Why are you working at Hertoghs?
My degree is in both criminal law and tax law. I chose criminal law because of the human dimension and tax law because I wanted to explore a field that was complex and technical, and completely foreign to me. Because of my combined degree, people kept suggesting the same firm to me: Hertoghs. After a number of internships in the prison system, at a pension provider and at the judiciary, it became clear to me that I wanted to be a attorney: defending my clients and giving them my all.
What attracts you in Hertoghs’ areas of expertise?
I love the combination of the human dimension, a deep understanding of the facts and the legal complexity of an issue. I was not born into a business family, but I do like the business mindset of always being on the look-out for opportunities and creative ideas. In the eyes of the Public Prosecution Service or the tax authorities, our creativity may seem to be a little too far sometimes, at least, it drives me to make them see our side of things.
What is your particular expertise and how did you develop it?
I specialise in representing clients in fraud cases. I have virtually exhausted every option for training in the criminal law field. Criminal law was and is where my greatest affinity lies. This area of law intrigues me. When I joined Hertoghs, the KB Lux project had just been kicked off. This project concerned undeclared savings in Luxembourg-based bank accounts and led to tax and criminal proceedings, some of which made it all the way to the Dutch Supreme Court. This resulted in me acquiring another specialisation, i.e. in procedural tax law.
What is your definition of a good attorney?
I would say that a good attorney exemplifies the core values of the legal profession: independent, partial, ethical, professional and confidential. But a good attorney also needs a healthy dose of passion and persistence.
What can you share about your private life?
I am a proud mother of three daughters, I like to have a beer and a snack on a Friday afternoon, preferably in a sunny spot, and I enjoy going to the beach on a windy day. I probably do not make enough time for it, but I also enjoy reading, going to the theatre for a dance recital or a comedy show, or visiting the zoo.
Side activities
- Board member of the Dutch Tax Lawyers Association (NVAB)
- Member of the Dutch Association of Lawyers and Tax Experts (NVAB)
- Penningmeester van de Criminal Law Committee van de International Bar Association (IBA) (2023)
- Member of the International Bar Association (IBA)
- Member of the Dutch Association of Defence Counsel (NVSA)
- Member of the Dutch branch of the Women's White Collar Defence Association (WWCDA)
- Various positions held within the Dutch Bar Association (NOvA): member of the Bar Council of the Zeeland-West Brabant district, member of the Examination Committee for Professional Education of the Legal Profession (criminal law section), member of the Criminal Law Advisory Committee and board member of the Young Bar Association Breda
Publication of books
Magazine publications
- Editorial board member Tijdschrift Bijzonder Strafrecht en Handhaving (TBSH)
- Regular author chronicle Corporate Criminal Law, Fiscaal Strafrecht
- Regular author section Tax Criminal Law in Delikt and Delinkwent (DD)
Noteworthy details
- Elected Principal of the Year in 2017
- Participant in Women Leadership Programme (2011)
- Board member of the Club of 100 (financial backers) of the BH&BC Breda field hockey club
