Wouter de Clerck

Attorney-at-law

Wouter de Clerck is a specialist in complex, cross-border disputes, to be settled in arbitration or before the national courts. Wouter also advises in case of fraud allegations and associated claims. Most of his clients are active in the technology, energy or mining sector.

Specialisation

The disputes in which Wouter assists his clients often involve contracts for the supply of services or goods (incl. energy, oil and natural gas), M&A agreements or shareholder- and joint venture-agreements. He also acts in disputes in which fraud or (other) criminal allegations have been made against one or more parties in dispute. He furthermore regularly conducts proceedings before the national courts in matters related to arbitration. He has extensive experience of applications for recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards (New York Convention) and set aside proceedings. Wouter also sits as arbitrator.

Work experience

Wouter started his career as a lawyer in 2006 with Houthoff, following which he worked in the international arbitration practice of DLA Piper from 2012 to 2019. In 2020 he joined Legaltree. Wouter regularly writes on subjects of arbitration law and of private international law and has been a guest lecturer at Leiden University and at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

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

  • Co-counsel in EUR 1bn enforcement proceedings pertaining to the nationalisation of an Eastern European bank;
  • Acting for the former CEO of an energy company in a USD 590m cross-border fraud dispute situated in Eastern-Europe and the Netherlands;
  • Dutch counsel for Nigerian energy company in international joint venture dispute with a value of EUR 410m;
  • Dutch law expert in foreign proceedings concerning a global accounting fraud of EUR 2.6bn;
  • Dutch counsel for Gazprom in a dispute with Ukrainian state-owned energy company Naftogaz regarding a USD 3bn Swedish arbitral award.
Memberships & ancillary positions
  • Guest lecturer of arbitration law Leiden University (2016-today)
  • Lecturer of arbitration law at Law Firm School (2014-today)
  • Dutch Arbitration Association
Education
  • Bond University Australia, 2005 (LL.M international dispute resolution)
  • Leiden University, 2004 (civil law, cum laude)

Testimonials


Wouter de Clerck is an experienced and results oriented lawyer. Throughout our collaboration, he has shown to be a sharp thinker, always available for communication and able to deliver solutions in an efficient and timely manner.’

Legal500 2023
International arbitration



Wouter de Clerck and Max van Leijenhorst are very knowledgable in the field of international arbitration
Wouter de Clerck is an exceptional practitioner’.

Legal500 2022
International arbitration


Pragmatic, knowledgeable and commercially aware‘ en ‘(..) able to keep a complex matter running flawlessly and to relentlessly pursue the success of the case‘.

Chambers Europe
Up and Coming in the category Dispute Resolution