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At Weening Criminal Defense Lawyers, we understand that a criminal case brings a lot of unrest. You’re looking for clarity: about what to expect, about the costs, and especially about your chances. Our well-organized office consists of expert and committed criminal defense lawyers. Whether it’s minor offenses or complex high-profile criminal cases: we take your situation seriously and recognize the importance of a strong defense in every case.
At Weening Criminal Defense Lawyers, expertise is central. We exclusively deal with criminal cases and distinguish ourselves through extensive specialization in various areas of criminal law. Cases are discussed by the handling lawyer with colleagues during weekly office meetings. As a result, our clients’ interests are not only represented by a competent lawyer but by an expert team of criminal defense lawyers.
Our criminal law attorneys are ready to assist both individuals and businesses. Our firm has expertise in, among others, the following areas.
Are you looking for a specialized criminal law attorney? We provide expert assistance in, among others, the following criminal law procedures.
Founded in 2004
12 people in their team
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At Weening Strafrechtadvocaten, everything revolves around expertise. Our lawyers specialize exclusively in criminal cases and have years of experience in criminal law. We particularly distinguish ourselves because our lawyers have extensive specializations in various sub-areas of criminal law.
After completing his criminal law studies at the University of Maastricht (2003), Serge Weening laid the foundation for his career in criminal law practice with mr. Max Moszkowicz sr. As the last trainee lawyer of the great master, he learned the finer points of the profession. He gained several years of experience in a wide variety of criminal cases, after which he broadened his knowledge by completing the criminal law specialization course (2010) at the Willem Pompe Institute for Criminal Law Sciences, which is part of Utrecht University.
Over the years, he has been involved as a criminal defense lawyer in many major criminal cases throughout the Netherlands. He has extensive experience in defending suspects in “murder cases” and has special expertise in the field of terrorism.
Mr. Weening also has an affinity for real estate and corporate criminal law. He has regularly represented entrepreneurs in fraud cases and civil servants suspected of corruption. Because he attaches great importance to legal depth, he completed the Financial and Economic Criminal Law course at the Free University of Amsterdam in 2018.
Mr. Weening shares his experience within the firm and has mentored several promising young criminal lawyers as a patron in recent years. In addition, he regularly provides courses and lectures for other criminal lawyers.
Since 2022, Mr. Weening has been a deputy justice at the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal. From experience, he knows how a judicial decision is formed and can put himself in the judge’s position. Mr. Weening brings this experience to determining the defense strategy, allowing for an optimal defense in every case.
Mr. Lander Hoste studied at the University of Maastricht, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law as well as a master’s degree in Forensics, Criminology and Justice. This legal and forensic background helps Lander, among other things, in understanding criminal cases where forensic evidence plays an important role.
During his studies, Lander participated in the Summercourt program at the court in Limburg, an initiative for talented law students. Based on his performance, he was offered a job and worked at the court for a year. There, as a clerk for the police judge, he was involved in the preparation, assessment, and handling of hundreds of criminal cases.
This experience has given Lander in-depth knowledge of the criminal process and how judges approach and assess cases. This makes him particularly well-suited to analyze which aspects are crucial for mounting the strongest possible defense within a criminal case. Mr. Hoste’s working method is characterized by analytical ability and a critical eye, resulting in optimal outcomes.
Mr. Lander Hoste works at Weening Criminal Law Attorneys as a legal assistant. He supports the attorneys in preparing criminal cases and conducts research on various legal issues. Lander is also co-responsible for drafting plea notes and conducting the defense in various major criminal cases.
Erik Maessen studied Dutch law in Tilburg. During his studies, he worked at the Court of Appeal in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. After being sworn in in 2001, he worked for 6 years at the Moszkowicz law firm in Maastricht. He then worked for several years at Weening Criminal Law Attorneys and Vonken Szymkowiak Criminal Law Attorneys. Since June 1, 2021, he has rejoined the team at Weening Criminal Law Attorneys.
Erik Maessen possesses extensive legal knowledge. His ready knowledge of law and jurisprudence makes him a thorough attorney. He capitalizes on this in his pleadings and cassation writings. This is why he has been a member of the Association of Cassation Lawyers in Criminal Cases since April 2012.
