ERNA VAN HOOF AWARD

Who was Erna Van Hoof?

Erna (Marketing Manager, Lawfort) died suddenly on 17 May 2005. She was deeply mourned by all those working for Lawfort.

Erna was one of the very first Marketing Managers in Belgium to be taken on by a law firm. She was highly committed to her work and she made an exceptional contribution to the development of Lawfort by ensuring great visibility for the office, her colleagues and their activities. Professionally, the quality of her work, the fact that she was always available and her creativity made her indispensable. Her great feeling for detail, her generosity and integrity are just some of the many qualities which made her a truly exceptional person. In her private life, Erna took admirable care of her sight-impaired daughter, Daisy.

It is to honour this great professional that Lawfort has decided to create the Erna Van Hoof Award, which recognises the best marketing performance of the year in the law firm sector.

 

REGULATIONS

Article 1: Introduction

The Erna Van Hoof Award is an initiative taken in 2005 by the Lawfort law firm, to recognise the best Marketing and Communication performance of the year in the law firm sector.

Article 2: Nominations

The Erna Van Hoof Award is open to marketing and communication managers working in a law firm with a branch in Belgium. The aim of the award is to reward a marketing manager who has worked for his or her law firm like Erna Van Hoof did for Lawfort. Candidates must be employed (or have another status) by a law firm only and may not have any other position in a marketing or communication agency. In addition, candidates must work within their firm exclusively in the field of communication and/or marketing in the widest sense of the terms to the exclusion of any other administrative tasks. Candidates do not qualify if they are lawyers.

Candidates may be identified for the Erna Van Hoof Award as follows:

- Either they submit their candidacy by means of a reasoned letter sent to the Chairman of the jury;

- Or they are nominated by the jury and are notified in writing.

By taking part, candidates must accept that, if they are given any award, their name and that of their law firm will be used in the exclusive context of the Erna Van Hoof Award without any compensation.

Article 3: Criteria for winning the Erna Van Hoof Award

The criteria for winning are as follows:

- Quality of work
- Exactness
- Creativity
- Sense of innovation
- Consistency throughout the year
- Visibility of work done.

Article 4: Composition of the jury

A jury consisting of four persons will decide who qualifies for the award. It will be presided over by Professor Laurent Marlière. In principle, apart from the Chairman, the jury will consist of a representative from the world of business, an expert in communication/marketing and a journalist.

Article 5: Award procedure

Candidates must submit their application by 6 December at the latest and will be duly informed. They must then send a reasoned letter in French, Dutch or English before 6 December to the Chairman of the jury describing in not more than three pages the reasons why the Award might be given to them, accompanied by a CV in French, Dutch or English of not more than one page. The jury will examine these nominations and make a decision before the end of the calendar year. Decisions are taken by a majority of votes, with the Chairman having a casting vote in the event of a tie. The Chairman, or any person appointed by him, shall inform the winner of the Erna Van Hoof Award at the beginning of the following year.

Article 6: Prizes

The person awarded the first prize wins EUR 1,000 and will be presented with a trophy by the Chairman of the jury and the Managing Partner of Lawfort.

Article 7: Practical organisation

Apart from aspects relating to the selection of candidates and awarding the Erna Van Hoof Award, the practical organisation of the Award will be the responsibility of Lawfort, from where any information may be requested by e-mail addressed to ErnaAward@lawfort.be.

Article 8: Acceptance with the regulation

The fact of being selected and sending a reasoned letter implies full acceptance with the present regulation.

Article 9: Applicable law

All aspects of the present regulation and the Erna Van Hoof Award are governed exclusively by Belgian law and only the Courts of Brussels shall be competent to settle any disputes which may arise.