Speaker details

Biography

Lawyer energy and public law/Partner at Van der Feltz advocaten, in The Hague, The Netherlands. Panelist at the upcoming IBA conference in Mexico City in the Session “Another challenge for the energy transition: integrating power project facilities into their local environment” I am a lawyer based in The Hague with a focus on public law and regulated markets. In 2018 I have been appointed as Deputy Judge at the Court of Rotterdam (public law section). I have worked in the energy and utilities sector for over 25 years now. This sector is in a state of flux, particularly because of market liberalisation and the dynamic transition towards a sustainable energy system. I support my clients by guiding them through these changes and together with them exploring and creating legal solutions for new products, technologies and services. Over the years my role for my clients has evolved from external representative for formal proceedings towards strategic advisor. In teams of specialized lawyers my colleagues and I advise (global) companies and local authorities on a wide variety of matters including renewable energy projects (hydrogen, biogas, wind, heating, solar), waste and environmental regulation, tariff regulation, subsidies, infrastructure (closed distribution systems, smart grids, storage) and compliance. As a frequent litigator, I represent clients in public law proceedings and civil law actions which includes the challenging of decisions of the Dutch government and regulatory authorities. In 2015 I completed a post graduate course on Public Affairs at Leiden University and I use my knowledge of the political and regulatory worlds to navigate the best path for my clients. Clients particularly look to me for (politically) sensitive matters and projects which require creative and innovative solutions. In 2022 I completed the progam for Authentic and Effective Supervisory Directors at the Governance University. I am editor in chief of the Dutch Journal on Energy Law and serve on the Committee for Public law of the Hague Bar Council and on the Board of the Dutch Association of Energy Lawyers. I am Chair of the Program Council for Legislation and Regulation of the Heating Network Foundation and have served on the Committee for the reassessment of the Code of Conduct for Dutch Lawyers. Clients have described me as "Michelle de Rijke is an excellent, kind and reasonable lawyer." (Chambers Europe, 2024), the current edition of Legal 500 quotes: ‘Michelle de Rijke does not only look at the legal question at hand but successfully brings in her industry knowledge and broader strategic thinking to forward the interests of her client.’’ For further information do not hesitate to contact me: + 31 6 22 40 10 18