Ms. Francoise Landerloo, LL.M., graduated in 2002 from Maastricht University with a specialization in criminal law, focusing on the topic “The lawyer during police interrogation”.
During her studies, she worked as a legal assistant at a law firm in Maastricht. After being sworn in in 2002, she immediately started working at this firm as a criminal defense lawyer. In 2005, she moved to the renowned criminal law firm of Mr. Corten, where she further specialized in criminal law.
In 2003, she won the international criminal law pleading competitions in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. From September 2005 to December 2012, she worked as a criminal defense lawyer at Corten Advocaten in Sittard. Ms. Landerloo is now known as an experienced criminal defense lawyer who holds her own in the most complicated cases.
Since January 1, 2013, she has been part of the team at Weening Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Maikel Horsch studied law at Maastricht University. There, he obtained his Master’s degree in Dutch Law with a specialization in Criminal Law and a Master’s in Forensics, Criminology, and Justice in 2014. After a student internship at a law firm in Maastricht, he was offered a job as a legal assistant there while still studying.
In 2015, Mr. Horsch started working at Daamen Attorneys in Maastricht. Here, he first worked as a legal assistant before being sworn in as a lawyer in 2018.
Since August 2019, Mr. Horsch has been part of the team at Weening Criminal Law Attorneys.
Stijn van Merm graduated cum laude in criminal law from Radboud University in Nijmegen in 2019. Additionally, he focused on administrative sanction law, which was reflected in his master’s thesis on the initiative law to ban “Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs”.
Stijn van Merm’s passion lies in criminal law advocacy. During his studies, he has already completed internships at renowned law firms, including Anker and Anker Criminal Law Attorneys. He also completed an internship at the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Combined with his work as a clerk in criminal cases at the Gelderland Court, this allows him to assess cases from a different perspective as well.
Additionally, as a working student at Dirkzwager Legal Tax, he dealt with cases concerning the closure of drug premises, as well as administrative fines and the Public Administration Probity Screening Act (Wet Bibob). There, he developed an affinity for issues where criminal law and administrative law intersect.
As a student, Stijn van Merm participated in the Summercourt talent program and won the National Student Criminal Plea Competition in 2017.
Since September 2019, Stijn van Merm has been part of the team at Weening Criminal Law Attorneys, where he was sworn in as a trainee lawyer in January 2020. He handles both criminal cases and cases in juvenile criminal law. In criminal law, he has a special affinity for terrorism cases.
Since April 2024, Stijn van Merm has held a board position at the Dutch Association of Young Criminal Law Attorneys. In 2022, this association named him the Best Young Criminal Pleader in the Netherlands.
After completing her secondary education at the Atheneum in Sittard, Ms. Bo te Baerts, LLM, studied Dutch Law at Maastricht University. As a bachelor student, she demonstrated her pleading skills by winning the National Prosecution Competition. With cum laude grades for both her Master’s in Criminal Law and Master’s in Private Law, she possesses broad legal knowledge.
While still doing her student internship at Weening Criminal Law Attorneys, Bo te Baerts was offered a job. In 2022, she won another pleading competition, where she was chosen as the best young criminal defense lawyer in Limburg.
Over the years, Bo te Baerts has been involved as a criminal defense lawyer in various major criminal cases throughout the Netherlands and has extensive experience in defending suspects in violent crime cases, including murder and manslaughter. She also gives lectures at the university and provides courses to other criminal defense lawyers, particularly in the field of traffic criminal law, with which she has a special affinity.
What distinguishes Bo te Baerts according to clients is her passion for criminal law and her commitment to every case. She is described as a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer with a keen eye for detail. Her performance in the courtroom is powerful, convincing, and always well-substantiated.
Additionally, clients appreciate Bo te Baerts for her clear and accessible communication style. She explains criminal procedures clearly, is easily reachable, and takes the time to answer questions. Her approach is characterized by involvement and empathy, making clients feel heard and understood. Bo te Baerts thus offers not only legal expertise but also calm and clarity during an often uncertain period.
Mr. Tommy Straten graduated with distinction from Tilburg University. In addition to his master’s degree in criminal law, he also completed the private law specialization. He completed the bachelor’s phase of his studies cum laude and participated in the Top Class program of the Faculty of Law, a program for excellent students. He gained practical experience during an internship at the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Arnhem.
