McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes > Nassau, Bahamas > Firm Profile

McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes
MAREVA HOUSE, 4 GEORGE STREET
PO BOX N-3937
NASSAU, BAHAMAS
Bahamas

Bahamas > Dispute resolution Tier 1

The ‘very professional and knowledgeable’ practice at McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes excels across the spectrum of contentious work with experience before the Supreme Court and the Privy Council. The group is particularly noted for its commercial and trust disputes expertise as well as insolvency and restructuring knowledge and is able to handle multi-jurisdictional mandates. Senior partner John Wilson KC leads the department and is also active in the firm’s trust and private client practice. Elsewhere in the team, Sean Moree KC is praised as ‘responsive, efficient and quite the all rounder’, Timothy Eneas KC focuses on property litigation, and Genell Sands handles insurance and personal injury claims. Kevin Moree is the key contact for tax disputes, and Erin Hill is the primary name at senior associate level.

Practice head(s):

Testimonials

‘The team and McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes is very professional and knowledgeable. They have assisted us immensely in navigating the legal challenges we were faced with.’

‘Sean Moree KC stands out as very responsive, efficient and quite the all rounder as a litigator. Kevin Moree is very strong technically on his core areas. Erin Hill is very professional in her approach.’

‘The exceptional individuals at McKinney Bancroft & Hughes set themselves apart with their expertise and personalised service. Among these remarkable team members, Genell Sands stands out for building her ability to create a strong client-attorney relationship. She is accessible and goes the extra mile to comprehend clients’ values and cultural nuances. This personalized approach ensures her guidance is not only legally sound but also profoundly aligned with her clients’ ethos.’

‘We certainly appreciated the services of Andrew Smith who is very innovative in his approach to dealing with legal matters. He is timely and communicates clearly and effectively in a way that we can fully grasp the concepts and counsel he is providing.’

‘Roster of people available to assist our point of contact, great resources to research case references.’

‘Knowledgeable, engaged and truly brilliant in laying out and executing on the litigation strategy.’

‘We receive timely reports on the progress of matters and are given options as how we wish to proceed. The strength of this firm is each partner can draw on the expertise of other partners in the firm even if those partners are not directly involved the particular case at hand.’

‘One of the strengths of working with Genell Sands is that she provides a very personal touch to her service and, 95% of the time, the required result is achieved in the settlement of any matter. She is never too busy to discuss matters and is always easily accessible.’

Key clients

The Private Trust Corporation limited

Ansbacher (Bahamas) Limited

EFG Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Limited.

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.

BB Entertainment Ltd.

J. S. Johnson & Company Limited

Qamea Stanley Limited

Work highlights

  • Representing the joint official liquidators of one of the largest construction companies in The Bahamas in all aspects of the winding up proceedings.
  • Advised a Bahamian trust company in dealing with requests for information from FTX itself and the SEC involving a critical assessment of the validity of requests from US companies in bankruptcy and the US SEC.
  • Defending Pictet Bank & Trust Limited, one of the largest private banks in The Bahamas, in an action commenced by Monte Leone Arbitrage Fund Ltd (SAC) and ML Arbitrage Advisory Limited.

Bahamas > Real estate Tier 1

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.

Practice head(s):

Testimonials

‘The team has a proven track record with regard to real estate transactions and resort development work. They have superior knowledge of Bahamian laws and an excellent grasp of government policy. The team has good relationships with the government and other private sector stakeholders. Each team member possesses superior communication skills and are known for their business friendly approach to their practice.’

‘Kimberley Rolle – Kim is an experienced attorney who communicates well and can be relied on to provide well-thought-out solutions to legal issues.’

‘Timothy Eneas KC was very insightful and helped get everything taken care of. Tim was extremely helpful letting me know what was needed to complete the sale, and truly went above and beyond. If we ever decide to buy in the Bahamas again, I will definitely be seeking his help.’

‘Gia Sands – Gia is a sharp, confident and highly responsive attorney. You can depend on Gia to draft and provide thorough review and analysis of legal documents. She has excellent communication skills and sticks to time commitments.’

