Matthijs specialises in complex international arbitration and litigation. He represents national and international clients in disputes concerning M&A, directors' and officers' liability, banking litigation, complicated contractual disputes and mass damages claims.
Matthijs regularly acts as Dutch counsel in arbitration and litigation matters affecting both the Netherlands and various other jurisdictions, including the US, UK, Germany and Japan.
His practice involves acting as counsel in arbitration proceedings administered by leading arbitration institutes such as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI), as well as in ad hoc arbitration proceedings and before international commercial courts such as the Netherlands Commercial Court. Matthijs is a member of the Dutch Arbitration Association and has completed the Grotius Academy Corporate Litigation.
He regularly publishes and teaches on a variety of subjects in his key specialisations, including the handbook on the new English-language Netherlands Commercial Court (NCC).
Prior to joining Stibbe, Matthijs practiced in London and at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in New York (2006-2007).
Recent work includes:
- Representing a financial institution in ad hoc arbitration proceedings concerning the right to receive compensation in a class settlement, dealing with fundamental questions under the Dutch Class Settlement Act.
- Representing an electronics manufacturer in ICC arbitration proceedings in a post-M&A dispute focusing on the complex disentanglement between signing and closing of the to-be-acquired multinational target business.
- Representing an OEM automotive manufacturer in legal proceedings relating to the European diesel emission scandal.
- Representing a financial institution against prospectus liability claims from shareholders following the bankruptcy of the listed issuer.
- Representing an energy production corporation in Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI) proceedings against an energy supply company on the right and conditions to terminate supply agreements.
- Representing a large agricultural trading and supply business in multi-billion Euro court proceedings concerning the breach of licence agreements and various related torts, with complicated attachments to preserve evidence creating break-troughs.
- Representing a financial institution in its defence against directors' & officers' liability claims related to its divested trust business.
- Representing a leniency applicant in multi-jurisdictional cartel damages claims.
Admitted to the Dutch Bar: 2000