I am a Technology lawyer based in DLA Piper's Amsterdam office. As a tech lawyer, I have the opportunity to work with both customers and suppliers trying to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. My practice concentrates mainly on commercial and technology licensing. I also do quite a lot of IT litigation to ensure that my clients don't end up with the short end of the stick when confronted with disputes. To a large extent, my work aims to help companies to protect and monetize their crown jewels in this age of digitalization.
The companies I help range from large banks trying to compete with online providers of financial services to startups striving to make their mark in history. What's most fun about the area of law I practice in? It is probably the fact that technology is everywhere. Nowadays, every company is a tech company in some way, shape or form − or should be, if it wants to survive. This allows me to broaden my horizon by working in sectors that you would not necessarily associate with tech law.
When my parents decided to pick up their family and leave Algeria to find greener pastures, they couldn't have picked a better spot than the Netherlands, a country known for its open-mindedness (and not just the stuff Amsterdam is often notorious for) and its entrepreneurial/international mindset. This mindset also translates into a lively tech scene that I am fortunate to work in. I especially like working with startups and with entrepreneurs daring to boldly go where no one has gone before. I get a lot of energy out of helping such entrepreneurs achieve their goals. That is also the reason why, as part of DLA Piper's pro bono program, I spend quite some time helping refugees realize their startup ambitions.
When I am not working, I try to spend as much time as possible with my wife and two daughters − riding around with them and watching them compete in football (or soccer) games and horse jumping (which is me taking one for the team, as I am afraid of horses). I also try to find some time to play basketball, go cycling, wine and dine with family and friends and, every now and again, watch one of the Godfather movies.