Camilla Genee

As a violinist trained at a conservatoire, I learned that the same piece sounds different in everyone’s hands, even though the notes are fixed. The same is true in legal practice. The law is there. The art lies in what you do with it.

My legal career began at The Hague Court of Appeal. I prepared cases for the appellate judges, attended hearings as a court clerk and drafted judgments. During deliberations, I was invited to give my view on the case before the judges reached their decision. This gave me valuable insight into how a judge assesses a case file and which issues ultimately determine the outcome.

Now I am involved at the very start of the process. Clients call me with questions that have not yet developed into a legal matter. A contract on the table, a meeting that has been scheduled, an upcoming reorganisation. That is where there is still room to steer matters.

I draft, review and negotiate employment contracts and settlement agreements, for both employers and employees. My work also covers dismissal law, reorganisations and return-to-work matters. And many questions can ultimately be summed up as: is this legally permissible, and is it also the sensible course of action? What may appear on paper to be a legal dispute can look very different between the people involved. If I see scope to reduce the tension, I make use of it. If the matter nevertheless has to go to court, I build the case accordingly.

I enjoy working in a lively office environment. I like being able to drop in on a colleague and bounce ideas around about a case. I cycle the fifteen kilometres to the office, which means I start the working day feeling refreshed and arrive home with a clear head. I still pick up my violin every day and play a great deal of chamber music in small ensembles. It is all about listening carefully and knowing exactly when to lead and when to follow. It requires precision. Just like at the negotiating table.