Pinsent Masons makes dual hire in Amsterdam

Both are transactional services specialists, working with a range of clients across the TSI sector. Their appointments will build out the firm’s transactional delivery capabilities in both Amsterdam and more broadly across Europe.

An employment law specialist, Stephanie advises both domestic and international clients across a range of HR matters associated with mergers and acquisitions (M&A), reorganisations and individual disputes. Her focus on data protection and privacy in HR bolsters the firm’s wide-ranging data expertise. She also has extensive experience in employment litigation.

Joel, a corporate lawyer, has vast experience advising on private and public M&A, private equity, corporate restructurings and general corporate advice. He has acted on a broad range of cross-border transactions for founders, sponsors and corporates and will be a key person in enhancing the M&A ambitions of the firm in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam office head, Wouter Seinen, said:

“Every new appointment has a crucial role to play as we develop a leading European offering for tech, diversified industries, life sciences and health care businesses. The Netherlands is a critical economic hub and is vital for us in achieving our ambition. Corporate capabilities also play an important role in how we advance and achieve our goals and it is brilliant to add not one, but two new members to the team."

The firm announced the launch of its Amsterdam office – its seventh office in continental Europe – in February 2021 with the hire of TMT, data privacy and digital lawyer Wouter Seinen. Wouter leads the firm as it expands its global footprint in response to client demand across Europe advising clients on cyber, data, tech and life sciences mandates.

Stephanie Dekker commented: “It is a delight to join a firm that is so innovative and so deeply involved in employment law and employee data protection law. Setting up the employment law practice in Amsterdam is a great mission to embark on. The purpose-led approach of Pinsent Masons really resonates with me and makes the organisation highly distinctive. This combined with the strong expertise in the firm and close international cooperation across locations makes it possible to offer truly value adding services.”

Joel Erwteman added: “It is an exciting time to join the Pinsent Masons team in the Netherlands. The drive and ambition of Pinsent Masons to create a presence in the Dutch market, combined with the depth and breadth of their international network is an excellent platform for great legal work. I am looking forward to contributing my experience to the team and to be part of that effort.”

The dual appointment follows the recent hiring of life sciences partner András Kupecz, the firm’s fourth partner in Amsterdam.