Flash interview with alumnus Willemijn de Best, who secured major music stars as clients
Willemijn de Best’s career path led her to the media sector. Besides the more obvious legal professions, a degree in law actually offers many other possibilities: film and television production with celebrities as clients, for example.
When did you graduate and what did you specialise in?
I graduated with a degree in Dutch Law in 2007, specialising in civil law.
Why did you choose to study Law, and why Leiden?
I wanted to study law because I always thought it was important to be able to stand up for someone, to really help them. I find injustice very difficult to accept. I also thought it would be interesting to be able to explain and represent certain views from two sides. Leiden became my first choice after I attended an Open Day. I realised that Leiden Law School offered the most specialisations – ranging from notarial law to international law. I was keen to keep my options open.
You decided not to work for a law firm. What do you do now and how did you get there?
I’m now the commercial director at a global film and TV rights company that collects payments for independent film and television producers [ed. Fintage House]. I started as a legal expert and was mainly involved in contract negotiations. Now I decide our commercial policy. The media landscape is rapidly evolving and we have to keep adapting our products to attract new clients. As our company has to factor in legislation, legal skills are involved too.
At the time, I made a conscious choice not to pursue a career in the legal profession. There, you’re representing a client, but I want to be the client myself. I think that’s a far more interesting viewpoint. Mind you, I was a trainee at the legal department of Dutch media company RTL where I enjoyed experiencing the whole practical legal perspective of that kind of company. So I did work as a corporate lawyer for many years. I just find the procedural side of the legal profession less interesting.
How did you become a commercial director after working for years as a corporate lawyer?
As a corporate lawyer, I felt that I was working on autopilot after a while. The nice thing about working for a small company is that you’re given a lot of freedom to take things on. I’d already done some commercial work as a corporate lawyer, acquiring new clients at film festivals, for example. When we started losing ground, particularly in the UK, I noticed that I really enjoyed exploring new markets. I turned out to be good at brainstorming with clients and setting up new structures and collaborations. For example, I’m quite proud of the fact that I managed to secure big music documentaries that focused on the concerts of major stars like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
Is there something you learnt at university that you still use in your work? Which course stands out most for you?
Definitely! You really learn how a contract works and what the outcome is or should be. A lawyer’s analytical ability is very strong. What’s more, I learned how to come up with practical solutions and moot court sessions taught me great communication skills. Finally, a lawyer is taught how to be brief and to the point – that’s something I found, and still sometimes find, difficult. A good lawyer doesn’t need to use a lot of words.
As for the course I remember most – it’s hard to choose as two courses were actually important for me. Of all the practical courses, I learnt a huge amount from civil law: all aspects of liability, corporate law and commercial law. As for electives, media law had a lot of impact on my career path. The lecturer was a really nice man, whose name I’ve forgotten unfortunately. It was fascinating to learn about the tension between the right to press freedom and the right to privacy and how you can manoeuvre between the two.
In hindsight, is there something you missed in your degree?
To be honest, I don’t think so. The only thing I can think of is that there could have been more of a focus on non-traditional professions. When I was a student, I believed for a long time that my only options were the traditional careers like joining a law firm or the judiciary. And that’s a pity, as a degree in law opens so many doors [ed.: we now organise career cafés to highlight the options].
As we’re on the topic of traditions, we traditionally end on this final question: what’s your guilty pleasure?
I hardly dare to admit it, but I love going to funfairs: the scents, the lights… it’s a total sensory overload!
