The ‘proven knowledge, skills, expertise and experience‘ of practitioners at HBN Law & Tax is a boon to clients across a breadth of sectors requiring advice on operations across the Dutch Caribbean. Corporate and M&A transactions, banking and finance work, regulatory issues, tax assistance, and litigation are all handled adeptly by the firm. Among the key lawyers to note are: Marcha Woudstra for constitutional and administrative law; Jan Pas, who is based in Amsterdam; tax expert and practice head Wendell Meriaan; key contact for energy and telecoms clients, Eric de Vries; litigator Chris de Bres; and Jeroen Eichhorn for M&A, banking and finance, investment funds and asset protection. Stan Putter looks on course for a strong future after his promotion to partner in April 2024.
Leading firms in Dutch Caribbean
HBN Law & Tax
Responsables de la pratique:
Marcha Woudstra; Jan Pas; Wendell Meriaan
Autres avocats clés:
Jeroen Eichhorn; Eric de Vries; Chris de Bres; Chris van Amersfoort; Stan Putter
Les références
‘Diversified approach, if legally required, each team member with its expertise.’
‘Timely response. In-depth explanation. Proven knowledge, skills, expertise and experience.’
‘High skills and very professional team.’
Principaux clients
Amicorp (FS) PLC
FirstCaribbean International Bank
Refineria di Korsou
Sint Maarten Telecommunications Company (TELEM)
Alpha Investgroup Corporation
Alegria Operations N.V.
Bearing Point
Vistra group companies
Bonaire Petroleum Corporation N.V. (better known as: “BOPEC”) (in bankruptcy)
Midtown Equities LLC
Principaux dossiers
- Acted for First Caribbean International Bank on the multimillion dollar sale and transfer of its assets.
- Acted for Midtown Equities on its acquisition of Hyatt Hotel Aruba and financing thereof.
- Advised Amicorp FS PLC on its $120m IPO on the London Stock Exchange.
Houthoff
Primarily led from its Amsterdam office, Houthoff advises on a range of matters across the Dutch Caribbean, regularly seen on leading litigation, banking matters, and M&A deals. The firm is particularly well regarded in contentious matters with Bart van der Wiel, head of the firm's Supreme Court litigation practice, handling appeals against judgments of the Dutch Caribbean Court of Appeal. Jan Willem de Groot is another key figure in the disputes practice, heading the broader litigation and arbitration offering. He has a strong track record in high-profile matters in the Dutch Caribbean. Oscar van Angeren leads the investment management group and draws on 15 years of experience assisting with corporate transactions in the Dutch Caribbean. Laura van Gardingen represents the next generation of litigators at the firm and is developing an active practice in the region.
Responsables de la pratique:
Oscar van Angeren; Bart van der Wiel
Autres avocats clés:
Jan Willem de Groot; Laura van Gardingen
Les références
‘The team is diverse and the partners and associates work well together. They gather knowledge about the clients industry and delve into the details of the case.’
‘Jan Willem de Groot is very knowledgeable and responsive. Parisa Jahan is a pleasure to work with and clear in her communications.’
Principaux clients
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
ExxonMobil
United International Bank
Royal Caribbean Cruises
Trafigura LLC
UBS AG
BNP Paribas
Goldman, Sachs & Co
Rabobank Brasil
Bank of Nova Scotia
United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Cordial and Turnham before the Supreme Court of the Netherlands in a shareholder dispute that resulted in a landmark corporate litigation judgment.
- Representing Royal Caribbean Cruises in a €100m claim launched by the real estate developer Zebec Development Company NV against several individuals and entities, including one of the client’s subsidiaries.
- Advising Trafigura LLC on matters of St. Eustatian law in connection with the renewal of a $4.54bn borrowing base credit facility agreement, secured by a pledge over movable assets, i.e. oil located on St. Eustatius.
NautaDutilh
Global financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies are among those that look to NautaDutilh for advice in Dutch Caribbean jurisdictions. Its Amsterdam office has strong bases in dispute resolution, banking, finance and financial regulation, and corporate law. Specialising in corporate and commercial litigation, insolvency law, and international arbitration, Barbara Rumora-Scheltema co-leads the Dutch Caribbean practice at the firm with Frans van der Eerden, whose practice is banking and finance focused.
Responsables de la pratique:
Barbara Rumora-Scheltema; Frans van der Eerden
Principaux clients
International Capital Markets Association (ICMA)
International Securities Lending Association (ISLA)
McDermott International, Inc.
Playa Hotels and Resorts N.V. (NASDAQ: PLYA)
Damen Shipyards Group
The liquidators of TWPS, et al.
Principaux dossiers
- Advises several clients in human rights litigation against Aruba and Curaçao with the aim to open up marriage in Aruba and in Curaçao for same sex couples.
- Representing the liquidators of TPWS and affiliated entities in litigation against the court appointed trustee of First Curacao International Bank (FCIB) concerning liability related to fraud committed by certain customers of FCIB.
OX&WOLF Legal partners
Founded in 2015, OX&WOLF Legal partners has rapidly established itself as a force in the Dutch Caribbean law market, now seen by clients as a ‘responsive, problem solving, locally rooted law firm‘. Its partner-only structure seeks to ensure focused expertise in each of its practice areas. Contacts to note include: Sueena Francisco, managing partner of the firm and a key figure in banking and finance, corporate matters, and highly regulated sectors; corporate and finance lawyer Sabine Altena; Willemieke Princée, co-managing partner and specialist in cross-border litigation, insurance and transport law; the firm’s go-to IP expert Carine Jänsch; Mayesi Hammoud, a highly experienced litigator whose practice focuses on contentious matters of contracts, torts, insurance, employment, corporate governance and maritime law; commercial litigator and employment law attorney Karina Keizer; and Michiel van den Brink, who leads the firm’s Bonaire office that it opened in 2020.
