Cecile Bonnier
Labor and civil service law lawyer
“I have been a lawyer since 1999. Employment law soon came my way and I was really captivated by it. The issues of employees, participation rights and reorganizations appealed to me because it is personal and recognizable to everyone. Working at a large, renowned law firm, I specialized in both individual and collective employment law and served multinationals, medium-sized companies and also individual employees. Afterwards I worked for a law firm specialized exclusively in employment law and that is where my broad experience came in handy.
In 2008 I moved abroad, which led to a (temporary) break from the legal profession in 2009. I have enjoyed seeing the world and living in inspiring places: Luxembourg, Istanbul, Tokyo. From abroad I was able to conduct employment law research at Maastricht University for a year, which was very enriching. In Tokyo I worked as a representative of an internationally operating Dutch law firm that focused, among other things, on cross-border M&A. I was the point of contact for Japanese multinationals and law firms, and supported the expansion of the firm’s international network.
However, the interest in and love for employment law has always remained and that made me decide, after returning to the Netherlands, to further broaden the employment law practice of Smidswater advocaten together with Fleur van Bree. I take on every employment law challenge with pleasure and enthusiasm. I enjoy working with my colleagues to use our collective knowledge to fully inform our clients and come up with feasible solutions.”
E-mail: c.bonnier@smidswateradvocaten.nl
Fleur van Bree
Labor and civil service law lawyer
“I started in 1998 as an employment law and civil service law lawyer at a medium-sized law firm in The Hague. After living abroad for a period, I took up the profession again and established myself as an independent lawyer in 2019. In January 2024, I founded Smidswater advocaten together with Susanne van Dijkum and Cecile Bonnier.
As an employment law lawyer, I assist companies and (cultural) institutions in various employment law issues, for example in the field of employment conditions (policy), reorganizations and the conclusion and termination of employment contracts, self-employed contracts and other cooperation structures. I also handle employment disputes for private clients.
My clients are amongst others directors, senior management members or professionals. I also often act as a lawyer for civil servants employed by various government services and institutions. That really is a profession in itself and I get a lot of satisfaction from the specialist work and the human contact. An employment case usually involves much more than just the legal dispute. Clients have the feeling that I have guided them thoroughly through the entire process with a beautiful end result. I find that very satisfying.
For me, good service as a lawyer is, in addition to expertise, mainly about human interaction. I am very involved with my clients.”
E-mail: f.vanbree@smidswateradvocaten.nl
Susanne van Dijkum
Corporate M&A lawyer
“I have been working as a transaction (M&A) and corporate law lawyer for over 20 years. Before Fleur, Cecile and I joined forces, I worked subsequently at a medium-sized international law firm and a boutique M&A law firm and then as an independent lawyer in The Hague.
My clients are amongst others (national and international) companies, both sellers and buyers, investors and management, and other law firms. In particular, I regularly act as a trusted advisor to directors and as a project manager in (cross-border) transactions. I also have extensive experience working as part of a deal team.
For me, no-nonsense, efficiency and collaboration are the core points of my services. My clients appreciate me for my pragmatic and personal approach and clear ‘to the point’ explanations.”
E-mail: s.vandijkum@smidswateradvocaten.nl