Employment Law That Resolves Disputes — and Prevents Them.
Two service pillars. One strategic partner.
SETTL is your full-cycle employment law partner. We don't just clean up messes - we help you avoid them entirely. Whether you're facing a dispute or building systems to prevent one, we deliver senior-led counsel, transparent pricing, and relentless focus on outcomes that protect your business.
SETTL Resolve —
When Disputes Arise
Strategic dispute resolution that protects your business. We settle employment disputes fast, fair, and final - with Big Law expertise and boutique agility.
SETTL Protect —
Before Disputes Arise
Build legal foundations that prevent disputes from happening. From bulletproof contracts to compliance audits, we create systems that give you leverage when things go wrong.
SETTL RESOLVE — Strategic Dispute Resolution
We settle employment disputes. Fast, fair, and final.
Employment disputes are high-risk, high-cost, and emotionally draining. One wrong move can trigger months of litigation, reputational damage, and six-figure settlements. SETTL Resolve brings calm, strategic advocacy to the negotiation table - analysing risk, securing favourable terms, and resolving disputes without unnecessary combat.
We handle exit negotiations, dismissals, discrimination claims, works council issues, and redundancy settlements with Big Law precision and boutique agility. We give clear risk analysis, proactive communication, and settlements that stick, so you can move forward confidently.
Why SETTL Resolve?
✓ Strategic settlement expertise
Most disputes are estimated to end in settlement. We make sure yours settles favourably - with elite negotiation skills honed at top-tier firms.
✓ Fast resolution
Average settlement time: weeks, not years. We resolve disputes efficiently, without compromising outcomes.
✓ Transparent pricing
Fixed hourly fees or capped arrangements available.
✓ Senior-led advocacy
No junior associates. You work directly with experienced counsel who have handled hundreds of complex disputes.
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Strategic Dismissals That Protect Your Business
Terminating an employee is high-risk. One wrong move can cost you months of litigation, reputational damage, and six-figure settlements. SETTL brings Big Law expertise to dismissal strategy - analysing risk, negotiating clean exits, and securing settlement agreements that stick.
We handle terminations for cause, redundancies, and mutual exits with calm precision. No prolonged disputes. Just strategic resolution that lets you move forward.
What you get:
Risk analysis: best case, worst case, most likely case
Termination strategy & drafted documentation
Settlement negotiations (severance, terms, confidentiality)
Signed settlement agreements that protect you
Post-exit support (reference policies, non-disparagement)
When you need this:
Terminating underperforming employees
Dismissing (also with immediate effect) for misconduct or breach of contract
Negotiating mutual exit arrangements
Strategic management of complex termination situations
Ensuring smooth departures with robust confidentiality and non-compete protections
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Turn Underperformance Around - or Exit Strategically
Underperforming employees create risk, drain resources, and impact team morale. But rushing to dismissal without proper process can trigger costly disputes. SETTL helps you manage underperformance legally and strategically - whether that means successful performance improvement or a clean, compliant exit.
We design Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), document performance issues, and guide you through performance improvement process or strategic termination. You get legal protection, clear process, and outcomes that work.
What you get:
Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) design & implementation
Documentation strategy & legal compliance
Performance improvement support & legal coaching frameworks
Strategic exit planning when improvement fails
Settlement negotiations for mutual terminations
When you need this:
Managing employees who aren't meeting (performance or behavior) expectations
Documenting performance issues to protect against claims
Implementing PIPs that comply with employment law
Deciding whether to invest in improvement or exit strategically
Avoiding wrongful dismissal claims
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Defend Your Business Against Discrimination Claims
Discrimination and harassment claims can devastate your reputation and cost you dearly - even when unfounded. SETTL provides strategic defence, investigation management, and settlement negotiations that protect your business and your brand.
We handle claims related to age, gender, race, disability, pregnancy, and other protected characteristics - with calm, evidence-based advocacy that secures favourable outcomes.
