Attorney-at-law

Specialisation

Max van Leyenhorst specialises in conducting civil proceedings both before arbitral tribunals and national courts. He acts for large and medium-sized companies and for Dutch and foreign government authorities. The disputes typically relate to contract law, mergers and acquisitions and/or corporate law. In these areas, Max also regularly sits as an arbitrator (inter alia ICC, Netherlands Arbitration Institute, UNUM and ad hoc). In addition, he conducts legal proceedings on the enforcement or setting aside of arbitral awards and on disputes on the basis of bilateral investment treaties.

In addition to conducting proceedings, Max advises on the prevention and alternative resolution of disputes. Courtesy of his extensive litigation experience, he regularly advises a party on how to prepare, at an early stage, for potential future litigation or arbitration.

Clients appreciate his professional knowledge in combination with a dynamic method of working.

Work experience

Max van Leyenhorst practiced at NautaDutilh from 1999 to 2009. In the period 2007 to 2020, he was a lecturer on arbitration law, on International Dispute Resolution and on International Commercial Arbitration & Litigation at Leiden University. Max joined Legaltree in 2009.

Below are some of the cases in which Max has been involved of late:

• Acting for African State in UNUM arbitral proceedings, amount in dispute >EUR 90m
• Acting for Dutch investors against Eastern-European State in BIT-arbitration (PCA)
• Acting for Liechtenstein investor in high profile enforcement proceedings in the Netherlands, amount at stake >USD 400m
• Acting for Asian State in enforcement proceedings of an ICSID award
• Acting for various clients in several enforcement proceedings in cases involving states in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa
• Advising UK third party funder on investment opportunity regarding claim under Dutch law
• Acting for foreign investor in corporate dispute about management and ownership of Dutch investment
• Acting for Southeast Asia investors in contract dispute in respect of international investments

Memberships and miscellaneous

• NAI Young Orange (co-founder and Board Member, 2004-2010)
• Editing secretary of the Dutch Journal on Arbitration (2006-2011)
• Lecturer at the Law Firm School (arbitration law, 2008-2015)
• Registered NMI mediator (2009-2011)
• Dutch Arbitration Association (co-founder and Board Member, 2013-2017)
• Member of the Editorial Board, Dutch Journal Arbitration (2018-present)

Education

• Utrecht University (civil law)
• Leiden University (tax law – bachelor)
• Wayne State University (U.S.A.) (corporate law and philosophy of law)

Areas of law

Max has entered the following areas of law in the register of the Netherlands Bar Association:

• Civil procedural law
• Contract law

Each calendar year ten training points in accordance with the standards of the Netherlands Bar Association must be collected under this registration.