Clifford Chance advises HERA United on becoming the first independent women’s professional football club in the Netherlands

Global law firm Clifford Chance has advised HERA United on its journey to joining professional football as the first independent women’s professional club in the Netherlands, marking a historic milestone in women's sport. HERA United is dedicated to creating equal opportunities for female athletes and reshaping the future of female professional football.

Clifford Chance has supported HERA United on a pro bono basis since 2023, advising on the legal aspects of the Dutch regulations framework which only permitted women’s teams to compete professionally if affiliated with an existing men’s club. Clifford Chance worked closely with HERA United to advocate for reform. This resulted in a landmark regulatory change, allowing standalone women’s football organisations to participate in the professional football leagues as of the new 2025-2026 football season, and ensuring continuity for the players. Read more about it here.

Astrid van Ommeren, Counsel at Clifford Chance, says: "We are honored to have advised HERA United on this groundbreaking journey. This milestone represents a bold step forward for equality in sport, and we’re proud to have supported HERA United since its early days. This collaboration reflects our commitment to equal opportunities and to using the law as a tool for positive change.”

The Clifford Chance team was led by Astrid van Ommeren and further consisted of Floris van de Bult, Maria Boerman, Abe Van ‘t Hek (Employment), Wijnanda Rutten (Pensions), Roel de Jong, Luce Smithuijsen, Michael Serphos, Claartje Bulten (Litigation), Jurre Jurriëns (Antitrust), Robin Houtveen, Johan Anton Niesten (Tax) and Ilse van Gasteren (Restructuring).