News

Legal 500 EMEA 2025 rankings announced
We are pleased to announce that our firm has achieved significant recognition in the latest Legal 500 EMEA rankings. Our commitment to excellence and client service has been acknowledged across several practice areas. Our Healthcare and Life Sciences team has risen to Tier 3, our Intellectual Property: Patents team has risen to Tier 4, and our Trade Marks, Copyrights, and Design Rights team achieved a Tier 5 ranking. Marleen van den Horst maintained her individual ranking as a Leading Partner in the fields of Healthcare and Life Sciences and Intellectual Property: Patents. Newly ranked is Iris Arts as a Leading associate in the field of Intellectual Property: Patents. We extend our appreciation to our clients and peers for their trust and positive feedback, which have been crucial to our success. Congratulations to all our teams and individuals who have been acknowledged for their exceptional work. A small selection of quotes:  Industry focus: healthcare and life sciences | Band 3 ‘The team are very knowledgeable and great to work with. Very reliable.’ ‘Pleasant personal attention, capable of providing timely suitable solutions.’ Intellectual property: Patents | Band 4 ‘The team has extensive knowledge of patent law and SPCs with innovative strategies.’  ‘Very knowledgeable, innovative and show strong, strategic and tactical thinking capabilities. New areas within the legal field are approached in an impressive manner.’ ‘La Gro’s group is well-equipped to handle the broad range of intricate patent issues, including acting for its sector-spanning clients in infringement and invalidity proceedings before the UPC and the Dutch courts. Benjamin Niemeijer heads up the practice alongside Marleen van den Horst; both team leads harness standout expertise in pharma and life sciences-related matters in particular.’  Intellectual property: trademarks, copyrights and design rights | Band 5 ‘Very knowledgeable, innovative and strong strategic and tactical thinking. They see no problem going the extra mile. Strong focus on the business interests of clients.’ Marleen van den Horst | Leading partner | Intellectual property: Patents & Industry focus: healthcare and life sciences ‘Practice head Marleen van den Horst is well known for handling SPC and regulatory issues, and often acts for large pharmaceutical companies in matters concerning clinical trials and orphan medicinal products.’ ‘Marleen van den Horst was very knowledgeable and clear. Her communication skills are beyond perfect. Iris Arts was also an exceptional lawyer who was very concise and very thorough with her reviews. Both were amazing professionals who were able to help us out without issue.’  Iris Arts | Leading associate | Intellectual property: Patents ‘Marleen van den Horst was very knowledgeable and clear. Her communication skills are beyond perfect. Iris Arts was also an exceptional lawyer who was very concise and very thorough with her reviews. Both were amazing professionals who were able to help us out without issue.’ Click here to learn more about our rankings and the Legal 500 guide. 
Female leadership at La Gro
Ahead of International Women’s Day tomorrow (March 8, 2025), we put our three female managers in the spotlight. Alongside our lawyers, management and staff positions are just as crucial to our success. Every role within our firm is important and, at all levels, women contribute to the sustainable growth of our firm. Linda, Marketing, Communications & Business Development Manager, drives La Gro’s commercial success with her strategic vision. Her direction within the team ensures that we increase our visibility, better understand our clients, and also identify and exploit new market opportunities. She is a driving force behind the sustainable growth of our organisation. Nicole, Facility & IT Manager, is the backbone of our organisation. Her careful planning and efficient working methods make the office tick, from the technical structure to the daily operational processes. Her expertise ensures that our office is not only functional, but also provides an inspiring working environment in which our lawyers can perform at their best Eveline, HR Manager, makes a difference by creating an inclusive and supportive work environment. With her focus on well-being and development, she and her team ensure that every employee feels valued and supported. Her strategic leadership within HR enables us to attract, retain and grow the right people. Women are still underrepresented in management positions worldwide. Diversity in leadership is not a luxury but a necessity. At La Gro, we continue to work to create a culture where talent is at the centre, regardless of gender. We wish all women worldwide a happy International Women’s Day. Moving forward together for sustainable growth. Contact If you have questions about the role of women in leadership at La Gro, or you want to know more about diversity within our firm, please feel free to contact us via [email protected].  
