What are the projects that you are most proud of working on over the past 12 months?  

I am responsible for all legal affairs of the international business of flatexDEGIRO, conducted under the name DEGIRO. DEGIRO operates as an online investment broker in 14 countries across Europe. With our small team, we handle all legal, regulatory, and licensing matters, as well as complaints and litigation.

Over the past 12 months, there have been some great projects that I am proud of. In addition to the usual work involved in running the bank, the legal team has been at the forefront of developing two new services that will launch soon. The development of crypto trading and securities lending are highly complex projects, and as the legal team, we ensure that they are developed in the best interests of both the clients and the bank. We have also had great success in two long-standing litigation cases against a supervisor.

The biggest success I am most proud of, however, is the team. Three much-appreciated colleagues left the team to embark on new adventures. With a third of the team gone, the pressure was on, and when colleagues leave, it can also be demotivating. The way the team handled the pressure and kept working hard to get things done (always with a smile) was inspiring to see and be part of. The team is relatively young and seeing how they worked together so effectively really makes me proud.

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

In every bank I have worked at, a merger has taken place: Fortis merged with ABN AMRO, Kas Bank was acquired by Caceis, and flatex Bank acquired DEGIRO (just before I joined). In addition to the interesting and complex legal issues that come with such processes, I found the most unique and interesting aspect to be the cultural part. When two companies merge, the different corporate and geographical cultures must begin working together. In my experience, this is a valuable opportunity, as you can learn so much from each other. Cooperation works well when you respect one another and acknowledge that you share a common goal.

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

For me, the most important attribute a modern in-house counsel should possess is the ability to think beyond their legal expertise. As legal counsel, you are like a spider in the web of the company. You see and hear a lot, which enables you to know which people and departments to connect with. By doing so, you ensure that issues are addressed in line with the corporate strategy, risk appetite, and in the best interests of your clients and the company, in addition to providing the outstanding legal advice we must deliver.