Experience

Evelyn Tjon-En-Fa is a Partner at Bird & Bird in the Netherlands, where she serves as Co-Managing Partner of the Dutch offices and as a member of the firm’s global Executive Committee. She also holds leading roles within the firm’s dispute resolution framework, including Co-Head of Bird & Bird's International Dispute Resolution practice group and Co-Head of the International Insurance Group. In these capacities, Tjon-En-Fa oversees a broad litigation practice that spans multiple sectors and jurisdictions, underscoring her position as a central figure in Bird & Bird’s cross-border disputes work. Tjon-En-Fa specializes in managing complex disputes across multiple sectors, with a focus on civil procedure, cross-border litigation, and insurance-related claims. Her practice emphasizes the integration of sophisticated technical understanding with strategic litigation management, enabling her to guide clients through intricate disputes that require both legal excellence and technical insight. She emphasizes an approach that blends pre-trial advisory work, negotiation, and, where necessary, formal proceedings, including potential Supreme Court engagements. Within her role, Tjon-En-Fa collaborates closely with sector specialists to address disputes that are not only legally complex but also technically intricate. Her practice areas include insurance coverage and liability matters, construction and infrastructure disputes, energy, life sciences, technology and communications, and other highly regulated sectors. She is known for taking on matters that demand careful fact-finding, careful causation and damage assessment, and a practical, client-centered approach to dispute resolution. Among her notable professional duties, Tjon-En-Fa has led large internal investigations and crisis-management projects for multinational clients, reflecting her capacity to navigate regulatory scrutiny and high-stakes investigations. She has served as a lead civil lawyer in numerous private enforcement claims with substantial value, including engagements where the total value exceeded €1 billion, often involving complex collaboration agreements and structured financing. Her work extends to cross-border disputes in construction and infrastructure projects, where she represents major construction companies in disputes with commissioning parties and subcontractors. In the realm of notable cases, Tjon-En-Fa has been involved in representing clients in disputes around patent licensing and technology, including a high-profile Supreme Court matter for a biopharmaceutical company related to Nanobody technology, demonstrating her capability as a Supreme Court litigator. Her experience also includes cross-border enforcement actions and matters that require sophisticated litigation strategies across jurisdictions. Beyond her litigation practice, Tjon-En-Fa is a co-founder and co-head of BirdBuzz, Bird & Bird’s Dutch knowledge portal. This initiative demonstrates her commitment to knowledge-sharing and practice development within the Dutch market, and it aligns with her leadership role in developing resources for clients and colleagues alike. Education and professional credentials underpinning her practice include her study of Law of the Netherlands at Tilburg University (2001), admission to the Bar of Rotterdam (2001) and the Bar of The Hague (2004), and unconditional admission as a member of the Supreme Court Civil Litigator’s Bar (since 2012). Her formal education and continued engagement with the highest levels of Dutch civil procedure reinforce her status as one of the Netherlands’ leading dispute resolution practitioners.

Specialty

Tjon-En-Fa’s practice centers on dispute resolution, with a pronounced emphasis on civil procedure, cross-border litigation, and insurance-related disputes. Her work spans both contractual and tort-based disputes, including complex liability and damages issues in major infrastructure, energy, life sciences, and technology sectors. She is frequently engaged in arbitration and cassation matters as part of a comprehensive dispute strategy. Her sector focus is broad but includes insurance, technology and communications, construction and infrastructure, energy, life sciences, and other regulated industries. She works closely with Bird & Bird’s sector specialists to tailor dispute strategies that reflect both legal risk and commercial objectives. In addition to traditional litigation, her practice encompasses crisis management, regulatory investigations, and multi-jurisdictional dispute resolution, demonstrating a holistic approach to legal strategy in complex environments. Within the Netherlands, she is widely recognized as a leading figure in dispute resolution, including experience as a Supreme Court litigator. This combination of procedural mastery and sector-specific insight positions Tjon-En-Fa as a go-to adviser for high-stakes disputes that involve technical considerations and cross-border elements.

Education

Tjon-En-Fa studied Law of the Netherlands at Tilburg University, completing her degree in 2001. She is admitted to the Bar of Rotterdam (2001) and to the Bar of The Hague (2004). She was unconditionally admitted as a member of the Supreme Court Civil Litigator’s Bar in 2012, and she has acted as a Supreme Court litigator since 2004, reflecting a long-standing engagement with the highest tiers of Dutch civil procedure. In addition to her legal training, she pursued classical violin performance training, underscoring a notable parallel in her professional profile.

Achievements and Recognition

Chambers Europe 2024: Ranked for Dispute Resolution and Insurance; Top ranked lawyers: Netherlands – Dispute Resolution. Source: https://www.twobirds.com/en/people/e/evelyn-tjon-en-fa
Chambers Global 2025: Testimonials recognize Tjon-En-Fa as a leading figure in litigation, described as a “hidden wonder of the litigation world.” Source: https://www.twobirds.com/en/people/e/evelyn-tjon-en-fa
The Legal 500 EMEA, 2024: Recognized for excellence in dispute resolution and insurance work, with quotes highlighting her capabilities in complex, cross-border matters. Source: https://www.twobirds.com/en/people/e/evelyn-tjon-en-fa
Leaders League 2024: Highly recommended for dispute resolution and for industrial risks and liability litigation. Source: https://www.twobirds.com/en/people/e/evelyn-tjon-en-fa
Advocatie (April 8, 2013): Bird & Bird named Evelyn Tjon-En-Fa among eleven new partners worldwide, including her work in The Hague. Source: https://www.advocatie.nl/nieuws/bird-bird-zeven-van-de elf-nieuwe-partners-zijn-vrouw/

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