Maaike

Legal Design: What If Legal Departments Are Falling Behind?

Written by Yannick Bakker – Legal Designer & Legal Counsel

Legal Design: What If Legal Departments Are Falling Behind?

A Fresh Perspective, a Closed Door

You walk through an office where everything revolves around energy and brand experience. Marketing is experimenting with new campaigns, sales is celebrating fresh leads, and HR is promoting an inclusive company culture. And then you reach the legal department. No neon signs, no creative brainstorms—more a place where documents stack up like a never-cleared archive.

It’s understandable that legal departments work differently than marketing or sales. But in a world where businesses fine-tune their communication down to the last detail, it’s striking when contracts and terms remain static and outdated. Why does ‘Legal’ in 2025 still sometimes feel like a closed room, while the rest of the company works in open spaces?

“It’s Fine the Way It Is,” Right?

In-house counsel are well aware that legal communication could be more accessible. The principles of Legal Design—clear language, visual hierarchy, user-friendly formatting—are not new. Yet practice often lags behind. “It’s fine the way it is,” is a common response.

And yes, on the surface, it is fine. Contracts get signed, terms are accepted, and there’s no immediate crisis. But the real question is: how well is it actually working? How many clients sign without understanding the content? How many colleagues disengage from internal legal documents because they’re too inaccessible? If you don’t measure it, you won’t know.

Time to Test: A/B for Legal

Marketing and communications leave little to chance. They test everything: which title converts better? Which layout holds attention? Legal teams, on the other hand, often rely on assumptions.

Now imagine applying the same logic to contracts: two versions, one traditional, one designed using Legal Design principles. Then measure:

• Which version is read and understood more quickly?

• Which version results in fewer questions?

• Which version inspires more trust?

The results might reveal that legal documents are not just about being legally correct—they’re also about being effective.

A Missed Opportunity for Trust

Legal communication is often the first formal interaction with a company. You can invest heavily in a seamless brand experience, but if the first contractual step feels like a bureaucratic hurdle, there’s a disconnect.

Clear legal communication is an opportunity to build trust. Clients feel respected, employees understand what to do more quickly, and the legal team is seen as a proactive partner rather than a bottleneck. Aligned with House’s Legal for tomorrow vision, legal communication can be more than a necessary evil. It can be a powerful tool to strengthen relationships.

Opening the Door

In-house counsel don’t need to become designers or marketers. But the days of Legal standing apart from the business are over. It’s not about changing the legal content, but about how we present it. Small steps—A/B testing, user-friendly layouts, less jargon—can make a world of difference.

A legal department that reinvents itself gains influence. Not by shouting louder about the importance of legal content, but by showing that it works. And it starts with a simple question: are we willing to measure if it could be better?

Conclusion

Legal Design helps legal departments stay relevant and effective in a world that values clarity and trust. It doesn’t require a revolution—just a willingness to test, adapt, and collaborate with the rest of the business.

In 2025, legal communication shouldn’t be an obstacle. It should be a strategic advantage: clear, powerful, and accessible. The door is open. Will you step through?

Want to learn more? Contact us: info@house-legal.nl

by Maaike

The Benefits of an On-Demand In-House Counsel

Written by Maaike Roet – CEO & Founder of House

The Benefits of an On-Demand In-House Counsel

What do you do when you’re running a business and face a legal question?
Is this contract aligned with our services? How should we handle an employment dispute? What are the legal implications of a potential acquisition?

You might think of calling a lawyer or hiring a full-time in-house counsel. But there’s a third, often overlooked option: an on-demand in-house counsel. In this blog, I explain why this flexible model makes sense – and why more businesses are starting to rely on it.

Flexibility and Efficiency for Modern Businesses

The way companies access legal support is changing. Traditional legal departments and long-standing partnerships with law firms are no longer the default. Instead, more organisations are turning to on-demand legal services – gaining access to experienced legal expertise exactly when they need it, without long-term contracts or high fixed costs.

What Is On-Demand Legal Support?

On-demand legal support allows companies to bring in an external in-house counsel as needed – whether through flexible subscriptions or hourly billing. This could mean one-off advice on a contract or temporary legal support during a project or transaction.

At House, these services are delivered by senior in-house counsels with years of experience at large companies. They understand the fast-paced commercial environment and offer practical, actionable advice – no long memos, just clear guidance that helps business leaders make sound decisions.

Who Benefits Most from On-Demand Legal Support?

This model is especially valuable for organisations that need legal expertise but don’t require a full-time in-house counsel – or want to avoid the high costs of traditional law firms. It’s ideal for:

• Startups and scale-ups looking to build a solid legal foundation without setting up a full legal team.

• SMEs that need periodic legal advice on commercial contracts, employment matters, or privacy policies.

• Large organisations seeking temporary legal capacity for specific projects or peak workloads.

The Key Benefits

• Flexibility – Access legal support when you need it, without long-term commitments.

• Cost-efficiency – Pay only for what you use. Avoid the cost of full-time hires or premium law firm rates.

