M&A Awards 2026: Annefleur van Oel (Best Young M&A Lawyer 2026)

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What are the specialties of this talent? 
Annefleur is a senior associate in the Corporate M&A practice group, specialising in complex, high-stakes cross-border private M&A and growth and venture capital transactions, particularly in life sciences and health technology. Where she is also active within NautaDutilh’s Energy, Transition & Infrastructure team. She combines hands-on execution of time-sensitive international transactions, strengthened by a year in NautaDutilh’s New York office, with a strong sector track record spanning sponsor exits and equity financing rounds. This combination positions her as a sector-focused dealmaker who brings both transactional expertise and industry insight to complex transactions. 

Her deal track record over the past two years illustrates the breadth of her practice. Recent key transactions include advising AnywhereNow and Bregal Milestone on the sale of IQ Messenger to Main Capital Partners (2026); Vitamin Well Group (backed by Cinven and Bridgepoint) on its acquisition of EMPWR Nutrition Group from Waterland Private Equity (2026); advising Nordian Capital and the management of MYLAPS on the sale of MYLAPS to Garmin (2025); advising Azafaros on its EUR 132 million Series B financing round (2025); advising VarmX on its strategic collaboration and option agreement with CSL Behring (2025); and advising Aon on the carve-out sale of its Dutch personal lines brokerage and MGA business to BlackFin (2024). Taken together, this mandate mix of PE sell-side, strategic buy-side, life sciences, carve-out and growth capital work reflects her reach across client types and transaction structures. 

Annefleur obtained her master’s degree in Private Law, specialising in commercial legal practice, from the University of Amsterdam in 2017 (cum laude). In 2023, Annefleur completed the ‘Mergers & Acquisitions’ post-graduate programme at the VULaw Academy. From December 2023 to December 2024, she worked at our New York office, building on her international experience and creating stronger connections across borders, both within and beyond NautaDutilh. 

How does the talent distinguish itself from its peers? 
Annefleur distinguishes herself through a strong combination of legal expertise, transaction leadership and the ability to connect people. Within the firm’s corporate practice, she coordinates closely with specialists across practice areas while maintaining clear ownership of the transaction, bringing structure and momentum to complex matters. Earlier in her career, Annefleur also worked on equity capital markets transactions - including the ONWARD Medical IPO, the Hedosophia and Pegasus SPAC IPOs, and the Fugro rights offering - before focusing on private M&A and venture capital, giving her the broader frame of reference of a true T-shaped M&A lawyer with end-to-end deal execution experience. As a result, Annefleur has advised across the full deal lifecycle of a company, from early-stage investment rounds through to IPO. 

Gaike Dalenoord (partner Corporate M&A at NautaDutilh) wrote: “In a high-pressure cooker including: a significant time difference, a regulated asset, complex carveout structure and demanding objectives set by the parties, Annefleur thrived in keeping absolute control and all parties engaged in getting the deal done!” 

What truly sets Annefleur apart from her peers is her problem-solving mentality and her ability to translate specialist legal input into practical advice that works in the wider context of a transaction. Whether working with in-house legal counsel or business stakeholders, she understands that excellent technical advice only creates value when it is communicated clearly and relevant to the recipient. Annefleur naturally bridges that gap, combining legal and commercial understanding with a strong sense of how to bring different perspectives together. 

Her energetic, approachable and can-do attitude further strengthens her effectiveness as both a deal lawyer and a relationship builder, creating a collaborative environment in which colleagues and clients feel engaged and supported. That mentality is particularly evident when transactions need to move at pace: she embraces the challenge, keeps momentum and works collaboratively towards the finish line. 

Lisa Schoenmakers (partner Corporate M&A/co-leader of NautaDutilh’s Energy, Transition & Infrastructure team) wrote: “A recent example is a deal where she worked on the sell side with binding offers coming in on Monday afternoon with a deadline to sign and close on Friday morning the same week. Rather than letting the compressed schedule take over, Annefleur kept a clear overview of what needed to happen and kept everyone motivated and focussed. The phrase ‘eyes on the prize’ must have been invented for the way Annefleur was leading everyone involved in that transaction that week towards a successful completion exactly on time.” 

Junior colleagues in particular enjoy working with Annefleur because she actively involves them in both client work and business development. This combination of drive, structure and commercial awareness makes Annefleur a natural problem solver in demanding transactions. 

What impact does the talent have within the organization? 
Within the team, Annefleur is a genuine bridge between juniors and partners, connecting naturally and effectively across all levels. She takes an active role in fostering an open, positive and trusting environment, and has the confidence and judgement to raise relevant matters with partners when appropriate, helping to facilitate constructive dialogue across different levels of the team. Her perspective is valued by partners, who also informally turn to her for insight into how the team is doing. 

