Griffiths & Partners
Global Guide 2024
About
Managing Partner: Conrad Griffiths, KC
Number of partners: 5
Number of lawyers: 10
Languages: English, Italian, French and Russian
(conversational)
Firm Overview:
Griffiths & Partners (“G&P”) is a leading, full service commercial law firm of attorneys based in the Turks and Caicos Islands (the “TCI”).
G&P attorneys are experienced in advising international
clients, law firms and other intermediaries, in respect of TCI law. The firm’s
expertise is in a broad field of disciplines, which is required in order to
practice in, and meet the demands of, an offshore jurisdiction.
The firm is part of G&P Group, one of the largest
professional service teams in the TCI, offering legal, trust and company
management and formation services. G&P Group also includes Coriats Trust
Company (a TCI Licensed Trusts Company which has been the leading Trust Company
in the TCI for over 40 years, having Trust License Number One in the TCI, and
is regulated and licensed by the TCI Financial Services Commission) and G&P
Corporate Services (the Group’s specialist, TCI licensed company manager).
G&P Group offers international standards of responsiveness, integrity and
quality, allied to deep local TCI knowledge and relationships, and has a
powerful international network of allied firms and relationships in every major
country in the world to better enable it to help and support clients to achieve
their goals.
G&P attorneys are regularly involved in the highest profile
legal and business work in the TCI. The attorneys are internationally qualified
and are also admitted to practice in the TCI. The firm is led by senior partner
Conrad Griffiths KC, who has 20+ years’ experience in the jurisdiction. The
other partners at the firm are David Stewart, David Cadman, Oliver Chapman and
Luca Bonetto.
Main Areas of Practice:
Corporate:
G&P provides strategic corporate, commercial and business
advice to investors, stakeholders, partners and businesses already in, or
seeking to invest in, the TCI. The firm advises on complex domestic and
cross-border M&A transactions, restructurings, joint ventures, strategic
alliances and expansion into new markets, as well as corporate governance.
New legislation in the TCI came into force in January 2019 which
require entities carrying on specific types of businesses, or relevant
activities, to demonstrate adequate economic substance in the jurisdiction.
The firm offers trademark and other intellectual property
registration services in the TCI, including a full range of contentious and
non-contentious services relating to intellectual property protection, and also
provides business and immigration support to assist clients throughout the
application process for business licenses, work and residency permits.
Recent instructions include advising on telecommunications
agreements, acquisitions of gaming businesses, sale of significant on-Island
businesses to international investors, joint venture setting up a complex
international structure for a substantial medical devices business based in
Europe, and a comprehensive corporate restructuring for a significant Group
having interests in several Caribbean jurisdictions. G&P have also recently
advised on the formation of a captive insurer for a large US group of care
homes and in regards to a reinsurance entity with capitalization in excess of
US$100 million.
Contact: Luca Bonetto
Email:
Banking, Finance
& Regulatory:
G&P advises domestic and international clients (including
financial and banking institutions, global corporations, professional and
public bodies, family offices, and private investors) on financial
transactions, refinancing, real estate finance, and asset finance.
Recent instructions include advising a banking group on the TCI
law aspects of the acquisition of a leading bank having significant operations
in the TCI and several other Caribbean jurisdictions, a leading commercial and
wealth management bank on regulatory requirements relating to establishing a
presence in the TCI, a major resort owner and developer on refinancing’s of a
loan facility and development loan, and an institutional banking group on the
TCI law aspects of a revolving credit facility to a TCI borrower for the
purposes of a hotel acquisition in another Caribbean jurisdiction.
Contact: Luca Bonetto
Email:
Litigation:
G&P has been involved with the highest profile litigation,
dispute resolution and restructurings in the TCI in recent years, including a
$50m civil recovery claim arising from an $850m proposed development in the
TCI. This was the highest value litigation in the TCI’s history. The firm
continues to be involved in major litigation matters in the TCI’s Supreme Court
and the Court of Appeal in a wide range of contentious matters including civil
recovery, judicial review, public inquiries, commercial litigation, insurance,
trusts, divorce (including financial orders) and employment law. The firm
regularly works with international law firms in multi-jurisdictional
litigation.
Recent instructions include advising on large multinational
litigation matters including claims in excess of US$300 million for a TCI
incorporated entity involved in litigation in New York, Scandinavia and London.
The firm was recently also involved in high profile judicial review proceedings
in relation to development and planning, and in several significant cases in
respect of strata corporations in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and
the Privy Council.
Contact: Conrad Griffiths
and David Cadman
Email:
[email protected] or [email protected]
Real Estate:
G&P is regularly involved in the highest profile and value
real estate, development and property financing transactions undertaken in the
TCI. These have included acting on a major judicial review concerning planning
permission for a US$200 million hotel project, acting for the vendor in the
sale of a resort for US$70+ million, advising a major resort owner in
connection with the refinancing of a US$40+ million facility, acting for a
developer on a US$25+ million development loan.
The firm regularly acts for individuals on the sale and
acquisition of high-end villas and condos, and have recently advised on three
major developments in the TCI ranging in developed value from US$40 million to
US$250 million. The firm also has a wealth of experience in the negotiation of
MOUs and development agreements with the TCI Government on behalf prospective
developers.
Contact: Oliver Chapman
Email:[email protected]
Trust & Private Clients:
G&P offers broad, cost effective and expert trust services,
advising on trust structuring under TCI law in conjunction with the firm’s
allied licensed Trust Manager, Coriats. Coriats is one of the largest providers
of trust and private client services in the TCI. The firm also advises
trustees, beneficiaries and protectors on their rights and obligations. The
firm has deep experience in working with overseas accountants, lawyers, and
banks in the provision of advice and structures to internationally wealthy clients.
The partners of G&P have recently held numerous trust advisory roles,
including a substantial corporate reorganization of a trust owned international
corporation.
Contact: David Stewart and
Luca Bonetto
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Ranked Offices
Provided by Griffiths & Partners
- ProvidencialesPO Box 143, 82 Cherokee Road, Providenciales, Providenciales and West Caicos, Turks & Caicos
- Tel: (649) 941-8250
- View ranked office