November 2021
Lennox Paton ranked as Top Tier Firm in The Legal 500 Caribbean 2022
The Legal 500 Caribbean (2022) has been published and we are pleased to announce that Lennox Paton has been named a Top Tier firm, receiving Tier 1 rankings for each practice area.
A total of 18 lawyers are mentioned by name in Legal 500 Caribbean commentary for their standout contribution to respective practices.
The full write up and rankings can be seen below.
CORPORATE LAW (INCLUDING BANKING, FINANCE AND M&A) TIER 1
The highly experienced team at Lennox Paton advises on the full spectrum of corporate, commercial and finance mandates spanning cross-border M&A, regulatory matters, fund work, private wealth and trust structure issues, securitisations, data protection work and fintech matters. The group is particularly active in the financial services sector; it recently advised the Central Bank of the Bahamas on the issuance of a digital currency and the related regulatory issues. Michael Paton heads up the practice and Michelle Neville-Clarke acts as deputy head; Paton is also deputy chairman of the securities commission of The Bahamas and Neville-Clarke acts for a range of local and international clients. Arthur Seligman leads the firm’s trusts and foundations group and Castino Sands is a key contact for fund-related mandates. Clients also praise senior associate Dwayne Whylly for his ‘sophisticated advice‘ and senior associate Laura Harris, who focuses on the shipping sector.
Leading individuals
Rising stars
Testimonials:
‘It’s one of maybe two law firms you would use in the Bahamas to provide advice in the context of cross border transactions.’
‘I engage Dwayne Whylly. The reason I do so is because I know he will respond promptly and give sophisticated advice.’
DISPUTE RESOLUTION TIER 1
Particularly active in complex, high-profile claims, Lennox Paton’s ‘highly reputable’ litigation and dispute resolution department has expertise across a broad range of matters including trust claims, banking, insolvency and asset tracing litigation; insurance issues, mutual fund disputes, property litigation and director liability proceedings. ‘Incredibly incisive’ senior partner Brian Simms QC heads up the practice and has substantial experience at all levels of the court system. Marco Turnquest is a key contact for banking, shareholder, insolvency and trust disputes, while Sophia Rolle-Kapousouzoglou has a notable track record in complex insolvency cases. Other key individuals include Christopher Jenkins, who has experience in property litigation and shareholder disputes; Metta MacMillan-Hughes , who acts in a range of commercial and civil litigation; and senior associate Chizelle Cargill.
Leading individuals
Rising stars
Testimonials:
‘High attention to the client, quick answers by emails, highly professional and competent lawyers. Definitely the best law firm in the Bahamas, they never fail to deliver.’
‘Sophia Rolle-Kapousouzoglou is a great partner and a rising star in the Bahamas law sector.’
‘Lennox is a reputable firm.’
‘Brian Simms: incredibly incisive and good at drilling down through all the facts: he can unpick a case in an instant.’
‘Lennox Paton (Bahamas) is a pre-eminent firm dealing with heavy-weight offshore litigation. Their partners are up to date on recent legal developments in the Bahamian Supreme Court, particularly as regards matters of civil fraud. Importantly, Lennox Paton are much more responsive than most other firms on the island, with quick turnaround times.’
‘Marco Turnquest – he is an extremely able partner specialising in commercial dispute resolution and civil fraud. He is very clever and diligent.’
‘LP was very thorough and detailed in their research and explaining all the nuances to the legal process in the Bahamas. They left no stone unturned.’
‘Sophia Rolle-Kapousouzoglou stands out by her competence and professionalism.’
REAL ESTATE TIER 1
Lennox Paton’s real estate and resort development group handles a broad spectrum of real estate mandates including property acquisitions, project financings and master planning issues relating to mixed-use resorts and residential developments across Nassau and the Family Islands. The team’s client roster encompasses companies in the hotel, resort and timeshare industries as well as financial institutions and lender groups. David Johnstone heads up the practice, which has Chelon Carr-Newbold as deputy head; Johnstone is a key contact for resort developers and has notable experience handling all aspects of development work, while Carr-Newbold primarily acts for high-net-worth individuals and luxury residential and resort developers. Other key individuals include senior associate Nateisha Anderson-Bain, who advises purchasers and vendors on property transactions; and associate Jamie Liddell, who handles the legal master planning of mixed-use developments.
Leading individuals
Rising stars
Testimonials:
‘Professional service from David Johnstone and Nateisha Anderson-Bain.’
‘Strong communication, skills with other side was very strong. Was very diligent in getting the project complete.’
‘Nateisha Anderson-Bain was instrumental in helping the completion of an assignment that had many complicated moving parts.’
