Litigation/Dispute Resolution Group
The Litigation/Dispute Resolution Group of Lennox Paton provides vigorous and professional representation to clients involved in litigation, arbitration or negotiations, contentious or otherwise.
We also advise clients involved in international disputes on those areas of Bahamian law which may affect the clients' interests. We enjoy close relationships with legal advisors in many other jurisdictions. We are also well accustomed to operating as part of a multinational team of advisors led from outside our jurisdiction and have taken instructions from many of the largest and most prestigious international firms.
We pride ourselves on careful attention to client service. Careful attention is paid to each client's particular concerns and client satisfaction is always our aim.
We respond rapidly to the urgent needs of clients. We have the flexibility to manage large, complex commercial litigation involving the abilities of the entire Group as well as to serve clients whose needs require the assistance of one attorney only. Our London office will also strengthen our resources with respect to our appearances before the London based Privy Council, which is the highest court of The Bahamas and BVI.
Clients include foreign governments and foreign governmental agencies, large multinational corporations and financial institutions, including a large number of banks and trust companies.
Asset Tracing and Recovery
We have developed a specialty and are regarded as leading practitioners in the tracing and recovery of assets misappropriated from clients. We have taken an active role in clarifying and advancing the law in The Bahamas as it relates to Mareva injunctions, proprietary freezing orders and ancillary disclosure orders.
We also have taken a lead role in the recovery of misappropriated assets which have been settled on trust. These 'trust-busting' claims are at the cutting edge of developing law and have attracted the attention of jurists and commentators worldwide.
Trust Litigation
Clients have included beneficiaries, settlors and trustees of very substantial complex trusts. We have advised on disputes amongst beneficiaries themselves, between beneficiaries (or alternatively third parties) and trustees and between settlors and trustees. We have dealt with wide, novel and varied trust issues, reflecting the nature of a specialised practice group operating in an offshore environment.
Insolvency
We have experience in every aspect of insolvency. We have successfully defended companies sought to be involuntarily wound up and represented creditors and fiduciary claimants in contentious liquidations. We also have been court approved counsel to numerous liquidators and have had experience as counsel for trustees in bankruptcy. We have been retained by many of the leading international firms to act in connection with insolvency issues.
Enforcement of Foreign Judgments
We have acted on both sides of matters involving the enforcement of foreign judgments. We have protected the interests of those against whom judgments have been sought to be registered or alternatively, enforced at common law. We have also moved quickly on clients' behalf to register or domesticate foreign judgments by action and to enforce their judgments and arbitration awards from outside the jurisdiction.
Commercial Litigation
We act for clients in a variety of contractual disputes involving complex international commercial matters.
Admiralty Litigation
Our experience in admiralty and maritime matters enable us to act very quickly in order to protect clients' interest. Clients include large multinational shipping companies as well as cargo owners and mortgagees.