Michiel Coenraads

Michiel Coenraads specialises in the resolution of complex corporate and commercial disputes and regularly advises clients on their most important contentious issues. He has a wealth of experience in resolving business critical matters for clients having focused for >20 years on international dispute resolution. He has dealt with disputes and managed proceedings in numerous jurisdictions throughout the world including all of the main arbitration rules and under a wide variety of arbitration seats. Michiel also has extensive experience in investor-state disputes and other public international law matters. As well as litigation and arbitration, his experience covers corporate governance advice, mediations and expert determinations.

Michiel has focused on the Energy & Natural Resources and Industrials sectors and has acted on numerous disputes relating to oil & gas contracts with host states and contractors, shareholder, accountancy and corporate governance (including ESG and business & human rights) disputes. Michiel has conducted litigation and international arbitrations involving oil, gas, power, mining, minerals, rail projects, pharmaceutical, investment partnerships, major infrastructure projects, outsourcing and telecoms in Europe, the Middle East, China, Central Asia, South-east Asia, Africa, North America, LatAm and the U.K. Michiel sits as arbitrator, acts as mediator, and has been an honorary judge in the Noord Holland District Court since 2015.

Michiel has extensive experience with shareholder and securities litigation and with enquiry proceedings (enqueteprocedure) before the Enterprise Chamber (ondernemingskamer).

Michiel heads the Suriname business desk, with a strong focus on oil and gas, mining, and natural resources.

He has been ranked as a leading practitioner by Chambers for many years and included in the Legal 500's International Arbitration Powerlist. Chambers said: "Michiel Coenraads is a great strategic thinker who is able to navigate diverse legal systems and cultural nuances, which makes him an asset in international disputes", “an excellent strategic lawyer” and "one of the smartest disputes lawyers we have come across". Legal 500 described him as “very good for your complex international cases. Great communicator, technically exceptionally good, convincing style, forward thinking.” and as “smart, energetic, really good in corporate disputes with an international angle.” 

Before joining Eversheds Sutherland, Michiel was a partner at DLA Piper, where he led the corporate disputes & international arbitration team in Amsterdam.