Marry de Gaay Fortman

Advocaat | Partner

Practice Areas

Languages

Dutch
English

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Marry is corporate and public governance lawyer and an expert in the field of governance and regulation. She is involved in research and regulatory matters and specialises in public economic law and corporate governance for large companies and public and semi-public institutions. She is also considered a trusted boardroom advisor, focusing on the governance dynamics between executive boards and supervisory boards, shareholders, and other stakeholders.

Marry is a member of Houthoff's multidisciplinary governance team.

Marry combines her legal work with non-executive director roles, including as supervisory board chair at Conclusion Group. In addition, Marry provides study programmes for supervisory board members at Erasmus University Rotterdam (Erasmus Governance Institute) and at the Governance Academy. She co-authored a chapter on boardroom dynamics in Handboek Corporate Governance and organises round table meetings for supervisory board members.

In the past, Marry served as a supervisory board member for De Nederlandsche Bank, KLM, Royal HaskoningDHV, GVB Amsterdam and health insurer VGZ, as well as chair of Stichting Topvrouwen.nl and VNO-NCW Metropoolregio Amsterdam. 


  • “One client stated that 'Marry de Gaay Fortman is a fantastic partner who understands the way the government works and is able to provide good strategic insight'.”
    Chambers Europe, Public Law (2024 Edition)
  • Recommended
    Legal 500, Environment & Planning (2024 Edition)
  • Recommended
    Chambers Europe, Public Law (2023 Edition)
  • “She is well aware of the requirements of her clients and is an excellent lawyer on strategic issues.”
    Chambers Europe, Public Law (2022 Edition)
  • “She makes clear what is always important to keep in mind strategically.”
    Chambers Europe, Public Law (2021 Edition)
  • Recommended
    Chambers Europe, Public Law (2020 Edition)

Mediation

Marry is an IMI Certified Mediator (International Mediation Institute). With her expertise and experience, she can offer an even wider range of dispute resolution options. Mediation is often an efficient way for parties to resolve their disputes.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

  • LL.M. Law (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
  • Business mediator (International Mediation Institute)
  • Specialist course on tenancy law
  • Advising university medical centres in public tender procedures for IT and electronic medical files.
  • Representing the Italian (veterinary) pharmaceutical company Innovet (part of Epitech Group) in patent litigation proceedings, relating to both validity and infringement of its patent relating to pharmaceutical compositions containing micronized compounds.
  • Advising and representing Tata Steel, one of Europe's largest steel plants, on their most important environmental permits and enforcement procedures.
  • Advising Vestia, a Dutch housing corporation, on various complex regulatory aspects relating to the unwinding of its EUR 20 billion derivative portfolio.

Publications

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