Kennedy Van der Laan to focus on expansion of notary services after Jan Schouten sworn in
AMSTERDAM, 20 December 2010 - Kennedy Van der Laan will
continue to expand its notary services now that partner Jan
Schouten has been sworn in as a notary. Schouten has been
associated with Kennedy Van der Laan since 2006 as a civil-law
notary awaiting Crown appointment and he was named a partner in the
firm early this year. He was recently sworn in as a civil-law
notary.
“Notary services are an essential part of our corporate law
services,” said Joost Linnemann, managing partner at Kennedy Van
der Laan. “That is why we are so delighted that Jan has been sworn
in as a civil-law notary. He will manage the further expansion of a
practice that is a good fit with the traits that define Kennedy Van
der Laan: quality, innovation and an eye for people and
society.”
The notary practice at Kennedy Van der Laan advises Dutch and
foreign companies and banks on restructurings, acquisitions,
investments, corporate governance and other aspects of corporate
law. The practice is predominantly focused on the technology,
healthcare and food sectors. Two other notaries are employed in the
notary practice, along with a trainee attorney and two secretaries.
The practice will expand further in the coming months.
Distinctive mindset
Kennedy Van der Laan’s notary practice sets itself apart from other
practices in various ways. Firstly in the position which the notary
practice fulfills within the firm: whereas other firms do not
consult the notary practice until the end of the process, lawyers
and other staff act in concert from the start. “That is an
important difference,” said Schouten. “Accordingly we are not
regarded as lawyers who are simply there to stamp a document, but
as fully-fledged partners within an integrated team which advises
clients from the start and assists transactions until the very end.
The result is a much more interesting and pleasant working
environment.”
In addition, the practice run by Schouten and his team is
characterized by its innovative and enterprising nature. Online
services will be offered in 2011 which will give clients an insight
into and control over the various transaction processes. That means
that clients are served more quickly and effectively when shaping
transactions. The entrepreneurial mindset of the notary practice at
Kennedy Van der Laan is illustrated by the firm’s own client base.
“We have always invested in building our own client base and have
not made ourselves rely on office clients. This pays off in times
of crisis,” said Schouten. “Not too long ago civil-law notaries
only needed to open the tap to get work, but that time has ended. A
practice that is used to acquiring on its own clearly has a huge
advantage.”
Italian focus
After studying notary law at Leiden University, Jan Schouten
studied comparative private law at the Università degli Studi di
Pavia in Italy. Following his studies in Italy, Schouten’s practice
also increasingly focused on the Italian market. He is a member of
the Italian Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands and mans the
Italian desk at Kennedy Van der Laan, advising Italian clients on a
regular basis on the implementation of transactions.
Publication date
:
20 December 2010
About Kennedy Van der Laan
Kennedy Van der Laan, founded in 1992, is one of the top-20 law
firms in the Netherlands. The firm defends the legal interests of
multinationals, businesses operating nationally, start-up companies
and government and semi-government bodies. The mission of Kennedy
Van der Laan is to provide the best possible legal services and
expertise to our clients while living our commitment to personal
and social responsibility.
For more information, please
contact:
Kennedy Van der Laan
Joost Linnemann
Telephone: +31 20 5506 636
E-mail:
joost.linnemann@kvdl.nl