Leading Dutch firm De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is facing calls to break with one of its trophy clients over a possible conflict of interest with struggling retail giant Ahold.

Pieter Lakeman, a respected corporate governance expert and the head of the Dutch financial watchdog Sobi, told Legal Week the appointment of senior De Brauw partner Peter Wakkie to Ahold’s board of directors could a create conflict and Ahold should seek a new external adviser.