Corona Legal

Corona Legal is a Dutch law firm specialized in shareholder litigation and corporate law. We can help you with all your questions regarding corporate governance, corporate & commercial law, shareholder litigation, virtual general meeting and responsible investment.
About Corona legalWhat we do

Corona Legal

Corona Legal is a Dutch law firm specialized in shareholder litigation and corporate law. The daily management of Corona Legal is in the hand of Anatoli van der Krans. Anatoli is a lawyer with a great interest in economics and specialized in advising shareholders and corporations.

His focus is on the cutting edge of law and economics. His style can be described as an effective combination of human- and purpose oriented.

As attorney, Anatoli is specialized in corporate law. Amongst others, he advises institutional investors regarding the best options to recover securities fraud related losses on investments and to improve the corporate governance. Member of the Amsterdam Bar Association, his experience includes many class actions and group litigations including MGM, Volkswagen, Fortis, Olympus and RBS.

What does Corona mean?

‘Corona’ is Greek/ Latin for ‘crown’, the surname of Anatoli. The winning athletes of the Olympic Games of the old Greeks received a corona. A crown of oak leafs. A proof of honor, restricted to those that performed to the best of their abilities. The highest honor for athletes. It is the mission of Anatoli to help you via Corona Legal to perform to the best of your abilities as well.

Anatoli van der Krans

Attorney at Law

Anatoli studied financial law at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. He started his career as an associate professor corporate law at the Utrecht University. Besides lecturing he did extensive research into corporate governance and the virtual general meeting of shareholders (PhD). After finishing his PhD-thesis, he joined a major law firm in Amsterdam to advice corporations and to litigate on behalf of a financial supervisors. While working as a senior advisor responsible investment at one of the largest pension asset managers he gained lots of experience with Active Ownership, ESG integration, Shareholder Litigation, Client Relationship Management and CSR. Anatoli is chief-editor of ‘Onderneming & Financiering’, one of the most respected scientific corporate law journals. He publishes and speaks regularly. He is a Board Member of the Foundation Electronic Communication between Corporations and Shareholders (SECVA).

Corona Legal has access to a broad network of professional with the same vision and philosophy: people with experience and authority in their field and with the urge to achieve clear results.

Anatoli has registered the following main (and sub) areas of law in the Register of Jurisdictions of the Dutch Bar Association: General Practice, Civil (Procedural) Law.

Based on this registration, he is required to obtain ten training points per calendar year in each registered main area of law, in accordance with the standards of the Dutch Bar Association.

Corporate Governance

Good corporate governance is nowadays an essential in modern corporate thinking. Classic corporate governance was very much legal framed and focused primarily on the internal relation of the different organs of a corporation.
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Corporate and Commercial Law

Corona Legal has extensive experience in corporate & commercial law and litigation. We assist our clients in drafting and evaluating contracts, such as contracts of sale, NDA’s, management agreements, agency contracts and distribution contracts, as well as disputes regarding such contracts.

Shareholder Litigation

European societies generally prefers to settle disputes without going to court. However, in some cases claiming redress for suffered losses is inevitable. The US class action system provide shareholder with a powerful instrument to recover securities fraud related losses.

Virtual General Meeting

Modern means of communication allow shareholders to communicate quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively with each other and the Board and to cast their votes.

Responsible Investment

Corona Legal defines responsible investment as investment activities in which environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria are taken into account. This matches with an investment portfolio that strikes a balance between the fiduciary duty (risk/ return- profile) and the societal (moral) responsibilities of investors.

Corporate Governance

Good corporate governance is nowadays an essential in modern corporate thinking. Classic corporate governance was very much legal framed and focused primarily on the internal relation of the different organs of a corporation. Corporate and academic leaders have added to this spectrum aspects like risks, compliance and culture (RCC). Expectation/ pressure on corporations from society, shareholders and supervisors has increased to take their corporate social responsibility and to take material environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into account. ESG factors and risk, compliance and culture can best be approached from a holistic/ integral way. Corona Legal advises corporations and non-profit organizations how to best implement an optimal governance structure. Examples are:

  • Implementation good governance (codes)
  • Risk governance
  • Stakeholder dialogue, communication and rapports
  • Risk culture (including behavior aspects)
  • Board evaluation, improvements and education
  • (re)development and implementation of Code of Conduct
  • Interim management by governance professionals/ corporate secretary

 

Corporate and Commercial Law

Corona Legal has extensive experience in corporate & commercial law and litigation. We assist our clients in drafting and evaluating contracts, such as contracts of sale, NDA’s, management agreements, agency contracts and distribution contracts, as well as disputes regarding such contracts.

Corona Legal provides our Dutch and international clients with clear, imaginative and practical advice on all matters of Dutch corporate law including shareholder agreements, shareholder disputes, merger and acquisitions and restructuring.

Shareholder Litigation

European societies generally prefers to settle disputes without going to court. However, in some cases claiming redress for suffered losses is inevitable. The US class action system provide shareholder with a powerful instrument to recover securities fraud related losses. Next to the US, an increasing number of jurisdictions worldwide provide shareholders and/ or interested parties redress via litigation. Corona Legal can assist investors with the recovery of investment losses worldwide. We offer recovery services on a global scale in cases of corporate misconduct, market abuse, violation of corporate laws and securities laws, bankruptcy or restructuring, investment fraud and similar situations.

