Partner

Thijs Kelder

Thijs Kelder (admitted to the Bar in 2006) mainly handles complex economic and corporate criminal cases. He focuses on environmental criminal law (in particular EU Waste Shipment Regulation), bribery and fraud issues. He also renders legal assistance to professionals entitled to privilege (medical institutions, doctors, lawyers and civil law notaries). As a member of the team of lawyers of the Dutch National Police, Thijs is regularly called in to render assistance to investigating officers who come into conflict with criminal law. Furthermore, Thijs is a renowned criminal cassation specialist and is in charge of the cassation section of our office. He made partner on 1 January 2016.

Who’s Who Legal 2021 says about Thijs:

Thijs Kelder is celebrated as “an excellent Supreme Court lawyer” who sources “would highly recommend” for business crime-related litigation.

The Legal 500 says about Thijs:

‘Thijs Kelder heads up the firm’s cassation practice and is recommended for economic and environmental crime matters.’

Education, career and ancillary positions

Thijs graduated with honours, in Criminal and Criminal Procedure Law, from Leiden University. He wrote two award winning theses. In 2012, he completed the post-graduate Criminal Law specialisation at the Willem Pompe Institute. Apart from being a lawyer, Thijs holds various ancillary positions: he is (acting) chairman of the Dutch Association of Defence Counsel (NVSA), a member of the Admission Committee of the Association of Cassation Lawyers in Criminal Law Cases (VCAS), a member of the Disciplinary Committee for the Banking Sector, a member of the Association of Environmental Law Lawyers (VMA) and he is one of the authors of the magazine Delikt en Delinkwent (legal profession column). Moreover, Thijs frequently organizes trainings and courses for other lawyers. He also regularly publishes articles in the field of Criminal and Criminal Procedure Law.

Languages

Dutch, English and German (fair)

Thijs Kelder is listed in the area of law register of the Dutch Bar Association as a specialist in the field of Criminal Law. This specialisation for instance includes:

- General Practice: Criminal Law
- Cassation: Criminal Law
- Criminal Law: Financial Criminal Law, Criminal Tax Law, International Criminal Law and Environmental Criminal Law.

In accordance with the standards of the Dutch Bar Association, Thijs Kelder annually obtains at least ten educational credits in the field of this specialisation.

Publications 

• De raadsman in cassatie’, in: P.T.C. van Kampen en N. van der Laan (red.), Handboek verdediging, Deventer: Kluwer 2021, p. 567-597 (samen met mr. N. Gonzalez Bos)
• Thijs Kelder and Gerard Spong, Nederlands Juristenblad 2020/357, afl. 6.
• 'Selectie in cassatie in strafzaken. Enkele gedachten over de toekomst van de selectie vóór de poort', Delikt en Delinkwent 2019/34
• ‘Onthouding van processtukken bij pro-formazittingen. Een lapje uit de lappendeken gelicht’, Strafblad 2008, afl. 5, p. 523-533
• Commentaar op de artt. 326a, 328ter, 328quater, 340-345 en 442 Sr, in: M.L.C.C. de Bruijn-Lückers e.a. (red.), SDU Commentaar Strafrecht, Den Haag: SDU Uitgevers (2009-2015)
• Commentaar op de artt. 241c, 445-448 en 456 Sv in: M.L.C.C. de Bruijn-Lückers e.a. (red.), SDU Commentaar Strafvordering, Den Haag: SDU Uitgevers (2009-2015)
• Annotatie onder HR 4 september 2012, NbSr 2012/314
• Annotatie onder HR 9 oktober 2012, NbSr 2012/388
• Annotatie onder HR 19 maart 2013, NbSr 2013/178
• ‘Klagen over nemo tenetur? Niet langer bij de beklagrechter!’, NJB 22 maart 2013, p. 751-752 (samen met mr. C.W. Noorduyn)
• ‘Wegdagvaarden’, in: T.J. Kelder and A.A. Franken (red.), Sporen in het strafrecht (liber amicorum Jan Sjöcrona), Deventer: Kluwer 2014, p. 169-201
• Annotatie onder Hof Amsterdam 16 juli 2014, NbSr 2014/209
• ‘Beslag, beklag en verschoningsrecht: enkele opmerkingen over de “nieuwe” beklagprocedure voor professioneel verschoningsgerechtigden’, in: Th.O.M. Dieben e.a. (red.), Advocaat(-Generaal) (liber amicorum Taru Spronken), Deventer: Kluwer 2015, p. 75-95
• Annotatie onder HR 9 februari 2016, NbSr 2016/63