Independent Arbitrator
Marieke van Hooijdonk is an international arbitrator based in Amsterdam with over 30 years of experience in international arbitration.
Independent Arbitrator
Marieke van Hooijdonk is an international arbitrator based in Amsterdam with over 30 years of experience in international arbitration.
Marieke van Hooijdonk
Marieke van Hooijdonk
Marieke is an independent arbitrator with over 30 years’ experience in international arbitration under a variety of rules (including ICC, LCIA, NAI, and SCC), seats and applicable laws.
Marieke’s extensive experience spans the commercial and corporate spectrum across a wide range of industries (energy, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing) with particular focus on M&A and joint ventures disputes, distribution and franchising, sale of goods and general contract law.
Prior to founding her independent practice, Marieke was a partner at Allen & Overy / A&O Shearman, where she headed the Arbitration Group in Amsterdam. She specialized in international arbitration and arbitration-related court litigation and was recognized in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame, ranked Band 1 for Arbitration by Chambers Europe, and named a Thought Leader by Who’s Who’s Legal Arbitration. In 2025, Marieke chose to focus exclusively on her work as an international arbitrator.
In addition to her arbitrator work, Marieke serves as Vice-President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration and as a member of the ICC Nominations Commission for the Netherlands. From 2014 to 2021, she was the Dutch member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration.
Marieke also serves as a deputy judge at the Court of Appeal in Arnhem-Leeuwarden.
Marieke has law degrees from Columbia Law School in New York (LL.M.) and the University of Amsterdam. She is fluent in Dutch (native) and English, and holds Dutch nationality.
Selected Experience as Arbitrator
Marieke has extensive experience as arbitrator in a diverse range of complex international disputes across multiple industries, sectors and jurisdictions. Her experience encompasses roles as president, co-arbitrator, sole arbitrator and emergency arbitrator under various arbitration rules.
click to read selected arbitrator experience
- President in an FAI arbitration between Finnish and Estonian parties regarding a bank guarantee
- President in an ICC arbitration between Curaçao and Dutch parties regarding the sale and purchase of a refinery
- President in an NAI arbitration regarding a post-acquisition dispute in the oil sector
- President in an NAI arbitration between shareholders regarding the exercise of a call option on shares, breach of non-compete provisions and dividend claims
- President in an NAI arbitration between Dutch and Chinese parties regarding a production agreement
- Co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration seated in London between Dutch and Spanish parties regarding the termination of membership of an association and breach of contract
- Co-arbitrator in an SCC arbitration between US, Swedish and Finnish shareholders on disputes under a shareholders’ agreement
- Co-arbitrator in two related NAI arbitrations between American and Dutch parties regarding breach of a distribution agreement and a loan agreement in the oil sector
- Co-arbitrator in an LCIA arbitration between a developer and a state over a failed hotel development project in Southeast Europe
- Co-arbitrator in an UNUM arbitration between Swiss and Bulgarian parties under a lease agreement for tank containers
- Co-arbitrator in an NAI arbitration regarding a profit share agreement and a settlement agreement between professional real estate developers
- Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between German and Chinese parties under a partnership agreement regarding the sale, purchase and quality of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration between US and Dutch companies regarding the design, supply and installation of a fish farm
- Sole arbitrator in an FAI arbitration between a Finnish company and its Middle Eastern shareholder and former CEO, regarding the transfer of shares
- Sole arbitrator in an NAI arbitration between Indian and Dutch parties under a sales agreement in the food service industry
- Sole arbitrator in an NAI arbitration between Dutch and German parties regarding disputes under three franchise agreements
- Emergency arbitrator in an NAI arbitration regarding disputes under a demerger agreement
- Emergency arbitrator in an NAI arbitration between a contractor and a subcontractor regarding payment for work related to the construction of data centers
- Emergency arbitrator in an NAI arbitration between Dutch and Swedish parties regarding a deferred payment under a share purchase agreement
- Consolidator in two NAI arbitrations between Dutch, German and Polish parties regarding a dispute under various sales contracts
“Marieke van Hooijdonk is an absolute force of nature in arbitration in the Netherlands. A fearless advocate for her client and completely on top of the detail.”
- Legal 500 2024 Dispute Resolution
“Marieke van Hooijdonk is top-notch and has been the best arbitration lawyer in the industry for many years, if not decades – very strong and confident advocacy, razor sharp and very committed to reaching the client’s goals and needs, creative and persuasive, drawing on extensive arbitration experience and expertise.”
- Legal 500 2024 Dispute Resolution
"She is a highly esteemed lawyer for ICC and NAI arbitrations."
- Chambers Global 2024 Dispute Resolution: Arbitration Counsel
“Marieke van Hooijdonk is the grand lady of the Dutch arbitration scene, brilliant sharp mind and excellent analytical and tactical skills. A pleasure to work with.”
- Legal 500 2023 Dispute Resolution
Selected Experience as Counsel
Marieke brings three decades of counsel experience in high-value, cross-border disputes across a wide range of industries. Selected matters include acting for:
click to read selected counsel experience
- an Irish distribution company in two ICC arbitrations and an ICC emergency arbitration against an international pharmaceutical company concerning termination of a collaboration agreement and the purchase of a jointly owned business in the pharmaceutical sector
- an Italian minority shareholder and former CEO in an ad hoc arbitration on the validity of a put option over shares and convertible bonds, and alleged breaches of fiduciary duty
- a Dutch listed company in an ICC arbitration concerning the spin-off of business by its former parent
- a contractor in an ICC arbitration concerning the construction and termination of a gas pipeline from Russia to Europe via the Black Sea
- a leading semiconductor manufacturer in two ICC arbitrations arising from the termination of a joint venture
- a company in an NAI arbitration concerning an earn out payment dispute under a share purchase agreement in the manufacturing sector
- a contractor in an ICC arbitration concerning the design, construction and commissioning of a power plant
- a German listed company in an NAI arbitration over payments due under a share purchase agreement for a cement plan in Kazakhstan
- a State in two parallel ICC arbitrations arising from disputes in the financial sector
- a multinational media company in an LCIA arbitration concerning the provision of media services in Greece
- a Dutch listed company in an NAI arbitration concerning post-divestment disputes under a share purchase agreement for logistics activities
- a purchaser in an NAI arbitration on post-M&A disputes in the downstream oil and gas sector
- a listed chemicals company in two NAI arbitrations following the divestment of its chemical business, including in the United States
- a UAE international trading company in an ICC arbitration in a dispute about the supply of a large volume of steel
- a wastewater treatment company in an arbitration with a water board on the calculation of service fees under a long-term contract
- a listed company in NAI emergency proceedings against a shareholder regarding an investor rights agreement and the issuance of exchangeable bonds
- a company in an ICC arbitration relating to a shareholders’ agreement in the online food-delivery sector
- a real estate development company in an NAI arbitration concerning termination of a service level agreement
- a multinational company in an NAI emergency arbitration against a former director concerning breach of non-compete obligations and the offering and transfer of depositary receipts under an incentive scheme
- an investor in a lawsuit filed by the Kingdom of Spain to enjoin the investor from seeking enforcement of an ECT award in US courts
- the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI) and members of an arbitral tribunal in court proceedings challenging the tribunal’s legitimacy
- the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in preliminary relief proceedings initiated against it to prevent the ICC from appointing an independent expert
- a waste management company in annulment proceedings of an NAI award for alleged misapplication of res judicata