AKD appoints new partner to Transport & Energy team

Leading Benelux law firm AKD has appointed Vivian van der Kuil a partner in its Transport & Energy team with effect from 1 June 2018.

Vivian joined AKD in 2015. She is an international litigation specialist with wide experience as a lawyer of complex proceedings in the Dutch Civil and Criminal Court. She is also a former judge and public prosecutor. Before joining the legal profession, Vivian completed officer training at the Royal Dutch Institute for the Navy and subsequently worked as an officer in the Operations/Navigation Service with the Royal Dutch Navy.

Vivian specialises in emergency response in the shipping and energy sectors, including salvage, total loss, collisions, fire and explosion, limitation of liability, wreck removal, piracy, ship arrest and both civil and criminal pollution liability involving seagoing vessels, inland waterway vessels, and yachts. She acts for charterers, traders, shipowners, hull & machinery underwriters and P&I clubs on charter party, bill of lading, offshore and general maritime issues. Vivian deals with insurance coverage and other shipping and energy-related commercial and contractual disputes. She also advises on public international law including the law of the sea.

Vivian is a Legal 500 first-rate recommended lawyer and a member of the legal committee of IVR, the international association of national organisations representing, among others, the inland navigation, insurance and surveying sectors. She says, “Transport and energy are volatile and complex areas, and I have been able to use - and to add to – my experience of these sectors since joining AKD. I am delighted to have been made a partner and to continue my development as part of an outstanding team.”

Jos van der Meché, head of AKD’s Transport & Energy team, says, “Vivian will be a great asset to our partner team. She has a wealth of experience of different areas of the industry at the highest level, as well as an impressive pedigree as an advocate and judge. She has all the experience and expertise necessary to improve still further the ability to find innovative solutions to complex issues which is the hallmark of the AKD Transport & Energy team.”

AKD’s Transport & Energy team provides a full range of legal services. AKD is a full-service Benelux firm with over 250 lawyers, civil-law notaries and tax advisers.

AKD: Law Firm of the Year: Benelux | The Lawyer European Awards 2018

www.akd.nl

AKD recruits two first-tier shipping specialists

ROTTERDAM-based law firm AKD has further strengthened its pre-eminent position in the shipping and offshore sectors with the arrival of two senior executives.

Pieter den Haan, a specialist in handling maritime casualties, with particular expertise in major collision cases as well as in salvage and wreck removal and insurance disputes, joins from Van Traa as a partner in AKD’s Transport & Energy team with effect from 1 July, 2015. Pieter also advises shipyards, shipowners and private clients in connection with shipbuilding and repair contracts, as well as dealing with the enforcement of claims against ships and ship arrests. He says, “I am very pleased to be joining AKD’s robust transport & energy team as it provides the support which is needed to deal with marine matters at the highest level.”

Vivian van der Kuil, meanwhile, will join AKD’s Transport and Energy team from Van Traa as a senior associate. Vivian specialises in transport law, with a particular focus on maritime law, and has extensive experience of dealing with maritime casualties, as well as limitation of liability, assistance and wreck removal cases. Her expertise also extends to ship arrests and other procedures related to maritime law. Vivian has worked as a judge at the Rotterdam Court, dealing with transport law cases, among others. She has also undergone officer training at the Netherlands Royal Institute for the Navy and worked as an officer of the Maritime Service with the Royal Navy on board several ships. Vivian says, “I am looking forward to the challenge of working with the highly experienced team at AKD.”

Haco van der Houven van Oordt, lead partner of AKD’s shipping and offshore practice, says, “We are delighted to have recruited two people of the quality and experience of Pieter and Vivian. Both are first-class marine lawyers who are highly regarded in the industry. Maritime disputes are becoming increasingly more international and legally complex in their nature, and it is therefore imperative to strengthen the team to deal with the challenges that our clients face worldwide.

“The recruitment of Pieter and Vivian will enhance still further AKD’s proven ability to provide innovative solutions to often complex legal problems.”

AKD’s Transport & Energy team provides a full range of legal services. AKD is a full-service firm with over 250 lawyers. www.akd.nl