LITIGATION IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

If you need a troubleshooter in your corner

The civil court system in the Dutch Caribbean (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba) consists of three tiers; first instance cases are brought before the Court of First Instance. Appeal cases are brought before the Joint Court of Appeal. When all normal appeal procedures have been exhausted, cassation cases can be brought before the Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (Hoge Raad) in The Hague in the Netherlands.

All adversarial proceedings in the Dutch Caribbean shall be initiated by means of a petition to the Court of First Instance. …
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19
Feb 2014
CATEGORY

Legal

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GOVERNMENT-OWNED COMPANIES

Opposing views on political influence

Few people would argue that the rules issued by the state (government) must also be correctly and strictly observed by that same state. It cannot be well conceived that, for example, the police and Public Prosecutor’s Office (as instruments of the state) should be allowed to violate the law with impunity.

Though there may be very different opinions about the nature and the role of the state (particularly from a philosophical and jurisprudential viewpoint), here we address the question of how we should consider government-owned companies, and in particular, what level of influence the government …
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17
Feb 2014
CATEGORY

Corporate

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THE INCORPORATION OF A CURACAO LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Incorporating an NV or BV is not a hassle

The act on corporate law (Book 2 Curaçao Civil Code) governs the NV (‘public limited liability company’) and BV (‘private limited liability company’). These companies can be used for group finance or holding activities, (international) joint-ventures, funds, structured finance, as a Curaçao Trust and for “plain-vanilla” (local) activities.

A notarial deed is required for the formation of an NV or BV and for any amendment to articles of association (a.k.a. articles of incorporation). Formation can however, be very quick (within one or two days if necessary) and does not require many …
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14
Feb 2014
CATEGORY

Corporate

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DUTCH CARIBBEAN BANKS AND REGULATORY ISSUES

A bank has less freedom than an ordinary legal entity

What would be the requirements, from a regulatory point of view, if a Curaçao or St. Maarten bank wished to sell its entire business or a substantial part thereof? Would it require approval from the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (‘Centrale Bank van Curaçao en St. Maarten’)?

Generally, if the activity at a bank is characterized as some form of financial reorganization, for example, the prior approval of the Central Bank is required. The bank is also obliged to immediately inform the Central Bank in writing of any …
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27
Jan 2014
CATEGORY

Finance

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LAW FIRMS SEE ALTERNATIVE FEE ARRANGEMENTS AS HERE TO STAY

“I don’t think the billable hour is dead, but I think it has company”

According to an article by Kim Lyons of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “the billable hour has long been the mainstay of law firms and their pay structure. But in recent years, firms have had to become more creative in how they get paid, as they compete for business with ever more cost-conscious companies.

Enter the “alternative fee arrangement.” Whether it’s a flat fee, a capped fee, a blended rate or some other variety, alternative fee arrangements are giving the billable hour a run for its money.”

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09
Jan 2014
CATEGORY

Legal

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ADVOCATEN EN DECLARABELE UREN

Wat is daar eigenlijk mis mee?

Overal lees je dat advocatenkantoren moeten veranderen. Ze zijn te conservatief. Ze houden vast aan het verleden en zijn alles behalve innovatief. Naarmate het economisch slechter gaat wordt de roep om verandering steeds sterker.

Met name het systeem van ‘uurtje factuurtje’ moet het ontgelden. Advocaten wordt verweten dat zij tijdschrijven met een vork. Dat zij niet efficiënt werken. Dat zij te duur zijn. Het syteem zou verkeerde prikkels meebrengen, mede omdat de controle op het daadwerkelijke aantal nuttig besteedde uren niet goed mogelijk is.

Wie deze kritiek tot zich laat doordringen kan niet anders …
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22
Dec 2013
CATEGORY

Various

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THE COURT OF LAST RESORT

Curaçao court as court of last resort for civil matters

An attachment on assets located in Curaçao generally establishes jurisdiction over the cause of action for which the attachment is made, also if neither of the parties involved are domiciled in Curaçao.

According to Section 767 of the Curaçao Code of Civil Procedure, the Curaçao court is competent to hear a case on the merits (i.e. has (international) jurisdiction) if there are no other means of obtaining an enforceable order in Curaçao (first condition).

This condition will not be met if, for instance, in respect of a claim an arbitrator …
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09
Dec 2013
CATEGORY

Legal

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150 JURIDISCHE PUBLICATIES

Een persoonlijke mijlpaal

Afgelopen donderdag was het dan zo ver: mijn 150e juridische publicatie zag het levenslicht. Het gaat om mijn bijdrage aan het Liber Amicorum ‘Christels Koers’ dat toen werd aangeboden aan prof.mr. drs. C.M. Grundmann-van de Krol: “Openbaarmaking door de financiële toezichthouders”. De volledige lijst met publicaties is hier te vinden.

Nummer 151 is overigens al geschreven en is in het komende nummer van het Caribisch Juristenblad te vinden. De meer dan 850 stukken die op deze weblog staan heb ik uiteraard niet meegeteld…

Karel Frielink Attorney (Lawyer) / Partner

(2 December 2013)

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02
Dec 2013
CATEGORY

Legal

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US LAW GOVERNED AGREEMENTS

Curaçao and St. Maarten Courts will accept the choice of laws

One of the questions frequently asked is whether the Courts in Curaçao or St. Maarten, if an action is brought before them, will pay deference to a “choice of governing law” and/or venue provision in an agreement, in particular when the parties have chosen US Law, and a US Court to resolve their disputes.

The choice of the laws of (a particular State of) the United States of America as the laws governing an agreement is valid and binding under the laws of Curaçao/St. Maarten, and will therefore be …
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21
Nov 2013
CATEGORY

Legal

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ELECTRONIC MONEY INSTITUTIONS IN ARUBA

A license is required

The European Central Bank defines e-money as follows (a non-legal definition): “E-money can be defined as any amount of monetary value represented by a claim issued on a prepaid basis, stored in an electronic medium (for example, a card or computer) and accepted as a means of payment by undertakings other than the issuer, predominantly for small-value transactions (for example, the settlement of modest transactions over the Internet and of parking or telephone charges and payment for public transport services).” (Electronic Money Institutions. Current trends, regulatory issues and future prospects. Legal Working Paper Series, No. 7/2008).


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24
Oct 2013
CATEGORY

Finance

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THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A CURAÇAO COMPANY (III)

Controlling minority?

Such a situation (i.e. example 2) is possibly less desirable from the company’s perspective, certainly where the more essential decision-making is concerned. Although decisions should be taken on the basis of a discussion of content and it will not always be possible to predict how the meeting of shareholders will vote, the possibility of ‘accidental’ majorities (whereby a minority shareholder nevertheless has the majority through the absence of others at the meeting of shareholders) leads to less predictability, or at least to greater uncertainty.

If a company has, for example, one 30% shareholder and the remaining 70 shareholders …
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15
Oct 2013
CATEGORY

Corporate

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THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A CURAÇAO COMPANY (I)

Comparable with a constitution

The articles of association of a Curaçao company (a public [NV] or private [BV] limited liability company) are somewhat comparable with a constitution or state regulations: the articles of association comprise – like the law, but also additionally to the law and, where permitted, unlike the law – the rules of play (rights, obligations and powers) to which all the organs of the company (managing board, supervisory board, shareholders’ meeting) and the members of those organs must adhere or on which they can rely.

The law of Curaçao does not prescribe that a special (or qualified) …
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09
Oct 2013
CATEGORY

Corporate

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