Key clients

Pineapple Grove Limited

Neworld One Bay Street Limited

Terralaw Ltd.

Sandy Ground Development Ltd.

Mylor Caribbean Development Limited

Work highlights

  • Acting on behalf of a developer in relation to the development of a marina, resort and residential venture.
  • Acting on behalf of a developer on the establishment of the legal framework for its condominium units and acting on its behalf in the sale of such units.
  • Acting on behalf of a developer with respect to facilitating its proposed development of a residential property.

Bahamas > Corporate law (including banking, finance and M&A) Tier 2

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.

Practice head(s):

Testimonials

‘I have worked with several lawyers at McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes. Each has been responsive and incredibly knowledgeable in the subject matter we have needed them to address. The lawyers I have worked with utilise a nuanced approach to their representation, cleverly incorporating their knowledge of the local players into the representation to achieve top results.’

‘John Wilson KC has been an excellent communicator, shows a clear knowledge of the law, and has a great strategic mind that has been beneficial in achieving excellent results for us over the past few years.’

‘The firm has a great team of lawyers and a legacy that they pride themselves on. Partners are knowledgeable, responsive and stay current.’

‘Sean Moree KC is very smart and looks for practical solutions within the law to clients problems.’

Key clients

RAV Bahamas Ltd.

Mitsubishi Logistics Corporation

Neworld One Bay Street Limited (One Particular Harbour at the Pointe Condominiums)

Tropix Shipping Ltd.

Oasis Marketplace Ltd.

Crowe Bahamas

Mylor Caribbean Development Ltd

Work highlights

  • Advised a non-Bahamian company on the purchase and acquisition of a $55m cay to facilitate the development of a novel ultra-luxury private island resort.
  • Advised a client on the formation of an SPV for the purpose of acquiring Bahamian real estate funded by the offerings of tokens representing shareholders of the SPV.
  • Advised a high-net-worth individual on liquidating a major portion of his wealth to settle a trust for the benefit of his wife and children, which involved establishing a Bahamian Executive Entity to act as the protector.

The firm: McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes is one of the largest and oldest firms in The Bahamas and conducts an extensive international and domestic practice from its offices in the cities of Nassau and Freeport. Established in 1945, the firm’s philosophy of delivering superior levels of service by industry specialists was established by its founding partners, Donald McKinney, Sir Oswald Bancroft and Sir Leonard Knowles. Dr Colin A Hughes joined the partnership in 1947 following the departure of Sir Leonard Knowles and the firm was restyled McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes.

Since its inception McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes has grown from a small practice of three attorneys with a support staff of three to a team of over 30 attorneys with a support staff of more than 100.  Originally housed in a single office in the Boyle Building, downtown Nassau, in 1990 the firm moved to offices located on George Street in the heart of Nassau. McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes also has offices at Lyford Cay in Western New Providence and in Freeport, the nation’s second city, on the Island of Grand Bahama.

Each client of the firm is the responsibility of an individual lawyer, through whom the collective expertise and resources of the firm become available. While each client’s work is handled on a personal basis, the high degree of interchange of information and cooperation between individual attorneys ensures that the client’s work is effectively supervised and guided within the firm to the appropriate areas of expertise.

The firm is The Bahamas member of Lex Mundi, a Global Association of over 160 independent law firms that represent over 60 countries. High professional standards of performance and quality representation are the main membership selection criteria. Through the effective and efficient professional association of Lex Mundi, the firm is able to respond to requirements for legal services throughout the markets of the world and virtually every country.

Founded principally as a corporate and commercial firm, today McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes is engaged in the general practice of law and services its clientele through the expertise of its attorneys in over 35 practice areas.

