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Notable
Graham Thompson
Graham Thompson has been a staple firm in the Bahamas for 75 years. Headquartered in Nassau, the firm boasts three additional hubs in Abaco, Lyford Cay, and Freeport.
Highlights
Graham Thompson is advising on regulatory and governmental approvals for the acquisition of Cititrust (Bahamas) Limited, an institution that has played a pivotal role in the Bahamian financial services sector since the 1960s. The transaction holds national significance by ensuring continued investment in the local economy and workforce development. The firm’s guidance reflects its deep understanding of Bahamian regulatory frameworks and commitment to supporting transactions with lasting impact on the country’s financial ecosystem.
Key Clients:
Clients include Avianca Group International Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, and Doctors Hospital Health System
Graham Thompson is one of the premier full service Bahamian firms. From its beginnings 70 years ago, it has grown three branches in the Bahamas – located in Freeport, Lyford Cay and Nassau – and an international presence in Providenciales in Turks and Caicos.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is perhaps known best for its work with clients in the banking and financial services industry. Its work in the financial and corporate area includes advising clients in lending and financing, M&A, restructuring and other corporate matters.
Higgs & Johnson
Since its establishment in 1948, Higgs & Johnson has evolved into one of the most prominent full-service firms in the Bahamas. With offices in Nassau, Marsh Harbour, Lyford Cay, and Freeport, the firm provides comprehensive legal services. It advises clients on both the buy and sell sides of debt-side capital markets matters and represents borrowers and lenders in financing. The firm’s team is also active in mergers and acquisitions, various corporate matters, project development, and restructuring. Additionally, Higgs & Johnson has significant expertise in maritime-related commercial law.
Highlights
Higgs & Johnson advised on several notable mandates including two complex, cross-border finance transactions, underscoring its strength in maritime and structured finance. The firm represented the administrative and collateral agents in a major cruise line’s amended credit agreement involving 12 Bahamian vessels, coordinating global mortgage releases, new collateral arrangements, and inter-creditor agreements to ensure pari passu ranking. In a separate matter, the firm advised on a receivable purchase program tied to a government infrastructure project, drafting bespoke documentation and navigating tax treatment challenges with the Department of Inland Revenue. Both transactions required innovative structuring and swift execution under tight timelines, reflecting the firm’s transactional agility.
Lennox Paton
Full-service firm Lennox Patton is one of the leading firms in the Bahamas for financial and corporate work. The firm has one domestic office in Nassau and one in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
Highlights
Lennox Paton advised on a range of transactions across multiple jurisdictions and sectors. A standout mandate, deals involving representing Standard Chartered Bank in connection with a sovereign loan to The Bahamas government. The loan proceeds were used to retire existing sovereign debt and fund a groundbreaking marine conservation initiative—the first of its kind in the country. This innovative structure not only reduced national debt at favorable rates but also unlocked hundreds of millions for long-term marine ecosystem preservation.
McKinney Bancroft & Hughes
Founded in 1945, McKinney Bancroft & Hughes has established itself as a leading full-service firm in financial and corporate law. As one of the largest and oldest firms in the Bahamas, it offers expert legal services to clients across various markets and countries. A member of Lex Mundi, the firm’s influence extends beyond the Bahamian jurisdiction to an international scale. Renowned for its work in banking and finance, McKinney Bancroft & Hughes represents both lenders and borrowers in diverse loan transactions and advises clients on project development and finance deals
Highlights
McKinney Bancroft & Hughes advised on transactions in the regulatory and transactional sectors. A landmark engagement involved advising Britannia Bank & Trust in a purchase of a Banking and Trust line of business that was one of the largest banking acquisitions in Bahamian history. The transaction’s complexity evolved significantly over time, requiring an integrated legal strategy spanning corporate structuring, tax, risk management, and regulatory compliance. The firm’s multidisciplinary approach was essential in navigating the shifting landscape of this high-stakes deal.
Key clients
Key clients include Deltec Bank & Trust, Pictet Bank & Trust, Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas, Taylor Wessing and Tropix Shipping.