What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

I have been involved in contract negotiations with clients, suppliers, strategic partners and shareholders. Next to the traditional contract negotiations, I have assisted the company to organise and amend its internal governance (both internal and towards its subsidiaries) to its needs.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

My term as an in-house counsel at ARC Europe has been particularly unique and interesting. When I joined the company seven and a half years ago, the automotive clients were starting to develop their strategy for greening. The sector was also starting to embrace digitalisation. In a few years’ time, I have seen the world change at a very rapid pace: COVID and the new ways of working, the focus on EVs and green cars, the introduction of Chinese car manufacturers, digitalisation, the growing interest in IT Security, privacy and overall compliance.

What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

An in-house counsel needs to take time to get to know the company they’re working for and also its clients and supply chain. With this knowledge, an in-house counsel can help to add value to a collaboration, the actual and future business model of the company. Additionally, this knowledge allows in-house counsel to assist the company transition to a successful future and advise the company when exploring new areas.

What strategies do you employ to ensure the successful digital transformation of a legal department while maintaining compliance with your country’s data protection laws?

Before onboarding any supplier, we perform a vender risk assessment. In this assessment, we ask the potential supplier to provide an insight on their IT Security maturity and also investigate if the supplier is compliant with data protection legislation.