Tahir Bodha ranked "leading trademark professional" as he "excels in complex issues"
We are proud to announce that La Gro’s Attorney at law and certified trademark attorney Tahir Bodha has been recognized among the “top trademark professionals” in the WTR 1000 2025. Tahir Bodha is now listed among the top trademark professionals in key jurisdictions around the globe. He has been named a tenacious litigator and has earned this recognition for his excellence in complex issues before the courts. The WTR 1000, a unique guide that identifies the top trademark professionals in key jurisdictions around the globe, notes: “Tenacious litigator Tahir Bodha at La Gro excels in complex issues before EU and Benelux courts, particularly in the healthcare and life sciences, automotive, fashion, retail and ICT sectors.” The WTR 1000 focuses exclusively on trademark practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive ‘go-to’ resource for those seeking world-class legal trademark expertise. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how Tahir can assist you, don’t hesitate to reach out via [email protected]. 
Rachida inspires with powerful speech during Legal Women 2024
Last night, Rachida shone with a dazzling and personal speech at Legal Women’s Upcoming Talent of the Year 2024 Awards Ceremony. We look back on an inspiring evening by powerful and inspiring women. We warmly congratulate Katja van Kranenburg and Claudia Batstra on their well-deserved awards and thank Legal Women and Van Doorne for the organisation and warm hospitality. If you are intrigued to hear Rachida’s’s inspiring words, please click on the link below to watch her speech back! https://www.lagro.com/app/uploads/2024/11/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-27-at-10.13.07-2-1-1.mp4
Arnout Koeman, counsel Competition Law at La Gro
We are pleased to announce that Arnout Koeman joined La Gro as counsel and will be leading the Competition Law Team in close cooperation with Pieter van den Oord. Arnout has extensive experience of national and European competition law across all market sectors. His advisory and litigation practice focuses on state aid, cartels, positions of dominance and merger notifications to the European Commission, the Dutch Consumer and Market Authority and the Dutch Care Authority. He also specialises in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) regulations. Furthermore, Arnout has a great deal of expertise in complex mass actions (WAMCA) and civil proceeding enforcement, both within and beyond competition law. He will be developing this expertise further within La Gro. Arnout graduated from Utrecht University in 2011 and did an Erasmus exchange at the University of Toulouse (UT1). Before joining La Gro in 2024, he worked at leading law firms in Amsterdam for 12 years. He is also a member of the Dutch Association for Competition Law and the International Association of Young Lawyers (“AIJA”). With his experience and expertise, we, as La Gro, will be able to distinguish ourselves even further within competition law and create further growth from our Competition and European law practice.
Rachida Raddahi nominated for Upcoming Talent of the Year Award
We are proud to share that Rachida Raddahi has been nominated for Legal Women’s Upcoming Talent of the Year Award. Since joining La Gro in 2017, Rachida has quickly developed into an indispensable force within our Tenancy Law Team. Starting out as a trainee lawyer, she quickly specialised, successfully completing the Tenancy Law and Grotius Real Estate specialisation courses.  Rachida’s dedication to her clients and the work is second to none, going above and beyond what is expected of her to ensure that her clients get the support they need. Her nomination has been more than deserved thanks to her exceptional talent, in-depth legal knowledge and valuable contributions to our office in areas such as diversity and inclusiveness. About the Legal Women Foundation Legal Women is a network that supports women in their professional development, by offering a platform for sharing knowledge and experience and promoting career opportunities for women within the legal sector. Legal Women organises events, training courses and network meetings for women lawyers to connect and increase their visibility. In addition, Legal Women is committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.
