Dirk de Waard is a lawyer and Managing Associate Corporate / M&A at Blenheim in Amsterdam, specialised in corporate law. He advises entrepreneurs, shareholders, management teams and investors on the structuring and execution of domestic and cross-border acquisitions, investments and restructurings.

About Dirk

His practice focuses on:

• Comprehensive support in M&A transactions (buy-side and sell-side), including legal due diligence, transaction structuring, and drafting and negotiating share purchase agreements (SPAs), shareholders’ agreements and closing documentation
• Structuring and drafting of shareholders’ agreements, investment terms and SAFE instruments
• Cross-border structuring, including the conversion of foreign entities into Dutch B.V.’s and the creation of international holding structures
• Corporate governance and post-deal integration, particularly in growth companies, family offices and investor-led structures
• Advising start-ups and scale-ups in investment rounds, with a focus on drafting and negotiating commercial contracts such as SAFE agreements, convertible notes and shareholders’ agreements
• Handling corporate litigation and shareholder disputes, including proceedings before the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal

Dirk is often involved early in the deal process to help design the optimal legal structure and manage legal risk. Clients value his deal-oriented mindset, clear communication and strategic insight. His client base includes mid-sized and large companies, investment firms and fast-growing technology ventures in both the Netherlands and abroad.

He previously served on the board of the Anglo-Dutch Exchange and as chairman of the Amsterdam Young Bar Association.

Dirk holds law degrees (LLB, LLM) from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where he completed the Zuidas Master in Corporate Law, and an LL.M. from Cornell Law School (USA), with a specialization in Corporate, Finance & Securities Law.