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Martijn Scheltema

Attorney-at-law • Partner

Martijn Scheltema joined Pels Rijcken in 1997 as a Supreme Court litigator. He handles cases in the area of private law in relation to the public sector, and expropriation. In addition, he handles cases concerning national and international commercial disputes regarding, inter alia, the annulment of arbitral awards and execution of arbitral awards and other judgments. Outside the Supreme Court practice, he also works on cases involving business human rights, climate change and Sustainable Development Goals. He advises governments and companies on the legal aspects of SDG of relevant legislation, tenders, more effective contractual systems than currently used and in transactions. Martijn is also involved in prominent proceedings in this area, advising on the effectiveness of ubiquitous national and international self- and co-regulation systems. A unique aspect of this business human rights practice involves human rights and artificial intelligence. He has published and lectured in both areas and speaks regularly at international conferences about business human rights. 

Martijn is currently a professor of private law at Erasmus University and chairman of the dispute resolution body of the Dutch CSR covenant for the garment and textile industry and has many other international positions in this area.

Recommendations

  • "Martijn Scheltema is fast in his thinking and he is able to rapidly identify the essentials of a dispute. He is also flexible and has no problems with accepting his client's view or suggestions if aligned with his assessment of the case." - Legal 500, 2025
  • "The legal knowledge of Martijn Scheltema is outstanding!" - Legal 500, 2025
  • "Martijn is an extremely competent lawyer, both in the technical aspect and in creativity. He has a flexible mind, is extremely curious and extremely adaptable. He is a real thought leader." - Chambers Global, 2025
  • "Martijn is an absolute leader in the field." - Chambers Global, 2025
  • "Supreme Court litigator Martijn Scheltema is noted for his knowledge of set-aside proceedings and the enforcement of arbitral awards - The Legal 500, 2024
  • Recommended for Arbitration - The Legal 500, 2025
  • “He is a stellar legal thinker, a superb lawyer in every sense of the word.” - Chambers Global, 2024
  • “He will spare no effort to look at what a client needs.” - Chambers Global, 2024