Practice groups

Described by clients as ‘very honest, hardworking and patient’ receiving further praise for her ‘thorough knowledge and prompt response.’
Legal 500 Caribbean (2022)

Vivienne M. Gouthro is Managing Partner of Higgs & Johnson’s Freeport office, and Chair of the Firm’s Maritime & Aviation practice group. She is currently Deputy Chair of the Firm’s Marketing & Business Development Committee.

Bilingual in English and Spanish, Vivienne is a corporate and commercial lawyer with thirty years experience. Specialising in ship and international finance, Vivienne acts primarily as local counsel for major international financial institutions in the European and Asian markets, providing legal advice on complex international finance matters and all aspects of international maritime transactions and commercial acquisitions and sales. She also guides ship owners through the registration of pleasure yachts and large commercial vessels on the Bahamian Register of Ships.

In addition to her maritime practice, Vivienne has extensive experience in Commercial Law and  Real Estate and Development. She counsels diverse corporate and private clients in the sale and purchase of real estate and related financing. Her practice also extends to provide a full range of corporate services to clients, including the incorporation and licensing of local companies and obtaining all governmental and regulatory approvals. She acts for major domestic banks, hotels and local institutions, and has assisted in the purchase and financing of large developments on the Island of Grand Bahama.

Vivienne has been ranked as ‘Highly Regarded’ in corporate law (including banking, finance and M&A) by IFLR1000 (2019-2023) the guide to the world’s leading financial law firms. She is also included in the IFLR1000 Women Leaders List (2021-2023) and ranked as a ‘leading individual’ by Legal 500 Caribbean (2019-2024).

Vivienne earned an LL.M. from Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London, and a B.A. (Hons) in English and Spanish Law from the University of Kent in England and Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain. She was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1993 and joined Higgs & Johnson in 1995. She became a Partner of the Firm in 2002 and was called to the Bahamas Bar in 2007 when she became a citizen of The Bahamas.

Vivienne has served as a director and secretary of Lucaya International School Limited since 2007 and as a director of FIDA (International Federation of Women Lawyers), Grand Bahama Chapter, since 2006. She has authored several articles for leading international publications on maritime and aviation law.

Education

  • University of London ,Queen Mary and Westfield College, London, England — LL.M. Commercial and Corporate Law
  • University of Kent, Canterbury, England -B.A. (Hons) – English and Spanish Law (with a year abroad at the Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain)

Bar admissions

  • England and Wales, 1993
  • Bahamas, 2007

Professional memberships

  • The Bahamas Bar Association
  • The Bar Association of England and Wales
  • The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
  • International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Grand Bahama Chapter- Director since 2004
  • Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA)

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Community

  • Director, Lucaya International School
  • Member, Bahamas National Trust

Experience

  • Acted as local counsel to international financial institutions in the ship finance sector with respect to the financing of new buildings under both syndicated and bilateral loan facilities secured by mortgages over Bahamian flagged vessels
  • Acted as local counsel to international lenders regarding a corporate restructuring of numerous Bahamian entities and associated financing and conversion of loans from bilateral to syndicated loans, amending and restating the loan facility agreements and security documents including mortgages over Bahamian vessels with differing priorities and shares over Bahamian entities.
  • Acted as local counsel to Initial Purchasers with respect to all aspects of a transaction involving the issuance of senior secured notes and all matters regarding the restructuring of a group of companies and advising on security being granted by companies in the group structure and advising on all corporate, commercial and maritime related matters.
  • Acted as external counsel with respect to a global reorganization of a group of companies which owns a large resort and advising on all Bahamian elements of the transaction including obtaining Governmental and regulatory approvals and effecting the share transfers.
  • Acted as local counsel with respect to the sale of a mega resort in Grand Bahama and all related regulatory approvals.
  • Acted as legal counsel to a boutique hotel in Grand Bahama and advising on all ongoing corporate and commercial matters
  • Acted as local counsel with respect to the financing of a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Grand Bahama.
  • Acted as local counsel with respect to the acquisition of a stem cell therapy clinic in Grand Bahama and obtaining all regulatory approvals.
  • Acted as legal counsel to an international manufacturer of components for windows in Grand Bahama with respect to the acquisition of commercial land, obtaining all approvals required for its operation and advising generally on all corporate and commercial aspects.
  • Acted as legal counsel for a large commercial developer in Grand Bahama and providing advice on various commercial related matters.
  • Acted as legal counsel with respect to the licensing of a yacht repair facility in Grand Bahama and maritime related advice.

