Mirjam A. de Blécourt

Mirjam advises the boards of multinational companies on labour law matters in the broadest sense. She is frequently involved in large-scale collective redundancies, the integration and harmonization of employment benefits in mergers and acquisitions, and the strategic handling of requests for advice from works councils. She also represents clients in litigation related to social plans, collective dismissals, and the termination of executive and supervisory board members, often in the context of reorganisations.

In addition, Mirjam advises on complex corporate governance and compliance issues. She has extensive experience as a trusted boardroom adviser and regularly counsels directors and supervisory boards on strategic matters involving works councils, trade unions and internal stakeholder relations. She is also highly experienced in handling sensitive workplace matters, including investigations and advisory work relating to (sexual) harassment, workplace bullying, and whistleblower claims. Mirjam is the founder and namesake of the "De Blécourt Method", a widely recognised framework for managing collective dismissals.

• Serves as strategic counsel to boards of multinationals on high-stakes employment and governance matters.
• Advised Fortune 100 companies on European Works Council strategy and compliance.
• Led collective dismissal processes and social plan negotiations using the “De Blécourt Method.”
• Litigated complex cases related to large-scale redundancies and executive terminations.
• Advised on sensitive internal investigations, including sexual harassment, bullying and whistleblower complaints.
• Negotiated executive exits, including board and supervisory directors, during major reorganisations.
• Supported multinational employers in harmonising employment terms post-merger across European jurisdictions.

• Band 1, Chambers & Partners – Ranked for 19 consecutive years in Employment Law in the Netherlands, based on legal excellence, client trust and consistent market leadership
• Hall of Fame, The Legal 500 – Employment Law in the Netherlands for the fourth consecutive year (2022–2025). Recognised as one of the profession’s most respected and experienced lawyers, widely known by peers and clients for market-leading work
• Best European Female Lawyer in Labour & Employment, Women in Business Law Awards (2011, 2012, 2016, 2017)
• Leading Individual, The Legal 500 (2016–2022)
• Consistently ranked as a top employment lawyer by IFLR1000
• Listed multiple times in de Volkskrant’s Top 200 Most Influential People in the Netherlands
• Frequently featured in Opzij’s Top 100 Most Influential Women in the Netherlands
• Consistently ranked in Opzij’s Top 10 Most Influential Women in Justice and the Public Domain

• Chair of the Board, Stichting Steun Emma Kinderziekenhuis (Emma Children’s Hospital) (2025 – present)
• Board Member, Stichting Leerstoel Uytenbogaert (2025 – present)
• Member, EMEA+ Board, Baker McKenzie (2022 – present)
• Board Member, African Parks Foundation (2019 – present)
• Advisory Board Member, Leiden University (2017 – present)
• Board Member, American-European Community Association (AECA) (2017 – present)
• Advisory Council Member, Employment Law Association of the Netherlands Bar Association (NOvA) (2017 – present)
• Chair of the Supervisory Board, Rutgers (2017 – 2024)
• Senator, Dutch Senate (Eerste Kamer), People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) (2019 – 2023)
• Member, Benelux Parliament (2019 – 2023)
• Board Member, Stichting Het Concertgebouw Fonds (2007 – 2015)

• Contributed to the implementation of the binding gender quota for supervisory boards of Dutch listed companies, as member of the Dutch Senate (Eerste Kamer).
• Regular speaker on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), women in leadership, and responsible corporate governance — including keynote roles at national and international forums
• Instrumental in the establishment of Baker McKenzie’s Women Leadership Programme
• Board Member, Global Ethics Committee, Baker McKenzie (2012 – 2016)
• Member, Recommendations Committee and former chair, Female Cancer Foundation

• Member, EMEA+ Board (2022 – present)
• DEI Steering Committee Amsterdam (2018 – present)
• European Employment Group Member, Steering Committee (2017 – 2020)
• Global Ethics Committee Baker McKenzie, Board Member (2012 - 2016) Board Member
• Board Member Baker & McKenzie Amsterdam N.V. (2003 - 2007, 2011 - 2013)