Stijn Van Merm

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”. During his studies, he won the National Student Criminal Plea Competition. He also participated in the Summercourt talent program.

Stijn van Merm’s passion lies in criminal law advocacy. During his studies, he completed several 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, among other things. There, he developed an affinity for issues where criminal law and administrative law intersect. Therefore, he handles certain administrative law issues, such as closures based on Section 13b of the Opium Act, as well as procedures regarding objections to the rejection of the Certificate of Conduct (VOG).

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 after just a few months. He handles both criminal cases and cases in juvenile criminal law. In criminal law, he has developed a special affinity for terrorism cases and sex crimes, in which he has since gained extensive experience in various major cases.

Stijn van Merm examines criminal files with a critical and academic eye, favoring a down-to-earth and nuanced approach. He is accessible and committed. Clients know what they can expect from him.

He also regularly acts as a guest lecturer at various universities and gives an annual course to other criminal defense attorneys.

Stijn van Merm is the chairman of the Dutch Association of Young Criminal Law Attorneys (NVJSA), where he has held a board position since April 2024. In 2022, this association named him the Best Young Criminal Pleader in the Netherlands.