Recognition

  • IFLR Women Leaders List (2021-2023)
  • Ranked as ‘Highly Regarded’ by IFLR1000 (2019 – 2023)
  • ‘Leading Individual’ by The Legal 500 Caribbean (2019-2024)
  • Rotary Paul Harris Fellow

Publications

Highly regarded for her work in the financial and corporate practice and is best known in the market for her work leading complex maritime deals.
IFLR1000 Women Leaders 2022

Vivienne M. Gouthro is Managing Partner of Higgs & Johnson’s Freeport office, and Chair of the Firm’s Maritime & Aviation practice group. She is currently Deputy Chair of the Firm’s Marketing & Business Development Committee.

Bilingual in English and Spanish, Vivienne is a corporate and commercial lawyer with thirty years experience. Specialising in ship and international finance, Vivienne acts primarily as local counsel for major international financial institutions in the European and Asian markets, providing legal advice on complex international finance matters and all aspects of international maritime transactions and commercial acquisitions and sales. She also guides ship owners through the registration of pleasure yachts and large commercial vessels on the Bahamian Register of Ships.

In addition to her maritime practice, Vivienne has extensive experience in Commercial Law and  Real Estate and Development. She counsels diverse corporate and private clients in the sale and purchase of real estate and related financing. Her practice also extends to provide a full range of corporate services to clients, including the incorporation and licensing of local companies and obtaining all governmental and regulatory approvals. She acts for major domestic banks, hotels and local institutions, and has assisted in the purchase and financing of large developments on the Island of Grand Bahama.

Vivienne has been ranked as ‘Highly Regarded’ in corporate law (including banking, finance and M&A) by IFLR1000 (2019-2023) the guide to the world’s leading financial law firms. She is also included in the IFLR1000 Women Leaders List (2021-2023) and ranked as a ‘leading individual’ by Legal 500 Caribbean (2019-2024).

Vivienne earned an LL.M. from Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London, and a B.A. (Hons) in English and Spanish Law from the University of Kent in England and Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain. She was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1993 and joined Higgs & Johnson in 1995. She became a Partner of the Firm in 2002 and was called to the Bahamas Bar in 2007 when she became a citizen of The Bahamas.

Vivienne has served as a director and secretary of Lucaya International School Limited since 2007 and as a director of FIDA (International Federation of Women Lawyers), Grand Bahama Chapter, since 2006. She has authored several articles for leading international publications on maritime and aviation law.

Education

  • University of London ,Queen Mary and Westfield College, London, England — LL.M. Commercial and Corporate Law
  • University of Kent, Canterbury, England -B.A. (Hons) – English and Spanish Law (with a year abroad at the Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain)

Bar admissions

  • England and Wales, 1993
  • Bahamas, 2007

Professional memberships

  • The Bahamas Bar Association
  • The Bar Association of England and Wales
  • The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
  • International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Grand Bahama Chapter- Director since 2004
  • Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA)

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Community

  • Director, Lucaya International School
  • Member, Bahamas National Trust

Experience

  • Acted as local counsel to international financial institutions in the ship finance sector with respect to the financing of new buildings under both syndicated and bilateral loan facilities secured by mortgages over Bahamian flagged vessels
  • Acted as local counsel to international lenders regarding a corporate restructuring of numerous Bahamian entities and associated financing and conversion of loans from bilateral to syndicated loans, amending and restating the loan facility agreements and security documents including mortgages over Bahamian vessels with differing priorities and shares over Bahamian entities.
  • Acted as local counsel to Initial Purchasers with respect to all aspects of a transaction involving the issuance of senior secured notes and all matters regarding the restructuring of a group of companies and advising on security being granted by companies in the group structure and advising on all corporate, commercial and maritime related matters.
  • Acted as external counsel with respect to a global reorganization of a group of companies which owns a large resort and advising on all Bahamian elements of the transaction including obtaining Governmental and regulatory approvals and effecting the share transfers.
  • Acted as local counsel with respect to the sale of a mega resort in Grand Bahama and all related regulatory approvals.
  • Acted as legal counsel to a boutique hotel in Grand Bahama and advising on all ongoing corporate and commercial matters
  • Acted as local counsel with respect to the financing of a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Grand Bahama.
  • Acted as local counsel with respect to the acquisition of a stem cell therapy clinic in Grand Bahama and obtaining all regulatory approvals.
  • Acted as legal counsel to an international manufacturer of components for windows in Grand Bahama with respect to the acquisition of commercial land, obtaining all approvals required for its operation and advising generally on all corporate and commercial aspects.
  • Acted as legal counsel for a large commercial developer in Grand Bahama and providing advice on various commercial related matters.
  • Acted as legal counsel with respect to the licensing of a yacht repair facility in Grand Bahama and maritime related advice.

Recognition

  • IFLR Women Leaders List (2021-2023)
  • Ranked as ‘Highly Regarded’ by IFLR1000 (2019 – 2023)
  • ‘Leading Individual’ by The Legal 500 Caribbean (2019-2024)
  • Rotary Paul Harris Fellow

Publications