Baker & McKenzie LLP
04/24/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/24/2026 08:49
Royal honour awarded to Mirjam de Blécourt
I. Description Mirjam de Blécourt, Employment Partner at Baker McKenzie Amsterdam, has been appointed Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau, a royal honour bestowed by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. She received the decoration from Joyce Langenacker, Mayor of the Municipality of Zeist.
The appointment as Officer recognises Ms de Blécourt's exceptional and distinctive contributions to employment law in the Netherlands, combined with her long-standing and nationally visible commitment to gender equality, inclusion and responsible governance.
With a career spanning more than 35 years, Ms de Blécourt is widely regarded as one of the most influential employment lawyers in the Netherlands and Europe. Since joining Baker McKenzie in 1990, she has played a defining role in the development of Dutch employment law, advising boards of multinational companies on complex reorganisations, governance matters and executive issues. She is the founder of the De Blécourt Method, an innovative and widely adopted framework for managing collective redundancies.
Long before diversity and inclusion became strategic priorities within the legal profession and corporate boardrooms, Ms de Blécourt placed these themes firmly on the agenda. Within Baker McKenzie, she held several leadership positions, including serving on the EMEA+ Management Committee and completing two terms on the Amsterdam office's management board. She also consistently championed mentorship, female talent development and inclusive leadership, both within the Firm and across the wider legal sector.
Her societal impact extends beyond legal practice. As a former member of the Dutch Senate (Eerste Kamer), Ms de Blécourt made a substantive contribution to legislation aimed at improving gender diversity at the top of Dutch companies, helping to drive structural change in corporate governance. In addition to her political role, she has held numerous governance, supervisory and advisory positions in the social and non-profit sector, including with the Emma Children's Hospital Support Foundation, African Parks and the American-European Community Association (AECA).
The rank of Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau is awarded to individuals who, in addition to long-standing service, have made clearly distinguishing contributions with national relevance and who fulfil a recognised example function within their field.
Kim Tan, Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie Amsterdam, commented:
"Mirjam has shaped Dutch employment law and the broader conversation on leadership and inclusion in a lasting way. She combines intellectual authority with courage and integrity, and has made a remarkable contribution to society through her sustained commitment to equality, responsible governance and public service. It was an honor to be able to witness the ceremony today, it honours a legacy that reaches far beyond our firm."
The appointment as Officer recognises Ms de Blécourt's exceptional and distinctive contributions to employment law in the Netherlands, combined with her long-standing and nationally visible commitment to gender equality, inclusion and responsible governance.
With a career spanning more than 35 years, Ms de Blécourt is widely regarded as one of the most influential employment lawyers in the Netherlands and Europe. Since joining Baker McKenzie in 1990, she has played a defining role in the development of Dutch employment law, advising boards of multinational companies on complex reorganisations, governance matters and executive issues. She is the founder of the De Blécourt Method, an innovative and widely adopted framework for managing collective redundancies.
Long before diversity and inclusion became strategic priorities within the legal profession and corporate boardrooms, Ms de Blécourt placed these themes firmly on the agenda. Within Baker McKenzie, she held several leadership positions, including serving on the EMEA+ Management Committee and completing two terms on the Amsterdam office's management board. She also consistently championed mentorship, female talent development and inclusive leadership, both within the Firm and across the wider legal sector.
Her societal impact extends beyond legal practice. As a former member of the Dutch Senate (Eerste Kamer), Ms de Blécourt made a substantive contribution to legislation aimed at improving gender diversity at the top of Dutch companies, helping to drive structural change in corporate governance. In addition to her political role, she has held numerous governance, supervisory and advisory positions in the social and non-profit sector, including with the Emma Children's Hospital Support Foundation, African Parks and the American-European Community Association (AECA).
The rank of Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau is awarded to individuals who, in addition to long-standing service, have made clearly distinguishing contributions with national relevance and who fulfil a recognised example function within their field.
Kim Tan, Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie Amsterdam, commented:
"Mirjam has shaped Dutch employment law and the broader conversation on leadership and inclusion in a lasting way. She combines intellectual authority with courage and integrity, and has made a remarkable contribution to society through her sustained commitment to equality, responsible governance and public service. It was an honor to be able to witness the ceremony today, it honours a legacy that reaches far beyond our firm."
Baker & McKenzie LLP published this content on April 24, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 24, 2026 at 14:49 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]