Press release: Joost Linnemann announces departure as CEO after more than thirty years at Amsterdam law firm
Jan-Willem Siebers has been appointed CEO of law firm Kennedy van der Laan as of 1 January 2025. Siebers will succeed Joost Linnemann, who is leaving the Amsterdam law firm after 32 years.
Jan-Willem Siebers (53) brings a wealth of business administration and managerial experience to Kennedy Van der Laan. Siebers joins the firm from consultancy group Panmuc, which comprises research and consultancy firms Panteia, MuConsult and Revnext, where he has served as CEO since 2017. Prior to that, he was CEO of NS Hispeed and a member of the NS executive committee. He started his career at KLM, where he held various management positions, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Siebers is a member of the supervisory board of NBD Biblion.
Outgoing CEO Linnemann started as a junior associate in 1993, just after Kennedy Van der Laan was founded. He was appointed partner in 2000, moving to a managing partner role between 2007 and 2012 and led the IT law department until his appointment to CEO in 2018.
As CEO, Linnemann successfully steered Kennedy Van der Laan through the covid pandemic. During his tenure, he delivered a structural increase in revenue and results, oversaw the move to the new office, introduced a code of conduct and compliance code, and his final achievement before announcing his departure was defining the new strategy. During his years at Kennedy Van der Laan, he was an advocate for the legal profession and was a member of the national bar association’s diversity committee for several years, as well as chairman. He was also an ambassador for the bar association, working to support social advocacy in the commercial legal profession.
Joost Linnemann: “I have thoroughly enjoyed leading this wonderful firm over the past six-and-a-half years. During this time, we made Kennedy Van der Laan even stronger and more professional. With the new strategy in place, Kennedy is more than ready for the future. After 32 years I think this is the right time to say goodbye.”
With the appointment of Linnemann as CEO, Kennedy Van der Laan parted with the traditional law firm governance model of having both a managing partner and managing director. Linnemann combined both roles, ensuring even better continuity. Linnemann has not decided yet on the next step in his career.
Jan-Willem Siebers: “Kennedy Van der Laan is a firm with a solid reputation and passionate people who are eager to make a difference through their work. Entrepreneurial spirit and social engagement go hand in hand. During his career as a lawyer and leader, Joost has been committed to upholding the firm’s founding principles of high quality, social engagement and a human touch. I look forward to continuing this legacy and to working with all my new colleagues to achieve the ambitious goals set out in the new strategy.”
For more information:
Stampa
Heleen de Graaf / Marieke Sepers
kvdl@stampacommunications.com
+31 20 404 2630
