Alexiou Knowles & Co

Emanuel M. Alexiou

Emanuel M. Alexiou is the Founding Partner of Alexiou, Knowles & Co.. He has a wealth of experience covering commercial transactions and private client matters, with specialist expertise in banking & finance, mergers & acquisitions, liquidations and insolvency. In 2022, Mr. Alexiou transitioned to act as Consultant to the firm. Mr. Alexiou completed his legal studies at the College of Law, and Lincoln’s Inn in London in 1973. He obtained his undergraduate degree in 1968 from Case Western University, Ohio, and a graduate degree from the University of Toronto. He was admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Bar of England and Wales in 1973, and the Turks and Caicos Bar in 1974. In addition to maintaining his legal practice Mr. Alexiou is a prolific local businessman, and has been honoured as part of “The Bahamian Project” at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas.

Wynsome D. Carey is a Partner in the firm’s Property and Development Practice Group, and the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She is dedicated to providing exceptional and professional representation to her clients and building long lasting relationships. Wynsome’s broad practice includes real property acquisitions and sales, domestic mortgages, private and commercial leases, divorce and matrimonial matters, adoption’s, admiralty law, administrative law, banking, trusts, personal injury, land disputes and other civil and commercial disputes. She recently appeared as Junior Counsel before the Supreme Court in a large multi-jurisdictional contentious trust dispute; involving the jurisdictional limits of the Supreme Court to assist in trust-related arbitrations. Other recent matters include: Defending claims for a leading insurer for alleged conduct and other insurance related litigation matters; Prosecuting debt recovery claims for a leading international commercial banks; Acting on behalf of banks and private lenders in residential and commercial foreclosures; Defending an Asset Manager in litigation involving a business email compromise scam

Carlene Farquharson

Carlene D. Farquharson is a Partner in the Firm’s Property Development Practice Group. Carlene’s practice is focused on commercial law and transactional matters such as conveyancing, mortgages, probate, immigration and corporate administration. She is well-respected by clients and has a strong reputation for her practical and sound advice Carlene manages the firm’s Abaco office and was a resident attorney in Abaco for 10 years. She has been the lead attorney and structured the acquisition of several multi-million-dollar hotel, marina and resort facilities, and has also supervised and overseen the planning of several subdivisions. She has significant experience in family island transactions and the established business practices in that respect, including immigration applications such as permanent residency, annual residency and work permits. Her busy practice means that she frequently deals with regulatory bodies such as the Bahamas Investment Authority, Central Bank, Companies’ Registry, Town Planning and the Ministry of Works. She also has a successful network of local professionals including bankers, surveyors, architects, engineers, and building contractors who help support her clients’ needs. Carlene also has significant experience dealing with probate matters, particularly those with specialist cross-jurisdictional and high-value considerations. She is often praised by clients for her sensitivity and expertise in this area.

Rhchetta R. Godet

Rhchetta R. Godet is a Senior Associate in the Firm’s Property and Development Practice Group, and the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group having joined the Firm in 2023. Her practice includes: Conveyancing, Mortgages, and Property Developments Family & Matrimonial (Divorce, Adoptions, Hague Convention Applications), Wills & Probate Commercial Litigation International Company Restorations & Trademarks Rhchetta graduated from the College of The Bahamas with an Associates of Arts degree in Law and Criminal Justice in 2008. She went on to continue her studies in 2009 at the Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, England where she graduated with Upper Second Class Honors with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law in 2011 and a Masters in Law in 2012. She then completed the Bar in England in 2013 and is a member of the Honorable Society of Middle Temple. Rhchetta was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales and The Bahamas Bar in 2013. She obtained an International Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering and Governance Risk & Compliance from The Bahamas Institute of Financial Services.

Richard J. W. Horton joined the Firm in 2007 and is a Partner in the Firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. Richard specializes in all areas of labour and employment law (from the drafting of employment contracts and handbooks, to litigation for both employees and employers) and in admiralty and maritime issues (in particular, ship arrests and releases, and opinions in respect to Bahamian ship mortgages). Richard also regularly advises and represents clients in respect to many aspects of the common law (including defamation (libel and slander), trespass to land, nuisance, conversion, and negligence), the enforcement of foreign judgments in The Bahamas, and contractual disputes. Richard completed the Bar Vocational Course at BPP Law School in London, England in 2002 after obtaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the College of Law, London, England in 2001. He was awarded the Jules Thorn Scholarship from the Honourable Society of Middle Temple, and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree (Joint Honours) in Philosophy & Theology in 1999 from the University of Durham, England. Richard is a member of the Bar of England and Wales and a member of the Bar of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Luther Mcdonald, KC

