31-year-old lawyer Laure Verheyen died last weekend. The Willebroek native not only made headlines with lawsuits, she was also skilled in the self-defense sport of jiu-jitsu. Her death has affected many friends and fellow lawyers, not least Ergün Top. Laure recently started working for his office.
She proved last year that Laure had a lot to offer as a lawyer. Then she won the European moot court competition of the Academy of European Law in Luxembourg. Exactly ten years after she won bronze for our country at the Junior Jiu-Jitsu World Championships. When she was 21, she retired from international competitive sport.
“Because I chose my studies and future,” she said last year in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. “But the experience in top sport was a great learning experience from which I am reaping the benefits. I can still express my competitive side in my job as a lawyer.”
READ ALSO. “The legal profession is similar to my hobby in many ways”
Laure was still on the mat occasionally to maintain her technique and fitness. “It’s a really good way to let off steam after a busy day at work,” she said at the time.
Earlier this year, Laure was a lawyer in the Appeltans case in Leuven, a major court file on slum landlords in Leuven that made national news. Then she assisted one of the civil parties.
Laure had been working at the law firm of the well-known criminal lawyer Ergün Top for a month and a half. He reacts very upset to the news of Laure’s death. — © BELGIUM
Laure Verheyen recently started working at the law firm of Ergün Top. “She had only been with our office for a month and a half, but I had known her for much longer. We were friends. It was really hard to swallow when I heard the news of her death. News that cannot be grasped. A blow to everyone who knew her. We are all left orphaned,” the criminal lawyer responds, deeply affected.
Punish madam
“Laure was a great lady. She had a lot to offer. She had everything to build a great career in the legal profession. She gave 100% to every case she had, big or small. That fighting spirit, that typified her. She recently completed a postgraduate degree and completed it with great distinction. And that in addition to her regular work. I can hardly understand that she is gone. We will miss her and her smile immensely.”
“Our thoughts now go out especially to Laure’s parents and family. We would like to offer them our sincere condolences and support for this heavy, immense loss,” Top added.
