Benelux law firm AKD said it intends to open an office in Luxembourg to meet growing demand for integrated, international legal services in stable jurisdictions.
AKD’s new office in Luxembourg will expand its corporate, tax, banking and finance, and investment funds practices. This step is part of AKD’s international growth strategy and allows the firm to support its clients with local offices throughout the Benelux region. With over 220 lawyers, civil-law notaries and tax advisors, AKD is the internationally focused legal and tax firm for any business dealing with the Benelux countries.
With the hire of three experienced and renowned partners, Bernard Beerens, Ayzo van Eysinga and Rutger Zaal, and their respective teams, AKD’s office in Luxembourg will immediately start with a dedicated team of six tax specialists and six lawyers. Until the formal approval from the Luxembourg Bar Association, the services will be rendered in collaboration with the Luxembourg law firm Beerens & Avocats.
Erwin Rademakers, Managing Partner AKD, said the move is responding to a clear client trend: “Businesses have become more international and there is an ever-increasing demand for solid international legal support for business transactions. Now, our clients are seeking ways to avoid the potentially difficult and costly fallout of the Brexit vote. The Netherlands and Luxembourg are two EU member states with very stable political, economic and tax climates. By adding an office in Luxembourg, we can offer our clients even more integrated international advice in the areas of company law, tax law and financing. Luxembourg is one of the most important international centers for these kind of services.”
All three partners have extensive experience in Luxembourg and are well known in the international legal market:
Bernard Beerens, lawyer, admitted to the Luxembourg Bar, established and has run his own successful law firm, Beerens & Avocats in Luxembourg for the past six years. Bernard previously worked at Allen & Overy and Loyens & Loeff in Luxembourg and New York. Bernard is a specialist in company law, corporate finance, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, transactional business law and other bank and financial matters.
Ayzo van Eysinga, specialized in international tax and private equity, was partner at Stibbe Luxembourg, where he established and headed a ranked tax team since its inception. He advises prominent British and American private equity and venture capital clients, as well as American multinationals and sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East. He previously worked at Loyens & Loeff Netherlands, New York and Luxembourg, where he became partner in 2009. Ayzo also teaches at the University of Luxembourg.
Rutger Zaal, specialized in Luxembourg and international tax law, was partner at Loyens & Loeff in Luxembourg. Previously, Rutger worked for Loyens & Loeff in Amsterdam and New York. Rutger mainly focuses on international tax solutions for large multinationals and investment managers on a variety of transactions including real estate investments, mergers and acquisitions, financing and joint ventures.
The new office will be located at 3, Rue du Fort Rheinsheim in Luxembourg.
