Bij Ecorus vormen onze mensen het hart van alles wat we doen. In deze serie zetten we onze Ecorians in de schijnwerpers: de pioniers, denkers en doeners die elke dag werken aan een duurzamere wereld. Hun verhalen geven een kijkje achter de schermen van hoe we uitdagingen aanpakken, innovatie stimuleren en impact creëren. Het is een bewijs van hoe We Know How tot leven komt en ons dichter bij een toekomst brengt die volledig wordt aangedreven door schone, hernieuwbare energie.
Anne Merks joined Ecorus just over eight months ago, and quickly found her place as Senior Legal Counsel. With a background in corporate law and experience as both a commercial lawyer and in-house legal counsel, she brings a sharp legal mind and a collaborative spirit to everything she does. “I felt at home almost immediately. The culture here is open, real, and grounded. The leadership team is incredibly approachable. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own ideas and to challenge the status quo. That makes Ecorus a great place to work.”
Legal at the heart of the business
At Ecorus, Legal is not a department on the sidelines. It’s woven into every project. “Almost everything we do is project-based. That means almost everything we do starts with a contract”, Anne says. Her work focuses on contracts with clients, from developing solar parks to building them and even selling the energy produced.
Legal is involved at every phase: development, engineering, procurement, construction, and energy sales. Anne works closely with teams across the company, from investment to EPC to sales. “We have to make sure that everything aligns: what we promise our clients, what we agree with suppliers, and what we actually deliver.”
More than paperwork: making complexity clear
Anne’s role is much more than drafting or reviewing legal texts. It’s about fully understanding what the business is trying to achieve and translating that into clear, workable agreements. “I spend a lot of time asking questions, checking assumptions and writing things down in a way that makes sense to everyone. It’s about reducing friction later by being clear now.”
She also helps teams interpret contracts, understand legal obligations and anticipate future risks. “Sometimes I feel like a translator between the real world and the legal framework. It’s not just about compliance, it’s about making smart, sustainable choices.”
Cross-functional teamwork
In addition to her legal support on development and EPC contracts for external clients, Anne works in projects that Ecorus develops and finances itself. These projects involve a huge range of legal documents: agreements with land- or property owners, network operators, investors and more. “We work closely with Development and Investment to bring these projects to financial close. It’s high pressure (towards the end), fast-moving, and very collaborative. And that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding.”
Anne appreciates how much her work depends on strong cross-functional teamwork. “I’m responsible for making sure things are legally sound, but we rely on each other’s expertise. We all bring something different to the table, and that dynamic is really energising.”
Legal with a human touch
Anne’s legal background started in commercial law on the Zuidas, where she advised large corporates. But she missed being part of the business. “You give advice, but you don’t always know what happens with it. I wanted to be closer to the action.”
After a few years as in-house legal counsel in the healthcare sector, she made the switch to Ecorus. “I liked that it’s project-based, that it has a clear impact on society, and that it’s full of smart, driven people. That combination really appealed to me.”
Learning the sector, and loving it
In her first months, Anne has immersed herself in everything from energy regulation to battery systems. “I love figuring out how things work. Whether it’s a technical setup or a financial model, I want to understand it well enough to spot the legal risks and help shape smart solutions.”
She especially enjoys the puzzle of aligning legal frameworks with business cases. “If the permit isn’t finalised, it affects the value. If the contract has gaps, the risk increases. You need to look at the whole picture.”
A broader view on impact
Anne’s motivation for working in sustainability is deeply personal. “I’ve travelled a lot, and in places like Mexico you really see the effects of climate change: water shortages, extreme heat, everyday consequences for people. That made me want to contribute to solutions, not just observe the problems.”
Seeing both sides
Anne doesn’t believe in black-and-white thinking, in law or in life. “Most situations have more than one truth. If you stay open to the other side, you get to better solutions. That applies to negotiations, to contracts, to people.”
It’s this mindset that makes her so valuable at Ecorus: clear in her thinking, open in her approach, and committed to creating structure without losing sight of the people involved. “We all want to do something good. I just try to make sure it’s legally possible too.
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