Gerben Smit

After being recognized as “One of Europe’s forty outstanding up and comers 2014” Gerben has been listed by Chambers already for 10 years in a row.

Chambers Global – Dispute Resolution

• “Gerben Smit is a brilliant lawyer. What distinguishes him is how he delivers his advice to clients in a way that there leaves no question unanswered. He is a positive and solution-orientated person.” (2025)
• “He is analytically strong and includes all kinds of scenarios in his strategy. He enjoys a very strong reputation in the market.” (2025)
• “Gerben Smit is a very nice guy and a sharp, pragmatic lawyer. He is on top of things and considers the commercial aspects of a matter.” (2025)
• “Energetic, really involved, straightforward and very sharp.” (2024)
• “A quick and strategic thinker with outstanding litigation skills.” (2021)

Legal 500 – Dispute Resolution

• “Gerben Smit is a very experienced and trusted lawyer. He is also a great negotiator with great commercial awareness.“ (2024)
• “Unwavering guidance, strong communication, level headedness, and all-around good humor and positivity in working with a global company with many personalities and requirements.” (2024)
• “Gerben Smit is a highly skilled litigator. Responsive, with great strategic advice. A sharp thinker who is very quick to understand a complex matter.” (2023)
• “Gerben Smit is a quick thinker who provides excellent strategic advice.” (2022)
• “Legal technical excellence, punctual, reliable, delivering progress briefs adequately and frequently, and keeping them brief and informative.” (2021)

• Partner at Stek (2010 – today)
• Legal Counsel at Emergya Wind Technologies (2009 – 2010)
• Lawyer at Allen & Overy (2003 – 2009)

• representing a large Polish real estate investor in cross border (arbitration and court) proceedings related to a real estate transaction of EUR 1 billion, in which conservatory prejudgment attachments were successfully levied in Poland;
• representing a large travel company in summary proceedings before the Amsterdam District Court and the Amsterdam Court of Appeal claiming specific performance of Closing under a SPA;
• representing Intertrust and Mesdag (Delta) as issuer of bonds in a >EUR 635 million CMBS-transaction, in complex proceedings against leading US hedge funds relating to the interpretation of the CMBS-documentation;
• representing a foreign governmental body in investigation and recourse actions following a large external fraud case;
• representing LitFin in bringing several claims for damages against DAF N.V. before the Amsterdam District Court in relation to the Truck Cartel;
• representing an international financial institution in several discovery and damages proceedings;
• representing a major American airline in third party indemnification proceedings brought forward by KLM et all in the main civil damages claim proceedings in the Netherlands related to alleged cartel arrangements in the air cargo industry;
• representing a leading European company in the supply chain management in arbitration proceedings related to the validity and enforceability of certain call and put options laid down in a shareholders agreement;
• representing one of the largest energy suppliers in the Netherlands in a major M&A dispute; and
• representing the bankruptcy estate of Thomas Cook Nederland B.V. in high-profile litigation (including discovery proceedings) against one of its former agents claiming damages from the alleged non-performance and termination of contract.