What you get:
Strategic defence & risk analysis
Investigation management & evidence gathering
Settlement negotiations & dispute resolution
Reputation protection & communications strategy
Preventative policy review to reduce future risk & draft such policies
When you need this:
Facing discrimination or harassment allegations
Managing internal investigations
Responding to court claims or legal threats
Protecting your reputation during sensitive disputes
Drafting and implementing policies to prevent future claims
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Navigate Works Council Conflicts with Strategic Counsel
Works council disputes can delay business decisions, trigger collective action, and create costly delays. SETTL brings strategic counsel to works council negotiations, advice and consent procedures, and collective bargaining - ensuring compliance while protecting your business interests.
We handle works council conflicts, social plan negotiations, and collective labour agreement (CLA) matters with pragmatic expertise.
What you get:
Works council conflict resolution
Advice & consent procedure navigation
Collective bargaining negotiation
Social plan design & negotiation
CLA compliance & strategic advisory
When you need this:
Facing works council opposition to business decisions
Navigating advice and consent procedures
Negotiating social plans for restructuring or redundancies
Managing collective disputes or threatened action
Ensuring CLA compliance
Book a consultation
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Restructure Smartly. Reduce Risk. Resolve Disputes.
Redundancies and restructuring are legally complex and emotionally charged. Poor execution can trigger collective disputes, reputational damage, and costly litigation. SETTL handles redundancy negotiations, social plans, and collective dismissals with legal precision and human sensitivity.
We guide you through the process - from strategic planning to final settlements - ensuring compliance, minimising risk, and protecting your business.
What you get:
Redundancy strategy & legal compliance
Collective dismissal procedures (UWV applications)
Social plan design & negotiation
Individual settlement negotiations
Transition management & communications support
When you need this:
Planning redundancies or workforce reductions
Navigating collective dismissal procedures
Submitting a request for advice to the works council
Negotiating social plans with works councils
Managing individual redundancy settlements
Ensuring legal compliance during restructuring
SETTL PROTECT — Prevention & Compliance
We help you settle it before it starts.
Many of employment disputes can be prevented with the right documentation, policies, and compliance frameworks. SETTL Protect helps you build legal foundations that protect your business before conflicts arise—saving you time, money, and stress down the line.
From bulletproof employment contracts to HR compliance audits, onboarding frameworks to data protection policies, we create systems that give you leverage when things go wrong. Because the best dispute is the one that never happens.
Why SETTL Protect?
✓ Bulletproof contracts
Employment agreements and addenda drafted to protect your interests.
✓ Compliance confidence
HR audits and risk assessments that flag exposure before it becomes a lawsuit.
✓ Onboarding excellence
Employee handbooks and policies that set clear expectations from day one.
✓ Strategic prevention
We've settled hundreds of disputes. We know what goes wrong and how to stop it before it starts.
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Bulletproof Contracts That Protect Your Business
Most employment disputes start with poorly drafted contracts. Vague terms, missing or incorrect clauses, unenforceable non-competes - these gaps cost you leverage when conflicts arise. SETTL drafts employment agreements that protect your business: clear terms, enforceable restrictions, and strategic clauses that give you options when things go wrong.
From standard contracts to C-suite packages, we build legal foundations that prevent disputes before they start.
What you get:
Custom employment contracts (all levels)
Executive & C-suite agreements
Non-compete, non-solicit, confidentiality clauses
Equity & incentive plan documentation
Contractor vs. employee qualification advice
When you need this:
Hiring new employees or executives
Updating outdated or non-compliant contracts
Protecting confidential information and client relationships
Structuring equity or incentive plans
Ensuring enforceability of restrictive covenants
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Know Your Exposure Before It Becomes a Lawsuit
Most companies don't know they are non-compliant until they are facing a claim. SETTL conducts comprehensive HR compliance audits - reviewing your employment practices, contracts, policies, and procedures to flag risks and provide actionable fixes.
