“What I look for in every case is: what is my client’s interest in this point of view, what does he want to achieve? I’m certainly not inclined to resort to the law, neither substantive nor formal, early in the exploratory stage. The client doesn’t have that focus either: he is only interested in reaching his goal. During negotiations – for instance, within the framework of joint ventures, in case of disputes or in case of trouble within partnerships – you aren’t bound by law quite so much.  You have to be aware of it, of course, but that doesn’t imply that you have to avail yourself of it. Therefore, I try to discover just how sincere my client’s position is. As long as I do not have to litigate  (clients tend to be well able to do without), I initially won’t be guided by the law, but if I have to resort to it, I can bite. You can’t bluff if you do not prove every so often that you have the teeth to bite with. I am told that I am regarded as a solicitor who takes control, and that is correct: I actively try to get a case to go my way. In my practice, in which I regularly deal with directors and commissioners, that approach seems to work well. In the end, it mostly comes down to common sense and being able to distinguish between main and side issues.  Because I cannot afford any slip-ups in such a process, I spend a lot of time researching where I stand with my own client. I cannot possibly take a firm stand, if I do not have all the information that might be used against us later.  With my by now 25 years experience, I can truthfully say that my passion is the legal profession. If you want to challenge yourself, it is the best profession there is.”