Dentons appoints Wendela Raas as new CEO for Europe
Dentons has announced the appointment of Wendela Raas (pictured), a partner based in Amsterdam, as the firm’s new Chief Executive Officer for Europe. Her term will officially begin on November 1, 2024. In her new role, Raas will oversee leadership and strategy for the firm’s European region, which encompasses 23 offices across 18 countries in Europe and Central Asia. This appointment follows the recent selection of Kate Barton as Dentons’ new Global CEO.
Raas has been a prominent figure at Dentons since the firm merged with Amsterdam-based Boekel De Nerée in 2017, where she previously served as Managing Partner. She is currently a member of Dentons’ European and Global Boards and holds the position of Global Vice Chair. Additionally, she leads the firm’s Global Consumer Products and Retail sector group.
With over 25 years of experience in real estate law, Raas is highly regarded for her expertise in commercial leasing, litigation, and transactional work. Her achievements have earned her recognition as a leading real estate lawyer in the Netherlands by Chambers Europe and as a top partner in the retail sector by The Legal 500. Raas is also known for her commitment to nurturing talent and promoting inclusion, playing an active role in Dentons’ talent development programs as a mentor and advisor.
She succeeds Tomasz Dąbrowski, who has served as the European CEO since 2014. During his tenure, Dentons saw significant growth across Europe and Central Asia, doubling its revenue and expanding its number of partners. Under his leadership, the firm strengthened its presence in the region, adding new offices in cities such as Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Luxembourg, Milan, Munich, Rome, and Tbilisi, while bolstering capabilities in key Western European markets.
“I am excited and grateful for the trust my colleagues have placed in me to lead our firm in Europe and Central Asia,” Raas commented. “I want to thank Tomasz Dąbrowski for his immense contributions over the past 11 years, and I look forward to building on his legacy by enhancing and differentiating our brand to meet the evolving needs of our clients across Europe, Central Asia, and Dentons’ more than 80 locations worldwide.”
Dąbrowski expressed his support for Raas’s appointment, saying, “It has been a true honor to serve as European CEO for more than a decade. I am very pleased to pass the leadership to Wendela, who is a consummate professional, a highly respected lawyer, and an experienced leader. I believe she is the right person to guide our teams across Europe into the future.”