Overview

Stephan Swinkels has worked in labor and employment law for nearly 20 years and has advised on restructurings, compensation and benefits matters, global mobility, social media policies and health and safety issues. He has a particular focus on international law, including cross-border issues and multi-country compliance, as well as developing training programs for international clients.

Stephan was previously executive director of an international alliance of labor and employment law firms, and an attorney at a large international full-service law firm. He is a regular speaker at international labor and employment conferences for attorneys, such as the International Bar Association (IBA) and European Employment Lawyers Association (EELA), and for corporate counsel, such as the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC).

He has published numerous articles and blogs in various legal magazines including Managing Partner, The Lawyer and the IBA Journal, and is co-author and editor of the books: The Independent Contractor vs. Employee, an International Analysis (2014) and Employment Litigation, Procedures, Remedies and Best Practices (2015).

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

European Employment Lawyers Association

Member

Dutch Bar Association (Amsterdam)

Member

International Bar Association

Member

Law Firm Management Advisory Board

International Bar Association

News, Analysis & Press

Artificial intelligence risks dominate Davos discussions

International Employment Lawyer

January 18, 2024

The Littler 2023 European Employer Survey Report

Littler Report

November 8, 2023

Pandemic changed the workplace, now laws must catch up

News is my Business

November 24, 2022

Post-Covid, European firms are still struggling with workplace transformation

International Employment Lawyer

November 18, 2022

The Littler 2022 European Employer Survey Report

Littler Report

October 18, 2022

New Federal Labour Law Issued in the UAE

Littler Report

November 29, 2021

The Littler 2021 European Employer Survey Report

Littler Report

November 10, 2021

Employment law firm GQ|Littler expands into Dublin

Irish Legal News

January 12, 2021

Remote Work, Employee Well-Being and COVID-19

Today's General Counsel

November 3, 2020

How COVID-19 is changing the European workplace

The Global Legal Post

October 12, 2020

The Littler European Employer COVID-19 Survey Report

Littler Report

September 22, 2020

Referral Relationships, Making the Link

The Lawyer

April 6, 2015

Does South Africa deserve the “S” in BRICS?

The Lawyer

March 20, 2014

The Paradigm of Employment Law

The Lawyer

March 30, 2012

Firm Alliances, a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a global law firm alliance

Managing Partner Magazine

September 30, 2011

Books & Book Chapters

  • Opportunities for Entrepreneurial Attorneys, Between New Markets and Personal Branding, De Nieuwe Advocaat (“The Modern Lawyer”), interview with Stephan Swinkels (in Dutch), 2015
  • Employment Litigation, Procedures, Remedies and Best Practices, Co-Author and Editor, 2015
  • The Independent Contractor vs. Employee, an International Analysis, Co-Author and Editor, 2014

Speaking Engagements

The EU Whistleblowing Directive - The Road to Compliance

May 18, 2021

Fifth Annual Conference in Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

October 3, 2019

5a Conferencia Anual en Monterrey

October 3, 2019

Fifth Annual Conference in Mexico City

Ciudad de México, CDMX

October 2, 2019

5a Conferencia Anual en Ciudad de México

October 2, 2019

5ta Conferencia Anual en Colombia

Bogotá

September 6, 2019

2019 Puerto Rico Conference

San Juan, PR

April 12, 2019

Fourth Annual Conference in Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

November 15, 2018

Cuarta Conferencia Anual en Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

November 15, 2018

Fourth Annual Conference in Mexico City

Ciudad de México, CDMX

November 14, 2018

Cuarta Conferencia Anual en Ciudad de México

Ciudad de México, CDMX

November 14, 2018

2018 Littler Puerto Rico Conference

San Juan, PR

April 19, 2018

Littler Global – 2017 International Labour and Employment Law Update in Europe

Hamburg

November 7, 2017

Littler Global – 2017 International Labour and Employment Law Update in Europe

Paris

November 6, 2017

Third Annual Conference in Mexico City

Ciudad de México, CDMX

September 27, 2017

Tercera Conferencia Anual en Ciudad de México

Ciudad de México, CDMX

September 27, 2017

Tercera Conferencia Anual en Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

September 26, 2017

Third Annual Conference in Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

September 26, 2017

Brazil Conference

August 30, 2017

Current Employment Law Headwinds Facing U.S. Based Gig Economy Companies, As They Expand Into Other Countries

July 12, 2017

2017 Littler Global Puerto Rico Conference

San Juan, PR

April 7, 2017

Inaugural Europe Conference - Germany

Berlin

November 10, 2016

Second Annual Colombia Conference

Bogotá

October 19, 2016

Segunda Conferencia Anual en Colombia

Bogotá

October 19, 2016

Second Annual Mexico Conference - Mexico City

Ciudad de México, CDMX

October 5, 2016

Segunda Conferencia Anual en México - Ciudad de México

Ciudad de México, CDMX

October 5, 2016

Second Annual Mexico Conference - Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

October 4, 2016

Segunda Conferencia Anual en México - Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

October 4, 2016

No Friends or Best Friends

Iberian Lawyer 40 under Forty Awards, Lisbon, Portugal

September 17, 2015

Disability Works, Insights to Global Best Practices: Legal Implications Are Important, Practical Applications Are Critical

Disability Matters Annual Conference and Awards, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

June 18, 2015

How to Effectively Manage International Changes in Employment Law

Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

May 1, 2015

The Effectiveness of a Network in Generating New Referral Work

The European Legal Networks Summit, London, United Kingdom

March 11-12 2015

Protecting Your Employees Around the World

ACC Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA

October 30, 2013

Education

  • M.B.A., European School of Management and Technology, Berlin, 2009cum laude
  • Master of Corporate and Commercial Law, Grotius Academy, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 2004
  • LL.M., Rijksuniversiteit Leiden, The Netherlands, 1998
  • Certificate in Business Law, University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1997

Languages

  • Dutch
  • English
  • German
  • French