Why are you working at Hertoghs?
To me, Hertoghs is the number one firm when it comes to tax litigation. It is a great feeling to be working among top specialists.
What attracts you in Hertoghs’ areas of expertise?
I am fascinated by tax litigation in a broad sense. I particularly like procedural tax and penalty law, but I am also interested in the correlation with criminal law and disputes about tax collection.
What is your particular expertise and how did you develop it?
I specialise in resolving conflicts between taxpayers and the tax authorities, such as long-running invasive tax audits and tax proceedings. I try to reach an amicable settlement when I can, but, failing that, I will not hesitate to litigate. My area of expertise in the tax discipline is indirect taxes (VAT, customs and excise duties). Besides being an attorney, I am also a certified mediator. I use my mediation skills daily in my law practice to achieve the best possible results for my clients.
What is your definition of a good attorney?
A good attorney has excellent knowledge of the legal profession as well as great interpersonal skills. As an attorney, you cannot do without. You need to have the ability to persuade even your most formidable opponent. And you have to know how to keep your back straight during headwinds. Uncompromising if need be and flexible where possible. The client’s best interests are most important, but a good attorney is always respectful to the opposite party.
What can you share about your private life?
My private life is lively and varied: I like the excitement of going to a football match, but I also like the quiet to read. I was born in the countryside, but I have lived in the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for a long time now. I also like spending time at the North Sea beach near Haarlem, where I have a second home. I enjoy going on holiday to an exciting destination with my three adult children and my partner. And I go on a special bike tour every year; in the summer of 2021, I rode my bike from my home to the south of France. Also, I try to attend every lecture by Esther Perel and Hans Stolp, a Dutch author of esoteric books.
Side activities
- Moot court lecturer, department of tax law, Leiden University
- Mediator Disciplinary Board of the Dutch Association of Tax Advisers (NOB)
- Lecturer specialised course in tax law
- NVAB representative on the Confederation Fiscale Europeenne/Tax Committee indirect taxation (CFE)
- Member of the Advisory Board Association for Fiscal Mediation (VFM)
- Member of the ‘Working group Cross border VAT disputes’ of the Wirtschaftsuniversität in Vienna
- Auteur van het boek “Het is uit de hand geëscaleerd”.
Magazine publications
