DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY REVISITED

People keep asking questions about this topic Generally, in Curaçao (as well as in Aruba, St. Maarten and the BES islands) liability may arise in the event a managing director is found to be seriously negligent (‘hem een ernstig verwijt kan worden gemaakt’) in fulfilling his tasks as member of the management board of a… Continue reading DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY REVISITED

KEEPING ACCOUNTS OF A LEGAL ENTITY IN CURAÇAO

Rights and obligations must be known at all times Section 2:14 subsection 1 of the Curaçao Civil Code (‘CCC’) provides that every director of a legal entity (NV, BV, foundation or association) is obliged towards the legal entity to perform the duties properly within the sphere of his activities. If there is only one director,… Continue reading KEEPING ACCOUNTS OF A LEGAL ENTITY IN CURAÇAO

FIRST SET OF SINT MAARTEN LAWS TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH

Available online 37 organic laws of St. Maarten stemming from the Constitution, the explanatory memorandum to the Constitution and a glossary have been translated into British English. All translated legislations are now available on the government’s website along with the Dutch version. The English translations are not binding in court. The original (Dutch) version of the… Continue reading FIRST SET OF SINT MAARTEN LAWS TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH

DOORBRAAK VAN AANSPRAKELIJKHEID

Rechtspersoonlijkheid kan soms worden genegeerd Naamloze en besloten vennootschappen hebben rechtspersoonlijkheid. Ze worden onder meer opgericht om de risico’s van commerciële activiteiten te beperken. Degene die een fabriek start om autobanden te produceren, weet dat daaraan risico’s zijn verbonden. Als hij als eenmanszaak opereert en het komt tot een faillissement, dan is hij met zijn… Continue reading DOORBRAAK VAN AANSPRAKELIJKHEID

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… Continue reading GOVERNMENT-OWNED COMPANIES

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”… Continue reading THE INCORPORATION OF A CURACAO LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

THE CURACAO TRUST BECOMES MORE AND MORE POPULAR

Curaçao Trust could be used for asset segregation purposes According to Professor of Law David Hayton, an Anglo-Saxon trust arises from the settlor’s transfer of title to property to another person, intending that person to be a trustee-manager of it for the benefit of beneficiaries or for a charitable or other permitted purpose. Trusts are… Continue reading THE CURACAO TRUST BECOMES MORE AND MORE POPULAR

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… Continue reading DUTCH CARIBBEAN BANKS AND REGULATORY ISSUES

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… Continue reading LAW FIRMS SEE ALTERNATIVE FEE ARRANGEMENTS AS HERE TO STAY

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… Continue reading ADVOCATEN EN DECLARABELE UREN