners, associates and staff. It’s been a great experience for me on a personal level, too. I have full confidence that my successor, Maarten van der Weijden, who’s been with us since 1986, will continue to build on the success of the firm, emphasising the areas he considers important.”
In the forthcoming The Lawyer European 100 supplement, Loyens & Loeff has put in a strong performance, recording a gross turnover of e284m (£255m) for the 2009 financial year.
That said, the figure represents a 4.7 per cent drop on 2008’s turnover of e298m, which made it the third-largest independent firm in Europe after Garrigues, but still earns it a spot among the top five independent law firms across the continent.
Loyens & Loeff was created out of a merger between tax firm Loyens & Volkmaars and full-service Benelux firm Loeff Claeys Verbeke in 2000.
Van der Weijden declined to comment on his forthcoming position.
