St. Maarten attorney Ashton Richardson earns admission to Geneva Academy

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten attorney-at-law Ashton Richardson has achieved two major academic milestones, completing his second Bachelor of Laws through the University of Curaçao and earning admission to the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.

Richardson has been selected for the Geneva Academy’s 2026–2028 Executive Master, Master of Advanced Studies in International Law in Armed Conflict, a highly competitive program that admits only 40 participants per cohort. The limited intake brings together experienced and academically qualified legal professionals from around the world.

The Geneva Academy is a joint center of the University of Geneva’s Faculty of Law and the Geneva Graduate Institute and is internationally recognized for teaching and research in international humanitarian law, human rights and international criminal law.

Richardson has practiced at Brooks & Associates N.V. for more than five years. His practice covers constitutional and administrative law, immigration, human rights, criminal law and civil law, with a particular focus on human rights and administrative matters.

During his legal career, Richardson has litigated administrative and human-rights cases that have contributed to the development of jurisprudence in St. Maarten and the wider Dutch Caribbean.

His academic background already includes an LL.B. in International and European Law from The Hague University of Applied Sciences and an LL.M. in Global Criminal Law from the University of Groningen, where he graduated with honors.

Richardson also completed a one-year internship with the Trial Chambers of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in The Hague, gaining experience in international criminal law, legal procedure and judicial administration.

After returning to St. Maarten, he joined Brooks & Associates and continued developing his legal career under the mentorship of senior attorney Brenda Brooks, LL.M.

The two-year Geneva Academy program will allow Richardson to deepen his specialization in international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international criminal law while continuing his legal practice in St. Maarten.

Through the program, he will gain access to internationally recognized experts, advanced legal training and a global network of professionals working in international law, armed conflict and human rights. The additional training is expected to strengthen his ability to advise and represent clients in complex legal matters.

Brooks & Associates said Richardson’s admission reflects the firm’s commitment to continuous legal education and to developing attorneys capable of handling increasingly complex matters. His training is also expected to further strengthen the firm’s experience in human rights, immigration, administrative law and related areas.

Richardson’s long-term ambition is to serve as a judge and contribute to the administration of justice and strengthening of the rule of law in St. Maarten.

He expressed gratitude to his family, particularly his mother, for their encouragement and support, as well as to his clients and colleagues for their continued trust. He also extended special appreciation to Attorney Brenda Brooks for her mentorship and continued role in his professional development.

Brooks & Associates congratulated Richardson on the achievement and said it looks forward to the contribution his advanced international training will bring to the firm, its clients and the wider St. Maarten community.

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