We are a diverse team of twelve dedicated arbitration specialists - supported by superb professionals.
Our vision is to provide premier services in arbitral and arbitration related proceedings. We do so primarily as advocates, arbitrators and advisors. We have a relentless focus on quality and adding value. The practice is headed by Rogier Schellaars and Prof. Bas van Zelst.
Services
Explore our services
Advocates
Our team members are true advocates: we fight for our clients in arbitration and in arbitration related court proceedings. We act as counsel and co-counsel. We have a singular focus on our clients' interests. As advocates, we plead cases: in writing and orally. We are adept at all techniques of taking of evidence - with particular expertise in cross-examination and document disclosure. We have experience at a wide range of arbitral proceedings, including under the UNCITRAL, NAI, ICC, LCIA, SIAC, ICSID and SCC Rules.
Arbitrators
We act as arbitrators and secretaries under many arbitration rules, including ICC, NAI, UNCITRAL, ICDR/AAA, UNUM and DAI Rules. Team members hold experience as chair, co-arbitrators and also in emergency arbitration. These roles are taken by all team members. The junior team members are open to pro bono appointments and secretarial roles in support of tribunals. Our experience statements are available on request. In all cases, we benefit from our broad experience as counsel.
Advisors & Experts
We advise clients on international dispute resolution strategies; prevention of disputes and settlement. The latter encompasses mediation proceedings, binding advice and (interaction with) regular court proceedings. We also act as experts.
Sectors
Our expertise
Energy
We are committed to the highly international energy sector. Disputes are often arbitrated with a view to achieve neutral, confidential and expert resolution.
Construction
The construction sector is no stranger to arbitration. We handle many disputes under, notably, NAI, ICC, Dutch Construction Board and FIDIC Rules. This we do with team members who take a specific interest in this sector.
Investment Arbitration
Investment arbitration often concerns Dutch investors and/or arbitral proceedings seated in the Netherlands. We have been active in this sector since 2003, including in a lead role in the well-known Achmea v. Slovak Republic matter. We recruit associates with an interest in this sector and public law and have built a consistent book of business as counsel to states, investors and also in set-aside and enforcement proceedings.
Medical, Life Science & Pharma
Our team members have a solid track record in medical, life sciences and pharma cases. These range from perfomance claims, joint-ventures to IP-related disputes. We have considerable experience in dealing with technical devices, such as stents, pumps and radiological applications.
Transport
We are active in all transport sectors: rail, air and shipping.
Team
A solid team with deep bench strength
News & Knowledge
Facts are key but knowledge is indispensable. We heavily invest in our team, working with AI and honing our skills.
New Offices
Within one year, Enhance Arbitration moved to new offices. We are proud to open our doors in Symphony Offices at Gustav Mahlerplein in Amsterdam. In sum: we doubled our size, now have a dedicated hearing room for online hearings, an enlarged board room with 18 seats for clients, excellent connectivity to public transport and first […]
ICC Round Table on Dispute Resolution
Our partner, Rogier Schellaars, co-hosted and moderated, with Marnix Leijten of De Brauw, a round table session organised by ICC Netherlands for inhouse counsel at the Royal Industrieele Groote Club in Amsterdam. ICC Netherlands Director, Laure Jacquier, made it all happen.
New Chapter to Our Book
We keep adding and updating chapters to our Counsel’s Guide on the use of international arbitration rules in the Netherlands. Recently, we published a new chapter on the VIAC Rules, prepared by our specialist and counsel Szilvia Nagy. 20260609 New Chapter International Arbitration in the Netherlands_Vienna Rules
Support Dutch Arbitration Association, NAI, DIS and ICC
We contributed by supporting intiatives of the Dutch Arbitration Association, the NAI and the German DIS. In connection with the Dutch Arbitration Day 2026, our associate Bente Scheepvaart organised an under 40 networking event in Amsterdam. We also co-organised, with Lemstra Van der Korst, a breakfast meeting for Netherlands and German Arbitration Specialists.
Win for Czech Republic
We have prevailed in the Court of Appeal of The Hague on a matter where we act for the Czech Republic. The decision was published on 17 April 2026. The Court of Appeal granted our cross-application to annul two awards and also granted declaratory relief that we sought. The declaratory relief prohibits our counterparties from […]
Ciarb presentation Amsterdam
Our partner, Rogier Schellaars, contributed to a CIARB – DIS Symposium in Amsterdam on 17 April 2026. He presented on the up- and downsides of a Dutch seat of arbitration and arbitration law reform.
GAR 100 Ranking 2026
Enhance Arbitration’s team has been included in Global Arbitration Review’s GAR 100 listing of the world’s premier arbitration practices. GAR’s review opens with the following words: “Rogier Schellaars and Bas van Zelst set up this Amsterdam boutique in 2025 when they broke away from Dutch firm Van Doorne, bringing their entire team and caseload with […]
2026 Legal 500
Our team has been ranked, again, in Legal 500 for arbitration in the Netherlands (as one of 19 firms). We continue our tier 2 ranking under our new flag at Enhance Arbitration, due to strong client feedback (for which we are grateful). Importantly, two of our seniors receive well-deserved recognition in the editorial remarks: Diederik […]
Mediation & Arbitration at NAI
Bas van Zelst has commented to CDR on the new NAI Mediation Rules, in force per 1 March 2026. Bas is a CEDR-accredited mediator and member of the NAI’s Advisory Board. He noted, specifically, the well-designed complementary nature of mediation and arbitration procedures at the NAI.