You get a clear risk assessment, prioritised recommendations, and peace of mind that you are protected.
What you get:
Employment law compliance reviews
HR policy audits
Risk exposure analysis
Actionable remediation plans
Ongoing compliance advisory
When you need this:
Preparing for growth or investment rounds
Concerned about compliance gaps
Facing increased employee relations issues
Implementing new HR systems or policies
Ensuring readiness for potential disputes
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Onboarding Done Right = Fewer Disputes Later
Clear expectations from day one prevent disputes down the line. SETTL creates employee handbooks, company policies, and onboarding frameworks that set the tone, clarify terms, and protect your business.
From remote work policies to expense guidelines, leave entitlements to disciplinary procedures - we build documentation that works.
What you get:
Employee handbooks
Company policies ( (sick) leave, remote work, expenses, etc.)
Onboarding frameworks & checklists
Internal procedures (disciplinary, grievance, etc.)
Policy updates & compliance reviews
When you need this:
Launching or scaling your business
Updating outdated or inconsistent policies
Implementing remote or hybrid work arrangements
Clarifying expectations around performance and conduct
Reducing ambiguity that leads to disputes
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Handle Employee Data Legally. Protect Your Business.
Employee data is sensitive—and heavily regulated. SETTL ensures your HR systems, employee monitoring practices, and data handling comply with GDPR and Dutch privacy law. We advise on data protection policies, breach protocols, and cross-border data transfers for international teams.
What you get:
GDPR compliance for employee data
Employee monitoring policies (email, devices, location)
Data breach protocols & response plans
Cross-border data transfers (international teams)
Privacy impact assessments for HR tech
When you need this:
Implementing HR technology or monitoring tools
Handling employee data across borders
Ensuring GDPR compliance for HR systems
Responding to data breaches or access requests
Launching employee surveillance or tracking systems
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Build Your Team on Solid Legal Ground
Startups move fast - but cutting corners on employment law creates risk that scales with your business. SETTL helps early-stage companies set up employment structures, equity plans, and HR frameworks that protect you as you grow.
From founder-employee agreements to ESOP design, we build legal foundations that support your ambition.
What you get:
Early-stage employment structures
Equity & ESOP design
Founder-employee agreements
Scaling HR frameworks
Compliance roadmaps for growth
When you need this:
Hiring your first employees
Structuring equity or stock option plans
Clarifying founder vs. employee roles
Preparing for investment rounds
Scaling from 10 to 100+ employees
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Innovate Confidently. Stay Compliant.
Launching new HR tech, AI-powered hiring tools, or employee monitoring systems? SETTL ensures your innovation complies with employment law - so you can move fast without creating legal risk.
We advise on HR technology implementation, AI in the workplace, and employee surveillance - balancing innovation with compliance.
What you get:
HR technology implementation (ATS, HRIS, monitoring tools)
AI in the workplace (hiring, performance, monitoring)
Employee surveillance & privacy compliance
New product/service employment implications
Innovation risk assessments
When you need this:
Implementing AI-powered hiring or performance tools
Launching employee monitoring or tracking systems
Using HR tech that processes employee data
Innovating in ways that impact employment relationships
Ensuring compliance before launch
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Navigate Works Council Requirements with Confidence
Works councils are mandatory for companies with 50+ employees in the Netherlands - and getting it wrong creates risk. SETTL guides you through works council establishment, ongoing advisory, and advice and consent procedures.
We help you comply with the law while protecting your business interests.
What you get:
Works council establishment & setup
Ongoing advisory & compliance
Advice & consent procedure navigation
CLA (collective labour agreement) guidance
Strategic counsel for works council relations
When you need this:
Reaching 50+ employees (works council threshold)
Establishing a works council for the first time
Navigating advice and consent procedures
Managing works council relations
Ensuring CLA compliance
Contact us
Facing an employment dispute or need preventative advice? Contact us. We respond within 24-48 hours.