Since 2017, Mr. Straten has been part of the team at Weening Criminal Defense Lawyers, initially as a legal researcher and since 2021 as a criminal defense lawyer. With his scientific approach, he supports the other criminal defense lawyers and contributes to the legal depth in large and complex criminal cases. This role aligns perfectly with his special interest in complex legal matters. He also makes an important contribution with his scientific input in cassation cases before the Supreme Court. Due to his background in criminal and private law, he is also able to look at confiscation cases and complex claims by injured parties with a broad perspective.
Ms. Nathalie Godding, LL.M., completed her master’s degree in criminal law at the University of Maastricht in 2019 with an average grade of 8. Additionally, she specialized in health law. In her master’s theses, she conducted research on (international) privacy and health law aspects within criminal law.
During her studies, Ms. Godding gained extensive practical experience in both criminal and civil law. She started as a court clerk at the Limburg Court. Later, she completed various internships at renowned law firms, including Spong Advocaten in Amsterdam. She began her career at Van Berge Henegouwen Advocaten. There, she gained over two years of practical experience in a wide range of criminal cases and further specialized in detention law. This practical experience has given Ms. Godding a broad orientation, enabling her to assess a case from multiple perspectives.
Since December 2022, Nathalie Godding has been part of the team at Weening Criminal Law Attorneys.
Ms. Anna Rus, LL.M., studied criminal law at Utrecht University. During her studies, Anna served as vice-chair of the criminal law clinic, assisting people who came into contact with criminal law. As a member of the pleading committee of the criminal law and criminology student association, she participated in various pleading trainings, where she acquired important skills early on.
Immediately after her studies, Anna began her career at the scientific bureau of the Supreme Court of the Netherlands. Later, she worked as a judicial clerk at the Amsterdam District Court in the field of common criminal law and for the International Legal Assistance Chamber (IRK). As a result, Anna has developed extensive knowledge in both Dutch and European criminal law and understands the workings of the judiciary. This enables Anna to assess cases from all possible perspectives.
Since August 2023, Anna has been part of the team at Weening Criminal Defense Attorneys.
After high school, Ms. Kallen obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Law (cum laude) from the University of Maastricht. Subsequently, she pursued the Double Degree Programme ‘Toga aan de Maas’ at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Within a year and a half, Myrthe completed both the practice-oriented Toga Master and the Master’s in Criminal Law with an average grade of 8.2. Upon leaving university, her first publication was already a fact. Her master’s thesis on the modernized Code of Criminal Procedure was published in book form in 2023.
During her studies, Myrthe held several board positions and gained practical experience. She worked at the Law Shop, providing legal advice to citizens from Landgraaf and surrounding areas. She also participated in the SummerCourt talent program. In addition to internships in law firms, Myrthe got a behind-the-scenes look at the Public Prosecution Service in Rotterdam. Subsequently, she worked at the District Public Prosecutor’s Office of Zeeland-West-Brabant as a prosecutor’s clerk, where she prepared court sessions and assessed criminal cases.
Through intensive collaboration with public prosecutors, Myrthe is familiar with the procedures within the Public Prosecution Service. She applies the practical experience she has gained in her work. As a result, Myrthe is able to assess cases from different perspectives.
After an internship at our firm, Myrthe has been part of the Weening Criminal Law Attorneys team since 2023.
Mr. Thijme Bekx completed his Master’s degree in Criminal Law at Radboud University in Nijmegen. He developed a strong interest in criminal law during his bachelor’s studies.
During his studies, Mr. Bekx gained extensive practical experience in both criminal and civil law. He was active for three years as a legal advisor at the Nijmegen-East Legal Advice Center, where he assisted citizens with various legal issues. Within this organization, he also served as a board member for internal affairs for a year and a half. In this role, he was responsible for ensuring the quality of legal services.
Mr. Bekx also interned at the Public Prosecutor’s Office, where he became familiar with the workings of the investigative apparatus. He also interned at a law firm that dealt with criminal cases, where he further developed his skills in practice. Through his broad experience and involvement, Mr. Bekx is able to approach legal issues from various perspectives.
Since June 2024, he has been part of the team at Weening Criminal Law Attorneys, where he dedicates himself to serving the interests of his clients.
