Baker & McKenzie has brought in leading energy lawyer, Weero Koster, who headed Norton Rose Fulbright’s EMEA energy practice, to spearhead an energy drive in continental Europe.
Koster, who leaves Norton Rose Fulbright after 12 years at the firm, has been appointed as head of Baker & McKenzie’s Amsterdam energy practice.
Koster, who spearheaded a sizeable expansion of Norton Rose’s energy practice in Europe before its merger with US energy-focused law firm Fulbright last year, specialises in upstream oil and gas and renewable energy projects. He advises on privatizations, mergers and acquisitions, divestments and joint ventures.
A lawyer of 35 years, Koster has had stints at Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy and Dutch firm Houthoff Buruma after starting his career in-house, with time spent at airliners KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Praxair. Mike Jansen, managing partner of Baker & McKenzie’s Amsterdam office, said that Koster’s arrival ‘further enhances our capabilities, making the energy sector a key focus for the Amsterdam office’.
Koster said: ‘Baker & McKenzie is responding to the reality of the rapidly-changing international energy market. The emergence of unconventional exploration and extraction methods, our sustainability needs, the Netherlands’ desire to become the gas hub of Europe, the nuclear debate, and the emergence of the BRIC countries and Africa make for a complex picture for the energy industry, which is reflected in their growing legal needs.
He added: ‘The global character of Baker & McKenzie and the scale of its EMI Group are ideally placed to meet client demands driven by these developments. I am excited to be further expanding my practice at Baker & McKenzie.’
tom.moore@legalease.co.uk
