Boontje Advocaten & Mediators

Managing Partner: Pauline Sick

Managing Director: Edith Molemans

Number of partners: 5

Number of lawyers: 23 (including 1 Managing Director, 5 partners, 3 counsels, 4 senior associates,

10 associates)

Languages: Dutch, English, German

Firm Overview

Boontje Advocaten & Mediators (hereinafter referred to as “Boontje”) is a boutique law firm that focuses exclusively on employment law and has been established 22 years ago. Currently employing 23 lawyers, Boontje is the largest firm specialising in employment law in the Netherlands with many lawyers possessing over ten years’ experience in employment law. The choice for highly experienced professionals was consciously made, based on the experience that clients look for a sparring partner, who is able to share thoughts at the required level and can offer fitting impromptu solutions at any time.

Employment law Plus Formula

Thanks to the seniority of its lawyers, Boontje is able to apply what is called the ‘Employment law Plus Formula.’ This formula means that each lawyer, in addition to his or her general knowledge of employment law, focuses on one or more specific areas, such as collective bargaining conditions, co-determination, working conditions, flexible labour, occupationally disabled employees, managing directors and special clauses in employment contracts. As a result, the firm has specific and readily available knowledge in house at any given time and can counsel its clients on employment law matters not only in a broad sense but offer them in-depth advice as well.

In-depth knowledge

This in-depth knowledge is further assured with Prof. C.J. (Cees) Loonstra as senior consultant. Prof. Loonstra is Employment Law university professor at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam and has been involved with Boontje since its foundation in 2001. Senior partner Paul Witteveen largely contributes to the in-depth knowledge of the firm, based on his extensive track-record (practice and academic) in the field of corporate employment law. Also Pauline Sick, Yvette Dissel, Danny Vesters and Björn Schouten are (academic) lecturers. Yvette Dissel lectures e.g. at the ‘Academie voor de rechtspraktijk’, Danny Vesters at the University of Amsterdam and Pauline Sick at the University of Leiden. Furthermore, Björn Schouten obtained a doctoral degree (PhD) in Employment Law in 2021, and is Assistant Professor at the University of Leiden. He is studying to become a lawyer at the Supreme Court of the Netherlands. Boontje maintains a close relationship with the Universities in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Leiden, allowing Boontje to attract and retain most talented employment and labour lawyers.

Clients

The firm’s clients operate in a wide variety of sectors and industries (such as banking, hospitality, life sciences and healthcare, transport, media and entertainment), and include employers (both multinational and medium-sized businesses), managing directors, works councils, interest groups, employees and self-employed entrepreneurs.

International network

The firm can rely on a wide national and international network of niche firms specialising in employment law as well as other fields of law and disciplines. Besides this network of international contacts, Boontje is a member of the Employment Law Alliance (ELA) and Yvette Dissel is one of the Board Members (Europe Chair). The ELA is the world’s largest network of employment and labour law lawyers. With leading employment, labour, and immigration lawyers in more than 120 countries, all 50 US states and every Canadian province, the ELA provides multi-state and multi-national companies seamless and cost-effective services worldwide. International businesses benefit from the ELA’s reach and deep familiarity with both the local laws and the local courts. Clients also appreciate a single point of contact, consolidated invoicing, and regional billing rates.

Mediation, coaching and additional activities

Boontje aims to provide more than a legal practice that focuses on dispute resolution and employment law challenges. Wouter Hes, Dianne van Moerkerk, Suzanne van der Meer and Myrthe Steenhuis are (registered) mediators. Wouter Hes, one of the firm’s partners, provides (employment law) coaching in addition to his legal practice. Each of those disciplines offer a different perspective on conflict resolution, which benefits both its clients and its lawyers. Pauline Sick is a deputy judge with the Court of Appeal of the Hague and is together with Yvette Dissel one of the editors of TRA, one of the Netherlands’ most distinguished employment law magazines, appearing monthly, as well as one of the editors of RAR, a jurisprudence magazine, appearing 14 times a year. Moreover, the firm also contributes to the public debate, for example by publishing articles and participating in working groups that advise the government on legislative bills.

Main Area of Practice

Employment Law

Practice areas

Co-Determination

Collective Bargaining Agreements

Collective Employment Law

Corporate governance

Dismissal (Individual, Collective)

Education Law

Employer Liability

Employment Terms & Conditions

Equal Treatment

Flexible Employment Relations

Incapacity For Work

Cross Border Employment

Managing Director

Mediation

Privacy

Public Servant Law

Restructuring

Secondment/Expat

Social Security Law

TUPE

Litigation

Fraud & Integrity

Arbitration

Key Sectors

Banks

Charities/Not For Profit

Chemicals

Commercial & Professional Services

Education

Health Care

Industrial Engineering

Media

Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences

Private Clients/Individuals

Software & Computer Services

Technology

Hardware & Electronics

Transportation

Travel & Leisure

Retail

NGO’s

Financial Services

Telecommunications

Key Clients

Aquent, RELX Group (including Elsevier), de Jong & Laan, Generator Hotel Amsterdam, Pro Industry, Ten Monks, Woodward, Travelex, Yakult, Iqvia, Royal Coster Diamonds, QNH Consulting, DPA, Transdev SA (including Connexxion, Witte Kruis and Hermes), NTT Netherlands, Aalberts Industries, Bunzl, Ecovyst, PQ Silicas, Getronics, Carlson Wagonlit (CWT), Ecco, Signify, Atradius, Stichting Het Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest, Stichting Dijklander Ziekenhuis and various other national hospitals, the University of Amsterdam, Majestic Products and Deel Nederland.

Firm Contacts

Partner: Yvette Dissel

Email: [email protected]

Partner: Danny Vesters

Email: [email protected]

Offices

The Netherlands

Amsterdam: De Boelelaan 28, 1083 HJ

Email: [email protected]