Rotterdam boutique firm Smallegange Lawyers has absorbed a premier four-lawyer maritime team led by industry veterans Marcel Verhagen and Ton Jumelet, expanding its specialist roster to ten dedicated attorneys. The strategic consolidation creates one of the largest dedicated maritime practices in Europe’s busiest port, positioning the firm to handle increasingly complex, cross-border shipping, insurance, and trade mandates.
Rotterdam| July 1, 2026 – In a move that underscores the tightening market for specialized legal counsel in Europe’s premier shipping hub, Rotterdam boutique firm Smallegange Lawyers has absorbed a highly regarded four-lawyer maritime team, effectively scaling its specialist practice to ten dedicated attorneys.
The expansion, which took effect July 1, sees veteran maritime partners Marcel Verhagen and Ton Jumelet join Smallegange, accompanied by associates Osman Yesildag and Daan Tilburg. The lateral acquisition stands out not only for its scale but for its preservation of a intact team, a strategic play increasingly favored by boutique firms looking to defend market share against larger, full-service international practices.
Scale and Synergy in Europe’s Busiest Port
For decades, Verhagen and Jumelet have been institutional fixtures in the Dutch maritime landscape, anchoring a practice that spans the full matrix of the blue economy: shipowners, marine insurers, P&I clubs, commodity trading houses, and terminal operators.
By integrating this team, Smallegange is visibly positioning itself to handle increasingly complex, cross-border disputes and transactional mandates at a time when the maritime sector faces mounting regulatory pressures—from decarbonization compliance to shifting supply chain corridors.
Julian van de Velde, Partner at Smallegange Lawyers, framed the expansion as a transformative cultural and operational fit rather than a mere headcount increase:
“This is far more than the addition of four professionals. We are bringing together two complementary maritime practices, giving clients access to one of the broadest specialist maritime legal teams in the Port of Rotterdam. Marcel, Ton, Osman and Daan bring not only an outstanding international network, but also a way of working that perfectly matches our firm’s culture and ambitions.”
The Boutique Defense
The consolidation of specialized maritime practices reflects a broader trend within shipping law. As mega-firms diversify into broader corporate sectors, boutique outfits in major hubs like Rotterdam, London, and Singapore are doubling down on their core specialization to offer clients highly technical, cost-effective domain expertise.
The legal team’s decision to move as a unified collective underscores their deliberate strategy to leverage Smallegange’s existing cross-border platform.
- The Team Before: 6 specialized maritime lawyers.
- The Acquisition: +4 incoming legal specialists (Marcel Verhagen, Ton Jumelet, Osman Yesildag, and Daan Tilburg).
- The New Roster: 10 core maritime attorneys, establishing the firm as one of the largest dedicated shipping and transport practices in Rotterdam.
“We have deliberately chosen to make this move together as a team, which reflects the confidence we have in the firm and the opportunities we see ahead,” Marcel Verhagen noted. “Our respective practices complement each other exceptionally well and provide a strong foundation for further expanding the maritime practice in the years to come.”
Focus on Sector Strategy & Scaling
Smallegange’s fortified footprint arrives at a critical juncture for the maritime, logistics, and marine insurance sectors. As shipping lines navigate volatile freight environments, evolving sanctions regimes, and insurance complexities tied to new alternative marine fuels, the demand for deeply entrenched sector specialists is hitting a premium.
With its newly expanded roster, Smallegange, traditionally well-regarded by independent legal directories like Chambers and The Legal 500, signals that it has the critical mass to go toe-to-toe with Tier-1 international firms operating in the ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) refining and shipping cluster.
About Smallegange Lawyers
Smallegange Lawyers is an elite maritime and transport law boutique operating a high-stakes advisory and dispute resolution practice at the intersection of global trade, logistics, and marine insurance. Headquartered in Rotterdam, the firm provides specialized legal counsel to a sophisticated international clientele, including shipowners, P&I clubs, marine underwriters, commodity trading houses, and port infrastructure operators.
Consistently recognized for its deep domain expertise and technical precision by premier independent legal directories, including Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500, Smallegange delivers the robust cross-border capabilities of a global practice with the agility, focus, and senior-led service of a dedicated sector specialist.
Source: Smallegange Lawyers