Guido de Wit, Pesman Advocaten business unit partner

Guido de Wit (1973) graduated from the University of Amsterdam in company and legal-entities law. He has worked for Pesman Advocaten (Alkmaar business unit) since August 2003.

Guido’s activities are predominantly related to Company law and Insolvency law. He gives advice to clients from medium and small-sized businesses in various sectors on highly differing legal subjects, including the choice of a certain legal form, the conclusion of joint ventures and other contractual relationships, assistance of clients in mergers and take-overs and he conducts proceedings on their behalf. Furthermore, Guido de Wit is a receiver in bankruptcy cases; he successfully completed the Insolvency law training course at the Grotius Academy, and is affiliated with the Insolad association. His wide experience in bankruptcy matters is a great asset to his advice of clients. “Bankruptcy cases clearly show where things have gone wrong within the company and with the entrepreneurs. Often structure and organisation are lacking from a liquidated business. This may be related to the financial, internal or legal organisation”.

Guido de Wit therefore points out to his clients to timely use a lawyer in order to outline legal matters in a proper manner and on time. This does not only help the prevention of a bankruptcy, it also makes sure that court proceedings can be avoided. Should a company still end up in trouble due to circumstances, and become liquidated or be involved in court proceedings, the receiver will tend to be convinced of the entrepreneur’s proper actions, and the court will be more easily convinced that he should decide in favour of the respective client if the client has made sure that all his matters have been properly organised.

Guido continues: “Many clients use general terms and conditions for example. In itself this is very useful and advisable in many cases. Where things tend to go wrong however, is that entrepreneurs do not correctly declare the terms and conditions applicable before or upon the conclusion of an agreement, or do not present them in the appropriate manner. A client can be saved many problems with relatively simple advice.”

“Quite often there are cases in a lawyer’s practice that are related to matters that have a heavy impact on the life of a client. Legal disputes can fully control someone’s life for a considerable period of time. It feels good to put in an effort for your client and to be able to help the clients who need you to be a tower of strength.
Emotions are not only a factor in issues that must be solved for a client, but for example also in the sale of a company. “Entrepreneurs often consider their business, and rightly so, as their baby. The situation where an entrepreneur leaves a company after 40 years and the company is taken over by someone else, e.g. the children, often unlocks emotions.
Not only excellent legal skills, but also social skills and an insight into the human nature are therefore important features that a lawyer needs to possess. This is what makes our profession fascinating.”

Quote below the photograph: “Not only excellent legal skills, but also social skills and an insight into the human nature are important features that a lawyer needs to possess”.