M&A Awards 2026: Thamar Sikkes (Best Young M&A Lawyer 2026)

---

What are the specialties of this talent? 
Thamar Sikkes is an M&A lawyer within the Corporate / M&A practice of Loyens & Loeff. She advises private equity investors, corporates and founders on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, management buy-outs, management incentive plans and corporate governance matters. She also has experience in employment law, particularly where employment-related issues intersect with corporate transactions. 

Thamar stands out for her strong international profile and ability to navigate complex cross-border transactions. During a two-year secondment in our London office, she advised on a wide range of high-profile M&A and private equity matters in one of Europe’s leading transactional markets. Working alongside international clients, financial sponsors and multidisciplinary teams, she developed a sophisticated understanding of the legal, commercial and strategic considerations that drive cross-border deals. Combined with her Dutch M&A expertise, this experience allows her to guide clients effectively through transactions involving multiple jurisdictions, stakeholders and cultural perspectives, making her a trusted adviser on complex international matters. 

In addition to her transactional practice, Thamar has developed a strong interest in the future of legal services and the application of technology within M&A projects. Through her involvement in the firm's Due Diligence knowledge group and innovation initiatives, she actively contributes to improving processes, knowledge sharing and the practical use of AI within transaction work. 

Moreover, Thamar is currently enrolled in the Grotius Specialisation Programme in Mergers & Acquisitions, demonstrating her commitment to continuously strengthening her technical expertise and developing into one of the next generation leaders in the Dutch M&A market. Thamar is a first generation student. She funded her own studies and worked alongside them throughout. That path shaped how she practices law: she never takes the work for granted, she is driven by genuine enjoyment of the craft and of the people she works with rather than by status, and she has a natural instinct to make knowledge accessible and to bring others along. It also explains her pragmatism, she knows what it means to make things work with the resources at hand. 

How does the talent distinguish itself from its peers? 
What sets Thamar apart is her ability to combine excellent legal skills with a genuinely forward-looking mindset. 

While many young lawyers focus exclusively on executing transactions, Thamar consistently seeks opportunities to improve how legal work is delivered. She combines strong technical capabilities with an entrepreneurial approach, helping shape innovative solutions that increase efficiency and quality within transaction processes. Her involvement in initiatives related to due diligence innovation and AI demonstrates a level of curiosity and leadership that is uncommon at her level of seniority. 

At the same time, she has developed an international profile early in her career through her extended London secondment and her work on cross-border transactions. This combination of international experience, commercial awareness, technological curiosity and legal excellence allows her to create value for both clients and colleagues in ways that go beyond traditional legal advice. 

Thamar is highly regarded for her pragmatic approach, strong work ethic and ability to remain calm under pressure. She takes ownership of complex matters, works effectively with multidisciplinary teams and consistently focuses on finding practical solutions that help transactions move forward. Key transactions that showcase her expertise are: 

- Advised DevCo Partners on the acquisition of 100% of the shares in the Dieseko Group. 

- Advised Rabobank on its acquisition of ALFAM Holding and its subsidiaries from ABN AMRO Bank. 

- Advised Torqx Capital Partners on the sale of Fri-Jado to Röko AB. 

- Advised Bolster Investment Partners on the acquisition of Royal Taste Company Advised EQT on the EUR 257 Series D funding by Mews Advised Universal Marine Medical Supply International on the acquisition of shares in Lagaay Medical Group Advised Woodwing on the acquisition of Qonqord, a Dutch provider of technology-driven consulting services and value-added software components. 

What impact does the talent have within the organization? 
Within Loyens & Loeff, Thamar has built a reputation as an engaged and collaborative team member. 

She is an active member of the firm’s Private Equity group, where she plays an important role in developing and maintaining the knowledge base underpinning our PE practice. She contributes to keeping the team up to date on developments and trends in the private equity market, further developing and refining the models used in our PE transactions, and sharing knowledge and experience relating to our core PE clients. In doing so, she helps ensure that relevant market knowledge, precedents and client insights are shared effectively across the team and translated into our day-to-day PE practice. 