Luther H. McDonald, KC, is a Partner in the firm’s Property and Development Practice Group and the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. Luther is an experienced litigator, with a broad practice covering corporate and commercial law, insolvency, Real Property, trusts, fraud and financial services. He is well known for his expertise in financial services and has been involved in matters with all of the major banks in The Bahamas (Commercial and Offshore). Luther has developed a keen interest in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, and digital market regulation within The Bahamas. He has recently completed the MIT Executive Management course in Blockchain Technology and Innovation. Some of his recent matters have included: Disputes involving private client and trust company Numerous Quieting title and Trespass actions Represented a bank regarding in a bank account ‘ownership’ dispute Represented a bank in a lawsuit brought against them by a real estate agent Successfully represented Water Supply Contractor against statutory agency in much publicised case: Water Sewage Corporation (WSC) Vs Aqua Designs (Bahamas) Ltd. Luther currently serves on the Board of the Securities Commission of The Bahamas and has previously served as a member of the Ethics Committee of the Bahamas Bar Association. Luther was called to the Bar of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Bar of England and Wales of the Honorary Society of Lincoln’s Inn in 1980. He completed his LLB with Honours from the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom in 1979 and the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law in London in 1980. He also obtained an undergraduate degree from St. Johns University, Minnesota, in 1976.

Terry North is a Partner in the Firm’s Property Development Practice Group and the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group and is the Managing Partner of Alexiou Knowles & Co. As a litigating attorney, Terry’s core areas of expertise include insurance, real estate, trust and estates and employment law. Terry has evolved as an accomplished advocate with notable successes and a strong reputation with clients. He has recently acted as co-counsel for the defendants in a high-profile trust & estates action. He has also been involved in defending a leading insurer with respect to claims involving life policies. Terry attended the University of the West Indies where he obtained an LLB degree and completed his legal education as a pupil in the law chambers of Isaacs, Johnson & Co. He was admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in 1978. In the early years of his career Terry began as a transactional lawyer, with a busy practice involved in matters related to real estate, corporate and commercial law and trust & estate law.

Darzhon is an Associate in the Firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. His practice primarily covers commercial and civil litigation, debt recovery, contractual disputes, and personal injury. He frequently appears as Junior Counsel within the Supreme Court of The Bahamas. Recent Matters include: Appeared as Junior Counsel in a Contentious Trust Dispute before both the Supreme Court and Court Appeal concerning the distribution of assets; Appeared as Junior Counsel on behalf of an External Asset Manager involved in a business email scam; Assisted Senior Counsel in the arrest and subsequent sale of two Cruise Vessels in Bahamian waters; and Successfully representing a leading international commercial bank in debt recovery proceedings. Darzhon obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill Campus), Barbados in 2017. Thereafter, he completed his Bar Training at the Eugene Dupuch Law School, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas where he received his Legal Education Certificate in 2019. He was called to the Bar of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in October 2019.

Keri D. Sherman

Keri D. Sherman, TEP is a Partner in the firm’s Litigation Department. She is an experienced litigator who appears regularly in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. Keri’s practice is focused primarily in corporate and commercial law, trusts and trust litigation, insolvency litigation, insurance law and financial services. Keri also has experience in the areas of real estate and conveyancing. Keri has acted in liquidations for both liquidators and creditors, advised a multinational utility service provider in contractual disputes with the government, regularly advises and acts for international and local banks. Keri was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales in July, 2007 and to the Bar of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in October, 2007. She obtained her Bachelor of Law from the University of Kent at Canterbury and a Diploma in International Trust Management from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners in 2013 and is a member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP). Keri is very active in civic society and has served in Rotary at the local and district levels and is presently a Board Member of the Charitable Arts Foundation.

Robert Van Wynen

Robert F. Van Wynen joined the firm in 1993 and is a Partner in the firm’s Property Development Practice Group. His primary area of practice is commercial law and real estate, including conveyancing, mortgage financing, resort acquisition/development and financing. He is also experienced in immigration, as well as trusts and estate planning matters. Robert received his LLB with Honours from the University of Buckingham, UK in 1992. He is a member of the Bar of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Bar of England and Wales and the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. He also obtained an undergraduate degree in English Literature from Tulane University, Louisiana, in 1989.