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Corporate and M&A lawyer in the Netherlands
Dirk de Waard is a Dutch corporate and M&A lawyer and partner at Venture Lawyers based in Amsterdam. He advises entrepreneurs, investors, companies and international clients on M&A transactions, venture capital, private equity, shareholders’ agreements, joint ventures and corporate governance.
Dirk’s practice focuses on Dutch corporate law and cross-border transactions. He regularly assists clients with acquisitions, investments, company restructurings, Dutch BV structures, shareholder arrangements, management participations and commercial contracts.
International clients involve Dirk because he combines Dutch corporate law expertise with a practical understanding of international deal practice. He is used to working with foreign investors, founders, management teams, corporate finance advisers, tax advisers, notaries and foreign counsel.
Experience and background
Since 1 April, Dirk has been a partner at Venture Lawyers, an Amsterdam-based boutique law firm focused on venture capital, M&A and corporate law. Venture Lawyers works with entrepreneurs, investors, startups, scale-ups, management teams and companies on investments, acquisitions, governance, shareholder arrangements and complex commercial matters, with a strong focus on practical execution and transaction-driven advice.
His work is particularly focused on mid-market M&A transactions, venture capital and private equity investments, shareholder arrangements and corporate structuring for Dutch and international clients.
Over the past three years, Dirk led and developed the corporate/M&A practice at Blenheim. In that role, he acted as lead counsel on buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions, investment rounds, management participations, shareholders’ arrangements and complex investment structures. Dirk has been practicing as a lawyer since 2014. He started his career at DeWaardSinke Advocaten and became one of the founding partners of VIOTTA Advocaten in 2018.
Dirk studied law at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where he completed the Zuidas Master in Corporate Law. He also obtained an LL.M. from Cornell Law School, where he focused on corporate, finance and securities law.
What Dirk advises on
Dirk advises on the legal aspects of buying, selling, investing in and structuring companies in the Netherlands. His work includes drafting and negotiating share purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements, investment agreements, shareholders’ agreements, convertible loan agreements, SAFE-style instruments, joint venture agreements and corporate documentation.
He also advises on board and shareholder decision-making, reserved matters, founder arrangements, management equity, exit rights, minority shareholder protection and disputes between shareholders.
Where tax, employment, regulatory or notarial input is required, Dirk coordinates with specialist advisers so that the legal workstream remains clear and efficient.
International clients
Dirk regularly works with US, UK and other international clients that acquire, invest in or structure Dutch companies. For foreign clients, he acts as Dutch legal counsel and helps translate international commercial terms into enforceable Dutch law documentation.
This is particularly relevant where a Dutch BV is used as an operating company, acquisition vehicle, holding company, joint venture platform or investment vehicle.
Dirk’s approach is practical, responsive and transaction-focused: clear advice, efficient documentation and a strong focus on getting the deal or structure implemented properly.
Representative matters
Dirk has advised on a wide range of Dutch and cross-border corporate transactions, including M&A transactions, venture capital financings, joint ventures, management participations and restructurings. Further deal references are available on Venture Lawyers’ deal overview and on Dealmaker.nl.
M&A, private equity and strategic transactions
As an M&A lawyer in Amsterdam, Dirk has advised buyers, sellers, management teams and investors on Dutch and cross-border transactions, including:
- Bonusan on the partnership with bd-capital (Dealmaker.nl)
- The management of Julius Clinical Research on sale to Ampersand Capital Partners (Dealmaker.nl)
- Daro Holding with acquisition Dutch subsidiaries of German Lethe Group (Dealmaker.nl)
- Amadeus with acquisition of WCC’s HERMES (Dealmaker.nl)
- Ergon Jobs shareholders on sale to TRIXXO Group (Dealmaker.nl)
- EuroBob with acquisition of Rent a Bob en E-Drivers Privechaffeurs (Dealmaker.nl)
- Stayokay Foundation on purchase Blue Collar Hotel (Dealmaker.nl)
- mCube on the acquisition of Xsense (Dealmaker.nl)
- Harbor BioMed on the acquisition of Harbor Antibodies (Dealmaker.nl)
- The Management and personnel on the acquisition of Panteia B.V. by Stichting Panteia (Dealmaker.nl)
- MC Group on the acquisition of Slotervaart(Dealmaker.nl)
- Advised Mess Holding with sale of Ayla B.V. by Hell’s Kitchen Horeca Group
- Advised company with APA to buyer in meat processing industry
- Advised Quality Tailors in merger with Julioli Fashion into Fredericks & Herderson
- Wimog B.V. and Winter with sale of real estate to Superstone N.V.
- DCH B.V. with acquisition of medical practice Oswald B.V.
- Wimog B.V. and Pumax B.V. with the sale of Lokaliften B.V. to AML B.V
Venture capital and growth financing
Dirk also advises founders, startups, scale-ups and investors on venture capital transactions, seed rounds, Series A financings, convertible instruments and investor documentation, including:
- Advised YourDesq in pre-seed and seed investment by group of investors
- Advised Xsens Technologies in financing round by Eastward Fund Management, LLC
- Advised Xsens Technologies in financing round by Silicon Valley Bank
- Advised Vicky.One in Series A round by group of investors
Further deal references are available on Venture Lawyers’ deal overview and on Dealmaker.nl.
Contact Dirk
If you are looking for Dutch corporate law advice, assistance with a transaction, investment round, shareholders’ agreement or Dutch BV structure, please contact Dirk de Waard.
Email: dirk.dewaard@viottalaw.com
Mobile: +31 6 12 42 90 06
