Where it all began
In 2019, Joost and Floris had a joint start as lawyers at Poelmann van den Broek. For Joost, this meant a return to familiar territory. He was already introduced to PvdB in 2013 through a special master's program from Radboud University and then worked for two years as a legal assistant. It clicked immediately: "The atmosphere was good, the people involved and the teams worked closely together." Still, he first decided to continue with his e-commerce business, but the legal profession did not let him go. He sold his company in 2019 and returned to PvdB. Floris's interest was piqued by the opportunity to get specialized work within construction law. After a period as an in-house lawyer at a construction company, where he missed the dynamics of litigation, he came into contact with PvdB. It clicked immediately. His first day started somewhat awkwardly with an Irish folk dance during an informal activity, but that turned out to be a good omen for a pleasant collaboration.
Logical next step
The appointment as salary partner is a logical step within the firm for both of them. "At home I am already a tax partner and here now salary partner," jokes Floris. He experiences mutual trust in this step and that feels good, he says. Joost sees it as an opportunity for further strategic thinking, which fits well with his experience as business owner. "Together with Valerie, I built up my own team within Commercial Contracts, Intellectual Property and IT in 2022. The team has grown rapidly, and I look forward to continuing to build from this new role."
International vision
PvdB's recent expansion into Amsterdam has also made the firm more accessible to international clients. According to Joost, this internationalization is a logical step that fits well with the firm's ambitions: "It opens the door to new opportunities and strengthens our position internationally." Floris has also set his sights abroad, but specifically Germany. With his focus on construction law and energy transition, he sees interesting opportunities for cooperation and expansion in the German market.
Looking to the future
As salary partners, Joost and Floris look forward to a future of innovation and collaboration. Floris sees opportunities to further expand his niche in energy transition and strengthen his team. Joost wants to contribute to the transition to AI within the office and work to further expand the IT specialization within the team. Together, they will at least keep PvdB on its toes!
Would you like to congratulate Joost van Dongen and Floris Pels Rijcken personally or are you curious to know what they can do for your case as a salary partner? Feel free to contact them using the button below to see how their expertise in Commercial Contracts, IT and Intellectual Property or Construction and Energy can help your business.