Responsables de la pratique:
Sueena Francisco; Sabine Altena; Carine Jänsch; Willemieke Princée; Karina Keizer; Mayesi Hammoud; Michiel van den Brink; Carine Jänsch
Les références
‘Responsive, problem solving, locally rooted law firm. We will always be happy to go back to the firm when we need local advice and support.’
‘Willemieke Princée: Very experienced, well connected, practical and solution-orientated partner with in-depth legal knowledge.’
‘Fast follow up, lot of knowledge, direct lines, good communication, a perfect feeling.’
Principaux clients
Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten
BNP Paribas
ENNIA entities
Lifetrade Fund B.V.
Curaçao Medical Center
Aqualectra N.V.
Paris Saint-Germain Football
Lovers Industrial Corporation B.V.
Seatrade
Prostar Capital/GTI Statia Holdings N.V.
Guardian Group Fatum
China Machinery Engineering Corporation et al
Sandals Resorts
The Coca-Cola Company
Bluequest Resources AG
Kooyman B.V.
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Central bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten on various emergency measure proceedings, which lead to the wind down or (partly) restructuring of credit institutions and insurance companies under its supervision.
- Represented BNP Paribas in cross-border litigation with a claim of $200m against, amongst others, Princess Camilla of Bourbon Two Sicilies and United Trust.
- Acted as Curacao counsel to 50 offshore investors in a failed life-settlement fund named Lifetrade Fund B.V. incorporated in Curacao.
Spigt Dutch Caribbean
Spigt Dutch Caribbean is a renowned a well regarded presence in the region, standing out for its experience in the banking, hospitality and healthcare sectors. The firm is equipped to handle a range of transactional and contentious work, and while being increasingly engaged in regulatory matters, investigations and competition law work. Martijn Welten is one of the most experienced corporate lawyers advising on Dutch Caribbean law and has an extensive track record in commercial and corporate litigation as well as advising on project development. Maike Bergervoet is the main contact in the banking and finance department, while Sebastiaan Barten bolsters the firm’s international disputes offering. Oriana Minguel supports across banking and finance, corporate and M&A, and regulatory matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Martijn Welten; Sebastiaan Barten; Maike Bergervoet
Autres avocats clés:
Oriana Minguel
Les références
‘We have retained Spigt as local counsel for a collection action and judgment domestication action in St. Maarten. They have been an outstanding ally, demonstrating competence across the board, and able to assist us with issues occurring throughout the geographic area.’
‘Sebastiaan Barten, Alexander van Spaandonk, and Susan Ehigiene have all been extremely helpful, knowledgeable and responsive. Their level of service and professionalism goes beyond knowledge of local law and practice, and into assisting with strategy and case management. I have been extremely pleased with their work.’
‘They are very practical and experienced in the legal subject matter.’
Principaux clients
MER Sint Maarten B.V.
Hisham Overseas S.A.
Bonaire Holding Maatschappij N.V.
Bonaire Laboratorium N.V.
Ondine Curacao B.V.
Consortium of local lenders – financing Hyatt Aruba
RBC Trust (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited
Seven Seas Water Group / Tarpon Water Solutions Ltd
Delta Air lines
Maduro & Curiel’s Bank N.V.
CIBC Caribbean
Canon USA
Principaux dossiers
- Advised the arranger and agent on the acquisition of Hyatt Aruba by a purchaser.
- Acted for Tarpon Water Solutions/Seven Seas Water Group on the tender process and subsequent contract negotiations pertaining to a build-own-operate-transfer contract with Water en Energiebedrijf Aruba N.V. in relation to a portable water plant.
- Represented MER Sint Maarten B.V. in several legal proceedings against the Tleem Group regarding the enforcement of an arbitral award.
VANEPS
National and international corporates, as well as government bodies, are among the substantive list of clients that look to VANEPS for advice across the Dutch Caribbean; the firm has offices in Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao and Sint Maarten. The full-service firm houses a number of key practitioners. For banking and finance, senior partner Focco Lunsingh Scheurleer is the lead contact and has recent experience in financing by lenders syndicates and others for international and local hospitality resorts. Rogier van den Heuvel and Roderik van Hees are joint leaders of the dispute resolution team, while Tjarda Tazelaar is the corporate and M&A practice head. Tom Peeters is the go-to for real estate, government and energy sector advice, and employment law and pensions matters are jointly overseen by Thies Leijsen and Sophie van Lint. IP work is spearheaded by January 2024 partner appointment Diek Fabius, and for insolvency matters and insurance sector work, Michiel Gorsira and Danilo Narvaez are the contacts to note.
Responsables de la pratique:
Tjarda Tazelaar; Tom Peeters; Rogier van den Heuvel; Roderik van Hees; Focco Lunsingh Scheurleer; Diek Fabius; Michiel Gorsira; Danilo Narvaez; Thies Leijsen; Sophie van Lint
Les références
‘Diek Fabius knows his stuff , performs work very fast. Helps to find others when not in his expertise.’
‘Van Eps has one of the strongest litigation teams in the Dutch Caribbean, and probably the deepest bench.’
‘Rogier van den Heuvel is energetic and a strong communicator.’
Principaux clients
Cable & Wireless Communications
Spotify
JPMorgan Chase & Co
Spencer Stuart
Barentz
ZEDRA
Maduro & Curiel’s Bank (MCB)
Aruba Bank
CIBC First Caribbean
Bonaire International Airport
Government of Bonaire
Staatsolie (Suriname State Oil Company)