Interview Ondernamen Utrecht

SERVICE WITH A SURPLUS OF EQ

Van Hall Arbeidsrecht deliberately opts for a human approach in the often more formal legal field. With the ability to “see” both sides of the table and an eye for sustainable growth and social impact, Martijn van Hall and Christianne Bouma, both partners at the law firm, help their clients with labour disputes and other employment law issues. Their message? Talk to each other, because real solutions only arise through dialogue, trust and personal attention.

The move a year ago, unexpectedly brought Van Hall Arbeidsrecht a lot of positive business dynamics. Initially, Martijn had his doubts about the impact of a new location. ‘People come for us, not the building,’ he thought at the time. Christianne, however, did see the potential of a location with more charisma. ‘It might have a strengthening effect and I really felt it would work that way.’ And it did: the new location not only increased visibility, but also contributed to an increase in engagements. In fact, this effect proved to be such that it was soon decided to expand the team by two lawyers.

Martijn and Christianne have been looking far beyond borders since the beginning of their collaboration. In 2015, for instance, they established a strong international network of like-minded law firms. Through the network, clients who want to operate internationally can be referred directly to trusted partners in other countries. ‘We have always focused on quality over quantity,’ Christianne says. The international network not only offers practical advantages, but also led to what she calls a ‘learning alliance’, where offices exchange knowledge and ideas among themselves. ‘It is inspiring and enriching to see how other countries tackle certain problems, legal or otherwise.’

Getting to a legal solution quickly and practical with AI

Besides its personal approach and international network, the law firm also continues to innovate continuously in the technological field. For instance, it uses artificial intelligence to draft standard contracts quickly and error-free. ‘AI gives us time to focus even more on the client's specific needs,’ Martijn explains. Nevertheless, he stresses that AI is only a tool and that the interpretation of an experienced lawyer remains indispensable to fully customise the contract. Christianne also calls AI not a replacement but an addition that makes legal work more efficient and meticulous. ‘ Boring repetitive processes are taken over by AI, leaving us more time for creative work, which is, after all, where our added value lies,’ says Martijn.

This people-centred approach also results in targeted social engagement. In that context, Van Hall Arbeidsrecht supports projects that contribute to personal development. Cooperation with the Swapna foundation, which offers education to girls in India, is a good example of it. ‘Education is a crucial building block for us,’ says Christianne. ‘By investing in the future of others, we are indirectly helping to build a world where people can reach their full potential.’

Working towards socio-economic sustainability

Van Hall Arbeidsrecht also works according to the principles of fair working conditions and sustainable growth, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. With SDG number 4, for instance, the cooperation with Swapna fits in nicely, Martijn explains. 'Indeed, this SDG sets the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. This perfectly reflects our vision of equity and the importance of balance. Not only within the courtroom, but also beyond.' In addition, Martijn and Christianne focus on SDGs 8 on fair work and economic growth, and 17 that calls for partnerships to achieve goals. And in this they are distinctive. ‘These are issues that corporates normally focus on, but we, as a small company, do so too.’

Surplus to EQ

Van Hall Arbeidsrecht’s strength lies in a practical, human approach to employment law issues. 'With us, it's not just about the rules, but also the human side. We also need our surplus to EQ to solve situations in such a way that they work for both parties,' Martijn explains. ‘And that means listening, showing understanding and providing truly customised solutions.’ 85% of clients are on the employer side of the table. They are helped to deal effectively with difficult personnel issues, such as when employees are not performing well, leading many to call in sick. Very annoying for both employee and employer. ‘Above all, we advise making problems immediately discussable, so that situations cannot escalate and clients find solutions in cooperation with us that are workable for both parties,’ says Christianne. Martijn sums it up: ‘Talk to each other, then you will solve everything.’

The law firm deliberately takes an approach that goes beyond formal rules and dares to take risks, where many lawyers usually take the safe side. Martijn: ‘We don't tell you what cannot be done, but what we ourselves would do if we were in the client's situation. That makes us different: we give practical, honest advice that really solves problems.' Christianne summarises the conversation: ‘We work on a human scale, for solutions that help both employer and employee. That personal contact and genuine listening to both sides is a crucial element in achieving widely supported legal solutions.'