In this interview, managing partner David Diris reflects on his path at the firm, his long-standing ties with the network, and the role that international cooperation has played in developing his career.
Formative years and beginnings at Kocks & Partners
Like many eighteen-year-olds, David Diris had natural doubts about which career path to follow, and he remembers his choice being guided more by intuition than by certainty. “I wasn’t really drawn to science or languages, so law seemed a strong choice. Even if I didn’t end up as a lawyer, I would at least know my rights!” he explains with a smile. In hindsight, that decision became the starting point of a career that has kept proving him right.
After successfully finishing his studies at the University of Antwerp, David joined Kocks & Partners in 2005. Over the years his responsibilities grew: in 2013 he became a partner of the firm, and since 2021 he has also served as managing partner, continuing a career focused on guiding companies through every stage of their development. “At Kocks & Partners I do a lot of litigation, but of course also mergers and acquisitions, insolvencies and restructuring, everything a company might need during its lifetime,” he explains. The Brussels based legal boutique is known for its expertise in cross border business law and for advising international companies that want to establish or expand in Belgium. With a strong international orientation and a particular focus on German-speaking businesses from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the firm has built a profile that remains consistent to this day.
Discovering ETL
The connection of Kocks & Partners and ETL came into fruition years before the official launch of the ETL GLOBAL network. David remembers the first contact with the German ETL Group clearly “I saw on LinkedIn that a lawyer I knew in Munich was part of the network, so when I was in the city, I asked to meet him. Over a coffee he explained what ETL was about and suggested I get in touch with the central team in Berlin.”
This first casual encounter led to a more official setting, as he received an invitation to present Kocks & Partners at an official meeting in the German capital. “I was curious to see what this network could mean for us, and this was a great opportunity to find out.” What followed was a turning point. “We travelled to the meeting, introduced our firm, and to our surprise, we already received a major case at this very first contact. We left Berlin with concrete work on the table, and we saw it as a very successful and promising start.”
That first collaboration gave Kocks & Partners confidence in the partnership and laid the groundwork for the relationship that would later continue under ETL GLOBAL. It goes without saying that David participated also in the first ETL GLOBAL Conference in Barcelona, as reported in the beginning of this 10th Anniversary blog series.
ETL GLOBAL Today
Over the years, David has seen ETL GLOBAL grow stronger, more organised and increasingly well connected. From its early building days to the established international network it is today. For David, many people have played a part in this development. “One key figure has been Anne-Kathrin Steinröder, whose role as Head of the Network has been a real turning point for our firm, providing with a main point of connection to the wider group,” he says.
For Kocks & Partners, being part of network keeps opening opportunities for growth and business connections and has always proved a perfect match for their focus on the German-speaking world. “We have always worked closely with clients from German-speaking countries, and ETL, originally founded in Germany, naturally aligns with that client base. We understand what these clients expect and how to collaborate with them. There was never really a cultural gap, and that is probably why the relationship has remained so strong after all these years. We know what to expect from each other, and we deliver both ways.”
Besides participating in ETL GLOBAL conferences and maintaining day-to-day contact with international colleagues, David and his team are also active in the network’s working groups that have developed over the years. They are especially engaged in the German Desk, led by Jörg Hörauf and Annette Holzinger, but also contribute to the French Desk and the Law Desk. “I think I have attended nearly all the German Desk meetings,” David notes. “I usually give preference to the German-speaking groups and the legal ones, but I also try to be present in other groups out of respect for the colleagues leading them.” For him, showing up is both a business necessity and a sign of commitment.
Beyond ETL: Speaking & Networking
David Diris is also an active networker beyond ETL GLOBAL, being a visible face in various legal organisations at an international level. In the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA), he was president and vice-president of several commissions and helped organise seminars in places like Bratislava, Shanghai, and Nairobi. He recalls that period as particularly formative: “AIJA gave me the chance to work with colleagues from very different legal systems and to build friendships that later turned into professional contacts.”
He remains actively involved in AIJA while also taking part in the activities of the International Bar Association (IBA), with its annual congress being one of the largest gatherings in the profession. “This year it will be in Toronto, and you can expect around 8,000 to 10,000 lawyers in the city at that time. There are official sessions, but also countless side events and meetings where you can really get to know colleagues from around the world.”
David is also vice president of the Belgian division of the German Lawyers Association and a member of the German-Dutch Law Association. In addition, he serves as an arbitrator at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the largest arbitration center in the world. For him, the common thread is clear: “Travelling, networking and meeting people is a big part of our work. Our client base is abroad, and you won’t meet them if you just sit at your desk at home.”
Advice for Young Lawyers
With this perspective, David offers advice to younger generations of lawyers. “Be patient. The first few years in the profession are tough,” he says. He’s seen many young lawyers go straight for the big American firms, chasing high salaries, but leaving exhausted after only a few years. “A lot of them burn out before they even start their real career. My advice is to treat the early years as training. You’re not supposed to have it all at the beginning, those first years are there to get you ready for what comes next.”
Looking ahead, David believes that firms like Kocks & Partners
A look back at ETL GLOBAL CONFERENCES