• Specialist expertise – Our in-house counsels combine legal knowledge with a deep understanding of business. They quickly assess legal and commercial risks to deliver the right advice.

• Practical and fast – No academic reports. Just workable, business-focused solutions that you can implement immediately.

The Future of Legal Services

The shift towards on-demand legal services is part of a broader move towards more flexible and digital legal solutions. Networks and platforms of experienced legal professionals make it easier than ever to access the right expertise, fast.

For businesses, this means more control over legal costs – without sacrificing speed or quality. On-demand legal support is not only an efficient solution for today; it’s a model that’s set to become increasingly important in the future.

Legal for tomorrow.

Curious to see how House’s on-demand legal services can support your business?
Reach out to Niels Braamse for an introductory call at +31 (0)20 520 6838 or via niels@house-legal.nl.

by Maaike

The company secretary: The indispensable link in a successful business

Written by Christien Kalteren – Corporate Secretary

An invisible force with a major impact

Imagine a board meeting where crucial decisions need to be made. The agenda is overloaded, essential documents are missing, and responsibilities are unclear. The result? Wasted time, miscommunication, and frustration. This scenario could have been easily prevented with the right support. This is where the company secretary comes in: the invisible yet indispensable force behind an effective and well-functioning board.

The traditional role of the company secretary

Traditionally, the company secretary is seen as the key figure in organizing meetings and decision-making processes. Often a legal expert, the company secretary supports corporate accountability and acts as a first-line legal advisor. This classical role is essential, but in many organizations, the function extends far beyond this. The company secretary often takes on additional responsibilities, actively contributing to effective and efficient governance.

The spider in the web: Connecting and structuring

Managing an organization is complex. The Supervisory Board oversees and advises, while shareholders expect transparency and clear reporting. Additionally, stakeholders such as employees, customers, suppliers, and regulators (such as the AFM or DNB) play a crucial role.

The company secretary ensures alignment between all these parties. By acting as a bridge between the executive board, supervisory board, and shareholders and by sharing relevant information clearly and in a timely manner—governance is no longer seen as a mere administrative obligation. Instead, it becomes a powerful tool to strengthen the organization.

Strategic thinking and advising

While many assume that a company secretary’s role is limited to preparing and recording meetings, the function often extends far beyond that. In many organizations, the company secretary actively contributes to strategic discussions, advises executives and supervisory board members, asks critical questions, and helps identify risks. This strategic input ensures well-informed decisions and helps prevent potential pitfalls.

A trusted advisor and sparring partner

Beyond being an organizer and advisor, the company secretary also serves as a trusted confidant and sparring partner. In this role, they provide executives and supervisory board members with a sounding board and handle sensitive information discreetly. Their independent position close to the board enables them to contribute objectively and constructively to decision-making.

The added value of a company secretary

What happens when a company operates without a company secretary? Often, decision-making slows down, information becomes fragmented, and governance is perceived as an administrative burden rather than a strategic asset.

The added value of a company secretary strongly depends on the scope given to fulfill the role. Not every company secretary will perform all the tasks mentioned in equal measure. However, it is clear that this function—regardless of its specific form—plays a crucial role in effective governance, oversight, and decision-making.

Want to learn more?

Curious about how a company secretary can enhance your company’s effectiveness? House is happy to provide this support and help elevate governance within your organization. Contact House at info@house-legal.nl.

by Maaike

What step can you take as a leader of a legal team in 2025?

Written by Anouk Schaap – Leadership Mentor

Leadership is about inspiration—about truly getting to know yourself so you can help others develop their talents. As the year draws to a close, this is the perfect time to reflect on your role as a leader. What thoughts, often unconscious, guide your decisions? And what beliefs do you hold about leadership that might not be accurate? By pausing to consider these questions, you can create an action plan to make 2025 a year of growth and flourishing for both you and your team.

Who are you as a leader?

Leadership starts with knowing who you are. Not to dominate others, but to inspire them. To show them their unique talents and how to use them. As a leader, it’s your job to discover yourself so you can help others reach their full potential. It’s a journey that’s not just about knowledge but also about self-awareness and growth. It’s less about what you do and more about who you become.

You were born a leader, but it’s up to you to truly become one.

How do you think?

Your thoughts shape everything—every word you speak, every choice you make. That’s why it’s crucial to understand your own thinking. What (unconscious) thoughts are driving your leadership?

For example, imagine there’s division during a team meeting. You try to guide the discussion, but no consensus is reached.

Ask yourself: What was going through my mind when we couldn’t reach a consensus? How did my thoughts influence that situation? Often, fears or old beliefs play a background role.

Taking time to reflect after such situations can be invaluable. Before moving on, spend half an hour examining your thoughts. Let these insights strengthen your leadership.

“We are what we think, and we become what we continue to think.” — Myles Munroe

The final months of the year are ideal for looking back on your leadership. Ask yourself:

• What false beliefs have I accepted about my leadership?
• How have my parents or siblings influenced my view of leadership?
• What steps can I take to grow further as a leader in the coming year?

