Our Story
Stronger deals through smarter guidance.
Ace Legal was founded on a singular conviction: legal advice should never be a mere formality. It should be a strategic lever that shapes structure, mitigates risk, and maximizes negotiation leverage.
In a market of fragmented advice and unnecessary complexity, we offer a different model. We don’t drown deals in memos or overstaff projects with juniors. We provide Senior oversight. One partner-level lead who understands the commercial heartbeat of a transaction and activates a high-tier specialist network only when it adds measurable value.
Full-scope
We provide top-tier M&A expertise without the traditional law firm's "factory" model. We know our core - and we know exactly who to bring in for the rest.
Dedicated & accessible
One single, partner-level contact throughout the process - clear, available, accountable. We build genuine, lasting relationships based on trust, transparency and collaboration.
Pragmatic
We don't just point out risks; we solve them. Our advice is pragmatic, actionable, and always aligned with your commercial objectives.
Founder
Bas Kruijt is a seasoned M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital specialist with a career defined by high-stakes transactions and strategic legal leadership. He developed his foundation at two leading Amsterdam law firms, where he mastered the legal precision and tactical sharpness required for complex domestic and cross-border mandates.
His perspective expanded significantly when he transitioned to the buy-side, serving as in-house legal counsel for a prominent institutional investor (with over €15 billion AUM). In this role, he learned firsthand how legal frameworks directly impact commercial returns and institutional decision-making. He later specialized in building scalable legal departments for high-growth companies, proving that legal processes can be a driver for execution rather than a bottleneck.
What sets Bas apart is that he has operated on all sides of the table: as outside counsel, as an in-house lead for major funds, and as an entrepreneur. This 360-degree vision allows him to act not just as a lawyer, but as a true strategic partner. His approach is pragmatic and creative, driven by a genuine curiosity about his clients' business dynamics. At Ace Legal, he translates this extensive background into a model where commercial pressure and legal excellence are perfectly in balance.
Team
Bas Kruijt
Core Transaction Partner
Founder of Ace Legal, with 13+ years in (cross-border) M&A, Private Equity, and deal structuring. Bas has led numerous transactions and brings a unique strategic edge through his background in investment management and entrepreneurship. He bridges the gap between rigorous legal frameworks and commercial deal reality.
Derk de Wolf
Core Transaction Partner
A seasoned expert in M&A and corporate transactions, Derk combines deep deal experience with specialized expertise in employment law and corporate litigation. He provides comprehensive support across all legal aspects of a transaction, ensuring both deal-certainty and long-term structural stability.
Specialist bench
Specialist Bench
Expert Legal and Advisory Partners
Our core team is supported by a hand-picked network of 20+ partners in specific legal areas, M&A Advisory, Tax Advisory and Notary Services. We scale our team to match the complexity of your deal, ensuring you only pay for the expertise you actually need.
Key numbers
50+
Deals completed
20+
Specialist Network Partners
€ 750M+
Combined transaction value
12+
Average years of senior experience
9.4/10
Client score for expertise
