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Focused on relationships, driven by results
Meet the Team
Meet our network of professionals
managing partner
Gerald de Jong
Gerald Simmons-de Jong was born in Jakarta, Indonesia. He grew up in Rotterdam, where he studied law at Erasmus University, and has lived on Saba since 2015. After graduating, Gerald started as a TA at his Alma Mater. Subsequently, after a period in academia, he became a commercial attorney at VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne in Curacao and Sint Maarten.
Love eventually brought Gerald to Saba, where he met his husband Justin and where they run a goat and chicken farm together. Gerald served as a Deputy Judge at the Joint Court of Justice, worked as a Strategic Government Advisor at the Public Entity Saba from 2015 to 2023, and started DEJONG in late 2023. As a lawyer, he has a general practice on Saba and Sint Eustatius, while on the other islands, his focus lies on government administrative law and commercial law. Gerald is also a certified mediator and has held various supervisory positions on Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
Gerald speaks fluent English, Dutch and Indonesian, and a basic level of Papiamentu, French and German
email: Gerald@dejonglegal.com
partner
Valya Pantophlet
Valya brings a strong multidisciplinary background to the legal field. Valya is the first to graduate with a Master's in /Law (LLM) from Curacao's law program on Sint Maarten. She holds two bachelor's degrees: one in law and another in international hospitality and business management.
She boasts over twelve (12) years of management experience, coupled with extensive experience in policy and legislative writing, legal advice, and government administrative law in working at the Sint Maarten government.
At DEJONG Valya is specializing in real estate and undivided estate matters. For Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius, she is experienced in special 3:200a procedures and division of estates, for longterm multiple generational undivided estates where either the family is unable to reach an agreement, or where the family and heirs are no longer all able to be found. Valya is a pragmatic and solution oriented commercial attorney that in those situations is there to help the family move forward and come to a solution to the undivided land situation.
Valya speaks fluent English and Dutch.
email: Valya@dejonglegal.com
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senior associate
Dagmar Daal
Dagmar is an attorney at law with over 15 years of experience in administrative and civil law. She has practiced across a wide range of legal environments — from private practice and in-house counsel to government, and back to private practice — in both the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean. This breadth of experience gives her a sharp understanding of how institutions operate, how decisions are made, and what it takes to get results. Pragmatic and solutions-oriented, she combines deep legal expertise with a client-centered approach.
Dagmar holds a Master of Laws degree in Administrative and Constitutional Law from Erasmus University Rotterdam (2011) and is a Grotius certified specialist in Health Care Law.
She is fluent in Dutch, Papiamentu, English, and Spanish.
email: Dagmar@dejonglegal.com
senior legal counsel
Amir Schuitemaker
Amir is a legal professional with an LL.M. from Leiden University and nearly a decade of experience advising Dutch and Caribbean governments. He specializes in administrative and civil law, having worked on complex, politically sensitive legal matters across multiple layers of government.
Most recently, he served as senior legal advisor to the Public Entity Bonaire, representing the island in court, chairing the appeals committee, mentoring junior jurists, and contributing to high-level strategic decision-making. His legal expertise and leadership are key strengths.
email: Amir@dejonglegal.com
branch manager
Lisandra Figaroa
Lisandra brings over a decade of judicial experience to her role as Branch Manager at DEJONG. A native of Aruba, she spent twelve years at the Joint Court of Justice, serving Curaçao, Aruba, St. Maarten, and the BES islands.
Now based on Bonaire, Lisandra leads DEJONG’s operations across Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius. She oversees client intake, supports the legal team, and drives business and organizational development. Her strong regional insight and leadership make her a key figure in DEJONG’s Caribbean strategy.
email: Lisandra@dejonglegal.com
of counsel
Elina Blaauboer
Elina is a dedicated employment law specialist with over seven years of experience in the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean. She has advised employers and employees on reorganizations, dismissals, and reintegration processes, bringing a practical, solution-oriented approach and a strong commitment to fair and sustainable workplace practices.
Independent attorney at Labora Advocatuur
Chamber of Commerce (KVK): 91046602
Registered with the Dutch Bar Association in the legal practice area of Employment Law. This registration requires her to obtain at least ten training points in employment law each year.
Registered as an attorney in the judicial district of Overijssel.
email: Elina@dejonglegal.com
of counsel
Flora Goudappel
Flora is a highly experienced and published Professor, former Dean, at the University of Curacao. She specialized in International and European law, but also is very versed and experienced in Constitutional law and the relevant government administrative regulatory frameworks on all the difference Caribbean islands within out Kingdom.
email: Flora@dejonglegal.com
of counsel
Safira Ibrahim
Throughout her career, Safira has specialized in commercial and criminal litigation, taking on high-profile, white-collar crime cases on tax fraud and embezzlement.
She brings to DEJONG her broad knowledge of criminal law, hands-on experience in litigation, dedication to clients and justice, and motivation in the legal system.
email: Safira@dejonglegal.com
sustainability & policy advisor
Justin Simmons
Justin is a senior advisor at DEJONG. He is a nature and environment enthusiast. Sustainable farming and sustainable development are his main driving forces.
He works fulltime at the local government on Saba and is connected to DEJONG as one of its owners and founders, but also provides clients with project management support and policy writing assistance on the other islands.
email: Justin@dejonglegal.com
sustainability advisor
Evert de Jong
Evert is well known in the shipping and transport sector, where he has been working for the large branch organization ECTA in Brussels.
Evert is a leading expert on anything that has to do with risk and safety management in the transport, shipping and logistics sector. He consults for DEJONG on sustainable development projects.
email: Evert@dejonglegal.com
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Business support Saba & Statia
Gina Pelaez Rodriquez
Gina is a business support on Saba for DEJONG. She provides administrative and property management support.
In this role, Gina provides support to the law office in the form of hospitality services, light admin, cleaning and other support functions. In addition Gina supports property management and various investment initiatives of DEJONG on Saba. With a background in hospitality and a practical, hands-on approach, she helps prepare venues, coordinate logistics, and ensure that guests feel welcome through personal care and attention to detail.
email: Info@dejonglegal.com
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Business support Saba & Statia
Harry Ramirez
Harry is a business support on Saba for DEJONG.
In this role, Harry provides administrative and project support for our Saba-based initiatives, helping the team operate efficiently and effectively. He is actively involved in sustainable development efforts, including property management support, and community-based projects that contribute to long-term local impact.
email: Info@dejonglegal.com
Marketing
Jarno Knijff
Jarno brings over a decade of experience in hospitality, marketing, and digital strategy, with a strong focus on the Caribbean Netherlands. He works across public and private sectors, delivering clear, data-driven solutions that turn complex challenges into practical results.
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Our Legal Practices
Let Us Represent You
Government Administrative Law
Bestuursrecht
Good governance with integrity
Government administrative law includes anything from commercial contracting with the government or government department, to licensing and permits, supervision and enforcement, and civil servant law
Commercial Law
Privaatrecht
Sustainable development
Commercial law includes anything from commercial contracts, real estate developments, private investments, recovery, company law and corporate work, to employment law
Legislation Services
Wetgeving & Beleid
Modern and progressive
DEJONG offers legislation and policy writing services to facilitate the different government departments in Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Saba , Sint Eustatius and Bonaire
Get in Touch
Saba & Statia, Dutch Caribbean
(+1721) 586 2250
Sint Maarten
+1 721 520 7470
Bonaire
+599 790 5600
Curacao
+599 790 5600