Niels Laenen

I am an associate in the Amsterdam office of Bird & Bird. I assist clients on a wide variety of financing transactions and I provide financial regulatory advice.

As a lawyer at Bird & Bird, I specialise in a broad range of financing transactions, including project finance, leveraged finance, acquisition finance and various types of asset-based financing. I advise both lenders and borrowers on complex structured finance arrangements, helping clients navigate the commercial and legal challenges inherent in sophisticated funding structures.

My practice also encompasses financial regulatory advice, drawing on my previous experience working for a financial supervisor. This background provides me with practical insights into regulatory compliance and supervisory expectations, which I apply when advising clients in the FinTech sector. I regularly assist payment service providers (PSPs), electronic money institutions (EMIs) and crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) on authorisation questions, ongoing regulatory obligations and regulatory change.

I take a commercial approach to legal advice, working closely with clients to understand their business objectives and deliver pragmatic solutions. Whether structuring a multi-jurisdictional financing or advising on regulatory strategy, I aim to provide clear, actionable guidance that supports informed decision-making.

I am committed to building long-term relationships with clients and delivering responsive, high-quality legal services.