Ester Damen

Data protection / Employee co-governance

Ester's practice covers all aspects of employment law. Ester specializes in employment-law problems concerning privacy and data protection and the implementation of the GDPR in the Netherlands. This includes investigating and advising about #metoo situations and their employment-law consequences. Ester also advises both employers and works councils about the Dutch Works Councils Act and guides advice and consent procedures, and she litigates about employee participation cases before the Enterprise Section of the Court of Appeal.

Ester is a member of the Association of Employee Participation Professionals, the Association of Employment Law Attorneys Amsterdam (VAAA) and the Employment Law Association (VvA), and is a member of the Employee Participation Law working group of VvA and the Employee Participation focus group of the Social and Economic Council (SER). Besides, Ester is a regular guest lecturer at the master's in Employment Law at Groningen University and she writes articles for the journals OR Rendement and OR Magazine.

Ester was interviewed by Privacyweb (Dutch) about her appointment to Associate Partner.

Chambers Europe 2025 - Employment - Up and Coming

Ester Damen assists with global restructuring and reorganisation matters. She also advises on inappropriate behaviour and trade union dealings.

• "Ester Damen is experienced, approachable, responsive and personal. She considers the perspectives of both employers and employees and delivers as promised."
• "Thanks to Ester Damen, we were able to deal with the matter smoothly."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2024 - Employment - Ranked

Kennedy Van der Laan takes a sector-focused approach to its employment practice, specialising in the technology, financial, and healthcare sectors, aiding employers and international clients with a slew of employment issues. The firm frequently advises on hybrid working arrangements and diversity and inclusion compliance, and is known for its expertise in co-governance law as well as restructuring and reorganisation projects. Chris Nekeman, Soo-Ja Schijf, and Ester Damen lead the practice together. Nekeman is a specialist in employee participation law, Schijf largely represents multinational companies in reorganisations and dismissals, and Damen acts for both employers and works councils, as well as being the go-to for assisting clients in unethical behaviour matters.

Testimonials

‘Ester Damen is knowledgeable, dedicated, engaged and committed.’

Chambers Europe 2024 - Employment - Up and Coming

Ester Damen assists with global restructuring and reorganisation. She also advises on inappropriate behaviour and trade union dealings. "Ester Damen offers fast and great support. She is very knowledgeable."

The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Employment - Ranked

Kennedy Van der Laan has a strong focus on sectors including technology, financial services and healthcare, and has specific experience in employee governance, advising and representing employers and work councils. The firm is also active in restructurings and reorganisations, as well as employment-related data protection matters and #MeToo issues. The practice is led by Chris Nekeman, who specialises in employee participation and legal proceedings for works councils and employers, Soo-Ja Schijf, who primarily represents multinationals with European operations, and Ester Damen, who has expertise in employee participation and data protection in employment relationships.

Testimonials

• ‘Ester Damen is calm and assured, with good commercial sense underpinned by strong technical skills.’
• ‘Ester Damen is a true business partner to the client’s company and I have great trust in her abilities and intentions for our company. I trust her implicitly.’

The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Employment - Ranked

Kennedy Van der Laan’s employment offering is ‘very professional and down to earth’ and handles a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. Soo-Ja Schijf has a track record of work for international clients concerning collective redundancies and outsourcing; Chris Nekeman is experienced in negotiations with trade unions and is no stranger to litigation; and Ester Damen is recommended for data protection-related employment work.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2020 - Employment - Ranked

Kennedy Van der Laan's three-partner employment team provides the full range of employment law services for both national and international clients. Chris Nekeman focuses primarily on employee co-governance, union negotiations, and outsourcing mandates for Dutch companies. Eva Knipschild is high recommended for work involving flexible employment, and Soo-Ja Schijf is a key contact for international clients seeking advice on cross-border matters involving restructuring and TUPE. Employment-focused data protection specialist Ester Damen was appointed as an associate-partner of the firm in July 2019.