Zakelijke mediation & procesbegeleiding
YoumanFischer believes in people’s ability to solve their own problems
People encounter problems all the time, and generally they are quite capable of sorting them out for themselves. Sometimes, however, it is useful to bring in a professional. With professional assistance, the process runs much more smoothly and effectively. Do you need help with your business mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution (‘ADR’)?
Then look no further than YoumanFischer: our experts uncover the underlying issues, eliminate interference in your communications and clear the road to help you achieve a solution.
Our people
YoumanFischer was founded in 2021. Its mediators bring previous experience as attorneys, in-house counsel and consultants, as well as in multiple supervisory boards. The members of our firm are all registered as mediators with the Dutch Federation of Mediators (MfN). Besides their other professional memberships, such as of the Dutch Platform for Business Mediation (PMB), the Dutch Workplace Mediation Association (VAN) and the Dutch Association for Mediation Lawyers (NVvMA), they are also registered as mediators with the Amsterdam District Court.
Is
- a business mediator with a wealth of experience
- a member of the editorial board of conflict resolution journal Tijdschrift Conflicthantering
- a trainer who teaches mediation courses
Has
- 22+ years’ experience as a lawyer, particularly in the area of employment law, of which she spent the last 19 years as a partner in DingemansVanderKind, a niche law firm in Amsterdam that specialises in employment law
- some 10 years’ experience as an inhouse lawyer at a university hospital and a transport organisation, working directly with HR, case managers, the ombudsman, confidential counsellors, occupational consultants, the executive board, management etc.
- experience with sick leave, prevention, complaints procedures, internal and external objection committees, top-up arrangements, cultural surveys
- experience with good governance at cultural institutions, in the role of supervisor and an advisory board member
- completed the three-year course in Professional Communication given by Phoenix Opleidingen in Utrecht
Focus
- mediation, conciliation, decision process guidance and meeting facilitation in areas such as difficulties working together between people within organisations and teams and between separate stakeholders within organisations, such as the executive board, shareholders, management, co-determination body
- sectors of the economy: professional services, healthcare, public sector, semi-government organisations, non-profit organisations, cultural sector
On top of this
- meticulous
- active
- strong powers of observation
- dedicated to her job and its future
- author of relevant publications
Is
- a business mediator with a wealth of experience
- a member of the Board of the Dutch Workplace Mediation Association (VAN)
- registered as a mediator with the Dutch Federation of Mediators (MfN) with the District Courts of Amsterdam and Midden-Nederland
Has
- 8 years’ experience as a real estate lawyer (including litigation) with Kennedy van der Laan, including chairing the firm’s works council during that time
- 10+ years’ experience as deputy director (legal & operations) of Adessium Foundation, a family office’s strategic grant maker with an international scope of operations
- extensive experience with good governance in a supervisory role, for example with childcare foundation Stichting Impuls
Focus
- mediation, conciliation, decision process guidance and meeting facilitation for a wide range of situations, including
- difficulties working together between people within organisations and teams and between other stakeholders (supervisory board, shareholders, works council)
- disputes and other problems relating to real estate, including commercial and other lease issues, urban development, construction disputes and owners’ associations
- sectors of the industry where Carst frequently lends his assistance as a conflict professional include:
- professional services (e.g. law, tax law) and other sectors involving specialist professionals, such as healthcare
- media organisations, tech companies, startups and scaleups
- education, childcare and other social organisations
- family-owned companies
- NGOs and cultural and philanthropic organisations
On top of this
- a constructive and pragmatic mindset
- empathy and a focus on solutions
- experience with cross-border disputes, including the intercultural aspects
- a regular author of publications on work tensions and conflict who also teaches courses
- Carst is married to Inge, has 3 children and lives in Amsterdam
Bénine is a partner at YoumanFischer. She spent 7 years as a lawyer at a renowned employment law firm, the last 2 years of which as a lawyer and mediator. Besides the legal aspects, she is interested in the social and psychological sides of employment issues. For this reason, Bénine decided to focus entirely on (conflict resolution in) mediation in 2020, first with ReulingSchutte and, as of 1 April 2024, by joining YoumanFischer as a partner. Clients appreciate Bénine for her commitment, speed and the way she drives conflicted parties towards an acceptable solution.
