CHAMBERS GLOBAL 2026 LEGAL RANKINGS RELEASED
Karel Frielink ranked Band 1 for the 17th time: “He’s good at drafting, and is quick and responsive. Karel Frielink is very clear in his advice, analytical and very sharp.”
Once again, I have been selected as a ranked lawyer in Chambers Global 2026, identifying me as one of the best lawyers in the Dutch Caribbean.
Chambers and Partners in 2026: “Karel Frielink is a leading lawyer who advises on a wide range of matters including commercial transactions, corporate governance and disputes.”
Chambers and Partners is an independent research company operating across 200 jurisdictions delivering detailed rankings and insight into …
Read the rest »
COMPANY LAW IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN AND SURINAME
Five more or less similar corporate codes
The Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprises Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba (the BES islands) have a joint corporate code (Book 2 of the Civil Code). In Sint Maarten, Book 2 of the Civil Code applicable there was amended on November 20, 2019, and the same amendments (with a few differences) were implemented in Curaçao on January 1, 2021. On January 1, 2021, a Book 2 of the Civil Code came into force in Aruba, which has a slightly different structure …
Read the rest »
KAREL’S 20-YEAR BLOGGING ANNIVERSARY
Today I’m celebrating my 20-year blogging anniversary
Throughout the blog’s 20-year existence, my core focus has remained the same: sharing knowledge about Dutch Caribbean corporate law and finance law. In recent years, the law of Suriname has been added. This addition is also reflected in my academic publications in recent years.
Pages on my weblog that I want to mention specifically are the page with an overview of my presentations and lectures (most of them in Dutch), an overview of my academic publications (in Dutch) and an overview of Read the rest »
COPILOT ON KAREL FRIELINK
This is what Copilot has to say about me
Karel Frielink is a prominent attorney based in Curaçao, specializing in finance law, corporate law, and corporate governance. He has been practicing law since 1989 and is currently the managing partner at BZSE Attorneys at Law in Curaçao.
Frielink has a distinguished career, having worked in the Dutch Caribbean since 1997. He has authored over 200 books and articles on various aspects of Dutch and Dutch Caribbean law, including a leading textbook on Dutch Caribbean corporate law. He also holds a PhD from the University of Curaçao, with research focused on …
Read the rest »
CORPORATE AND FINANCE LAW
EU/The Netherlands v the Dutch Caribbean and Suriname
Dutch legislation as regards, among other things, the law of legal entities (corporate law) and financial law has become extremely complex in recent years. This is partly due to the flood of European directives that EU member states must implement in their own legislation.
The law of legal entities and financial law in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom looks a lot simpler. And that legislation is also simpler. This also applies to the Republic of Suriname. With the introduction of a new Civil Code in Suriname, that country’s legislation will be …
Read the rest »
35 JAAR ADVOCAAT – 35 YEARS BEING A LAWYER
Ik vier dat door gewoon door te werken
Over ongeveer een maand (12 september 2024) ben ik 35 jaar advocaat. In die jaren heb ik veel geleerd, ook buiten mijn vakgebied. Daarnaast heb ik behoorlijk wat boeken en artikelen geschreven over het ondernemingsrecht en financieel recht. Als docent aan de universiteit in Curacao heb ik gedurende twee decennia (en met veel enthousiasme) ook veel kennis aan anderen mogen overbrengen. Maar ik ben nog lang niet van plan te stoppen. Zoek je goede raad in zaken die betrekking hebben op het recht in de Caribische delen van het Koninkrijk neem dan …
Read the rest »
TWO BUILDINGS, ONE LAW FIRM
Straightforward
BZSE Attorneys & Tax Advisers operates in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This sometimes raises the question of what our offices look like. We have two buildings: one in Curaçao and one in St. Maarten. And they look very different. However, what is important is what is behind the walls. Independence and integrity are paramount to the lawyers of BZSE. They operate and litigate in an open, transparent and independent manner.
Please note that although the lawyers of BZSE are based in St. Maarten and Curaçao, they are also qualified to …
Read the rest »
LAWYERS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN
BZSE Law is the best firm to hire
To start with, I’m not an expert in all areas of law. A little exaggeration would be allowed, but that’s not my M.O. These days you are supposed to tell the “honest story”.
Practical and well-founded advice based on more than 30 years of experience as an attorney and in legal science: that’s why you should consult me.
I specialize in corporate, financial and (commercial) private law in general in the Caribbean parts of the Dutch Kingdom. Although I have litigated for more than 30 years, I no longer do so. As …
Read the rest »
LAWYERS IN THE CARIBBEAN
Corporate law, corporate governance, finance law and business law
Do you know a good lawyer who is versed in the laws of Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten or the BES islands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba)? No doubt such a question will be asked with some frequency. The answer: BZSE Attorneys at Law and Tax Advisers.
In Curaçao, the attorneys of BZSE focus on a select number of areas: corporate law, corporate governance, finance law and business law in general. Much is also published on these topics at the academic level. That expertise is applied effectively and in a practical manner. …
Read the rest »
ADVOCAAT IN DE CARIBBEAN
Ondernemingsrecht, corporate governance, financieel recht en privaatrecht
Weet jij een goede advocaat die thuis is in het recht van Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten of de BES-eilanden (Bonaire, St. Eustatius en Saba)? Een dergelijke vraag zal in het Europese deel van Nederland ongetwijfeld met enige regelmaat worden gesteld. Het antwoord: BZSE Advocaten en Belastingadviseurs.
In Curaçao richt BZSE Advocaten zich op een beperkt aantal terreinen: ondernemingsrecht, corporate governance, financieel recht en privaatrecht. Over die onderwerpen wordt ook veel gepubliceerd op wetenschappelijk niveau. Die expertise wordt effectief en op praktische wijze toegepast. De partners in Curaçao zijn Karel Frielink en Jaap Maris …
Read the rest »
BRAND NEW TEXTBOOK ON DUTCH CARIBBEAN CORPORATE LAW
Leading legal textbook on Dutch Caribbean corporate law
Development of Dutch Caribbean corporate law has been rapid and voluminous. This fact justifies a whole new textbook on the subject. In August 2017, my new textbook on Dutch Caribbean corporate law was published: Kort begrip van het Nederlands Caribisch Rechtspersonenrecht (A concise understanding of Dutch Caribbean corporate law; 1st edition 2017). This new textbook on corporate law is aimed at both professionals (judges, lawyers, attorneys, civil law notaries, in-house counsel etc.) and students. Unfortunately, this new book is in Dutch only.
I have (co-)authored over a hundred sixty …
Read the rest »
THE SELLING OF SHARES BY A CURACAO COMPANY
Answers to foreign counsel queries
A Curaçao company (NV or BV) may have assets, both local and foreign. Not seldom such a company wants to sell all or a portion of its assets. If foreign assets or a foreign buyer is involved, foreign counsel always asks questions about the laws of Curaçao. Several of those questions will be dealt with here. Let’s assume that a Curaçao company wants to sell its shares in a Dutch BV.
The Curaçao NV or BV may sell some or all of its shares in the Dutch BV. It is customary that board minutes or …
Read the rest »