Legal advice for work, government, business and home.

The largest part of my practice. I advise employers and employees on Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten on contracts, dismissal, sick leave, wages, working hours and holidays, and on the dismissal permit procedure with SZW (the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment).

For employers I draft contracts, handle dismissals correctly from the start and help avoid disputes before they begin. For employees I explain what the law actually says about your position and what you can do about it. Advice in English or Dutch.

Support for employers and individuals with work permits (TWV, the tewerkstellingsvergunning), residence permits and registration with the IND and the labour office on the BES islands.

I prepare applications, handle vacancy notifications, and draft objections (bezwaar, the formal objection to a government decision) when a decision goes wrong.

Disputes with government: objections and appeals against decisions of the Public Entity, the IND, the Tax Office and Customs, and advice on permits, subsidies, leases of public land and government contracts.

I also advise government bodies themselves on policy, regulation, procurement and the proper handling of objections and complaints.

An independent, certified mediator for business, family, estate and neighbourhood disputes, in English or Dutch. Mediation is faster and cheaper than court, and it keeps relationships intact on islands where people keep meeting each other.

Commercial agreements, service contracts, lease and rental agreements, property contracts and settlement agreements, drafted or reviewed before you sign. Plain language, fit for the islands.

Incorporation and restructuring of companies (B.V., N.V.), foundations and associations; share transfers; amendments to articles; directors' duties; and advice on how to set up a business or a foundation correctly on the BES islands.

Landlord-tenant disputes, rental defects and rent reduction, termination and eviction, deposits, and advice on buying, selling, leasing or jointly owning property.

Divorce, division of marital property and child maintenance. Advice on your position, and mediation where both parties prefer to settle it together.

Advice and mediation for heirs: division of estates, jointly owned family property and family businesses. Many estates on the islands remain undivided for years; I help families settle them.

Demand letters, payment arrangements and recovery of unpaid invoices, fees and deposits.

Policy and legal advice to ministries, public entities and foundations: drafting and reviewing regulations and terms of reference, environmental and planning matters, enforcement, procurement and governance. Available on retainer or per project.

Practical sessions for employers, HR staff, boards and government teams on labour law, handling objections and complaints, and conflict resolution. Delivered on the island, in English or Dutch.