My Story!
About
After graduating from law school, I did a number of internships at different law firms. I realized that I was more interested in the business considerations underlying a certain legal issue than just solving the legal issue that was presented to me. Being specifically interested in the commercial side of a client’s legal challenge I set out to find a role where I could foster this interest and so I landed my first job as a junior legal counsel at a full-service internet agency, where my passion for working in the field of IT law was born.
Having worked for several international IT companies over the years, including several FinTech scale-ups, I have developed into a seasoned legal counsel with a particularly strong business sense. I specialize in IT law, general contract law and Dutch employment law. During these years I gained a lot of knowledge in SaaS contracting and data protection law (GDPR). I love helping companies in building their legal team and guide them in setting up their legal processes in a way that they can expand responsibly and worldwide.
Education & Working Experience
- General Counsel, HSO, 2023
HSO is a company that helps organisations modernise their business operations through the implementation of Microsoft software. HSO has over more than 2,500 professionals in Europe, North America and Asia. As General Counsel of HSO, I was responsible for all legal, compliance and corporate governance matters across HSO’s various locations and teams, as well as supporting cross-border M&A activities. I was also a member of the HSO Group Management Team. - Senior Legal Counsel, COFRA Holding AG, 2020 – 2023
COFRA, the holding company of a group of companies located in Europe, North and Latin America and Asia, whose activities include among other retail (C&A), real estate (Redevco), private equity investments (Bregal). As the only commercial Legal Counsel at COFRA I was responsible for negotiating complex supplier contracts – with a focus on IT related contracts – for the holding and if needed for its group companies. I act as dedicated legal counsel for the holding its global business services centre, IT, HR, Finance, Facilities & Procurement services. - Senior Legal Counsel, Mambu, 2018 – 2020
Mambu, an international banking (SaaS) software provider.
As the first in house Legal Counsel at Mambu I responsible for building and developing the legal team of Mambu to help Mambu scale up its worldwide growth. I was responsible for drafting the commercial legal templates, negotiating commercial IT agreements, advising the board and business on new products and privacy law related matters. I also supported the HR department on employment law related matters. - Legal Counsel, Ohpen, 2017 – 2018
Ohpen, an international banking (SaaS) software provider.
As a Legal Counsel at Ohpen I was responsible for reviewing, drafting, and negotiating commercial IT agreements. I was responsible for implementing the General Data Protection Regulation within Ohpen and I supported the HR department on employment law related matters. - Legal Counsel, Raet, 2014 – 2017
Raet an international Payroll- and HR- (SaaS) software provider. As a Legal Counsel at Raet I was responsible for all legal matters related to the Dutch market. I was responsible for drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial IT agreements. I was also a member of the sales management team. Besides this I provided legal support to the HR department on employment law related matters, and also supported the compliance department with data protection related matters. - Legal Counsel, DPA legal services, 2014
At DPA, a secondment agency, I worked as an in-house legal counsel focusing on commercial contracts for various IT companies on an interim basis such as AGV Technologies. - Legal Counsel, Mirabeau, 2012 – 2014
At Mirabeau, a full-service internet office focused on front-end development, as a (junior) legal counsel I was responsible for reviewing and drafting commercial IT agreements, monitoring procedures to ensure correct compliance with agreed agreements, corporate housekeeping, creating and raising legal awareness within Mirabeau.
LLM Private Law, University of Amsterdam, 2004 – 2011