Three new partners at Spigthoff Curacao

October 09, 2010 9:26 AM

At a launch party at Spigthoff Curacao three new partners were introduced and a new lawyer.

Speech Karel Frielink - Launch Party 30 September 2010

Ladies and gentlemen!

A very warm welcome to this Launch Party.

Earlier on in 2010, Anne Marije Veenland (a tax adviser) and Martine Hofhuis (a lawyer) joined Spigthoff. Tomorrow, Phyllis van den Hout will join our firm as a lawyer as well. Many of you will already know her from her long association with CIFA, the Curaçao International Financial Services Association.

Today we celebrate that Spigthoff has promoted Annemarijke Bach Kolling, Maike Bergervoet and Jeroen Starreveld to partners. I would like to briefly introduce them to you at this point, but encourage you to meet them in person later on.

Annemarijke is an expert in corporate litigation, arbitration, corporate law and labor law. So if you are forced into a fight … Please remember that losing is not a habit of hers!

Maike is an expert in both corporate and financial law, as well as in security documentation and regulatory issues. So if you need to ensure that the fundamentals of your structure are right … and quickly … She will fulfill that need.

Jeroen is an all-round tax expert with extensive knowledge of, not only our local tax laws, but also Dutch, European and international tax law. So if you are in need of tax relief … He will show you the way; and you will experience that ‘communication’ is his middle name.

Now that we have launched them, we wish them success on their journey and hope that many may share in the success of their mission.

Ladies and gentlemen, some believe that if you work 14 hours a day, seven days a week, for several years, you qualify to become a partner at Spigthoff. That is indeed true! But, to be honest, there are no real rules or formulas for becoming a partner. The fact is that you need to be really good at what you do and to be able to help your clients beyond the call of duty. It goes without saying that you need other talents as well.

As far as law firms are concerned, quality, speed, reliability and value for money are far more important than being the oldest or the largest law firm. The success of a law firm is not measured by its age or size. We are not the oldest, nor the largest law firm of the Dutch Caribbean. Success is, however, measured by client satisfaction; and we have the track record to prove it.

We have the highest hopes for both your and our future. Thank you for being here, and now, let’s party!

30 September 2010