Irene Verheijen

M +31 6 19 84 28 92 | irene.verheijen@legaltree.nl

Attorney-at-law

Irene specialises in administrative law and regulated markets, where the interaction between government and industry plays an important role. She advises companies on compliance with Dutch and European legislation. The focus is on the regulation of food, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, gambling and privacy.

Specialisation

Irene regularly litigates for or against governments, particularly against regulatory authorities in regulated markets. This may involve, inter alia, licensing, administrative enforcement (enforcement measures from (semi-public interest) government bodies such as an order or administrative fine), publication of documents (Freedom of Information Act (Wet openbaarheid van bestuur)), government liability, awarding subsidies.

Work experience

Irene started her legal career at the Independent Post and Telecommunications Authority (Onafhankelijke Post en Telecommunicatie Autoriteit (OPTA)), where she worked as a legal adviser. In 2002 she moved into advocacy. From 2002 to 2009 she worked at Van Mens & Wisselink, specialising in (economic) administrative law, regulated markets (pharma/food, healthcare and gambling), competition, intellectual property and privacy law. She then worked for over a year at Dijkstra Voermans Advocatuur as a senior lawyer/manager. In 2010 she moved to VMW Tax and where she became a partner in the department Markets and Government. Irene has been connected to Legaltree since 2013.

Memberships

Administrative Law Association [Vereniging voor Bestuursrecht (VAR)]
Netherlands Food Law Association [Nederlandse Vereniging voor Levensmiddelenrecht (NVLR)]
European Food Law Association (EFLA)
Association of Pharmacy and Law [Vereniging Farmacie en Recht (VFenR)]
Association of Health Law [Vereniging voor Gezondheidsrecht (VGR)]
Association for Privacy and Law (Vereniging voor Privacy en Recht (VPR))

Ancillary positions

2020-present day: Chairperson European Food Law Association (EFLA)
2014-present day: Council member European Food Law Association (EFLA)
2013-present day: Chairperson of Complaints Commission for Cardiology Centres in the Netherlands
2012-present day: Member of Appeals Committee on General Disciplinary Matters, Royal Dutch Rowing Federation
2013: Guest lecturer on food law, HAS Den Bosch
2010-present day: Guest lecturer on Executive MBA course, Food and Finance, Nyenrode Business University
2009-present day: Lecturer on food law, Food Law Academy (Wageningen University/Wageningen Business School)
2008-present day: Member of the Board of European Food Law Institute
2007-2013: Lecturer on administrative procedure, Netherlands Bar Association

Education

Various courses in the field of (economic) administrative law, corporate law, intellectual property, pharmaceutical law, food law and privacy law
Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco (USA)
Leiden University (Dutch civil law)