Kennedy Van der Laan establishes 'The Marian Kennedy Fellowship’
Annual award in recognition of an organisation or individual
dedicated to improving the position of women
AMSTERDAM, 12 March 2008 - Kennedy Van der Laan is establishing
'The Marian Kennedy Fellowship' as a tribute to Marian
Kennedy, the law firm announced yesterday at a farewell reception
for Ms. Kennedy. The € 15,000 award will be presented each year to
an individual or organisation that has made innovative and
sustained efforts to improve the position of women.
Marian Kennedy, co-founder of Kennedy Van der Laan and one of
the people the company is named after, left the law firm on January
1 to return to the United States. She remains attached to Kennedy
Van der Laan in an of counsel role. "Marian has always been
very involved in seeking to improve the position of women in
general and that of women in the legal profession in
particular," said Joost Linnemann, managing partner of Kennedy
Van der Laan. "We are establishing this award to guarantee
that Kennedy Van der Laan will continue to support her vision
concerning the position of women. In addition, 'The Marian
Kennedy Fellowship' is of course a tribute to Marian herself
and underlines how important diversity is to Kennedy Van der
Laan."
Marian Kennedy (59) started Kennedy Van der Laan in 1992
together with 10 Dutch (male) colleagues. She focused mainly on
bringing large national and international clients to the new firm,
as well as initiating numerous activities aimed at improving the
position of women. "I am pleased and proud that Kennedy Van
der Laan has introduced this award," said Marian Kennedy.
"It will enable us to support good innovative initiatives and
put them in the spotlight. When it comes to rights and
opportunities in society, women have still not caught up with men.
This award will enable us to contribute towards changing
this."
In establishing 'The Marian Kennedy Fellowship', Kennedy
Van der Laan has teamed up with Women Win, a non-governmental
organisation devoted to the empowerment of women and girls around
the world. Women Win will manage the so-called Marian Kennedy
Fellowship Fund. Kennedy Van der Laan said yesterday it will award
an annual sum of € 15,000. The award will be presented each year on
International Women's Day (March 8).
To be eligible for the award, individuals or organisations have
to meet certain criteria. Projects must be aimed at improving the
position of women or girls in society, be sustained, have
demonstrable results and be able to be implemented in various
regions in the world. For more information about 'The Marian
Kennedy Fellowship' and the eligibility criteria, please go to
www.kennedyvanderlaan.nl/mariankennedyfellowship.