Less than one month after Scott+Scott officially launched an office in Amsterdam, the U.S.-based firm has recruited a partner and two senior lawyers for that office – its only one in continental Europe.

Damiën Berkhout has joined the firm as a partner from the Dutch law firm Buren, where he was also a partner. He previously worked for the Benelux law firm Stibbe in Amsterdam.

Stefan Tuinenga and Marianne Meijssen have also made the move. Tuinenga was previously head of the Fair Trade Authority of Curacao, and Meijssen joins from the Dutch independent law firm Maverick, which specialises in competition law. Like Berkhout, she previously worked at Stibbe.

All three attorneys have extensive experience in litigation and competition law. Berkhout is an expert in complex litigation and cartel damages claims. Tuinenga has longstanding experience in international antitrust litigation and collective actions. Meijssen specialises in competition litigation.

"It is exciting to join the first international firm devoted to claimant-side litigation in the Netherlands," Berkhout said.

Scott+Scott, which has offices in New York, Connecticut, California and London and focuses its practice solely on claimant litigation, advises multinational corporations and institutional investors on recovery programmes and opportunities. It also helps companies recoup money in complex cases involving competition law violations and other misconduct.

David Scott, the firm's managing partner, said expansion of the Amsterdam office was in response to client demand for competition expertise. Clients want a be able to choose whether they litigate in London or Amsterdam, he said. The firm's only other non-U.S. office is in London.

Scott said the firm chose to expand in Amsterdam because it is a sophisticated legal centre and  is "very claimant-friendly".

Scott+Scott aims to use the Amsterdam office to secure relief for U.S.-based clients without having to engage separate local law firms. The office will also address client concerns about litigating claims in the U.K. post-Brexit, he said.

While Scott declined to discuss in detail further growth plans for the Amsterdam office, he said that "given early indications, the office is going to grow significantly".

Scott+Scott has represented a range of corporations in Europe, including Hermès, GrandVision and Vodafone, in lawsuits against Visa and Mastercard alleging that the fees they impose for accepting payment cards breach European competition law.