Department Name Email Telephone
Trusts & Private Client John F. Wilson KC jfwilson@mckinney.com.bs 1 (242) 322-4195
Competition Law Michelle Deveaux mideveaux@mbhbahamas.com 1 (242) 322-4195
Family Law Justine A. Smith jasmith@mckinney.com.bs 1 (242) 322-4195
Real Estate Kimberley A. Rolle karolle@mbhbahamas.com 1 (242) 362-7723
Admiralty, Shipping & Aviation John F. Wilson KC jfwilson@mckinney.com.bs 1 (242) 322-4195
Banking & Finance John F. Wilson KC jfwilson@mckinney.com.bs 1 (242) 322-4195
Tax & Trade Beatrice E. Miranda bmiranda@mckinney.com.bs 1 (242) 322-4195
Immigration Kimberley A. Rolle karolle@mbhbahamas.com 1 (242) 322-4195
Litigation & Dispute Resolution John F. Wilson jfwilson@mckinney.com.bs 1 (242) 322-4195
Corporate & Commercial Kimberley A. Rolle karolle@mbhbahamas.com 1 (242) 322-4195
Foreign & Local Investment H. Campbell Cleare, III hccleare@mckinney.com.bs 1 (242) 322-4195
Labour & Employment Genell K. Sands gksands@mbhbahamas.com 1 (242) 322-4195
Financial Services & Regulation April N. Turner anturner@mckinney.com.bs 1 (242) 322-4195
Photo Name Position Profile
Adrienne Bellot photo Ms Adrienne Bellot Associate
Brenford Christie photo Mr Brenford Christie Consultant
Alexander Christie photo Mr Alexander Christie Partner, Vice Chair of Firm’s Corporate & Commercial and Real Estate Practice…
Campbell   Cleare, III photo Mr Campbell Cleare, III Consultant, Chair of Foreign & Local Investment  and Immigration Practice Groups, Vice…
Michelle Deveaux photo Mrs Michelle Deveaux Partner, Chair of Competition  Law Practice Group
Timothy Eneas KC photo Mr Timothy Eneas KC Partner, Vice Chair Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group
Alicia Gibson photo Ms Alicia Gibson Associate
Vanessa Hall photo Mrs Vanessa Hall Partner  
Erin Hill photo Mrs Erin Hill Senior Associate Erin M. Hill is a Senior Associate of the firm…
J. Oliver Liddell photo Mr J. Oliver Liddell Of Counsel
Richard Lightbourn photo Mr Richard Lightbourn Consultant
Beatrice Miranda photo Mrs Beatrice Miranda Consultant
Peteche Mitchell photo Ms Peteche Mitchell Associate
Kevin Moree photo Mr Kevin Moree Partner and Co-Chair: Tax & Trade and Financial Services & Regulation practice…
Sean Moree KC photo Mr Sean Moree KC Partner, chair of the Trust & Private Client Practice Group and  a…
Brian Moree KT, KC photo Sir Brian Moree KT, KC Consultant
Hartis Pinder photo Mr Hartis Pinder Of Counsel
Demi Pindling photo Ms Demi Pindling Associate
Kimberley Rolle photo Ms Kimberley Rolle Partner, Chair of Real Estate and Corporate & Commercial Practice Groups, Vice…
Alexandria  Russell photo Ms Alexandria Russell Associate
Genell Sands photo Mrs Genell Sands Partner, Chair of Labour & Employment Practice Group
Gia Sands photo Mrs Gia Sands Partner  
Ashley Sands photo Ms Ashley Sands Senior Associate
Vanessa Smith photo Mrs Vanessa Smith Partner
Lourey Smith photo Mrs Lourey Smith Consultant
Justine Smith photo Mrs Justine Smith Partner, Chair of Family Law Practice Group
Andrew Smith photo Mr Andrew Smith Associate
G. Andrew Smith II photo Mr G. Andrew Smith II Associate
G. Diane Stewart photo Ms G. Diane Stewart Consultant
April Turner photo Mrs April Turner Partner in the firm and Chair of the Financial Services & Regulation…
Berchel Wilson photo Ms Berchel Wilson Associate
John Wilson KC photo Mr John Wilson KC Senior Partner, Chair of MBH Executive Committee
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