Dirk Knottenbelt

Houthoff - Netherlands

Weena 355
Rotterdam

3013 AL

+31 (0)10 2172472

Litigation Star


Practice area:

Commercial and transactions
Construction
Energy
Insurance
International arbitration


Year Joined Firm: 1998

Education/Alumni: Leiden University, University of Edinburgh 

Languages Spoken: Dutch, English, German

Dirk heads the arbitration team of Houthoff and specialises in complex corporate and commercial arbitration, and in litigation. A large part of his practice consists of high value international arbitration work and other dispute resolution procedures with cross-border aspects. Dirk has over 27 years litigation experience in both corporate and commercial matters such as shareholders disputes, share purchase agreements, sale and purchase contracts, agency, franchise and distribution, technical issues and issues relating to oil and gas industry.

His clients include a broad range of Dutch, American, and other international corporations and as a Rotterdam based lawyer, he have specific experience in port related matters.

As counsel, he acts in national and international commercial and investment arbitrations under the auspices of the ICC, NAI, ICSID and other institutional sets of rules such as GAFTA, NZV, AVZ and FENEX. Dirk also sits as arbitrator in a number of ad hoc and institutional arbitrations and is a deputy judge (raadsheer plaatsvervanger) in the Court of Appeal in 's-Hertogenbosch.

Dirk is consistently ranked in Chambers and Legal 500 where sources describe him as "very accurate, reliable and trustworthy, and he handles things with thoughtfulness," with others characterising him as a "smart, well-prepared litigator."

Last updated 27th November 2018

  • Commercial and transactions
  • Commercial arbitration
  • Construction
  • Energy
  • International arbitration
  • Shipping
  • Trade