My Goal
I started Upgrade Legal because I find great pleasure in advising startups and growing (SME) businesses. I have gained extensive experience in providing advice to a wide range of companies, from a butler app to a VVE platform to a design studio. I have noticed that there is often a need for customized legal documents in the early stages, but due to necessity, more standard documents found online are often chosen. Meanwhile, the business matures and undergoes multiple changes during growth, while the legal framework does not always keep pace. I am here to help businesses upgrade their legal framework so they can continue to grow safely.
Work Experience
In addition to advising various companies, I have worked for years as a (senior) legal counsel at one of the largest players in online content indexing. With dozens of websites and millions of daily visitors from around the world, every day was a challenge. I built the entire legal department here and drafted all contracts. As a result, I have a good overview of the legal foundation that needs to be established in every company, which unfortunately is not always present. Some of the agreements I have drafted, tailored to the company and its services, include:
- Website Terms and Conditions (Privacy policy, terms of use, DMCA policy, etc.)
- All GDPR requirements (personal data processing register, privacy policies, cookie notifications, internal guidelines for handling personal data, security measures, data processing agreements, document retention policies, etc.)
- Employment contracts, personnel policies, and related regulations & guidelines
- Cease & Desist Letters, final notices to debtors, sanctions compliance checks
- Emergency response organization, permits
- Periodic legal talks tailored to each department (marketing, development, sales)
- Participation in SCRUM Demos (sprint reviews) of development, sales, and marketing departments
As companies now operate internationally, I always ensure that I am aware of relevant (upcoming) international legislation, such as European directives and U.S. laws. This keeps me well-informed about European and U.S. intellectual property laws and all regulations regarding platform liability.
During my studies, I worked for a market leader in Brand Protection, served as a clerk at the Rotterdam District Court (Criminal Law), and interned at a law firm in the Intellectual Property and Technology department.
Clients
Over the past 10 years, I have helped many different companies with their legal issues and contracts. From online platforms to apps to Web3 projects. In addition to providing legal advice, I also enjoy taking on temporary roles in legal teams to handle backlog. For example, during the acquisition of 24Sessions by Messagebird, both SaaS platforms, I ensured that the entire legal aspect of 24Sessions was integrated into the new parent company. In addition to closing existing deals, I renegotiated ongoing contracts and assisted in drafting new internal policies to align with Messagebird’s legal thresholds. I also assisted with several procurement procedures. I derive a lot of energy from helping diverse companies, simultaneously learning about all the different aspects companies can encounter and providing practical legal advice to solve problems where possible.
Personal
I currently live with my family in Haarlem after several years in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. In addition to football and golf, I find great pleasure in building websites, delving into Web3, and creating designs. I am highly entrepreneurial, and through the launch of multiple websites and online projects, I am well-versed in the technical and business aspects of (online) entrepreneurship. I enjoy thinking in solutions, which allows me to effectively cover current and future issues with the right legal documents. In summary, let’s meet without obligation and see how I can assist you and your company!
Legal advice for entrepreneurs looking to grow!