In addition, she actively contributes to the firm's Due Diligence knowledge group, where she is involved in discussions and projects aimed at making due diligence work more efficient, consistent and future-proof. Her contributions extend beyond day-to-day client work and demonstrate a genuine commitment to improving the way the firm's M&A practice operates. 

Colleagues value Thamar for her openness, energy and willingness to share knowledge. Through both her international experience and her enthusiasm for innovation, she brings fresh perspectives to the team and helps foster collaboration across offices and disciplines. 

By combining client excellence with active involvement in the development of the practice, Thamar contributes to the long-term success and competitiveness of the firm. 

What impact does the talent have outside the organization? 
Her interest in legal innovation and the responsible application of AI reflects wider developments within the legal profession. By exploring how technology can improve transaction processes, she contributes to broader discussions about the future of legal services and the evolving role of lawyers within M&A transactions. 

Thamar is actively involved in mentoring first-generation university students, helping talented young people navigate academic and professional environments that may otherwise feel inaccessible. Through this mentorship, she invests in broadening access to the legal profession, sharing guidance, practical insights and encouragement with students who often lack established professional networks. Her commitment reflects a genuine dedication to creating opportunities for the next generation of diverse legal talent. 

To what extent does the talent make a difference when working with clients? 
Clients appreciate Thamar's responsiveness, practical mindset and ability to distil complex legal matters and issues into clear and practical advice, making even highly technical legal matters readily understandable to clients. 

She quickly gains the trust of clients because she combines technical legal expertise with a strong understanding of transaction dynamics and commercial objectives. Rather than focusing solely on legal analysis, she consistently looks for pragmatic solutions that facilitate successful outcomes. In doing so, Thamar does not limit herself to her core corporate and M&A expertise. She actively develops her understanding of legal areas that intersect with transactions, including administrative law and intellectual property law. This broader legal perspective enables her to engage confidently and substantively with specialists and counterparties on multidisciplinary issues, negotiate effectively on matters extending beyond traditional corporate law and ultimately help the parties reach practical and acceptable solutions. 

Her international experience further strengthens her ability to support clients on cross-border matters, enabling her to understand the expectations and working styles of different stakeholders involved in international transactions. 

Whether acting for private equity investors, corporates or founders, Thamar is known for being reliable, dedicated and fully committed to helping clients achieve their objectives. 

Why does the talent deserves this nomination? 
Thamar Sikkes represents the next generation of M&A lawyers. 

She combines outstanding legal skills with international experience, commercial awareness, intellectual curiosity and a clear commitment to innovation. In a relatively short period of time, she has established herself as a trusted advisor to clients, a valued colleague within the firm and an active contributor to the future development of the M&A practice. 

Thamar has gained significant experience working on leading M&A transactions in the Dutch market, in which she has increasingly taken on a leading role. This has allowed her to build a level of transactional expertise, judgement and experience that distinguishes her among her peers and places her among the leading M&A lawyers of her generation in the Netherlands. 

In addition, her two-year London secondment, her participation in the Grotius Mergers & Acquisitions programme, her involvement in innovation initiatives and her growing transactional experience all demonstrate exceptional ambition and potential. 

For these reasons, we strongly believe that Thamar deserves recognition as one of the most promising young M&A lawyers in the Netherlands and is an excellent candidate for the Best Young M&A Lawyer Award. 

Any references or recommendations from clients or (colleagues)? 
Quote of a colleague: Thamar's impact extends beyond technical excellence. She has a remarkable ability to gain the confidence of clients, colleagues and counterparties alike through her authenticity, empathy and pragmatic approach. By making people feel heard and valued, she builds strong, motivated teams that are willing to go the extra mile, which is often critical in delivering successful outcomes on complex transactions. 

Quote of Thamar: The best deals are made by people who understand each other. My job is to make sure that happens, between client and counterparty, across borders, and within our team. Technology will make (part of) our work faster. Our value will move to what comes after: seeing the risk that matters and helping the client decide. 

---

Vote for ? You can't change this later.

Confirm vote Cancel