Pitch Best Young M&A Lawyer 2023: Max Koene, CORP.

Name: Max Koene
Company: CORP.
Job Description: Lawyer
Age: 33

What are the specialties of this talent?
Max specializes in M&A. He mainly focuses on acquisitions, buy-outs, financing rounds, and joint ventures and advises a wide range of clients, varying from private equity funds to corporates, investors and founders. Max is a highly valued and key member of our Corporate M&A team. He possesses a unique blend of legal acumen, strategic thinking and a deep understanding of the intricacies of M&A.

He has a remarkable ability to structure complex transactions in a way that maximizes value for all parties involved, showcasing pragmatism and creative problem-solving skills. Paul van den Belt (partner Corporate / M&A, CORP.): “Max offers his colleagues and his client’s confidence that he delivers on time and above expectations. He has an excellent connection with the entrepreneurs/management teams of our clients and is a very good partner in the process. He is always ready to work together towards a positive result.”

How does this talent distinguish itself from its peers?
Despite his relatively short number of years of experience, Max shows great maturity and proactivity. He has the ability to take full ownership of the process in complex M&A transactions and to radiate such control to both the team and the client. Eric de Best (partner Corporate / M&A, CORP.): “Max gets the deal done”.

What impact does the talent have within the organization?
Apart from being a key member of the M&A team, Max plays an important role within the organization as a whole. He takes the initiative in the firm’s continued development and is committed to creating a collegial atmosphere where we work hard and have fun. Furthermore, Max is known for his ability to find innovative solutions to complex legal challenges, making him a go-to resource for both clients and colleagues. Max Oosterom (associate Corporate / M&A, CORP.): “Max is a talented, ambitious and above all fun colleague to work with. I value the fact that he is always available for discussion if Im at a loss on a matter myself. In addition, he expresses a huge drive within our firm to seek further expansion and actively involves the whole team in this. Furthermore, he has several clients for which he works independently (and to which he is fully committed), which I find admirable given his seniority. Finally, on a personal note Max is always participating in- and enthusiastic about our firm’s social activities and shows real interest in me on a personal level, which is much appreciated. ”Jim Koster (associate Corporate / M&A, CORP.): “Max is an ‘easy to approach’- colleague and pragmatic to work with. He has broad legal M&A knowledge at his disposal which he is always willing to make insightful to less experienced colleagues in an understandable way. He also engages with colleagues on a personal level and is genuinely interested in what is on people’s minds.”

What impact does the talent have outside the organization?
Max has an exciting social life and likes to be in the company of friends and family. He is thoughtful and committed to his relations including colleagues, clients and other professional connections. Max makes sure that a special occasion is celebrated, or a rough period is given thought of. Furthermore, Max is passionate about sports and likes to take on challenges in this area. Earlier this year he ran his first Marathon in Rotterdam.

To what extent does the talent makes the difference to clients?
By getting the deal done, no matter what the challenges or circumstances are. Max has a reputation for putting client’s interest first. He builds strong relationships by understanding the client’s needs and tailoring his legal strategies accordingly. This, combined with his outstanding transactional knowledge and pragmatism, results in clients often contacting Max directly with both deal-specific and general legal questions. Furthermore, Max has great people skills and as a result, he can easily adapt to the desired situation. Joost Moerland (Partner, Vortex Capital Partners): “Max has become a regular for us over the years, de facto part of our team in multiple situations related to transactions and corporate issues. We have been working with CORP. for many years, which we know as a professional, pragmatic law firm with a sense of humor.

Max fits in perfectly with CORP.’s way of working. He is reachable, and reliable, with a sharp view and overview, and he is a full-fledged counterpart for the necessary consultation and negotiation with the other side of the table. Max also made time to take our broader team through the ins-and-outs of legal documentation during knowledge lunches, which we also greatly appreciate!”

Why does the talent deserves this nomination?
As per the above, Max is an excellent and result driven lawyer as well as a fun colleague, making him a worthy nominee for this prestigious award.