About Us

To new beginnings

In Roman mythology, Janus is the God of beginnings and endings, passages, and transitions through time and space. Janus presided over the start and end of conflict, including war and peace. He also oversaw journeys, exchange, and navigation.

Janus is typically depicted with two faces. One looks to the past and the other to the future, symbolizing looking back to reflect while also looking forward to new opportunities.

Janus encapsulates our mission as a firm specialized in the experience of transition, particularly through the lens of migration, human rights, and transitional justice.

Through our work, we aim to ensure that everyone can pursue a new beginning.

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning”
— T.S. Elliot
Close-up of an ancient carved stone sculpture showing multiple faces and a skeletal figure, representing the Roman God Janus, the God of passages, transitions, war and peace, and journeys.

Our expertise

A person standing at a doorway holding two rolling suitcases, one in each hand. The person is wearing black sneakers, jeans, a black t-shirt, and a smartwatch. A potted cactus plant is visible on the right side of the image, and the exterior wall of the house is in the background.

Migration

Migration is the movement of people away from one place to a new place, either across an international border or within a State.

At Janus, we advocate for migrant rights within the Netherlands and abroad. We offer end-to-end consultancy services for immigrants arriving or settled in the Netherlands, including applications and objections. We pay special attention to vulnerable groups, including BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ clients.

A hand with dark skin and painted nails making a peace sign next to a hand with light skin making a peace sign against a blurred green leafy background.

Human Rights

Human rights are rights we have as human beings regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status.

At Janus, we are proud to promote and protect human rights across research, advocacy, and policy work. We specialize in particular in accountability for grave violations of human rights, fair trials, and the rule of law.

A bronze statue of Lady Justice holding a scale in her left hand and a sword in her right, with her eyes blindfolded.

Transitional Justice

Transitional justice refers to the measures a society takes to overcome a legacy of conflict and abuse. Its primary goals are to ensure accountability, serve justice, provide recognition for victims, and promote long-term reconciliation and peace.

At Janus, we promote a victim and community-centered approach to transitional justice that focuses on good governance and sustainability after conflict. We offer comprehensive consultancy services in good governance, capacity-building, and project work.

Our Promise

A minimalist logo with four green leaves arranged in a symmetrical pattern.
A young man with glasses and a smile sitting outdoors in front of ancient ruins and tall cypress trees, with a bright sky overhead.

Meet the Founder

Omer Hamed, LL.M. (Tilburg University, 2022) is an international lawyer with experience across migration, human rights, and transitional justice.

Starting his career at the United Nations and the International Bar Association, Omer moved into private practice as a migration lawyer before founding Janus. Coming from a migrant-conflict background, Omer is dedicated to advocating for migrant and human rights.

Omer is a network member of Lawyers4Lawyers and a member of the Netherlands Association for Critical Race and Antiracism (NACRA).

Omer speaks English, Arabic, and some Dutch. As a minority owned business, Janus Law is proud to be part of the European Supplier Diversity Program (ESDP). Janus Law is also a registered small business (kleine onderneming).

The Team

Maria Claudia de Magalhães

Research Intern

Maria studied European Law (LL.B.) at Maastricht University before joining Universidade Europeia in Lisbon where she is undergoing her LL.M. in Judicial Law.

For her LL.B. thesis, “Digital Nomad Visas and the Transformation of Migration Law” she conducted a comparative regulatory analysis of digital nomad mobility regimes in Spain and Portugal, situating them within a broader transformation of EU migration policy.

Maria speaks English, Portuguese, French and Spanish.

Idil Tok

Research Intern

Idil completed a BA in Liberal Arts and Science followed by an LL.M. in Public International Law at Leiden University.

Her LL.M. thesis examined security-based nationality deprivation as a potential human rights violation, with a focus on dual nationals with migratory backgrounds. At Leiden University College, her bachelor researched examined EU law as a discursive tool shaping normative perceptions of migrants, focusing on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Idil speaks English, Turkish, and intermediate Dutch.

Aya Georgieva

Legal Data Intern

Aya studied Global Law (LL.B.) at Tilburg University, where she now follows an LL.M. in Law & Technology with a focus on data science.

Her LL.B. thesis "Palestine in the eyes of the ICJ" made a comparative analysis of ICJ opinions on Palestine, exploring the Court's language of advocacy.

A long time volunteer at several asylum seeker centers (AZCs), Aya combines tech skills in data management with her legal background.

Aya speaks English, Bulgarian, and Spanish.