BIO
- Researcher & adviser
- Vast, versatile experience: private practice, international business, enforcement, judicature & academia
- Expert advice: governmental institutions & societal stakeholders
- Education: Phd & LLM’s in Dutch and International law
Hands-on experience
I started my career as a ‘trainee’ at the EU Commission (Legal Service, 1988) and an international trade law firm in Washington DC (Stewart & Stewart Law Offices, 1989). As a young attorney-at-law (De Brauw, 1989-1992), I advised on matters of EU and Dutch competition law and (co-)represented clients before national courts and the EU Commission. As in-house counsel (Shell International, 1992-1997), I was co-responsible for competition compliance of the holding companies and their subsidiaries within the EU.
As a senior competition law expert (Dutch Competition Authority, now Authority for Consumers & Markets, 1998-2000), I managed case handling teams, supervised the legal robustness of antitrust enforcement decision-making, and advised the antitrust management team on overall policy-making and competition enforcement, especially in the healthcare sector.
In addition, I acquired substantial judicial experience as a deputy-judge (Rotterdam district court, 2006-2008; Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal, 2008-2018).
Dedicated fundamental analysis
Intrigued by the disparity between the grand ideas on which competition policy is based and the lack of consistent translation thereof in competition law enforcement, I switched to academia (Utrecht University, 2000-2001). Moving abroad shortly after my switch, I started working on my doctoral thesis (University of Amsterdam, 2010). Focusing on Article 101 TFEU, I used welfare-economics to interpret its different legal concepts in a coherent manner (hence, the project was supervised by a lawyer and an economist). Back in the Netherlands, I focused on competition enforcement in the healthcare sector at Erasmus University (2010-2016). Interdisciplinary work with health economists delivered a deep understanding of the workings of regulated markets and the role of competition enforcement to promote welfare. I also developed and taught a successful international master course on competition policy in healthcare, which also included US, UK and German enforcement practice. Additional lectures included the intersection between patent law, market regulation and antitrust in pharmaceuticals as well as a comparative analysis of health systems in the US, UK, Germany and the Netherlands.
At Antwerp University (2017-2018), I developed and taught an international master course on Advanced EU competition law. As a Ferdinand Braudel senior fellow at the European University Institute (2018-2019), I conducted a comparative analysis of hospital merger control in the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
Recognized expertise
In recognition of my expertise, I have advised Dutch governmental institutions (Parliament, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Authority for Consumers & Markets, Healthcare Authority, Dutch Court of Audit) as well as other societal stakeholders (Dutch Patient Organization) and acted as special counsel for a leading Dutch law firm.
Unique skill-set
Based on the above experience, I have acquired a unique skill-set that combines intellectual robustness with practical relevance. Both commissioning clients and academic colleagues appraise my work as ‘no-nonsense’ and ‘very much to the point’.
Currently, I do academic analysis and legal advice work. In association with the Amsterdam Center of Law & Economics, I research what exactly makes competition policy both objective and effective. To concretise things, this work most often highlights actual enforcement questions in specific sectors. More information on my legal advice and commissioned research work through LOOZEN LAW, you can find here.
