Jean-Francois Gerard

About Me

I started my career as an employment lawyer at Benelux firm Loeff Claeys Verbeke, focusing on business restructuring. I then worked for several years as an academic assistant at the ULB - University in Brussels.

From 2001 to 2007, I was managing director at Ius Laboris, an international alliance of leading law firms providing specialised services in employment and labour law, pensions and employee benefits. I was recruited prior to the initial launch and helped the Alliance to expand from 5 continental European firms in January 2001 to 44 European and American firms when I left. I sat on both the board and the executive committee, where I played an active role in formulating the Alliance's strategy.

In April 2007, I joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and was appointed to the newly created role of international practice development lawyer in the firm's employment, pensions and benefits group. The role focuses on further raising the profile of the group through business development and client relationship management across Freshfields' international network of offices and on practice management. It also includes knowledge management and the development of new products for the practice. 

Next to my practice role, I am involved in a number of firm wide initiatives. I helped launching Freshfields' relationship programme with law firms we work with around the world. The programme, called "Stronger Together", looks at further developing Freshfields' relationship with a number of law firms around the world with a view to improve the quality of the service we collectively deliver to clients and identify new business opportunities.

I also gained management experience in the arts sector, as managing director at the KunstenFestivaldesArts.