Mirjam A. de Blécourt
Biography
Mirjam de Blécourt has been repeatedly recognized by top legal directories as one of the leading labor and employment lawyers in Europe and the Netherlands. She leads Baker McKenzie’s Amsterdam Employment and Pensions Law practice group and is member of the Firm's European Employment Group Steering Committee. Furthermore Mirjam is a former board member of Baker McKenzie's Amsterdam office.
Mirjam has always been very active in the diversity and inclusion sphere, both outside and inside Baker McKenzie. She currently serves as chair of the supervisory board for Rutgers (international centre of expertise on (women’s) health and rights). Additionally she serves as senator of VVD (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy) in the Dutch Senate. Mirjam joined Baker McKenzie in 1990 and has been a partner since 1999.
Practice Focus
Mirjam is admitted as a lawyer focusing on labor and employment law. She advises the boards of multinationals on labor law issues in the broadest sense of the word. Mirjam is involved in large-scale collective redundancies and advises on requests for advice from works councils and the harmonization and integration of employment benefits packages in the context of mergers and acquisitions. She also litigates on social plans, large-scale redundancies and on the dismissal of members of Boards of Management and Supervisory Directors as a result of, for example, a reorganization.
In addition, Mirjam advises on complex corporate governance issues. She has extensive experience as a boardroom counselor and advises directors and supervisors on strategic issues in relation to works councils and trade unions. She is the name giver and founder of a collective redundancy system called the "De Blécourt Method."
Representative Legal Matters
- Trusted adviser for the Boards of Multinationals
- European Works Council advice to numerous Fortune 100 companies
- Collective dismissal and social plan negotiations
- Litigates on social plans and large-scale redundancies
- Dismissal of members of Boards of Management and Supervisory Directors
- Complex corporate governance issues
Professional Honors
- Winner of the European Best Female Lawyer in Labour & Employment, 2016-2017, 2011-2012
- Ranked Band 1 in Employment for Netherlands, Chambers & Partners
- Leading Individual in Employment, IFLR
- Leading Individual in Employment, European Legal 500
- Listed Top 200 of the most influential people in the Netherlands, Volkskrant, 2014-2018
- Listed Top 100 of the most influential women in the Netherlands, Opzij 2011-2013, 2016-2017
- Listed Top 10 Justice and Public domain, Opzij, 2011-2013, 2016-2017
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Rutgers - Chairperson of the Advisory Board (2017 – present)
- Employment Law Association of the Netherlands Bar Association (NOvA) - Member of the Advisory Council (2017 - present)
- The American-European Community Association (AECA) - Board Member (2017 - present)
- Leiden University - Member of the Advisory Board (2017 - present)
- Women Corporate Directors - Member (2015 - present)
- Association for Employment Lawyers - Appointed Chairperson, Sub-working group on International Employee Participation (2007 - present)
Corporate Responsibility
- Member of the Recommendations Committee of the Female Cancer Foundation (2011 - present)
- Co-author of wet met het streefcijfer, Dutch law for equal representation of males and females in Board of Directors and Supervisory Board of Directors
Admissions
- Amsterdam~Netherlands (1990)
Education
- Leiden University (Tax Law Degree) (1990)
- Leiden University (Civil Law Degree) (1987)
Languages
- Dutch
- English
- French
- German
Firm Committee Memberships
- Baker McKenzie European Employment Group - Member, Steering Committee (2017 – present)
- Global Ethics Committee Baker McKenzie, Board Member (2012 - 2016)
- Baker & McKenzie Amsterdam N.V. - Board Member (2003 - 2007, 2011 - 2013)