Dispute resolution in Bahamas

Higgs & Johnson

Fielding an ‘innovative, responsive and diverse‘ team, the litigation practice at Higgs & Johnson acts for a range of local and global clients in cross-border litigation and asset recovery work, trust claims, banking disputes, insolvencies, employment litigation and tax mandates, as well as handling alternative dispute resolution methods including arbitration proceedings. Tara Archer-Glasgow heads up the team and is praised by clients as ‘an excellent litigator‘ who is ‘willing to go the extra mile to ensure that her clients receive the best representation and legal remedies available‘. Other contributors to the practice include senior partner Philip Dunkley KC, firm co-managing partner Oscar Johnson, Jr. KC, Vann Gaitor, trust and estate claim specialist Leroy Smith, industrial relations and employment law expert Karen Brown, Audley Hanna and associate Keith Major.

Practice head(s):

Tara Archer-Glasgow

Testimonials

‘A hands-on group, and good team players.’

‘Leroy Smith and Tara Cooper Burnside were great to work with.’

‘Higgs & Johnson has very strong lawyers that represent their various areas of practice.’

‘Tara Archer-Glasgow is an excellent litigator and professional. Communication is very important to me and she delivers on this.’

‘The Team at H&J are innovative, responsive and diverse. Based on my many interactions with the team, they are very diligent and well equipped to provide advice and counsel on multiple areas of the law.’

‘Tara Archer-Glasgow is a seasoned Attorney-At-Law and her experience shines through in her case management and subsequent advice & counsel rendered. Her commercial knowledge of the industry and sector is exceptional. She is friendly, knowledgeable and accessible. She is willing to go the extra mile to ensure that her clients receive the best representation and legal remedies available.’

Lennox Paton

At Lennox Paton, the dedicated litigation and dispute resolution practice stands out in the region for its wide-ranging expertise spanning banking, insolvency and asset tracing claims, property litigation, shareholder disputes and insurance claims. The team is also highly active in cross-border litigation and arbitration proceedings. Brian Simms KC, Sophia Rolle-Kapousouzoglou and Marco Turnquest are key contacts; all three are singled out for their commercial and insolvency litigation skills and appear regularly before the Bahamian Supreme Court. Newly appointed King’s Counsel Metta MacMillan-Hughes KC, Christopher Jenkins, newly promoted partner Chizelle Cargill and Dwight Glinton are also recommended.

Work highlights

  • Acting on behalf of Hot Pancakes Limited and CS&P SA, a Cyprus and Panamanian company respectively, in legal proceedings concerning a dispute over $30m in frozen funds held in an account at Ansbacher Bank, a Bahamian bank.
  • Acting on behalf of Heritage Cruise Holding Ltd in an action involving Silversea Cruise Holding Ltd which was sold to Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited in July 2020 by Heritage for a purchase price in excess of $1bn.
  • Acting on behalf of Star Clippers Ltd, an international tall ship sailing company, in defending a claim commenced in The Bahamas by XB Ahts Hero Shipping Inc. against the backdrop of arbitral proceedings.

McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes

McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes‘ litigation and dispute resolution practice fields a team of specialists which handles the full spectrum of contentious work including arbitration proceedings. Within its commercial and trust disputes caseload, the group is notably active in insolvency and restructuring matters, private client work, IP claims, corporate disputes, tax litigation and cross-border claims. John Wilson KC  heads up the practice, which also fields Sean Moree KC, who acts for ultra-high-net-worth families and multinational companies; insurance and personal injury expert Genell Sands; tax litigator Kevin Moree; Michelle Deveaux, who handles competition litigation; and Vanessa Smith, who specialises in trust and insolvency claims.

Practice head(s):

John Wilson KC

Testimonials

‘Accessibility to the Managing Partner and responsiveness are key attributes of the case management of the team at MBH. Even under the pressure of a global pandemic and shortage of hands on deck their professional posture and performance has been impeccable.’

‘John Wilson KC and Berchel Wilson provide excellent legal services all round, especially when it comes to dispute resolution and litigation. Their business oriented insight is paramount in terms of knowledge, especially when dealing with matters in The Bahamas.’

Key clients

The Private Trust Corporation limited

Ansbacher (Bahamas) Limited

EFG Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Limited.

Executors of the Estate of James Martin

Butterfield Trust (Bahamas) Limited

Windermere Island North Development Limited

Adlard Holdings Limited

FirstCaribbean International Bank (Bahamas) Ltd.

Pictet Bank & Trust

Bamont Trust Company

RAV Bahamas Ltd.

Kikivarakis & Co.

J. S. Johnson & Company Limited

Qamea Stanley Limited

Delaney Partners

Delaney Partners’ litigation department excels in disputes in the banking and financial services arenas and also handles claims relating to shareholder conflicts, trusts and estates, insolvencies, fraud and asset recovery mandates. Under the leadership of John Delaney KC, who is highly active in insolvency proceedings, the practice also fields newly appointed partner Robert Adams KC, who took silk in early 2022 and is a key name for commercial litigation and arbitration proceedings. Clients also praise financial services sector expert Lena Bonaby, and Edward Marshall, who has recently handled a range of estate disputes and employment claims and is admitted as a barrister.

Practice head(s):

John Delaney KC

Baycourt Chambers

With expertise across civil and commercial litigation, Baycourt Chambers is home to several well-regarded practitioners including Raynard Rigby KC, who was appointed silk in late 2021 and leads the general disputes practice; and Christopher Francis, who leads the environmental practice group and handles environmental work, conveyancing mandates and civil litigation.

Practice head(s):

Raynard Rigby KC

Other key lawyers:

Christopher Francis

Work highlights

  • Acted for a defendant and aided in the defeat of an interim injunction application. The claim is one for the return of jewellery and the sum of $23m that the claimant alleges is owed.
  • Represented a condo owner in defeating a claim for a return in deposit of $410,000 on premise that there was a title defect around a discrepancy of the unit’s size.