Growth in self-awareness is key for leaders who want to develop and make an impact.

Make 2025 your year of growth

Since 2023, House has been offering General Counsel Mentoring—a unique opportunity to grow in leadership alongside providing legal services. Under the guidance of House partner Anouk Schaap, CEO of Rock Solid Leadership, you’ll receive unconditional support and professional advice.

Are you ready to work on your leadership and grow both personally and professionally? Our General Counsel Mentoring—which includes an intake session and five inspiring Legal Walks—currently has two spots available for 2025. Is one of them yours? If you’d like, you can also schedule a free online introduction with Anouk to learn more.

Get in touch with us at: info@house-legal.nl.

by Maaike

“Think: “What can I do differently?”

Written by Brenda van Osch – Journalist

“Think: “What can I do differently?”

Doing the right thing. We (almost) all want that. Yet the practice is unruly. It is not always clear what 'the good' is. Or it clashes with things that are also important, such as what the boss wants from us. So we look for ways out or point to others who make good impossible. Legislation, employers, politicians. And that is exactly where our problem lies, says Ryan Holiday (1978), former marketing director of clothing brand American Apparel, media strategist and author. He is particularly popular with books about the Stoic philosophy of the Greeks and Romans, such as The Obstacle is the Way Over Adversity. He also hosts the daily podcast The Daily Stoic.

Holiday is working on a four-part series on the virtues of courage, self-control, justice and wisdom. His third and latest book is about Justice and is called The Road from Good to Great. Justice is the most important virtue, he says via an image connection with Texas, where he lives. “The Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, whom I greatly admire, called these virtues the four standards of goodness. For me, justice is the most important, because it is the basis. If the other three virtues are not aimed at achieving justice, they are not worth much. Fighting courageously in an unjust war is hardly virtuous. A person who uses his intelligence to manipulate others is not wise as he was meant to be in ancient times.”

The premise of Stoicism is that you should follow what you can control. That should also include money for doing good, Holiday says. Justice is a verb. We must start with ourselves. 'We talk a lot about world problems, but neglect topics that we have control over ourselves. Or we talk about what other people should do instead of acting ourselves. But as a citizen, entrepreneur or manager, you make your own decisions. So instead of complaining about the legislation of the business environment, think: what am I going to do differently? What is within my reach? What do I have decision-making power over?”

Doesn't morality quickly lose out to money in a capitalist system? 'Acting according to moral standards is often expensive. Because it is not primarily about what it yields, but about how your actions influence others. There is a contradiction there. Yet you see that we also assess companies on the impact they have on the world. Classical thinking that focuses solely on shareholder value is becoming outdated. There are companies that reason: if we harm people or the environment, we also harm our shareholders. For example, some time ago Apple decided to limit the tracking of customers who use their iPhone. Instead of profiting from sharing that data, they opted for more customer privacy. I'm not saying Apple is a great ethical company, but it is an example of seeing fairness not just as staying within legal boundaries, but as the standards you want to work with.”

by Maaike

How legislation points the way to a sustainable future

Written by Johanna Mager – Operations Manager House

B Corps and Legal – How legislation points the way to a sustainable future

On October 4, our House Talk focused on B Lab’s vision of our future economy, presented by Tessa van Soest, Executive Director of B Lab Benelux. Central to her story was how companies can positively impact society and the environment by achieving B Corp certification. But where does the link lie between B Corps and legal professionals? How can in-house lawyers contribute to this change?

What is a B Corp and what does it mean for Legal?

Companies that want to obtain B Corp status must meet strict standards in environment, social impact, and transparency. This requires operational changes and a fundamental adjustment in companies' governance structures. This is where the role of the in-house lawyer comes into the picture.

Stakeholder Governance and the Legal Impact

One of the most important requirements for B Corp certification is embracing stakeholder governance. This means that companies are legally obliged to take into account not only shareholders but also employees, communities and the planet in their decisions. Corporate lawyers play an important role in establishing these governance models, helping companies to adapt their articles of association and implement legal structures that support sustainable entrepreneurship.
During the House Talk, Tessa emphasized that companies that want to become certified need to legally document their mission and governance. This requires a shift from a purely financially driven business model to one that combines profit with positive social and environmental impact. Corporate lawyers can play a role in implementing these new legal frameworks and ensuring that companies adhere to their sustainability goals. In addition to the internal legal changes that B Corps needs to implement, companies are also faced with increasing regulations in the field of sustainability. Think of the European CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and the upcoming CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive).

Another inspiring part of Tessa’s presentation was the concept of nature as a stakeholder. More and more companies are recognizing nature as a full stakeholder within their governance structures. Corporate lawyers can support this by, for example, legally establishing the rights of nature, as is already happening in some countries through the 'Rights of Nature' movement. This offers legal professionals the opportunity to do groundbreaking work at the intersection of sustainability and law.

The House Talk ended with an interactive Q&A, in which Tessa delved deeper into practical tips for companies and lawyers who want to contribute to an inclusive and regenerative economy.

by Maaike