CMS Netherlands elects a new board of directors and changes its governance structure

• Willem Hoorneman managing partner effective as from 23 March 2016
• Top 10 law firm changes its governance structure
• Strategic decisions aimed at strengthening client relationships and using international strength

CMS Netherlands has appointed two new board members: Willem Hoorneman (55) (managing partner) and Erik Vorst (42) (board member). Former managing partner Dolf Segaar will return to his Corporate Litigation and Sports law practice. Bella van Erkelens, who was responsible for HRM in the former board of directors, will continue her career outside CMS Netherlands.

In recent years, a number of important strategic steps have been taken, such as the increased deployment of the focus areas Real Estate & Construction, Corporate/M&A and Banking & Finance, the continuing emphasis on internationalisation and the decision regarding new housing policy and the business premises in Amsterdam (Zuidas) and Utrecht (Newtonlaan). The new board of directors will build on the past strategic decisions.

Upon the change of management, a new governance structure will be implemented.

Willem Hoorneman: "The new governance structure will ensure that we are even more dynamic and that we can promptly respond to market developments. In addition, we wish to stimulate entrepreneurship and collaboration within the office and to manage our office more like a business than as a traditional firm. As part of the new governance structure, a third external director will be appointed, who will fulfil the position of COO and be responsible for the further optimisation of our business operations with the style of "bringing the outside world in". This means that our 175 lawyers, civil-law notaries and tax advisors can concentrate on what they are good at: gaining in-depth knowledge of the world of our clients and offering solutions for their legal issues."

Management team: reducing the distance between the board of directors and the practice groups
In order to reduce the distance between the board of directors and the practice groups, as well as the new board members, five new directors have been appointed. They will manage the four practice groups within CMS Netherlands:

• Real Estate & Construction: Hein van der Meer
• Corporate/M&A: Roman Tarlavski
• Banking & Finance: Eduard Scheenstra
• Specialisms: Peter Soede and Katja van Kranenburg

Together with the new board members, the new directors form the management team of CMS Netherlands.

Building on lasting client relationships
Willem Hoorneman: "We fare facing significant changes: further digitalisation of legal services and a growing demand for transparency, knowledge-sharing and innovation within the legal sector. In part, innovation is about different business models and a different market approach. Those are important themes for us and we have been working on these for a long time. An example of this is the recently introduced electronic tool by which we offer legal models to the market free of charge. In addition, we actively encourage knowledge-sharing, by working with scientists and knowledge centres, to support businesses in the development of their long-term vision. Our strong international embedding, offers superb opportunities for strengthening our client relationships. Within CMS, we work from 60 offices and we are active in more than 30 countries. We wish to retain and expand on the advantage that this offers. Digitalisation, a good knowledge management system and, even more importantly, talented staff members form the basis for our future growth."