Karolien Maerten

Director, Public, Regulatory & Permits | Digital Government & Regulatory Innovation | Where legal meets business

Who I Am

I’m a dynamic, result-oriented legal manager with more than 14 years of experience in legal and public management. Before joining Deloitte Legal’s Public Law team in 2020, I spent 18 years in the public sector, including as Director of the Judicial Affairs Department at the Brussels Capital Region. I combine deep legal expertise with hands-on public project management, driving government institutions toward modernisation, simplification and innovation. I thrive on building bridges between public authorities, private stakeholders and citizens. I am active at our Zaventem office.

What I Do

  • Advise on public and administrative law, social law, and privacy law/GDPR
  • Support governments in digital and data-driven transformation initiatives
  • Design and implement administrative simplification and future-proof regulation
  • Provide legal guidance on public process development, better regulation and data sharing frameworks
  • Act as a reliable, client-oriented partner for public and private sector stakeholders

Who I Work With

  • Federal and regional government institutions
  • Public agencies and social housing actors
  • Cross-government platforms and EU-related initiatives
  • Non-government stakeholders engaged in public sector projects

My Approach

I combine sharp legal insight with practical project management expertise to help governments streamline processes, safeguard privacy and build citizen-centric digital services. Respect, excellence and integrity guide my work. I focus on creating innovative legal frameworks that enable administrations to work smarter and deliver real impact.

Credentials & Leadership

  • 14+ years of experience in legal and public management
  • Director of the Judicial Affairs Department, Brussels Capital Region (2015–2020)
  • Extensive experience in administrative simplification, GDPR and public process innovation
  • Lecturer and speaker on digital government and regulatory reform

Why Deloitte Legal

We help governments and public institutions navigate complex legal frameworks while driving forward digital transformation, administrative simplification and innovation. By combining legal expertise with a multidisciplinary approach, we enable the public sector to deliver better services and create lasting value for society.