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Wanneer de cijfers onvoldoende zekerheid bieden, maar de belangen enorm zijn, kies je dan voor de makkelijke of de moeilijke weg? In deze aflevering van Moed Board vertelt Jacobina Brinkman, partner bij PwC en ervaren toezichthouder, over het moment waarop zij besloot niet langer toe te werken naar een goedkeurende verklaring, met alle gevolgen van dien. Een gesprek over professionele moed, vertrouwen op je onderbuikgevoel en de kracht van twijfelen, luisteren en kritische vragen stellen.

Change often begins with one person willing to make a difficult choice. But meaningful change can only take root when others help create the conditions for it to grow. Dave Cohen speaks with author and historian Russell Shorto about individual courage, collective responsibility and choosing what is right in the long term.

In de podcastserie Moed Board, spreekt Dave Cohen met invloedrijke bestuurders en toezichthouders over een impactvol en moedig besluit dat hun loopbaan en manier van leidinggeven heeft gevormd. Persoonlijke gesprekken met universele lessen voor iedereen die met moed wil besturen. In de tweede aflevering is Annemarie Manger te gast. Bijna twaalf jaar geledenwerd zij ziek en besloot ze zich een jaar volledig op haar herstel te richten, terwijl haar collega’s haar verantwoordelijkheden overnamen. Die periode leerde haar niet alleen meer te vertrouwen op de mensen om haar heen, maar ook bewuster aandacht te hebben voor de persoon achter de functie. Ook ontdekte ze de waarde van wandelen als manier om tijd te maken voor echte gesprekken. Een gewoonte die ze nog steeds meeneemt in haar werk en die symbool staat voor een bredere les: durven afwijken van de gebaande paden en jezelf uit je comfortzone halen.

In de nieuwe podcastserie Moed Board, spreekt Dave Cohen met invloedrijke bestuurders en toezichthouders over een impactvol en moedig besluit dat hun loopbaan en manier van leidinggeven heeft gevormd. Persoonlijke gesprekken met universele lessen voor iedereen die met moed wil besturen. Aflevering 1: Marjan Trompetter De eerste gast is Marjan Trompetter, voorzitter van de raad van commissarissen van Rabobank en voorzitter van de raad van toezicht van Erasmus MC. Ze deelt haar persoonlijke verhaal van hoe de zorg voor een van haar dochters haar carrièrepad en visie op leiderschap hebben beïnvloed. Een gesprek over de kracht van kwetsbaarheid, ambitie en teamgeest.

Having a clear view of developments in class actions, particularly in Europe, is key. Isabella Wijnberg, lead researcher of the Houthoff Class Action Survey, has an in-depth understanding of the field. She foresees greater market harmonisation and a rise in number of cases. In the final episode of the Class Action in Action podcast series, Isabella shares her compelling vision of what lies ahead. ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST The world of class actions is undergoing rapid transformation. Legislative frameworks are evolving and collective litigation is gaining traction, placing more organisations at the centre of complex mass claims. In season two of the Houthoff podcast series Class Action in Action, defence lawyers from different jurisdictions once again share their insights and expectations for the near future. Together with Dave Cohen, they discuss emerging trends, their profession, and the landmark cases shaping the field.

In Italy, mass claims are relatively new. In recent years, the number of cases has grown significantly, with 35 new cases filed in 2025 alone. This development requires adjustments from both lawyers and their clients. Luca Ferrari from Milan is Head of the Finance & Financial Services Litigation Practice Area at the leading firm Chiomenti. He explains what these adjustments entail. ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST The world of class actions is undergoing rapid transformation. Legislative frameworks are evolving and collective litigation is gaining traction, placing more organisations at the centre of complex mass claims. In season two of the Houthoff podcast series Class Action in Action, defence lawyers from different jurisdictions once again share their insights and expectations for the near future. Together with Dave Cohen, they discuss emerging trends, their profession, and the landmark cases shaping the field.

The European Representative Actions Directive has not yet been implemented in Spain. When and how this will happen remains to be seen. Once it does, it will have a significant impact on the work of Miguel Ángel Cepero, a lawyer in Madrid at the renowned firm Uría Menéndez. He hopes the system will not follow the American or Dutch model. ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST In the ever-changing world of class actions, two things are certain: legislation is rapidly evolving and more organisations are facing mass claims. In season two of the Houthoff podcast series Class Action in Action, defence lawyers from different jurisdictions once again share their insights and expectations for the near future. Together with Dave Cohen, they discuss emerging trends, their profession, and the landmark cases shaping the field.

If there is one European jurisdiction where the mass claims landscape has undergone significant change in recent years, it is the Netherlands. These developments bring both opportunities and challenges. The key question is: how should organisations navigate this evolving landscape? In this episode, mass claims expert Albert Knigge reflects on the impact of these developments on day-to-day practice and shares insights from his experience in the Dutch market. ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST The world of class actions is undergoing rapid transformation. Legislative frameworks are evolving and collective litigation is gaining traction, placing more organisations at the centre of complex mass claims. In season two of the Houthoff podcast series Class Action in Action, defence lawyers from different jurisdictions once again share their insights and expectations for the near future. Together with Dave Cohen, they discuss emerging trends, their profession, and the landmark cases shaping the field. ABOUT THE HOUTHOFF CLASS ACTION SURVEY Houthoff has been tracking the evolution of class actions for several years through its Class Action Survey, a 360‑degree analysis of trends across multiple jurisdictions. Since the first edition seven years ago, developed with leading international law firms, the survey has been updated to reflect changes in the class action landscape. This year, we have expanded the survey further, introducing a concise executive version and extending its scope to 16 jurisdictions and law firms.

