The long run
Alone, you can only go so far; you might miss out on solutions you would not have thought of yourself. Thinking outside the box and creating opportunities together with colleagues from all departments and corners of the world makes the job fun and the results better. It allows us all to develop the best solution for every business challenge.
When I joined IMCD I knew it would be for the long run, I thrive on teamwork and relationships take time to build. I’m not the guy that only sits in the office, I seek input and present solutions. Our job requires preparation, fast thinking and staying on top of developments. Of course, there is time to clear my mind and have lots of fun.
After exchanging all day, I best recharge my batteries, by going out for a run or doing a work-out in the gym, pushing myself to the limit of my physical ability sparks me mentally for whatever a new IMCD day will bring.
Laurens Dalmijn
General Counsel
Always anticipate change
From a rather young age, I had a pretty clear vision of what I wanted to achieve. The corporate world of mergers and acquisitions appealed to me.
Studying Law was the obvious choice to achieve my goal, but I entered business administration first. Upon completing both, I landed my first job in an innovative company led by a now well-known female business leader who was unafraid to make controversial choices. This was my first experience of a company becoming listed on the stock exchange.
My second choice seemed somewhat safer: partner at a prestigious law firm. It provided room for knowledge growth and gained experience as a lawyer. When the headhunter knocked on my door to join a company in full expansion, I had never heard of it before, but I ticked all the boxes. The decision was soon made, and IMCD became my next professional home.
As General Legal Counsel at IMCD, I work with IMCD colleagues across the globe to provide legal services that support the business in reaching its full potential. As we grow, more expertise is required in specific domains, such as mergers and acquisitions, business relations, or regulatory and compliance matters. We provide legal business support in a multitude of areas. What makes us unique is our ability to offer tailor-made services.
Roughly, we can divide our tasks into 3 territories:
- We advise on the governance of the company and think about legal structure, signing authority, legal entities and roles and responsibilities.
- We are IMCD's legal business partner worldwide. We participate in various conversations regarding contract negotiations and business performance and manage and complete projects. Our work is practical and pragmatic. We are focused on supporting our business, taking part in conversations, and managing relationships with suppliers, customers, and all kinds of service providers.
- Compliance-related activities are embedded in our work: understanding and anticipating changes in laws and regulations, creating awareness, reflecting this in our business relationships and making sure we can handle our activities in a safe, sound, and responsible way.
The solution-oriented approach is part of our DNA
When building new partnerships with suppliers or customers, a solid contractual basis is vital for the longevity of the relationship. I particularly enjoy setting up new businesses; we always find the best solution for all parties. This solution-oriented approach is part of our DNA. It is the entrepreneurial, get-things-done mentality that appeals to me.
The Freedom to act is what caught me at IMCD: being able to perform in the way I judge best and making use of the knowledge and cooperation of others but without having someone looking over my shoulder continuously. I could have created our company value 'Freedom to Act' myself, as I appreciate room to deliver my added value.
Laurens Dalmijn
General Counsel
We're always on top of new developments
At IMCD, we encourage a broad and outward-bound approach. Basically, this entails going out and engaging in a dialogue. We should be on top of developments inside and outside of the company. As legal counsel, we must act with integrity and build trust. We need to sit down with our partners and create understanding, adopting a service minded, pro-active attitude makes us stand out. We don’t need to tackle every single risk that might occur; we are entrepreneurial and pragmatic, manage our risks and think of solutions first.
