Date
05/12/2010: All Day
HIGGS & JOHNSON hosted its annual client seminar on Wednesday 12 May 2010 under the theme ‘A New Decade: The Evolving Legal Landscape’. Opening remarks were given by Minister of the Environment, the Hon. Earl D. Deveaux, MP. During a lively question-and-answer segment he commented on the illegal excavation of land in the country and the ongoing struggles the Ministry of the Environment is trying to overcome
The first session, ‘The Planning & Subdivision Act, 2010: What is the Plan?’ was presented by Lyford Cay Associate, Adrian R. White. He discussed the objects and purposes of the plan, the various implications of enforcing the plan and an outline of what will be taken into consideration during the application process.
Higgs & Johnson Partner, Vann P. Gaitor and Registered Associate, Portia J. Nicholson, both of the Ocean Centre office, elaborated on the advantages of the new Arbitration Act and the various avenues available through the Act for persons seeking to resolve litigation matters without the necessity of a court battle.
Visiting associates from the Higgs & Johnson Cayman office, Benjamin Wrench and Carolynn Vivian, spoke on the challenges facing both the funds industry and the Cayman islands as a premier jurisdiction for investment funds, and discussed the advantages of establishing funds there and listing them on the local stock exchange.
Highlighting the fact that The Bahamas was removed from the OECD’s grey list whilst providing additional information on the Tax Information Exchange Agreements (“TIEAs”), Associates of the Ocean Centre office, Nadia J. Taylor and Samantha Knowles-Pratt expanded on the topic “Time to Talk TIEAs – What you Need to Know.”
The seminar concluded with an ‘Ask the Experts’ segment that allowed attendees the opportunity to ask questions with regards to litigation matters, real estate concerns, trusts and other private client issues, commercial transactions and securities. The expert panel included Justice Jeanne Thompson (Ret.) along with the firm’s partners, Philip C. Dunkley Q.C., Dr. Earl A. Cash, Surinder Deal, Sterling Cooke and Christel Sands-Feaste.
In its ongoing effort to promote education in The Bahamas, Higgs & Johnson invited faculty and students of both the College of The Bahamas Law Degree program and the Eugene Dupuch Law School to attend the seminar at no cost.
Sponsors of the Higgs & Johnson seminar included First Bahamas Title Insurance Agency and H&J Corporate Services Ltd. Attendees were provided with coffee mugs, bookmarks and jump drives with copies of the presentations for future reference.