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)McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes‘s ‘local and regional expertise provides reassurance‘ to clients in domestic and international transactions, the full scope of commercial matters, and support in navigating the regulatory landscapes of several sectors in the country. The firm handles a considerable number of trust and private client matters, routinely advising on estate planning structures and trust litigation. Experienced transactional lawyer Kimberley Rolle has a roster of both institutional and private clients for corporate and commercial matters; she co-chairs the practice group with Alexander Christie, who is well regarded across conveyancing, corporate, banking and private client work. Sean Moree KC is a further key contact as the chair of the trusts and private client group, wherein John Willson KC is also a senior figure to note. Campbell Cleare leads the sub-group for foreign and local investment, and Gia Sands also excels in transactional matters.
Bahamas > Real estate
(Next Generation Partners)Spanning a wide range of commercial and private property matters, including sale and purchase of cays and islands, hotels and resorts, private residences, vacation homes and investment properties, the real estate practice at McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes is a strong choice for transactional, development and regulatory issues. Kimberley Rolle co-chairs the group and acts on all aspects of the sale and acquisition of property. Alongside her leading the team are Alexander Christie, noted for planning asset protection structures and drafting commercial instruments; and Timothy Eneas KC, who focuses his practice on real estate development, title issues, and property rights. Gia Sands is another standout advisor in the team, receiving client praise for her ‘expertise, engagement, humanity and commitment‘.
Lawyer Rankings
- Next Generation Partners Bahamas > Real estate
- Next Generation Partners Bahamas > Corporate law (including banking, finance and M&A)
- Real estate Bahamas
- Corporate law (including banking, finance and M&A) Bahamas