Tjarda van der Vijver (1984) is a lawyer (advocaat) at the Amsterdam bar.

From an early age, Tjarda has been passionate about the law and its interaction with society at large. He studied law at Leiden University (NL), graduating cum laude in European law and company law. Tjarda continued his studies at King’s College London, graduating with merit in competition law and economics.

During his studies, Tjarda was the editorial assistant for a human rights magazine and worked for a Dutch senator on EU legal matters. His master’s thesis on exemptions to third party access in the energy sector won prizes by the Dutch Association of Energy Law, the Dutch Association of European Law and the Royal Dutch Gas Association.

After his studies, Tjarda started working for the Dutch Competition Authority (ACM) in 2009 where he was active in competition enforcement in regulated sectors. He also became an external PhD researcher at Leiden University, resulting in a PhD thesis on the objective justification of prima facie abuse of dominance which he defended in 2014. Tjarda spent several months as a visiting researcher at the European University Institute in 2018.

From 2013 onwards, Tjarda worked at Allen & Overy LLP in the competition & regulatory team. He was involved in advisory work, mergers & acquisitions and litigation. Tjarda was also involved in pro bono work, setting up a cooperation with the Amsterdam non-discrimination agency. He enjoys academic research and giving guest lectures.

In 2022, Tjarda set up Ecolytico Legal. In order to advocate for a better world.

For further details, see my profile on LinkedIn.

Experience

  • Energy sector

    Successfully litigated on behalf of an energy company on a dispute on tariffs.

  • Waste sector

    Advised a major waste company on an innovative cooperation project to reduce CO2 emissions.

  • Public interest

    Represented various clients before the Netherlands Institute of human rights, e.g. on discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, nationality, religion and gender.

  • Insurance sector

    Advised several organisations in the insurance sector, including on several transactions and forms of cooperation to foster public interest.

  • Postal sector

    Successfully represented PostNL in its challenge against market regulation.

  • Telecoms sector

    Successfully represented KPN in its challenge against market regulation, and in its joint venture with APG setting up Glaspoort.

  • Electricity sector

    Advised a major power market on the regulatory regime.

  • Transport sector

    Represented an innovative mobility service provider in an abuse of dominance complaint.

  • Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

    Advising several organisations on the implications of the CSDD Directive by the European Commission.

  • NGOs

    Advising several NGOs on strategic matters related to litigation and policy matters.

  • State aid

    Advising in several matters related to State aid.

What people say about Tjarda

  • Legal 500 2022

    “[He is] very amicable, smart, customer-oriented. Fast and excellent quality”.

  • Who's Who Legal 2021

    Peers and clients say:
    ”He’s a truly inspiring lawyer and person”

  • Chambers 2021

    Tjarda van der Vijver enters the table following glowing praise from market commentators. (…) His diligence is remarked upon by clients, one citing his “comprehensiveness”

  • Legal 500 2020

    “Tjarda van der Vijver is a true partner to me as a client, he has in-depth knowledge of our sector and delivers clear, pragmatic and crisp advice”

  • Who's Who Legal 2019

    Tjarda is lauded as a “pleasure to work with” by commentators. He is recognised as a “good communicator and case manager” who writes “clearly and convincingly”

  • Legal 500 2019

    Tjarda van der Vijver is noted as “very promising, talented and dedicated”