Pip was born in 1964 in Rotterdam. After receiving her High School Diploma vwo in June of 1984, from the Walburg College in Zwijndrecht, Pip went to the U.S.A. She studied at the City University of New York, and on June 13, 1993 Pip earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Political Science and Theater. On June 7, 1998 Pip received her Juris Doctor Degree from the University of West Los Angeles, School of Law. In March of 2017, Pip received her Mediator’s Diploma from ICM in Utrecht and she became a MfN-certified mediator.

In 1999 and 2000 Pip was an attorney at Danz & Gerber, an employment law firm in Los Angeles, California. From October of 2000 until January of 2005, Pip was a Senior Associate with Parker * Stanbury LLP, Los Angeles, California. As a trial attorney and litigator, Pip’s practice included employment law, civil litigation, medical malpractice, business litigation and international contract disputes, before the courts in California as well as all federal courts. Pip handled Depositions, Early Neutral Evaluations, Mediations, Arbitrations and Bench and Jury Trials.

Pip was General Counsel- Litigation- from January of 2005 until October of 2006 of Desert Valley Hospital, Desert Valley Medical Group, Inc. and Chino Valley, Medical Center, in Victorville and Chino, California. In addition to being in-house counsel for these three medical entities with 2100+ employees, Pip was also riskmanager and corporate compliance officer. In those positions, Pip’s tasks included meeting with physicians, medical personel, experts, and insurance representatives, the re-writing of policies and procedures and the defense of accused physicians and medical staff in administrative hearings.

In April of 2006, Pip opened her lawfirm, Law Offices of Pip N. Smits, in San Bernardino, California. Pip closed the doors of her firm in September of 2016, when she returned to the Netherlands. Pip was also active as a contract attorney from April of 2006 until September of 2016 at Stephen Danz & Associates, Los Angeles, California. Pip is now of counsel for this employment law firm. Pip is still licensed to practice before federal courts as well as before all courts in the state of California. Pip opened her office PipTalk Mediation in Rotterdam in October of 2016.