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Niels Koene
Partner

Niels Koene

Advocaat

Languages
  • English
  • Dutch
Social media

Niels Koene is partner and lawyer of the Employment, Labour & Pensions practice area group of our firm in Amsterdam.

He is active in individual and collective employment law, mainly for national and international listed companies.

Niels advises on (collective) dismissal matters, employment conditions & incentives, company regulations, collective bargaining issues, contracting, employee participation, post-contractual clauses and absenteeism & leave. Niels also advises on international employment law, in particular with respect to highly skilled migrants, work permits, remote working and international secondment.

Niels litigates for his clients before the Court, the Court of Appeal, the Enterprise Chamber and the Employee Insurance Agency.

In addition, Niels publishes in various professional journals and regularly conducts workshops for clients. Niels is also Co-Head of the international CMS Expat Desk, part of the CMS Mobility Group and active within the American Chamber of Commerce.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    "I always get prompt, thoughtful and commercially appropriate advice from Niels Koene, and his team Alette de Groot and Mila Janse. I am kept up to date with steps that the team are taking in support of any case work. The team seem to take pride in helping me to get the result that is right for me as a client and for my company. Niels is clear in his advice whilst at the same time laying out the options and risks."
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2025

Relevant experience

  • Support and advice to an international retailer with day to day HR/employment matters, CBA interpretation questions, co-determination cases and drafting and reviewing of employment agreements, personnel handbook and company policies.
  • Advice to a leading high-tech multinational company, listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange on several matters such as international assignment of expats, residence/work permits, termination of international assignment agreements and Dutch employment agreements of expats.
  • Support and advice to one of the worlds' leading hotel chains on restructuring their organization, including advice on collective dismissals, works council matters, social plan, settlement agreements and severance packages.

Memberships & Roles

  • American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham The Netherlands)
  • CMS Expat Desk (International Co-Head)
  • CMS Mobility Group
  • Dutch Association of Employment Lawyers (VAAN)
  • Dutch Association of Employment Law (VVA)
  • Netherlands Bar Association

Awards & Rankings

  • The Legal 500 EMEA, 2025, Niels Koene is Recommended

Education

  • Postgraduate Employment Law, 2018, Erasmus University Rotterdam, cum laude
  • Dutch Law, Private Law, 2009, Utrecht University, with honours
  • Dutch Law, Criminal Law, 2008, Utrecht University, with honours
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