Tessa de Mönnink specialises in (international) commercial contracts with a strong focus on distribution and franchise law. Her expertise includes advising clients with setting up new distribution structures and agreements and terminating existing distribution relationships and related litigation. Over the years she has built up a worldwide network of specialized franchise and distribution lawyers. Her client list includes well-known fashion brands, designers, department stores, supermarket chains and electronics producers. Her sector-specific knowledge enables her to provide high-quality legal services and to respond quickly to critical questions. 

Tessa has been closely involved with the legislative process regarding the new Dutch Franchise Act, which has just been adopted and will be in effect per 1st of January, 2021.  

Tessa is one of the founders and chairwoman of the Dutch Association for Distribution, Franchise and Agency Law (Vereniging DFA) and she is the Dutch Expert in Franchise Law for the International Distribution Institute (IDI). Tessa regularly publishes articles for legal journals, including a scholarly article on distribution and agency law for the Dutch Law Journal NJB. She also speaks on a regular basis on seminars and provides in-house trainings, both in The Netherlands and abroad. 

Tessa graduated in 1998 from the University of Amsterdam and studied at New York University School of Law (US) in the context of a student exchange program. In September 1998, Tessa started her career as an attorney-at-law at global law firm Allen & Overy LLP (initially at its predecessor Loeff Claeys Verbeke). In January 2013, she (co-)founded her own boutique law firm in Amsterdam. She has been a lawyer for over 20 years.