Meet the team
Administration
Juliette Malfaisan
Executive Director & Founder
Juliette is a French lawyer. She holds two master’s degrees in property law and environmental law from the University of Lyon and successfully passed the French bar exam in 2017. She has previously worked as a lawyer in the French Bar Association of Lille.
Since 2018, Juliette has been working alternatively as a coordinator and legal counsel for projects based in Greece, providing legal assistance to asylum seekers and refugees.
In 2019, she founded Equal Legal Aid as a continuation of her previous work in Greece. Since then, Juliette has been the executive director of the organisation. In this role, and among other things, she oversees the implementation of the organisation’s pro bono legal assistance programme, advocacy and communication efforts, its overall strategy and daily administration.
Alexandros Tzenos
Project Officer and legal Advisor
Alexandros is a lawyer in the Thessaloniki Bar association with over a decade of experience in Reception and Asylum mechanisms in Greece, working with UNHCR and Norcap at border locations in Evros, Aegean islands and North Greece. In 2023 he joined Equal Legal Aid to support the team as Project Officer and legal advisor on case management.
He holds a master’s degree in criminal law from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He can indicate that the law is indeed criminal in crucial aspects of protecting the most vulnerable population. He also holds a bachelor’s in History and Archeology and a master’s degree in Philosophy from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Héloïse Mussard
Finance and Communication Officer
Héloïse is responsible for ELA’s finances, communications and public relations.
She holds a Master of International Media from Université Paris VIII, France.
Before joining ELA, Héloïse studied journalism in Beirut, Lebanon and worked as a PR media volunteer in Tirana, Albania.
Legal staff
Efstathia Laina
Lawyer
Since June 2021
Efstathia is a lawyer from the Thessaloniki Bar association. She supports the association by providing help to applicants of international protection.
She has been working for the past 20 years as an Human Rights lawyer and an NGO field worker.
Before joining ELA, she was a Lawyer at Thessaloniki Solidarity Center of “Solidarity Now”.
Athina Kalogridi
Lawyer
Since October 2021
Athina is a lawyer from the Thessaloniki Bar Association.
She has been working as a field lawyer for refugees and migrants the last 7 years.
Before joining ELA, she was a lawyer at Thessaloniki Solidarity Center of “Solidarity Now” for 5 years and before that she worked as a lawyer in the Shelter for Unaccompanied Minors asylum seekers of “ARSIS” in Oraiokastro, Thessaloniki.
Eleni Papageorgiou
Lawyer
Since February 2022
Eleni is a lawyer at the Athens Bar.
She has been working with refugees in the field for 6 years.
Before joining ELA, she worked as a lawyer at the Thessaloniki Solidarity Center “Solidarity Now” and before that she worked with the UNHCR in several camps in northern Greece.
Vasiliki 'Valia' Charalampopoulou
Lawyer
Since September 2023
Valia is a lawyer registered at the Athens Bar Association.
She is handling some asylum applications at the stage before the Appeals Authority and before the Greek Administrative Courts in Athens. She has been working in the refugee law field in Greece for the past 4 years, for organisations located in Samos, Thessaloniki and Athens. She also completed a part of her legal training in ELA back in 2020-2021.
She holds a certificate in education and she’s currently completing her master’s thesis in gender studies in Panteion University.
Nasia Makri
Trainee Lawyer
Since March 2023
Nasia is a recent graduate from Law School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She has a passion for human rights and defending people who are in need, especially people on the move.
Before working with ELA as a trainee lawyer, she was a volunteer in the organisation.
Now she is involved in providing aid to applicants of international protection who are in need of legal consultation.
Helena Baeck
Volunteer Lawyer
Since October 2023
Helena recently graduated from the KU Leuven in Belgium with a master degree in international, European and public law. During her time as a student, she provided legal assistance to tenants in the Tenants Association.
She has a special interest in family law matters, LGBTQI+ rights and the impact of climate change on human rights.
After an internship with Progress Lawyers Network, she is now excited to get a deeper and critical understanding of the EU asylum system and its challenges while contributing to the work of ELA.
Simon Decoster
Volunteer Lawyer
Since September 2023
Simon is a lawyer at the Brussels Bar Association. He has been working for the past five years on cases in family law, criminal law as well as asylum law.
He holds a master’s degree from the KU Leuven, based in Belgium.
At ELA, he is now providing legal aid as a volunteer.
Currently on long leave
Domitille Nicolet
on long leave
Advocacy & Co-founder
In addition to her legal and management help, Domitille’s main aims are to develop ELA’s partnerships and network.
After getting her bar exam in Paris (France) in 2013, Domitille worked in law firms as an associate specializing in public law and in administrative detention centres to provide free legal aid.
Her significant experience on the Greek islands of Lesvos and Samos prompted her to join ELA team.
Juliette Tassy
on long leave
Fundraising & grant management
Juliette is involved with ELA’s fundraising and donor relations activities.
She holds a Master of Humanitarian Action and Law from the University of Aix-en–Provence, France.
Before joining ELA, Juliette worked in program and donor relations in Athens and volunteered in different organisations in Athens and Northern Greece.
Former Team members and volunteers
Elisabeth Lutz
Volunteer jurist
June 2023 to October 2023
Pierre Kreins
Volunteer jurist
January 2023 to July 2023
Farhad Alizadeh
Cultural mediator
2021 to 2023
Leonie Passler
Volunteer jurist
July 2022 to February 2023
Aurore Vigouroux
Volunteer jurist
September 2022 to January 2023
Matteo Russo
Volunteer jurist
February to August 2022
Claire Didisheim
Volunteer jurist
October 2021 to July 2022
Maelys Guillaume
Volunteer jurist
October 2021 to March 2022
Priscille Duflos
Project management intern
June 2021 to January 2022
Stella Pitsilidou
Communication officer
September 2020 to May 2021
Valia Charalampopoulou
Trainee lawyer
October 2020 to July 2021
Irene Villani
Volunteer jurist
October 2020 to June 2021
Chrysanthi (Sandy) Stavrou
Trainee lawyer
May 2021 to October 2021
