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

I’m most proud of a deal with ASN that we recently signed. After almost two years of contract negotiations, an extensive legal due diligence process and enhancing our legal and compliance framework, this deal was finally signed. StartGreen Capital has become the investment advisor of ASN for certain existing energy funds, and it will take over the portfolio management of ASN Energy & Innovation Fund. ASN Energy & Innovation Fund, with a portfolio of several hundred million, invests in technology essential for the energy system of the future, such as energy storage, charging infrastructure, circular manufacturing, sustainable mobility and energy-efficient buildings. In addition, Startgreen Capital and ASN will jointly incorporate a new clean energy fund. With these funds, StartGreen and ASN join forces to fund the next phase of the energy transition in the Netherlands.

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

After eight and a half years of practicing as a lawyer at Freshfields, I started as general counsel at StartGreen Capital. The partners of StartGreen asked me to become a partner. Becoming a partner of a fund manager is not typical for someone with a legal background. Instead of becoming a partner of a law firm, I have become a partner of a fund manager.

What do you think sets you apart from other in-house counsel?

As part of the board, I need to provide more than solely legal advice and think as a business partner. I need to mitigate legal risk while enabling growth, align legal strategies with company goals, and help directors and executives make informed decisions. I need to be creative in finding solutions to make things work within legal and regulatory frameworks, while also providing sufficient counteract and daring to say ‘no’.

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

A modern in-house counsel must combine legal expertise with strategic thinking, have clear and persuasive communication skills and emotional intelligence. In addition to legal expertise, in-house counsel must stay on top of AI solutions. Legal tech has become an essential tool for in-house counsels, in order to work smarter, more efficiently and manage legal risk more effectively.