The main objectives of becoming active in shareholder litigation are usually indemnification, long term value creation, the company’s business continuity and/or accomplishing good corporate governance and corporate behavior. We will only advice cases where there is a clear legal merit to it, such as – but not limited to – fraud and/or improper corporate governance. Pursuing these cases can have a purifying effect on the company, especially when going after the wrong-doers and when pursuing corporate governance and changes in corporate behavior.

Before initiating a case, the case has to be evaluated on a number of criteria including jurisdiction, strength & weakness, track record of the lawyer, story in the media, financing etc. In case, a procedure in the Netherlands offers the best opportunity to recover losses, Corona Legal is fully equipped to file such case. In case other jurisdictions are more attractive, Corona Legal can help investors monitoring the case and negotiating a settlement. All of the above in close communication and consultation with your fund.

Shareholder Litigation

European societies generally prefers to settle disputes without going to court. However, in some cases claiming redress for suffered losses is inevitable. The US class action system provide shareholder with a powerful instrument to recover securities fraud related losses. Next to the US, an increasing number of jurisdictions worldwide provide shareholders and/ or interested parties redress via litigation. Corona Legal can assist investors with the recovery of investment losses worldwide. We offer recovery services on a global scale in cases of corporate misconduct, market abuse, violation of corporate laws and securities laws, bankruptcy or restructuring, investment fraud and similar situations.

The main objectives of becoming active in shareholder litigation are usually indemnification, long term value creation, the company’s business continuity and/or accomplishing good corporate governance and corporate behavior. We will only advice cases where there is a clear legal merit to it, such as – but not limited to – fraud and/or improper corporate governance. Pursuing these cases can have a purifying effect on the company, especially when going after the wrong-doers and when pursuing corporate governance and changes in corporate behavior.

Before initiating a case, the case has to be evaluated on a number of criteria including jurisdiction, strength & weakness, track record of the lawyer, story in the media, financing etc. In case, a procedure in the Netherlands offers the best opportunity to recover losses, Corona Legal is fully equipped to file such case. In case other jurisdictions are more attractive, Corona Legal can help investors monitoring the case and negotiating a settlement. All of the above in close communication and consultation with your fund.

Virtual Shareholders Meeting

Modern means of communication allow shareholders to communicate quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively with each other and the Board and to cast their votes. Especially for corporations with (world) widespread stock, modern ways of communication may imply an enormous stimulus to participation and representation at the AGM. Corporations may profit from these modern means of communication by choosing for an entire virtual general meeting, a hybrid meeting or a physical meeting combined with webcast. At a virtual shareholders meeting there is no physical gathering of shareholders, but they will be able to assemble and vote via the internet. A hybrid meeting is a formal physical meeting preceded by a virtual discussion. Anatoli van der Krans has written his PhD research on the virtual general meeting and is therefore exceptionally well positioned to advice about the considerations (legal, technical and corporate governance) to employ modern means of communication.
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Download (pdf)

You can download the PhD thesis on the virtual shareholders meeting including a summary in English here.

Virtuele Aandeelhoudersvergadering

Modern means of communication allow shareholders to communicate quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively with each other and the Board and to cast their votes. Especially for corporations with (world) widespread stock, modern ways of communication may imply an enormous stimulus to participation and representation at the AGM. Corporations may profit from these modern means of communication by choosing for an entire virtual general meeting, a hybrid meeting or a physical meeting combined with webcast. At a virtual shareholders meeting there is no physical gathering of shareholders, but they will be able to assemble and vote via the internet. A hybrid meeting is a formal physical meeting preceded by a virtual discussion. Anatoli van der Krans has written his PhD research on the virtual general meeting and is therefore exceptionally well positioned to advice about the considerations (legal, technical and corporate governance) to employ modern means of communication.
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Virtuele Aandeelhoudersvergadering (pdf)

Proefschrift Anatoli van der Krans (2009)

Responsible Investment

Corona Legal defines responsible investment as investment activities in which environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria are taken into account. This matches with an investment portfolio that strikes a balance between the fiduciary duty (risk/ return- profile) and the societal (moral) responsibilities of investors. Corona Legal believes that companies that have imbedded a strong a coherent Corporate Social Responsibility-strategy will outperform the market on the long run. Responsible Investment is however not only about integrating ESG in investments. The other side of the same medal is active ownership. Anatoli van der Krans has years of experience in effectively using the three instruments of active ownership (voting, dialogue and shareholder litigation.)

When used effectively, investors can have a great deal of influence on the strategy, finance, corporate governance or ESG the companies they invested in. Corona Legal can help you:

  • Write and keep up-to-date of a voting policy, engagement policy and shareholder litigation policy
  • Having an effective dialogue focused on achieving clear targets and milestones
  • Integrate ESG criteria in the investment decision making process
  • Write and keep up-to-date of a responsible investment policy.

anatoli

Mr. dr. Anatoli van der Krans
Attorney at Law

De Entree 143
1101 HE Amsterdam

Contact information
Phone : +31 (0)20 247 4030
Mobile : +31 (6) 15 864 053
E-mail : anatoli@coronalegal.nl

IBAN: NL46 INGB 0006 9343 04
VAT nr:182187767B02
KvK nr: 63359383

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