Thijs is a real estate lawyer, specializing in project development, procurement law, state aid law, construction law, land exploitation and purchase of investment properties. In the context of real estate transactions, he also advises on private law, public law and corporate law issues. He works for municipalities, developers, investors, corporations and healthcare institutions.

Thijs is noted for his contracting expertise in relation to large-scale construction projects, area developments and property transactions. He also regularly represents clients in construction and procurement law litigation and in other conflicts pertaining to private law.

Thijs studied Dutch Law and Public Administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam. After completing his studies, he successively worked as AIO at Delft University of Technology, legal secretary of the Association for Dutch Project Development Companies (Neprom) and attorney at law at Van Wijmen Nouwen in Breda, and from 1999 at the real estate section of Houthoff Buruma in Rotterdam. In February 2006, he founded the firm Straatman Koster advocaten together with Wilfried Koster. Since January 1, 2025, he has been associated with Straatman Koster as Of counsel attorney.

Thijs regularly publishes on property-related issues and also gives lectures and courses in the field for Kluwer and the Netherlands Institute for Construction Law (IBR), among others. Thijs is co-author of the informative guide ‘Aanbestedingsrecht’ (procurement law) published by Sdu Commentaar.

Since 2009, Thijs has been ranked annually in both Legal500 and Chambers.