Dave Beck

‘Great wine starts with great grapes’, as the saying goes. But what are great grapes? I like to immerse myself in such questions. It helps that I am extremely discerning, both when assessing wine and in my work.

As a business-law layer, I specialise in finance & securities, as well as in disputes between and within companies and organisations (corporate litigation). This means that I am regularly to be found in court, and in the Netherlands Enterprise Court in Amsterdam. With 13 years of experience as an insolvency practitioner, I advise business owners on restructurings and liquidations. I also help owners and directors in the event of a dispute with insolvency practitioners.

Clients see me not only as their lawyer, but above all as a trusted advisor; a sounding board and confidant. This is understandable, as the cases and proceedings that I handle often have an enormous impact, not least emotionally. I gain a lot of satisfaction from the combination of complex legal issues, the emotions involved and the resulting personal contact.  

In the heat of the battle, entrepreneurs are usually determined to go to court, but they underestimate how much a court case will demand of them. When deciding on direction and strategy, I therefore often suggest to my clients that the good wine will become even better if the grapes are allowed to ripen for a little longer.

This approach regularly results in clients reaching an amicable solution, often to their own surprise. On the other hand, robust litigation can be an excellent way to speed up the maturation process in the other party, so it is not something that I necessarily avoid.

When I’m not working, I enjoy the good life: good food, great wines, beautiful music and inspiring journeys – preferably in pleasant company.