Open navigation
Search
Offices – Netherlands
Explore all Offices
Global Reach

Apart from offering expert legal consultancy for local jurisdictions, CMS partners up with you to effectively navigate the complexities of global business and legal environments.

Explore our reach
Insights – Netherlands
Explore all insights
About CMS – Netherlands
Search
Expertise
Insights

CMS lawyers can provide future-facing advice for your business across a variety of specialisms and industries, worldwide.

Explore topics
Offices
Global Reach

Apart from offering expert legal consultancy for local jurisdictions, CMS partners up with you to effectively navigate the complexities of global business and legal environments.

Explore our reach
CMS Netherlands
CMS Netherlands Abroad
Insights
Insights by type
About CMS
Careers

Select your region

Bart-Adriaan Ruijter
Partner

Bart-Adriaan de Ruijter

Advocaat

Languages
  • Dutch
  • English
Social media

Bart-Adriaan de Ruijter is Partner Corporate Litigation at CMS. Bart-Adriaan specialises in corporate and commercial litigation. 

Bart-Adriaan focuses on the representation and advice of companies and/or its management board, supervisory board or shareholder(s) in complex litigation and crisis situations (often involving multiple jurisdictions). His expertise entails (M&A)transaction-related disputes, Enterprise Chamber proceedings, shareholder & joint-venture disputes/activism, (director’s)liability claims, international attachment/execution disputes and conflicts in relation to insolvency/restructuring. Bart-Adriaan is also passionate about and experienced in ESG and climate change & energy related disputes. He is member of the global ESG Task Force of CMS.

Bart-Adriaan is also experienced in corporate dispute resolution via arbitration (NAI and ICC). He is member of the Corporate Disputes Committee of the Dutch Arbitration Association and of the Dutch ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR.

Bart-Adriaan regularly publishes and lectures on his areas of expertise such as corporate litigation, director's liability and board room counselling. He is lecturer at the Law Firm School, Governance University and Finance Academy and member of the Supervisory Board Library Group Amstelland.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    "The individuals I work with are exceptional for their expertise, dedication, and client-focused approach. They stand out from competitors through their innovative thinking and collaborative spirit. I particularly value their professionalism, integrity, and ability to deliver results. Partners like Bart-Adriaan de Ruijter have been instrumental in driving success and maintaining high standards."
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2025
  • Quote
    "Bart-Adriaan de Ruijter is a good listener, approaches issues from multiple angles and uses outside expertise in a very timely manner allowing time to prepare the best case for clients."
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2025
  • Quote
    "Maurits Rabbie and Bart-Adriaan de Ruijter have been very attentive and are always available at short notice. Clearly experts in their field, they provide clear legal opinions and are proactive in driving forward strategy."
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2025
  • Quote
    "Bart-Adriaan de Ruijter is a tenacious lawyer who keeps exploring new angles until he has found the right approach to win the case and overcome any setback."
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023
  • Quote
    "Bart-Adriaan de Ruijter is forceful and steadfast."
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023
  • Quote
    "Bart-Adriaan is the go-to guy when it comes to litigation, since he manoeuvres cautiously and with a clear strategy."
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
  • Quote
    "Bart-Adriaan de Ruijter is very exceptional and to be credited."
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
  • Quote
    Recognised for "contentious matters and Brexit related issues" and "D&O-liability."
    Tier 1 Retail, The Legal 500 EMEA, 2020

Relevant experience

  • Assistance of German and Swiss minority shareholders in Enterprise Chamber Proceedings about shareholder dispute in Dutch R&D-group;
  • Assistance Chinese listed company in post M&A dispute before Dutch courts;
  • Assistance Japanese listed company in post M&A dispute in multiple jurisdictions;
  • Assistance Indian multinational in several international proceedings;
  • Assistance of Danish multinational in international arbitration in renewable energy sector;
  • Assistance of minority shareholders and co-founders in Enterprise Chambers proceedings and follow-on proceedings about the strategy and policy of further investments in the Renewable Energy sector.
  • Assistance of board and minority shareholder in big director's and shareholder's liability proceedings against trustee and trade union in real estate sector;
  • Assistance of board, shareholders and informal investors in international media sensitive dispute about fulfillment of obligations under purchase agreement with seller and other stakeholders in TMT sector; 
  • Assistance of investment companies in multiple Pan-European proceedings against joint venture partners in the  Retail-sector;
  • Assistance of claim foundation in media sensitive proceedings about fulfillment investment obligation in TMT-sector. 
  • Assistance of majority shareholders in arbitration with minority shareholder in consultancy sector.

Awards & Rankings

  • The Legal 500 EMEA, 2025, Bart-Adriaan de Ruijter is Recommended

Education

  • Economic Public and Business Law 2003, with merit, Utrecht University
  • Private Law 2003, with merit, Utrecht University 
  • Post-Academic Specialization Education (Grotius) National and International Contracting 2011, cum laude, Radboud University
Back to top Back to top