Mariëlle Broekman, Litigation partner La Gro
We are proud to share that Mariëlle Broekman joins the Commercial Contracting & Litigation Team as Litigation Partner as of October 1st. Mariëlle started her career as a lawyer in 1999 and brings with her a wealth of expertise in the field of conflicts, contracts and compliance. She has gained extensive experience at large and medium-sized law firms and in the corporate world, including as an international corporate lawyer. Her civil law advice and litigation practice focuses on commercial contracts, liability, legal policy, risk management and (internal) compliance investigations. Mariëlle is a member of the Dutch Litigation Association, the Civil Law Association and the Corporate Litigation Association. She also teaches at the professional training programme for corporate lawyers and is a member of the Raad van Discipline The Hague. With her strategic insight and experience in complex disputes, Mariëlle significantly strengthens our Commercial Contracting & Litigation team. We are convinced that she will make a valuable contribution to the further growth of our firm.
La Gro 'Highest-ranked law firms in Patent Litigation' JUVE
We are proud to announce that La Gro has been recognized among the “highest-ranked law firms in Patent Litigation” in JUVE’s latest rankings for the Netherlands!  Our IP team, led by Marleen van den Horst and Benjamin Niemeijer, has made the leap into the ranks of respected Dutch patent litigation practices. We’ve earned recognition for our strong focus on patent litigation, particularly for generic drug and biosimilar manufacturers. JUVE notes: “(…) the team surprised with the representation of OrthoApnea in one of the very first UPC cases. In September 2023, many other Dutch patent teams were still waiting for their first UPC case. The La Gro team was retained by the Spanish medical device manufacturer to defend against the first infringement action at the Brussels local division at a time when the team was still in the process of being set up. This further shows how helpful van den Horst’s international ties are for the patent team. There is a lot of untapped potential, especially in the support of medium-sized companies which find the UPC attractive.” Take a look at our JUVE ranking page here.  If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how we can assist you, don’t hesitate to reach out via [email protected] and/or [email protected].  
La Gro shining at the Tour de France
We are proud to share that our La Gro logo was on display on racing cyclist Bart Lemmen’s kit during the 2024 Tour de France. Since January this year, we have partnered with Lease a Bike Nederland. Lease a Bike plays a crucial role in our mobility plan, offering every La Gro employee the opportunity to lease a bike. In this way, we promote an active lifestyle, sustainable commuting and business travel, supporting our commitment to sustainability and offering innovative and environmentally-friendly working conditions. We support organisations that undertake activities to make the planet healthier, more liveable and more sustainable, making Lease a Bike the perfect partner in our mission: Moving forward together for sustainable growth. We will be moving forward together in the Tour de France, together with Team Visma | Lease a Bike. https://www.lagro.com/app/uploads/2024/07/La-Gro-Geelkerken-Advocaten-B.mp4
Donald Volleberg appointed as counsel
We are proud to share that Donald Volleberg has been appointed as counsel as of 1 July 2024. This appointment underlines appreciation for his commitment and expertise. Donald Volleberg began his career at La Gro in 2014 and has since played a vital role as a lawyer and administrator. During his career, he has specialised in advising and litigating for banks and other financial institutions. His expertise lies in the broad field of financing and securities, where he has gained significant experience in litigation before various bodies. Donald is known for his no-nonsense approach and incisivenes. His ability to address complex legal issues clearly and efficiently has contributed to the success of many cases and the satisfaction of our clients. We congratulate Donald on his well-deserved appointment and look forward to his further contributions and successes in his new role.
We are La Gro
On June 3rd 2024, we moved from our current office within the WTC The Hague, to a larger floor in the same building. This move is accompanied by a new direction, a new corporate identity and a new, shortened name: La Gro. With this name we maintain our name recognition, while simultaneously becoming more accessible to the international market. The expansion in The Hague coincides with the closure of our office in Leiden. For clients from the Leiden area, a meeting place remains available at Element Office Leiden, next to CS Leiden. https://www.lagro.com/app/uploads/2024/05/917.24226-LogoAnimatie_LaGro_01.mp4
Happy Holidays!
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