Rinus Berculo (associate Corporate M&A at NautaDutilh) wrote: "Working with Annefleur is both inspirational and simply a pleasure. On deals such as the recent Vitamin Well Group acquisition of EMPWR Nutrition Group from Waterland Private Equity, she has shown me how a senior associate can take real ownership of a complex transaction while actively creating room for juniors to contribute and grow. She has the judgement to raise the right points with partners when it matters, and the patience to explain to a junior why a particular drafting choice or structuring issue deserves attention. On top of all that, her approachability and sense of humour make a demanding deal feel like a shared effort rather than an individual one, she is genuinely someone the whole team looks forward to working with." 

Beyond her role within the team, Annefleur has been involved in a range of additional activities since joining the firm, reflecting a sustained engagement with the firm's broader community. Earlier in her career, she performed as a cast member and co-wrote sketches for the firm's cabaret and acted as a student mentor during her time at the New York office. She continues that engagement today: she is a member of the Legora/AI working group within the M&A practice group, contributing to the firm’s thinking and knowledge development around AI, and she sits on the firm’s art committee, sourcing new works for the office, with a particular focus on young, local artists. 

During her time at the New York office, Annefleur also co-developed a three-session workshop module with a colleague to prepare the rest of the team, and junior lawyers in particular, for client-facing business development, covering how to pitch themselves, how to move confidently in a room, how to break into conversations and how to pitch the firm. Equipping junior colleagues with these skills before they engage directly with clients and the market reflects a broader pattern of bringing them along and making business development a team effort rather than an individual one. 

What impact does the talent have outside the organization? 
Annefleur’s impact outside the organisation is reflected in her ability to build genuine, lasting relationships with clients and contribute to the broader professional community. In September 2025, she organised a two-day Young Professionals Corporate Masterclass at the firm’s office and co-led two workshops on private equity and management participation, contributing to the development of the next generation of in-house and corporate professionals. 

Her year at NautaDutilh’s New York office further demonstrated her strength in building and developing relationships. She was the first corporate associate to be based there without a corporate partner physically present, which meant navigating the practical challenges of the role, including the time difference with the Netherlands, largely on her own. She used that autonomy to take ownership of client relationships and business development initiatives, proactively strengthening connections with clients and colleagues across the firm’s international network. She also helped organise events for foreign associates and co-hosted a summer soirée, creating further opportunities to build relationships across the firm’s wider network. 

Her potential has also been recognised beyond her immediate team: Annefleur was nominated by the Amsterdam office to participate as a mentee in the 'Talent naar de Top programme' in 2023, where she was paired with a senior female leader from the Dutch business community. This gave her the opportunity to further broaden her perspective and professional development beyond the legal profession. 

To what extent does the talent make a difference when working with clients? 
Annefleur takes a highly personal and proactive approach to her client relationships. She invests time in understanding not only the transaction at hand, but also what matters to the client and what is happening within their business. Rather than relying solely on formal or written communication, she actively picks up the phone and creates opportunities for direct dialogue, allowing her to better understand her clients’ needs and priorities. This enables her to provide advice that is practical, relevant and tailored to the individual client. As a result, clients trust Annefleur as a go-to adviser throughout the transaction process, regularly turning to her with a broad range of questions and continuing to seek her support beyond the immediate matter. The recurring nature of these relationships reflects the trust she builds and the value she brings to clients. 

This is also recognised by clients, as reflected in the following testimonials: 

Kate Watson (general counsel, Bregal Milestone) noted: “Annefleur has provided excellent support to us on a variety of matters. She’s highly responsive and always offers commercial solutions in order to move matters forward very efficiently.” 

A senior legal counsel in an international Energy and Infrastructure company added: “It is a pleasure to have Annefleur on board for our transaction, both as a sharp lawyer and as a great person.” 

John Glasspool (CEO, VarmX) wrote: “I have been involved in many business deals and acquisitions. Annefleur stands out for the people I have worked with. She combines great attention to detail with a strategic perspective on an agreement. She works harder than anyone on a team and has the ability to be firm on both parties. A unique talent.” 

Why does the talent deserves this nomination? 
Annefleur deserves this nomination because she combines sector depth in life sciences and health technology with the execution capability to lead complex, high-stakes cross-border private M&A and growth/venture capital transactions. Her deal track record over the past two years, spanning sponsor exits, a carve-out, a strategic collaboration and a Series B financing round, demonstrates range across client types and transaction structures. 

Joost den Engelsman (partner and co-head of Corporate M&A at NautaDutilh) says: "She takes ownership beyond the purely legal aspects of a transaction, anticipating clients' needs and helping them navigate challenges as they arise: the hallmark of a commercially minded, client-centric deal counsel. Her instinct for building relationships extends into a talent for business development and enthusiasm for AI in M&A. Within the team, she is the trusted bridge between juniors and partners, a positive presence that colleagues gravitate towards, and that same ability to connect people shone during her year in New York, forging ties across the firm's international network. Together, these qualities make her a strong and deserving candidate for the Best Young M&A Lawyer award." 

Any references or recommendations from clients or (colleagues)? 
Please refer to the references or recommendations provided in the previously completed sections. 

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