Legislative and Regulatory

The firm has significant experience in dealing with legislative and regulatory matters, including preparation of the legislative framework for promoting new institutions or trade associations, and introducing regulatory standards, reviewing existing laws and regulations, preparing drafting instructions, commenting on draft legislation and interpreting statutory requirements. Our experience extends to the analysis and preparation of policy reform and legislative recommendations and measures in several areas (working as part of multidisciplinary government teams) including:

• the banking and financial sectors
• capital markets
• energy and natural resources
• the telecommunications sector
• environmental law.

Our combined public and private sector experience together with our familiarity with the reform process makes us well qualified to provide these services.

Developed and prepared major regulatory and legislative framework for the modernisation of the banking sector of Trinidad and Tobago. The partner who was engaged in that exercise is acknowledged to have played the major technical legal role in the emergence of the legislation which is of fundamental importance to our financial sector.

Acted as project leader for multi-disciplinary teams in the delineation of policy objectives for legislation, reviewed draft legislation and assisted in the establishment and development of several financial statutory entities including:

• Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation (Trinidad’s largest)
• The Home Mortgage Bank (modelled on Fannie Mae of the United States of America)
• Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange
• The Deposit Insurance Corporation (of Trinidad and Tobago)

Prepared the legislative framework for the establishment of deposit insurance in Trinidad and Tobago and in Barbados and in a joint consultancy prepared  the legal aspects of a feasibility study for the introduction of deposit insurance in Guyana.

Prepared draft unit trust regulations for the Unit Trust Corporation and for the first unit trust in Belize.

Reviewed and critiqued Central Bank’s Policy Proposal Document on the Co-operative Credit Union Movement in Trinidad and Tobago, the Credit Unions Bill and provided comprehensive recommendations for revisions to the Bill. 

Prepared the legislative framework to treat with the reorganisation of and vesting of the undertaking  of a statutory financial institution in various private companies.

Organised and conducted the first legal Central Banking seminar in the region.

Participated in negotiations with the World Bank on this country’s financial sector loan programme and provided the legal input.

Provided advice to and negotiated on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago on telecommunications regulatory issues.

Participated in the review and reform of intellectual property laws of Trinidad and Tobago.  

We were instrumental in drafting, working and/or steering through the following legislation:

• Act 27 of 2007: An Act to Incorporate the National Carnival Bands Association of Trinidad and Tobago
• The Telecommunications Bill 2001
• The Funeral’s Home Bill 1997
• The Copyright Bill 1996 ( we authored the provisions treating with Works of Mas)