These individual shortlistings reflect the breadth of our practice and the work of our lawyers across different areas of business law. Below, we highlight what sets each shortlisted nominee apart.
Marry de Gaay Fortman – Corporate Governance (Lawyer of the Year)
Marry de Gaay Fortman is nominated for her work in corporate governance and public and semi public regulation. She advises executive and supervisory boards on governance matters at boardroom level, with a particular focus on complex governance dynamics at the intersection of public and private law. In addition to her advisory practice, she is actively involved in knowledge sharing through publications and teaching. Marry is a co initiator of Houthoff Corporate Ladies Event, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2026. Through her long-standing efforts to empower female leaders, Marry has become a widely recognised and influential force in the Netherlands, building a lasting infrastructure that advances the development, visibility and access of senior women to top-level opportunities.
Marloes Brans – Environment (Lawyer of the Year) & ESG Leader of the Year (Individual Spotlight)
Marloes Brans has received two nominations in recognition of her outstanding work in environmental law, cli-mate risk and sustainability. As a leading adviser to major industrial, public and governmental clients, she is widely respected for her role in some of the Netherlands’ most high‑profile and media‑sensitive environmental matters at the intersection of regulation, climate risk and corporate sustainability. Alongside her practice, Marloes is a recognised ESG thought leader, contributing to international knowledge development through professional networks, publications and ESG‑focused initiatives. She is also a co‑initiator of the Houthoff Corporate Ladies Event, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2026.
Anna Wijnans – Real Estate – Western Europe (Lawyer of the Year)
Anna Wijnans is nominated for her leading role in complex real estate transactions and developments, and her ability to guide clients through large‑scale, strategically important projects in a rapidly evolving real estate market. As a partner at Houthoff and head of the firm’s Real Estate practice, she advises high‑impact transactions and redevelopments where legal precision, commercial insight and long‑term strategy converge, primarily for institutional investors and developers, positioning her as a strong candidate for Lawyer of the Year.
Marjolein Heuten – Litigation (Lawyer of the Year)
Marjolein Heuten is shortlisted for her exceptional advocacy in high‑stakes corporate and commercial litigation. She is widely recognised for her ability to navigate complex disputes where procedural strategy, corporate governance and commercial interests converge, including inquiry proceedings, post‑M&A disputes and shareholder conflicts. Her consistent impact in sensitive, business‑critical matters and her role as a trusted adviser in major corporate disputes firmly position her as a compelling candidate for Lawyer of the Year.
Isabella Wijnberg – Thought Leader of the Year (Individual Spotlight)
Isabella Wijnberg is nominated as Thought Leader of the Year for her influential role at the intersection of corporate dispute resolution, class actions and mediation. She is widely recognised for combining technical authority in complex collective actions with principled, justice‑centered thought leadership, contributing to the evolving discourse through publications, research initiatives such as the Houthoff Class Action Survey, volunteering work with Young Professionals and Houthoff’s and other knowledge platforms, including podcasts. As an IMI Certified Mediator, she brings a distinctive, forward‑looking perspective to dispute resolution, firmly establishing her as a leading voice within Women in Business Law.
Houthoff congratulates all nominees on their shortlisting. The winners will be announced at the Women in Business Law EMEA Awards ceremony on Thursday, 25 June 2026, in London.
