Hi all,
After repeated requests, our fearless managing partner Mr Snoep has still refused to change the firm's name to Van Binsbergen Blackstone Westbroek. I cannot suffer this grave injustice any longer and am therefore leaving the firm.
All joking aside, I had a blast working here and that has led me to create the following list:
5 reasons why I'm a bit sad to leave De Brauw
1. Lots of daily laughter. Most companies don't let their employees have this much fun at work. (For an example, see the story below at *1*).
2. Learning everyday. 'Autopilot' is not a concept that works at De Brauw.
3. The virtue of making something perfect. 'Kind of good' is not good enough at this place. This is a life lesson that will pay dividends no matter what I'll do.
4. Brains: the average brain weighs 1.5 kg, the average De Brauw brain is 2.3 kg… (Ok, I made those numbers up, but you get the point). Working with smart people makes you smarter.
5. Hardly any office politics at De Brauw (shame that I couldn't use anything Frank Underwood taught me though).
I can hear you thinking: hmm, if he's this excited about De Brauw, why is he leaving?
Well.. I suppose I just want to see if I'll be any good at building something from scratch, whereas De Brauw is already kind of.. built.
That's why I'm staying here in London and have recently launched Lexoo (www.lexoo.co.uk). A legal marketplace where businesses can easily request and compare fee quotes from pre-screened and specialised solicitors, mostly ex big law solicitors working on a lower overhead basis (e.g. a tad less white marble and gold in the office?) - after all, not all businesses can afford to pay £ 350 per hour for an associate!
If you want to follow Lexoo's progress, please do follow us on LinkedIn here, on Twitter here, or Facebook here (more 'followers' would be a big help!).
*Shameless sales pitch*: if any of the firm's great clients are ever looking for fee quotes from boutique firms in London for smaller matters (where best friend Slaughters might not be appropriate), please do let me know at: [email protected]. I'd be delighted to run a quote gathering process for them.
Finally, I'd love to meet up with any of you if you are ever in London.
Thanks for the good times!
Daniel
*1* Ernest and I flew over to Roermond once, to help our German client with an acquisition. The local lawyer had an office like Hollywood would have you believe is standard. Imagine a De Brauw's partner office times 3, or I suppose Berend Crans' office in good old Tripolis (for those of you who predate the Rock). The guy was perched in the middle, chain smoking, with not one but two secretaries outside. We thought this was slightly off market, but not completely unexpected.
However, the special 'ornament' standing defiantly on the middle of the meeting room table did prove distracting (you can see it here). Still not sure whether it was actually a gift from his wife (as he claimed) or a negotiation tactic. Maybe an idea for the 10th floor meeting rooms?
In any case, very kind of Ernest to give me my very own signed copy as a leaving present, it is graciously flipping me the bird while I'm writing this. ;-) .
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek London B.V.
Daan van Binsbergen
Senior Associate | Lawyer
Tip Off ROF
After repeated requests, our fearless managing partner Mr Snoep has still refused to change the firm's name to Van Binsbergen Blackstone Westbroek. I cannot suffer this grave injustice any longer and am therefore leaving the firm.
All joking aside, I had a blast working here and that has led me to create the following list:
5 reasons why I'm a bit sad to leave De Brauw
1. Lots of daily laughter. Most companies don't let their employees have this much fun at work. (For an example, see the story below at *1*).
2. Learning everyday. 'Autopilot' is not a concept that works at De Brauw.
3. The virtue of making something perfect. 'Kind of good' is not good enough at this place. This is a life lesson that will pay dividends no matter what I'll do.
4. Brains: the average brain weighs 1.5 kg, the average De Brauw brain is 2.3 kg… (Ok, I made those numbers up, but you get the point). Working with smart people makes you smarter.
5. Hardly any office politics at De Brauw (shame that I couldn't use anything Frank Underwood taught me though).
I can hear you thinking: hmm, if he's this excited about De Brauw, why is he leaving?
Well.. I suppose I just want to see if I'll be any good at building something from scratch, whereas De Brauw is already kind of.. built.
That's why I'm staying here in London and have recently launched Lexoo (www.lexoo.co.uk). A legal marketplace where businesses can easily request and compare fee quotes from pre-screened and specialised solicitors, mostly ex big law solicitors working on a lower overhead basis (e.g. a tad less white marble and gold in the office?) - after all, not all businesses can afford to pay £ 350 per hour for an associate!
If you want to follow Lexoo's progress, please do follow us on LinkedIn here, on Twitter here, or Facebook here (more 'followers' would be a big help!).
*Shameless sales pitch*: if any of the firm's great clients are ever looking for fee quotes from boutique firms in London for smaller matters (where best friend Slaughters might not be appropriate), please do let me know at: [email protected]. I'd be delighted to run a quote gathering process for them.
Finally, I'd love to meet up with any of you if you are ever in London.
Thanks for the good times!
Daniel
*1* Ernest and I flew over to Roermond once, to help our German client with an acquisition. The local lawyer had an office like Hollywood would have you believe is standard. Imagine a De Brauw's partner office times 3, or I suppose Berend Crans' office in good old Tripolis (for those of you who predate the Rock). The guy was perched in the middle, chain smoking, with not one but two secretaries outside. We thought this was slightly off market, but not completely unexpected.
However, the special 'ornament' standing defiantly on the middle of the meeting room table did prove distracting (you can see it here). Still not sure whether it was actually a gift from his wife (as he claimed) or a negotiation tactic. Maybe an idea for the 10th floor meeting rooms?
In any case, very kind of Ernest to give me my very own signed copy as a leaving present, it is graciously flipping me the bird while I'm writing this. ;-) .
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek London B.V.
Daan van Binsbergen
Senior Associate | Lawyer