Practice Areas

There are thirteen distinct law practice areas at the Hamel-Smith firm.

Banking & Finance

Hamel-Smith’s Banking & Finance Practice Group is dedicated to meeting the needs of financial institutions and significant commercial borrowers. We negotiate, structure, and document all types of financing transactions, including project finance, securitisation and debt restructuring. Having been engaged in almost all of the major energy-based projects in Barbados, Hamel-Smith has extensive experience in large project financings from both the lender and borrower perspective and we regularly work with leading international law firms to successfully close significant cross-border financing transactions. Our Banking & Finance practice is complemented by the strength and expertise of the lawyers in our other Practice Groups who provide their specialized input on the cross-disciplinary issues that can arise in financing transactions. In particular, where appropriate, we draw on the experience of Hamel-Smith’s Dispute & Risk Management Practice Group to help develop and implement strategies which mitigate our clients’ legal and commercial risks.

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Insolvency

Hamel-Smith’s Insolvency practice can offer strategic guidance in insolvency proceedings. With experience in creditor, debtor and insolvency trustee representation, we can assist with navigating restructuring, liquidation, or recovery actions. Our team can provide strategic solutions that protect clients’ interests, leveraging our knowledge of Barbados’ insolvency laws.

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Constitutional litigation

The Hamel-Smith team has considerable experience managing complex constitutional matters, including death-penalty matters, gay-rights litigation, and political matters such as advising on motions of no-confidence and electoral disputes.

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Judicial Review litigation

Our Judicial Review Litigation practice specializes in the scrutiny of administrative decisions. We ensure that statutory authorities operate within legal bounds, providing clients with a clear path through the judicial review process and advocating for fair and lawful administrative actions.

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Commercial & Business Transactions

Hamel-Smith serves a large number of the leading local, regional and international companies that do business in Barbados. Our focus is on helping our clients to achieve their business objectives, by providing practical advice and effective solutions. We are proud of the key role that we play in helping new enterprises to grow and international companies to enter the Barbados market. We have experience in advising on a wide range of commercial issues and in negotiating, structuring, and documenting all types of business transactions. Our Corporate, Commercial & Business Transactions practice is complemented by the strength and expertise of the lawyers in our other Practice Groups who provide their specialized input on the cross-disciplinary issues that can arise in commercial transactions. In particular, where appropriate, we draw on the experience of Hamel-Smith’s Dispute & Risk Management Practice Group to mitigate our clients’ legal and commercial risks and our Intellectual Property Practice Group to protect and maximise the value of our clients’ IP assets.

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Mergers & acquisitions

Hamel-Smith has significant experience in handling acquisitions and mergers, including those with a cross-border element. We have acted for acquirers as well as targets, including in regulated sectors as energy and telecommunications. Our lawyers have a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory framework in Barbados and of the acquisition and merger structures and techniques that work most effectively and efficiently within this framework. We have also been able to add value by strategic tax structuring to achieve stamp duty efficiencies, and by advising on the structuring of share sale and joint venture agreements to procure compliance with restrictions against assignment of key contracts such as exploration and production licenses. Our Mergers & Acquisitions practice is complemented by the strength and expertise of the lawyers in Hamel-Smith’s other Practice Groups who provide their specialized input on the many cross-disciplinary issues that arise in M&A transactions.

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Commercial agreements

At Hamel-Smith we negotiate, draft, and review contracts that support our clients’ business endeavours, focusing on legal precision and risk mitigation to enable successful and secure commercial transactions.

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Corporate Services

Offering a comprehensive suite of Corporate Services, Hamel-Smith supports businesses throughout their lifecycle in Barbados. Our team assists with incorporation, compliance, and corporate governance, ensuring that our clients’ operations align with Barbadian corporate law and regulatory requirements.

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Real Estate

Our Real Estate practice provides expert legal services for property transactions within the Barbadian market. From acquisition to development, our attorneys ensure due diligence, secure property rights, and facilitate successful real estate deals with an in-depth knowledge of Barbados’ property laws.

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Estates & Probate

The Estates & Probate practice at Hamel-Smith offers sensitive and competent legal assistance for estate planning and administration.

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Intellectual Property

Update copy to “Hamel-Smith’s Intellectual Property Practice is focused on helping local, regional and international business clients to protect and maximise the value of their IP assets. We obtain and maintain the registration of trademarks, patents and other forms of intellectual property. We advise and assist with licenses and assignments. We draft and review employment and consultancy contracts to ensure that issues such as ownership of intellectual property rights and confidentiality are covered. Drawing on the strength and expertise of the lawyers in Hamel-Smith’s Dispute & Risk Management Practice Group, we handle intellectual property disputes, including litigation, at all levels of the Barbados judicial system. By providing our clients with single-point access to our established network of Caribbean Attorneys, Hamel-Smith also offers a complete and coordinated service for the registration and maintenance of trademarks and patents in the other Caribbean jurisdictions.

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Labour and Employment Law

Hamel-Smith’s Labour and Employment Law services cater to both employers and employees in Barbados. We provide informed counsel on the intricacies of Barbadian employment legislation, including the Employment Rights Act, and have experience representing our clients’ interests in complex employment negotiations, conciliations, mediations and at the Employment Rights Tribunal.

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Commercial Arbitration

The Hamel-Smith focuses on resolving disputes in a strategic, business-like and problem-solving manner. We have experience advocating for the interests of our clients in complex commercial disagreements before local and overseas arbitration panels.

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Mediation

Our team has experience in mediations and acting as mediator in various commercial disputes. Our Mediation services facilitate constructive negotiations to help parties achieve amicable settlements outside the court system, fostering communication and collaborative solutions.

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Litigation

Renowned for our Litigation practice in Barbados, the Hamel-Smith Litigation team prides itself in its ability to manage litigation matters in a strategic, business-like and problem-solving manner. We have represented clients across a spectrum of commercial matters at all court levels. We are dedicated to providing meticulous advocacy to secure favourable outcomes for our clients.