Wendela Raas Named as New CEO for Dentons Europe

Dentons has appointed Wendela Raas, a partner in Amsterdam, as the new Chief Executive Officer for its European operations, with her term commencing on November 1, 2024. In her role, Raas will manage the strategic direction for Dentons across Europe and Central Asia, overseeing 23 offices spanning 18 countries. Her appointment follows the recent naming of Kate Barton as Dentons’ Global CEO.

Raas, who joined Dentons in 2017 following the merger with the Amsterdam-based firm Boekel De Nerée, previously served as Managing Partner of the Dutch office. She currently holds positions on both Dentons’ European and Global Boards and serves as Global Vice Chair. Additionally, she leads the firm’s Global Consumer Products and Retail sector group. With more than 25 years of real estate law experience, she is highly esteemed for her work in commercial leasing, litigation, and transactional law, having been recognized by Chambers Europe as a leading real estate lawyer in the Netherlands and acknowledged by The Legal 500 for her influence in the retail sector. Raas has also been a champion for talent development and inclusion, actively contributing to Dentons’ mentoring and advisory initiatives.

Raas will succeed Tomasz Dąbrowski, who has served as European CEO since 2014. Dąbrowski’s tenure saw marked growth for Dentons, with the firm doubling its revenue and expanding its partner base across Europe and Central Asia. Under his guidance, the firm opened offices in key cities like Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Luxembourg, Milan, Munich, Rome, and Tbilisi while also strengthening its capabilities in major Western European markets.

Expressing her gratitude for the trust placed in her, Raas shared her enthusiasm for the new role and conveyed appreciation for Dąbrowski’s contributions, aiming to further enhance Dentons’ presence across Europe and Central Asia. She noted her intent to carry forward his legacy by evolving Dentons’ brand to meet the diverse needs of clients across the firm’s extensive global network of over 80 locations.

Dąbrowski conveyed his support for Raas’s appointment, expressing pride in his tenure as European CEO and confidence that Raas, known for her professionalism, expertise, and leadership, is the ideal choice to lead Dentons’ European teams into the future.

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