Pollonais, Blanc, de la Bastide & Jacelon

Managing Partner: Mark Laquis

Number of partners: 8

Number of other lawyers: 23

Languages: English

Firm Overview:

The firm is the result of a merger between Pollonais & Blanc, a firm of solicitors which has been in existence for over 70 years and de la Bastide & Jacelon, whose history can be traced back even further through a line of barristers’ Chambers. The firm offers a full range of civil work including mediation, arbitration and litigation. It has a substantial local and international clientele, including banks, trust companies, public utilities, insurance companies, airlines, shipping lines and agents, companies in the oil and gas sector, contractors, accounting firms and actuaries. The firm is located in Port of Spain with branch offices in Central (Chaguanas) and in South (San Fernando) Trinidad to better facilitate all clients.

Main Areas of Practice:

Corporate, Commercial, Banking & Finance:

2 partners, 2 associates and 1 consultant

Key Clients: Financial Institutions, Privately and Publically Owned Companies, Intellectual Property, Oil & Gas Companies

■ Banking and finance, experience in bilaterial facilities and complex syndicated structured financings

■ Expertise in principal financing techniques used in the asset finance and project finance industries

■ Advising on large commercial projects, debt restructuring, capital market transactions, derivatives as well as synthetic asset securitisations.

■ Experience as counsel in banking and finance transactions include the drafting of documentation related to these matters such as loan agreements, debentures, mortgage debentures, bond documentation, trust deeds and commercial paper for domestic and international banks, financial institutions and lending agencies

■ Practicing in all areas of intellectual property

Contact: Amalia Maharaj

Tel: +1 868 612 7235 x241 or x242

Email: [email protected]

Property & Estates:

4 partners, 5 associates and 1 consultant

Key Clients: Individuals, companies, land developers, a large majority of the financial institutions and insurance companies.

■ Advising on and assisting with the acquisition and disposition of residential, commercial and industrial properties including office buildings, malls, hotels, warehouses and industrial estates and preparing the documents to effect the same

■ Advising land developers on structures for townhouse and apartment complexes and preparing the documentation to effect the same

■ Advising lenders and borrowers on mortgage and other security arrangements and preparing the documents to effect the same

■ Preparing residential, commercial and industrial leases for individuals as well as sophisticated landlords over residences, commercial and industrial properties including office buildings, malls, hotels, warehouses and estates

■ Advising on and establishing trusts and preparing wills

■ Applying for grants of probate and letters of administration, assisting with the administration of estates, and preparing powers of attorney

Contact: Lisa Fulchan

Tel: 1 868 612 7235 x214

Email: [email protected]

Dispute Resolution:

3 partners , 5 associates and 1 consultant

Key Clients: Major insurance companies, the Regional Health Authorities and other state owned bodies, banking institutions, as well as a host of privately owned companies.

■ Civil matters: motor vehicular, negligence (including medical), judicial review, administrative law, constitutional law, construction law, commercial and corporate finance litigation, trust matters, fraud matters, litigious conveyancing and succession actions, insurance claims, defamation matters and industrial relations and human resource disputes and issues

■ Conduct of legal research, drafting of pleadings, preparing procedural documents and witness statements

■ Preparation of opinions on liability, evidence and quantum

■ The attorneys also have extensive experience in appearing at and/or with Counsel at Case Management Conferences, Pre-Trial Reviews, Trials and Appeals at the Court of Appeal and have, on numerous occasions, Instructed Senior Council (locally) and Queens Counsel (internationally), as well as Privy Council agents in the conduct of Appeals at the Privy Council

■ Wide and specialised experience in instructing Counsel in mediations and arbitrations both locally and at the International Court of Arbitration

Contact: Alana Bissessar

Tel: 1 868 612 7235 x248

Email: [email protected]