Has a ‘keen eye for detail’ and described as ‘a master of what he does who is relentlessly thorough, direct and professionally tactful.’
Legal 500 Caribbean 2023
Sterling H. Cooke serves as the Managing Partner at Higgs & Johnson overseeing all aspects of the firm’s daily operations. He previously held the position of Co-Managing Partner from 2021 – 2024.
Sterling is the former chair of the Real Estate & Development Practice Group and has extensive experience and expertise in all aspects of real estate law, having practiced for over 30 years. His primary practice includes representing local and international real estate investors and lenders in connection with mortgage loan and construction financing and loan acquisitions, complex transactions involving the purchase, sale, refinancing, leasing and subleasing of residential homes, multi-family buildings, retail complexes, office and warehouse buildings and other commercial properties for individuals and commercial entities, and advising on a wide range or real estate issues including title commitments and title insurance, adverse possession, issues affecting title, easement and access issues, and commercial and residential foreclosures. His professional practice also includes, Commercial Law, Probate and Estate Administration, Maritime Law and International Financing transactions involving Bahamian registered ships and companies.
Sterling studied law in the United States of America and the Caribbean – first earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina at Columbia, and later receiving a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Barbados. Subsequently, he completed studies at the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica.
Sterling was called to The Bahamas Bar and joined Higgs & Johnson as an Associate in 1990. He became a Partner in 1999. He is currently recognised by Legal 500 Caribbean as a Leading Partner in Corporate Law and is also recommended in the area of Real Estate.
Education
- University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
- University of the West Indies (LL.B.), Cave Hills, Barbados
- Norman Manley Law School, Kingston, Jamaica
Bar admissions
Professional memberships
Experience
- Advising an international banking institution on a loan to the Bahamian government to support expenditure needs valued at B$60M
- Acting as Bahamian counsel to loan parties with regard to a cross-border revolving credit facility for general corporate purposes valued at $100M
- Acting on behalf of the client in relation to credit facilities extended to a leading Bahamian Church to assist with the completion of construction on property owned by the Borrower and mortgaged to the Bank valued at $15M
- Advising the Bahamian government in a loan valued at B$100,000,000.00
- Acting as Bahamian counsel for a major financial institution in connection with a US$500,000,000 loan to a Bahamian corporation for the refurbishment of two luxury cruise ships
- Acting for a leading hospitality corporation in the purchase of a resort property and the lease of the resort property to an operator valued at US$1.7B
- Representing a prestigious international financial institution in providing a $45 million loan facility for extensive renovations to a 5-star luxury resort in The Bahamas
- Acting in numerous sovereign debt restructurings all in excess of $75,000,000
- Acting in a sovereign bond issuance in the international capital markets of approximately $500,000,000
- Advising on a transaction involving the provision of a loan facility for the development of additional amenities at one of the oldest high-end privately-owned golf club resorts in The Bahamas.
Recognition
- Leading Partner, Corporate Law, Legal 500 Caribbean (2026)
- Recommended, Real Estate, Legal 500 Caribbean (2025)
- Recommended, Corporate Law, Legal 500 Caribbean (2022-2025)
- Leading Individual, Real Estate, Legal 500 Caribbean (2021-2024)
A proficient property attorney ‘recommended’ for his experience in ‘assisting domestic and international real estate investors.’
Legal 500 Caribbean (2021)
Sterling H. Cooke serves as the Managing Partner at Higgs & Johnson overseeing all aspects of the firm’s daily operations. He previously held the position of Co-Managing Partner from 2021 – 2024.
Sterling is the former chair of the Real Estate & Development Practice Group and has extensive experience and expertise in all aspects of real estate law, having practiced for over 30 years. His primary practice includes representing local and international real estate investors and lenders in connection with mortgage loan and construction financing and loan acquisitions, complex transactions involving the purchase, sale, refinancing, leasing and subleasing of residential homes, multi-family buildings, retail complexes, office and warehouse buildings and other commercial properties for individuals and commercial entities, and advising on a wide range or real estate issues including title commitments and title insurance, adverse possession, issues affecting title, easement and access issues, and commercial and residential foreclosures. His professional practice also includes, Commercial Law, Probate and Estate Administration, Maritime Law and International Financing transactions involving Bahamian registered ships and companies.
Sterling studied law in the United States of America and the Caribbean – first earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina at Columbia, and later receiving a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Barbados. Subsequently, he completed studies at the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica.
Sterling was called to The Bahamas Bar and joined Higgs & Johnson as an Associate in 1990. He became a Partner in 1999. He is currently recognised by Legal 500 Caribbean as a Leading Partner in Corporate Law and is also recommended in the area of Real Estate.
Education
- University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
- University of the West Indies (LL.B.), Cave Hills, Barbados
- Norman Manley Law School, Kingston, Jamaica
Bar admissions
Professional memberships
Experience
- Advising an international banking institution on a loan to the Bahamian government to support expenditure needs valued at B$60M
- Acting as Bahamian counsel to loan parties with regard to a cross-border revolving credit facility for general corporate purposes valued at $100M
- Acting on behalf of the client in relation to credit facilities extended to a leading Bahamian Church to assist with the completion of construction on property owned by the Borrower and mortgaged to the Bank valued at $15M
- Advising the Bahamian government in a loan valued at B$100,000,000.00
- Acting as Bahamian counsel for a major financial institution in connection with a US$500,000,000 loan to a Bahamian corporation for the refurbishment of two luxury cruise ships
- Acting for a leading hospitality corporation in the purchase of a resort property and the lease of the resort property to an operator valued at US$1.7B
- Representing a prestigious international financial institution in providing a $45 million loan facility for extensive renovations to a 5-star luxury resort in The Bahamas
- Acting in numerous sovereign debt restructurings all in excess of $75,000,000
- Acting in a sovereign bond issuance in the international capital markets of approximately $500,000,000
- Advising on a transaction involving the provision of a loan facility for the development of additional amenities at one of the oldest high-end privately-owned golf club resorts in The Bahamas.
Recognition
- Leading Partner, Corporate Law, Legal 500 Caribbean (2026)
- Recommended, Real Estate, Legal 500 Caribbean (2025)
- Recommended, Corporate Law, Legal 500 Caribbean (2022-2025)
- Leading Individual, Real Estate, Legal 500 Caribbean (2021-2024)