Mass claims in Germany are picking up speed. Yet the system in Europe’s largest economy is still waiting for major reforms. Henner Schläfke, head of the class and mass action defence practice group at Germany’s leading law firm Noerr, sheds light on current developments and possible next steps. One thing is certain: small issues can lead to large-scale risks. ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST The world of class actions is undergoing rapid transformation. Legislative frameworks are evolving and collective litigation is gaining traction, placing more organisations at the centre of complex mass claims. In season two of the Houthoff podcast series Class Action in Action, defence lawyers from different jurisdictions once again share their insights and expectations for the near future. Together with Dave Cohen, they discuss emerging trends, their profession, and the landmark cases shaping the field. ABOUT THE HOUTHOFF CLASS ACTION SURVEY Houthoff has been tracking the evolution of class actions for several years through its Class Action Survey, a 360‑degree analysis of trends across multiple jurisdictions. Since the first edition seven years ago, developed with leading international law firms, the survey has been updated to reflect changes in the class action landscape. This year, we have expanded the survey further, introducing a concise executive version and extending its scope to 16 jurisdictions and law firms.

To opt in or to opt out, that is the question. After ten years of the opt-out system, the UK government has launched a consultation to review its future. Defence lawyer and specialist Alex Evans of London’s top firm Macfarlanes shares his perspective and explains which of the two he believes is the right approach. ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST The world of class actions is undergoing rapid transformation. Legislative frameworks are evolving and collective litigation is gaining traction, placing more organisations at the centre of complex mass claims. In season two of the Houthoff podcast series Class Action in Action, defence lawyers from different jurisdictions once again share their insights and expectations for the near future. Together with Dave Cohen, they discuss emerging trends, their profession, and the landmark cases shaping the field. ABOUT THE HOUTHOFF CLASS ACTION SURVEY Houthoff has been tracking the evolution of class actions for several years through its Class Action Survey, a 360‑degree analysis of trends across multiple jurisdictions. Since the first edition seven years ago, developed with leading international law firms, the survey has been updated to reflect changes in the class action landscape. This year, we have expanded the survey further, introducing a concise executive version and extending its scope to 16 jurisdictions and law firms.

Although Portugal is a relatively small jurisdiction, it has become the European epicentre of class actions. Sofia Vaz Sampaio, head of the litigation and arbitration team at the top ranked Morais Leitão in Lisbon, is at the forefront of these developments. Has the number of cases peaked, or are there signs of stabilisation? ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST The world of class actions is undergoing rapid transformation. Legislative frameworks are evolving and collective litigation is gaining traction, placing more organisations at the centre of complex mass claims. In season two of the Houthoff podcast series Class Action in Action, defence lawyers from different jurisdictions once again share their insights and expectations for the near future. Together with Dave Cohen, they discuss emerging trends, their profession, and the landmark cases shaping the field. ABOUT THE HOUTHOFF CLASS ACTION SURVEY Houthoff has been tracking the evolution of class actions for several years through its Class Action Survey, a 360‑degree analysis of trends across multiple jurisdictions. Since the first edition seven years ago, developed with leading international law firms, the survey has been updated to reflect changes in the class action landscape. This year, we have expanded the survey further, introducing a concise executive version and extending its scope to 16 jurisdictions and law firms.

The world of class actions is undergoing rapid transformation. Legislative frameworks are evolving and collective litigation is gaining traction, placing more organisations at the centre of complex mass claims. In season two of the Houthoff podcast series Class Action in Action, defence lawyers from different jurisdictions once again share their insights and expectations for the near future. Together with Dave Cohen, they discuss emerging trends, their profession, and the landmark cases shaping the field. Roger Cooper is partner at the New York–based and esteemed law firm Cleary Gottlieb, where he leads the securities and M&A litigation practice. While class actions have a long-standing history in the United States, the field continues to evolve. The growing number of cases linked to developments in AI alone shows that this trend is only accelerating.

Deglobalisation has a very noticeable impact on M&A deals. The higher the world tension, the more checks governments carry out during the deal process. This dynamic can lead to extra complexity. Houthoff partner and M&A lawyer Philip van der Eijk knows very well how to handle it. He explains to Dave Cohen the current challenges in cross-border deals.

If the former General Counsel of Dutch semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia learned anything from being majorly hit by the impact of deglobalisation, it is: think like a Corporate Affairs Officer, invest in relationships before you need them, and implement scenario planning. Charles Smit, now Associate Partner at FGS Hague Corporate Affairs, shares his experiences with Dave Cohen and offers advice on how legal teams can adapt to the political climate.

Richard Willis is partner in the Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Investigations practice at Arthur Cox in Ireland. He discusses the emerging state of class actions in Ireland. Although third-party funding is still not permitted, there is a sense that this might change in the near future. ABOUT CLASS ACTION IN ACTION PODCAST In the ever-changing domain of class actions, two things are certain: legislation is rapidly evolving across Europe and beyond, and an increasing number of organisations are facing mass claims. In the Houthoff podcast series 'Class Action in Action', defence lawyers from various countries share their insights and expectations for the near future. From the US to Portugal, specialists agree that companies and governments must take action if they want to prepare for this type of lawsuit. But what can they anticipate? In the six-part podcast series Class Action in Action, the experts from around the world discuss their thoughts with Dave Cohen. For more information about the Houthoff Class Action Survey: www.houthoff.com/expertise/topics/class-actions