Mrs Gia Sands > McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes > Nassau, Bahamas > Lawyer Profile
McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes Offices
MAREVA HOUSE, 4 GEORGE STREET
PO BOX N-3937
NASSAU, BAHAMAS
Bahamas
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Mrs Gia Sands
Work Department
Real Estate, Foreign & Local Investment, Immigration, Corporate & Commercial, Admiralty, Shipping & Aviation and Labour & Employment
Position
Partner
Career
Gia was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales and to the Bahamas Bar in 2011. She joined the firm in November 2011, was made Senior Associate in 2019 and Partner in 2021.
Gia R. Sands is developing a reputation for collegiality in addition to knowledgeability in her legal practice, which focuses on real estate transactions, foreign and local investment, corporate and commercial transactions, immigration matter, admiralty, shipping and aviation and labour and employment. She works closely with her clients in the important tourism and leisure sectors of The Bahamas while cultivating a close network of contacts with the future leaders of the government, business, and legal communities.
Her clients appreciate her expediency in facilitating solutions to their problems, even when working under short deadlines. Gia is adept at securing approval from the Bahamas Investment Authority and drafting and negotiating Heads of Agreements and Hotel Encouragement Act Agreements.
Gia also undertakes complex conveyancing, business and immigration issues and the day-to-day practice of helping clients purchase homes, helping businesses establish themselves and securing the relevant immigration status documents required for non-Bahamians to work or reside in The Bahamas. Gia is affable yet professional and is known to be attentive and responsive to the needs of her clients. She is kind yet firm and operates with caution to ensure that her clients receive well considered and sound advice. Gia provides realistic and reasonable expectations and keeps her clients updated and informed throughout all stages of the relevant transactions.
Gia has developed a strong professional relationship with officers of the Bahamas Maritime Authority as she is frequently engaged by clients to assist them in registering and discharging vessel mortgages.
Languages
English
Memberships
Member of The Bahamas Bar since 2011
Member of The Bar of England and Wales since 2011
Member of The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
Education
University College London – LLM. 2011
BPP Law School – BVC 2011
University of London (SOAS) – LLB. 2009
University of Toronto BA 2006
Leisure
Spending time with my family, reading a good book (preferably on the beach) and cooking
Lawyer Rankings
Bahamas > Corporate law (including banking, finance and M&A)
(Next Generation Partners)The ‘responsive and incredibly knowledgeable’ team at McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes has substantial experience advising on Bahamian and global transactions, and commercial work including financing projects, M&A, loan agreements and regulatory mandates. Trust and private client mandates also make up a notable proportion of the firm’s work, with expertise in estate planning structures and trust matters. Transactional specialist Kimberley Rolle sits as chair of the practice with Alexander Christie, who also handles tax issues, as vice chair. Sean Moree KC and John Wilson KC are active members of the trust and private client practice, Campbell Cleare, III leads the foreign and local investment group, and April Turner focuses on financial services and corporate matters and is also chief operations officer of the firm’s corporate service affiliate. Gia Sands is also a key name to note for transactional and investment-related advice.
Bahamas > Real estate
(Next Generation Partners)McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes’ real estate practice excels across commercial and residential real estate mandates, covering transactional, development and regulatory issues. The group’s work encompasses the purchase and sale of a variety of properties, including cays and islands, resorts, vacation homes and private residences; it also advises on conveyancing matters, leases, hotel and resort developments, and project financing advice. Kimberley Rolle leads the department and focuses on transactions and developments, while group vice chair Alexander Christie also assists with financing work. Timothy Eneas KC is a key contact for conveyancing issues and litigation, while Gia Sands is active in the tourism and leisure sectors, and newly promoted partner Vanessa Hall acts for developers and high-net-worth individuals and families.
Lawyer Rankings
- Next Generation Partners Bahamas > Corporate law (including banking, finance and M&A)
- Next Generation Partners Bahamas > Real estate
- Real estate Bahamas
- Corporate law (including banking, finance and M&A) Bahamas