Marjolijn van Deventer

Marjolijn van Deventer has been a lawyer at VBK in the Employment & Pensions team since September 2025.

She has been practicing employment law since 1996. She has also been a certified MfN mediator specialising in employment disputes for over 10 years. 

Marjolijn has extensive experience of advising and litigating for national and international companies, educational and healthcare institutions, financial institutions, family businesses, the temporary employment sector, as well as for statutory directors, supervisory directors, regulators and works councils. She acts as a legal and strategic sparring partner for HRM, management, directors and supervisors, providing advice on matters such as employment disputes, terms of employment, reorganisations, flexible working, cross-border behaviour, employee participation and corporate governance.

Alongside her work as a lawyer, Marjolijn is a certified MfN mediator and experienced conflict resolver. She assists parties in employment and business conflicts, considering both the legal and the human/organizational dimensions. 

Marjolijn is also an experienced intervision leader who assists lawyers and other professionals in reflecting on their practice and professional development. Drawing on her administrative background – including her previous experience as managing partner and section chair – she supports organisations through complex decision-making and change processes, providing advice on compliance, corporate social responsibility and conflict management.

Marjolijn has in-depht legal knowledge, which she combines this with a pragmatic and solution-oriented approach. She alleviates her client's burden by translating legal complexity into clear strategies and workable solutions.

In addition to her role as a lawyer, Marjolijn stands out thanks to her strong mediation and intervision skills. She can prevent conflicts from escalating and promote sustainable solutions, both in individual cases and within organisations.

Marjolijn also has a strong affinity with sport. Having completed the Sport and Law academic course at VU University Amsterdam and has been active in the sports sector for many years, including as a former member of the KNLTB (Royal Dutch Lawn Tennis Association) Appeals Committee. This combination of legal expertise and practical experience makes her a reliable and knowledgeable discussion partner in the world of sport.

Marjolijn is experienced by colleagues and clients as professional, collegial and connecting someone who stands up for her clients and knows how to bring different interests together in a positive way.

 Expertise

• Advising and litigating in the field of employment law
• Advising national and international companies and expatriates
• Employment law guidance for directors, supervisory directors, regulators and works councils
• Reorganisation and restructuring processes (social plan, collective dismissal, UWV process)
• Employee participation issues (works council, request for advice, consent)
• Employees on sick leave
• Labour disputes
• Inappropriate behaviour in the workplace
• Flexible working (e.g bogus self-employment, zero-hour contracts, secondment, self-employed persons)
• Conflict resolution and mediation in employment and business disputes
• Intervision coaching for solicitors and professionals
• Strategic advice on HRM and compliance

About Marjolijn

In addition to her practice, Marjolijn teaches employment law courses to HR professionals, managers and executives. She also regularly publishes on current employment law and mediation issues and acts as an expert and discussion leader in peer supervision.

Marjolijn is an active member of several professional associations, including the Dutch Association of Employment Lawyers (VAAN), the Association of Employment Lawyers of Central Netherlands (VAAMN), the Dutch Association of Mediation Lawyers (NVVMA) and the Sports & Law Association.