The Legal 500

The Firm

Cox Hallett Wilkinson demonstrates a particular strength in commercial law, both in corporate and financial transactions and in civil litigation and arbitration. Partners of the firm are active members of the professional organizations relevant to its practice including the Bermuda Bar Association, International Bar Association, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners as well as national and international special interest organizations.

Areas of Practice

Corporate and commercial:

• Formation of companies, limited partnerships, joint ventures and other commercial organizations
• Establishment of captive and mutual insurance companies
• Collective investment schemes (mutual funds/unit trusts)
• Foreign sales corporations
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Venture capital
• Management buy-outs
• Securities work including public offerings and private placements
• Corporate finance, secured lending and other financial transactions
• Insolvency - Receivership, liquidation and voluntary arrangements
• Shipping and aviation including Bermuda registration
• Redomicile of companies
• Joint Ventures and shareholder relations
• Pension Trust Funds and share option schemes
• Intellectual Property
• Insurance/Reinsurance
• General commercial advice including agency, distribution, manufacturing, franchising, hotel and other management agreements.

The firm has experience in acting for both privately held and publicly quoted companies and has undertaken in conjunction with counsel in the onshore jurisdiction, registration of securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the listing of companies on appointed stock exchanges. The firm provides, through its wholly owned company Coson Corporate Services Limited, corporate secretarial and administration services to the exempted companies and other undertakings maintained by the firm, including including the provision of a registered office, Bermuda resident directors, and share registration services. Department Head: Ernest Morrison.

Litigation:
The Litigation Department has particular expertise and experience in international commercial work including: insurance/reinsurance disputes; professional malpractice matters; directors and officers liability suits; receiverships; hostile corporate take-overs and shareholder disputes; international trade; breach of trust actions and the variation and setting aside of trust settlements. The firm is frequently instructed to assist in foreign proceedings by obtaining evidence in Bermuda, enforcing foreign judgments or rendering expert advice in respect of Bermuda law.

Members of the firm assist clients or the parties in arbitration matters either as advocates or as party nominated or sole arbitrators. David Kessaram and Kim White are both Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

The firm also conducts a broad-based local litigation practice including family and matrimonial law, personal injury, construction, landlord and tenant, contentious probate and contractual disputes.

The Litigation Department also contains two practice groups specializing in Employment and Immigration Law and Insolvency Law and Practice. Department Head: David Kessaram.

Private Client:
The firm possesses the requisite expertise to assist in all facets of freehold and leasehold property acquisition and disposal (both commercial and residential), asset management and protection (both local and foreign), estate planning and general estate advice, wills and probate matters, financing arrangements, creation of charities and charitable trusts, special purpose trusts and all other types of trusts and settlements including pension plan trusts. Department Head: Harry Kessaram.

The firm also provides, through its wholly owned trust company, State House Trust Company Limited, executor and trustee and protectorship services.