Nordics Arbitration
Enhance Arbitration has a clear eye on the Nordics. We are handling a pharma arbitration in Sweden; and presented in Finland on Expedited Arbitration on 12 March 2026. This is not newfound territory: our team members handled arbitrations in the area over 20 years ago. On a separate note: our associate, Victor Houtman, was seconded […]
ICC UK Corporate Counsel
We contributed as speaker to the ICC UK’s Corporate Counsel meeting in London. The topic was the new Report and Toolkit published by the ICC Commission on ADR and Arbitration on Expedited Arbitration.
DIS Council
Our partner, Rogier Schellaars, has been appointed for a second three year term as member of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS) Arbitration Council.
Symposium International Arbitration
The firm organised a succesful mini-symposium on the use of international arbitration rules in Netherlands seated proceedings. This may be a required option, for example if a preferred dispute resolution mechanism cannot be bargained for. Sylvia de Rooij (Heerema’s General Counsel) & Szilvia Nagy (counsel at Enhance) moderated a panel. The panel comprised Daniela Karollus-Bruner […]
Chambers Global
Both of our firm’s partners are ranked in Chambers Global 2026. Our firm, which commenced operations on 1 July 2025, shortly before the submission deadline for Chambers Global 2026, has also been ranked. This was done immediately – which is remarkable given that it typically takes a few years to be so ranked. We thank […]
GAR Publishes on Enhance Team
Global Arbitration Review published on Enhance Arbitration’s recent additions to the team. A good read with nice commentary.
New Team Member
We are pleased to announce that, effective 1 February 2026, Szilvia Nagy has joined Enhance Arbitration as counsel. This represents a strong addition to our senior team. Szilvia has gained >12.5 years of robust experience in De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek’s arbiration practice group. She has also completed an Executive MBA at HEC Paris. Szilvia adds […]
ICC Expedited Proceedings – Launch
Our partner, Rogier Schellaars, has co-chaired the ICC Arbitration and ADR Commission’s Working Group on Expedited Arbitration. This group comprises 83 international practitioners and academics. The outcome is a Report, a Toolkit for arbitrators and Fact Sheet. A world-wide launch event takes place in Paris on 30 January 2026 . Rogier shall present on the […]
IBA Arbitration Day Abu Dhabi
Our team members, Rogier Schellaars and Bas van Zelst, will participate in the IBA Arbitration Day 2026 in Abu Dhabi. We are available to meet for drinks/coffee and will take part in sessions on Crypto and New Energy disputes in particular.
New Team Member
We are pleased to announce that Anne Klok, a US qualified attorney has joined the team this week. She has completed a JD at Georgetown University Law Center and is admitted to the Bar in Washington D.C. Anne gained professional experience as, notably, a foreign qualified lawyer at Freshfields in Frankfurt am Main in Germany […]
Lexology / Who’s Who Legal Recognition
We have received New Year’s wishes from Lexology / Who’s Who Legal. Lexology now “highly recommends” Bas Van Zelst and notes that “His efficiency and deep knowledge make him a standout practitioner in the field”. Rogier Schellaars is recognised as one of 5 Dutch “thought leaders” and “excels both as counsel and as arbitrator”.
SIAC Publication
Our team published on the application of the 2025 SIAC Rules of Arbitration in Netherlands seated proceedings. This publication is made in the peer reviewed Dutch Journal on Arbitration 2025/4.
Quaterly Report Enhance Arbitration (II)
Enhance Arbitration has experienced a great start since opening on 1 July 2025. We are pleased to share our second quarterly report.
Contribution to IBA and ICC Commissions in Toronto
Enhance Arbitration was, of course, represented at the annual IBA and ICC meetings. This year in Toronto. Substance matters as much as social interaction at these events. For an international arbitration specialist, it is professionally important, and nice, to discuss new developments on the ICC Arbitration Rules, AI and Corruption issues at the ICC’s Arbitratoin […]
Interview with Bas van Zelst
Our partner, Bas van Zelst, was interviewed by ICC Netherlands. Tom Scott and Laure Jacquier of ICC Netherlands reported on this through the ICC’s channels.
Diederik van Besouw speaks at AIJA Conference
Our senior associate, Diederik van Besouw, holds particular expertise in construction arbitration (including FIDIC issues). He was invited to speak at the AIJA Conference in Abu Dhabi mid October 2025.
IBA Arbitration Guide
We contributed to the work of the IBA Arbitration Committee. Recently, our joint-publication on arbitration in the Netherlands was uploaded to the IBA’s website.
Quarterly Report Enhance Arbitration (I)
Enhance Arbitration has experienced a great start since opening on 1 July 2025. We are pleased to share our quarterly report.
Book on International Arbitration in the Netherlands
Our team has published a book on international arbitration in the Netherlands. This publication, released early 2025, is specifically tailored to counsel using ICC, LCIA, DIS and UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules in the Netherlands. We also provide a commentary to the 2024 NAI Rules. This work is based on, and follows from, our experience as counsel, […]
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