Bénine regularly lectures on conflict management and is a board member of the Dutch Association for Mediation Lawyers (NVVMA).
Is
- a very experienced mediator
- member of the Dutch Association for Mediation Lawyers
- co-author of the book ‘Mediation in Employment Cases’
Has
- 7 years of experience as a lawyer, at a renowned employment law firm in Amsterdam
- knowledge of employment and co-determination law
- regularly acted as independent chairman of complaints and disputes committees
- experience with sick leave, prevention and culture surveys in organizations
Focus
- mediation, conciliation, decision process guidance and meeting facilitation in areas such as difficulties working together between people within organisations and teams and between separate stakeholders within organisations, such as the executive board, shareholders, management, co-determination
- sectors of the economy: professional services, healthcare, private and (semi-)public sector, non-profit organisations, cultural sector, etc.
On top of this
- Bénine does not give up until the very best outcome is achieved
- Bénine connects quickly and easily with people, regardless of their background
- Bénine is solution-oriented, with an eye for business and personal interests
- Bénine regularly lectures on conflict management
Is
- a mediator with a wealth of experience in commercial/corporate mediation
Has
- 29 years’ experience as a lawyer and inhouse counsel with De Brauw, Van Doorne and Ordina, including 17 years as a partner with Ekelmans & Meijer (currently Ekelmans), working in the firm’s domestic and international employment and company law practice and serving on the executive committee
- 7+ years’ experience as a business mediator, including working exclusively as a fulltime mediator for ReulingSchutte from 2017 to March 2022
- served on the board of the Dutch Association for Mediation Lawyers (NVvMA)
Focus
- employment, companies and organisations
- working together, and ending the relationship if necessary
- mediation, conciliation, decision process guidance, meeting facilitation, intervision facilitation
- conflicts, disputes and/or other problems, for example between employers and employees, shareholders/partners/professionals/supervisory authorities and bodies/commercial partners
- domestic and cross-border
- individuals and groups/teams (professional partnerships, units, works councils, client councils, sales teams etc.)
- facilitation of off sites
- healthcare, media, trade, real estate, PE/VC, non-profit, professional services, public and cultural sectors
- trust the process, the results will come
On top of this
- Jan Willem dynamically builds connections and carefully defines boundaries
- Jan Willem has a pragmatic and solution-focused mindset, with a keen eye for what is at stake both on a personal level and for the business
- Jan Willem can and will actively put forward his input (without judging) on the details of the situation to help identify possible solutions
- Jan Willem speaks the language of both managers and workers
- Jan Willem has authored multiple publications, and regularly gives presentations about legal matters and mediation
- Jan Willem is energised by the outdoor leadership treks that he helps to run in Africa and Europe
Is
- a mediator with a wealth of experience
- a former lawyer who knows all about employment law, co-determination law, company law and litigation
- a member of the board of the Dutch Association for Mediation Lawyers (NVVMA)
Has
- 23 years’ experience as a lawyer, first at a major international law firm followed by 14 years as a partner in a niche law firm in Amsterdam that specialises in employment law
- experience as a senior secretary with the Rotterdam District Court, criminal law
- experience as a senior secretary with the Student Financing Appeals Tribunal
Focus
- ‘traditional’ employment conflicts
- conflicts in a business setting between shareholders or executive board members, between executive board and supervisory bodies, co-determination bodies, family-owned companies
- cross-border mediation (hybrid and online)
- group mediation
- professional services, public and semi-public sector, education, healthcare and wellbeing, recreation industry, industrial sector, charities and the cultural sector
On top of this
- Mirjam does not give up until the very best outcome is achieved
- Mirjam has an unparalleled ability to create a pleasant and constructive environment
- Mirjam has the ability to connect easily with the people at the table, regardless of their background
- Mirjam authors publications about her job
Noor Vlierboom has been office manager of YoumanFischer since its inception. Previously, she worked as an office manager at various companies, including in the cultural world. She is a go-getter, pragmatic and optimistic. Noor is hospitable and puts people at ease.
