Tom has more than 30 years of experience and is widely recognized and recommended as one of the leading Dutch lawyers in the field of arbitration and litigation. He represents a broad range of clients, including large corporations and sovereign states. He is one of the only 9 Dutch lawyers who are listed in Chambers Global Guide 2023, 2022 and 2021 for the category ‘Arbitration Counsel’ in the Netherlands. Tom is also included in The Arbitration Powerlist: Benelux 2022 of The Legal 500. Also, Tom is listed in Who's Who Legal - Litigation 2022 as ‘Global Leader’ among only 16 Dutch litigation peers. Further, since 2020 Loyens & Loeff's arbitration group, which is co-managed by Tom, is listed in the GAR 100 (i.e., the Global Arbitration Review's guide to law firms 'approved' for international arbitration). Finally, Tom is a member of both the Advisory Board of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI) and the Executive Board of the Dutch Arbitration Association (DAA).

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Memberships

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The Advisory Board of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI)
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The Executive Board of the Dutch Arbitration Association (DAA)
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Qualifications

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Dutch Law, University of Leiden, 1991 (with honors)
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Southern Methodist University Summer Program (Dallas, Texas) 1998

What others say

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"Tom is a very good strategic thinker."
Chambers & Partners - Global (2024)
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"Tom Claassens is a very smooth advocate, articulate and personable."
Chambers & Partners - Global (2024)
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Tom Claassens named "Practice head" in Dispute Resolution: Arbitration
Legal 500 - EMEA (2023)
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‘Tom Claassens has a sharp legal mind and excellent hearing presence, combined with a great sense of humor and the ability to make the most nervous client feel relaxed and confident.’
Legal 500 - EMEA (2023)
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Tom Claassens is recognised as Recommended in Commercial Litigation
Who's Who Legal - (2022)
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"Tom Claassens has the ability to really connect and get the best out of people."
Chambers & Partners - Europe (2022)
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‘Tom Claassens is very likeable, professional and with a good eye for what will be appreciated by the courts’.
Legal 500 - EMEA (2022)
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‘Tom Claassens is an excellent practitioner’.
Legal 500 - EMEA (2022)
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‘Tom Claasens is experienced; and although originally and for a long time in his career a litigation lawyer, he has made a name for himself in arbitration in recent years’.
Legal 500 - EMEA (2022)
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Tom Claassens particularly assists clients with the enforcement or annulment of arbitral awards. He also represents clients in shareholder disputes and damages claims under a variety of arbitral rules, including NAI and SIAC rules. A client appreciates that Tom Claassens has the "ability to really connect and get the best out of people," adding that "his approach to the people he works with is such that they feel really comfortable sharing everything, which strengthens the case."
Chambers & Partners - Global (2022)
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‘Leading partner Tom Claassens is very smart and likeable. His team of associates work hard and are committed. The quality of the output is high. Tom Claassens is a great lawyer – smart, results-oriented, creative. He is the lead arbitration partner: experienced, smooth and well versed in the international arbitration practice. Being a very nice guy helps.'
Legal 500 - EMEA (2021)
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Tom Claassens acts for a clientele of national states and domestic companies on arbitral matters covering commercial disputes, arbitral awards and bilateral investment treaties. Market commentators highlight his work in arbitration proceedings of an international scope.
Chambers & Partners - Global (2021)
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According to sources, Tom Claassens is "first rate, intelligent and diligent." He acts for clients on arbitration proceedings following corporate transactions, joint ventures and arbitral award annulment procedures. His clients include multinational corporations and state governments.
Chambers & Partners - Global (2020)
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"Tom Claassens has experience in commercial litigation and is increasingly focused on international arbitration. He is described as 'incredibly client-focused and smart' as well as a 'strategic thinker who comes up with creative arguments'."
Chambers & Partners - Europe (2019)
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"According to clients, Loyens & Loeff’s team is ‘responsive, thorough, hardworking and a pleasure to work with’, and has significant experience representing international clients in International Chamber of Commerce proceedings. It is led by the ‘very detailed, thorough’ Tom Claassens, who is ‘an authority on Dutch civil procedure’ and 'a name to note'." Mr Claassens is also listed in Who's Who Legal: Litigation 2018 among only 16 Dutch litigation peers.
Legal 500 - EMEA (2018)
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"Sources say: 'He is a fantastic lawyer: smart, effective, advises clients well, writes well and also speaks well in court'."
Chambers & Partners - Global (2018)
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Tom Claassens

Partner - Attorney at Law

tom.claassens@loyensloeff.com

Rotterdam

Dutch, English, German

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<p>Tom Claassens is a partner in Loyens & Loeff’s Litigation & Risk Management practice group.</p>

Tom has more than 30 years of experience and is widely recognized and recommended as one of the leading Dutch lawyers in the field of arbitration and litigation. He represents a broad range of clients, including large corporations and sovereign states. He is one of the only 9 Dutch lawyers who are listed in Chambers Global Guide 2023, 2022 and 2021 for the category ‘Arbitration Counsel’ in the Netherlands. Tom is also included in The Arbitration Powerlist: Benelux 2022 of The Legal 500. Also, Tom is listed in Who's Who Legal - Litigation 2022 as ‘Global Leader’ among only 16 Dutch litigation peers. Further, since 2020 Loyens & Loeff's arbitration group, which is co-managed by Tom, is listed in the GAR 100 (i.e., the Global Arbitration Review's guide to law firms 'approved' for international arbitration). Finally, Tom is a member of both the Advisory Board of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI) and the Executive Board of the Dutch Arbitration Association (DAA).