I have thirty years experience of strategic management and organisation. The following are examples of my experience in this field:
'Law Firm Management'
Between 1993 and the end of 1997 I was a member of the board of (the predecessors of) the law firm Holland Van Gijzen. From 1997 until 2002 I acted as the Independent (non-executive) Chairman of the Ernst & Young Law Alliance. Under my chairmanship the Ernst & Young Law Alliance grew from some 500 lawyers in 1997, to 3000 lawyers and attorneys in 160 offices in 70 countries spread over five continents in October 2002. During the aforementioned period I was, for some 30 months, in addition to the position of chairman, the Executive Director of the EY Law Centre, with some 10 staff members, working out of both London and New York.
Tasks of the Centre:
- Drafting and executing a 'Global strategy'
- Drafting and executing year plans according to a 'Balanced Scorecard'
- Drafting of, consulting on and ultimately deciding on the legal organisational structure of said Alliance, including internal regulation concerning professional behaviour
- Introduction of a system of management reporting
- Continuous alignment of the rendering of legal services in consultation
with accountants and tax advisors of Ernst & Young (at country,
regional and global level) in compliance with the regulations of
the respective professions (particularly those of lawyers and accountants)
and the requirements regarding integrity of capital markets (stock
exchange rules, most importantly those of the SEC)
- Setting up and developing 'cross-border practice groups' and a 'global training programme'
- Setting up and editing electronic, periodical communication for practices in every country
- Setting up and editing a 'Global Law Intranet'
- And - during 2002 - the worldwide coordination of the processes leading to the cooperation or merger of around 15 former Andersen Legal law firms, specifically in Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe, with law firms in the Alliance.
'Law Firm Audits'
As 'Independent Chair' I carried specific responsibility for 'law firm practice review-programmes', a form of 'audit' based on a structured method, to assist law firms in certain countries to develop their positions in the Alliance and an international network of contacts, to assist the firm to work in accordance with consistent standards and methods and to support the firm in managing its growth and to be involved in client satisfaction reviews.
The audit programme was executed periodically. During the execution of the programme I visited, between 1997 and 2002, law firms in 20 countries, including those in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Singapore and nearly all European countries (including those in Central and Eastern Europe).
Post doctoral courses
- 2000-2005: initiator, lecturer and chairman of the Exam committee of a 9 month Merger & Acquisition course (Elsevier Juridisch; Reed Business)
- 1990/1991: Of counsel to the law firm Nauta Dutilh, having particular
responsibility for the training strategy and the execution thereof
for over 200 lawyers in the Netherlands and abroad, relating to
the renewal of the Netherlands Civil Code and Commercial Code as
per 1992
Courses for commercial management
Supervisor and provider of in-house training for non-lawyers, working at different levels in commercial management, particularly in the area of negotiating, drafting and concluding contracts, including legal aspects of risk management. Examples of clients include:
- Ahold Onroerend Goed (Real estate)
- (predecessor of) Nuon (Energy)
- Siemens
- Stork
Setting up plans for research, law reviews, books and series of books
Submitting proposals for contract research and research for doctoral
theses, sponsored or financed by business institutions. Initiator of
Tijdschrift voor Ondernemingsbestuur / Company Management Review,
Tijdschrift voor Pensioenvraagstukken / Private Pensions Review
and Tijdschrift voor Insolventierecht / Insolvency Law Review.
Editor (in chief) for publications involving numerous authors, including
Tekst & Commentaar Insolventierecht / Text & Commentary Bankruptcy
Act, Praktijkhandleidingen / Legal Practice Manuals and SDU
Commentaren Ondernemingsrecht / Commentaries on Company Law. See
under Other professional activities.
For further information please contact me.
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