Elsbeth Dankelman is with YoumanFischer as an office manager since 2024. She previously worked as a personal assistant at an academic medical centre and held various commercial positions. She is committed, attentive an alert. She likes to work with people.
Vision
Conflicts, disputes and breakdowns in communication: any of these can hold people and organisations back and hamper their development and growth. They have a disruptive effect, and create uncertainty and frustration and often lead to costs piling up unnecessarily. When the conflict is addressed, it brings renewed confidence and a sense of relief and engagement. It helps people and organisations to start moving forward again.
Mediation
Our firm takes mediation seriously. By only offering mediation and other forms of ADR, we can focus on the quality of the process and maintain clearly defined roles. For us, decision process guidance is based on strong, beautiful and exciting principles – that is why we love our profession. Whenever a new case comes our way, we discuss which of our professionals is the right person for the job.
No matter what the case, we see the person behind the conflict.
Process
What we offer is a structured process, designed to uncover what is at stake – both businesswise and on a personal level. The process generally begins with setting up intake interviews, to talk to the parties separately and in confidence. How we proceed from there is based on those interviews, with the parties’ input. The next step is usually a mediation session with all the parties involved.
Our process covers the following areas:
- Repairing breakdowns in communication
- Restoring the parties’ belief in a solution and helping them to go into the dialogue or discussion with an open mind
- Listening carefully, to establish the true source of the conflict and identify where the problems lie
- Creating a safe environment where the parties know that anything they say is confidential
- Intervening as and when needed to move forward towards the tipping point
- Being aware of the personal issues influencing the business dispute
- Understanding and/or being interested in the parties’ line of business
- Nurturing the parties’ own potential to identify possible solutions and flesh out the details, with active input from our professionals. In our experience, a solution that comes about from the parties’ own understanding has stronger foundations and will last longer.
What we do
YoumanFischer provides guidance and mediations in business conflicts and other problems:
- Within partnerships, teams, individual working relationships and employee participation structures
- Within or between management teams, boards of directors, supervisory bodies and shareholders
- Between professionals such as medical specialists, lawyers and architects
- About commercial contracts, real estate, mergers & acquisitions, trade disputes and ICT
YoumanFischer offers:
- Expert and effective decision process guidance
- Professional, engaged and experienced mediators
- Quick availability
- Swift response
- Careful preparation
- An understanding of the legal merits
- An approach that is geared towards the individual issue
- Personal reception at our own professional offices
Confidant and complaint handling
In addition to their work as mediators Mirjam Fiselier and Sanne Schreurs can be deployed as external confidantes. They are certified as confidantes and affiliated with the National Association of Confidants (Landelijke Vereniging van Vertrouwenspersonen). Key points for the work of the confidential advisor are: providing a listening ear to reporters, outlining scenarios for reporters, referring reporters to the right persons/authorities, and standing side by side with the reporters. The role of the confidential advisor towards the organization is: thinking along about having the basics in place with regard to social safety (code of conduct, complaints procedure, social safety policy, etc.), contributing to the social annual report, and providing internal information about social safety.
Mirjam and Sanne are also active as chairpersons of complaints and objection committees. They act as independent complaints investigators and assessors, often on the basis of internal complaints and disputes regulations of organizations, or pursuant to policies in the field of integrity and undesirable behaviour.
Contact
YoumanFischer
Oosteinde 27
1017 WT AMSTERDAM