RULES OF CONDUCT FOR ATTORNEYS

Correspondence between attorneys may not be submitted in court The Code of Conduct for Attorneys (Lawyers) in Curacao, as well as those in Aruba, St. Maarten and the BES-islands, contain some specific rules regarding correspondence between attorneys. Rule 18 of the Code of Conduct The content of letters and other communications from one attorney at law… Continue reading RULES OF CONDUCT FOR ATTORNEYS

INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

The UNCITRAL Model Law is applicable Parties with a legal dispute can turn to the public court system to settle the dispute; however, instead of bringing a lawsuit in a public court, they can also opt for arbitration. Arbitration is a form of private dispute settlement in which the parties instruct one or more persons… Continue reading INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

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… Continue reading LITIGATION IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

SYMPOSIUM ON 35 YEARS OF THE CURACAO BAR ASSOCIATION (16 NOVEMBER 2012)

Presentation by Karel Frielink – President (part 2) Civil Litigation Law should be better So now I will deal with the subject of this symposium. I begin straight away with a provoking statement: Our Civil Litigation Law should be better. This goes further than it ‘could’ be better. However, we shouldn’t only think about the… Continue reading SYMPOSIUM ON 35 YEARS OF THE CURACAO BAR ASSOCIATION (16 NOVEMBER 2012)

THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN AND ROME I AND ROME II

Nothing has changed as of 10-10-10 The Country the Netherlands Antilles consisted of Bonaire, Curacao, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba, and formed part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On October 10, 2010 the Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist as a country. Two new countries were born on that date: the country Curacao and… Continue reading THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN AND ROME I AND ROME II

INTERNATIONAL NON-CONTRACTUAL LIABILITY FROM A DUTCH PERSPECTIVE

Introduction Financial law is not an exclusively national affair. Cross-border transactions and service provisions have been common place for a very long time. Harmonisation of rules has been worked towards in a European context for decades. Leaving aside special subject matters such as liability for products and road accidents, the (partial) harmonisation of the rules in… Continue reading INTERNATIONAL NON-CONTRACTUAL LIABILITY FROM A DUTCH PERSPECTIVE

PRESENTING FACTS IN DUTCH CARIBBEAN COURT PROCEEDINGS

Facts must be presented fully and truthfully Legal proceedings are initiated by a petition filed with the Courts. A petition is a document stating, among other things, the names and addresses of the parties, the nature of the dispute (including the relevant facts of the case), the competent court, and the demand for relief. The… Continue reading PRESENTING FACTS IN DUTCH CARIBBEAN COURT PROCEEDINGS

INQUIRY PROCEDURE TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

The Joint Court will become the forum of choice for corporate disputes Earlier in 2010, a draft bill was proposed to amend the Corporate Code (Book 2 Civil Code) of Curacao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (which formerly constituted the Netherlands Antilles). The proposed legislation introduces a so-called inquiry procedure for, amongst others,… Continue reading INQUIRY PROCEDURE TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN INCORPORATION DOCTRINE

The courts apply the law of the state where the legal entity was incorporated The Netherlands Antilles adheres to the Incorporation Doctrine (Netherlands Antilles State Ordinance of 9 September 1960, which entered into force on the 10th of September 1960, P.B. 1960, 166). According to this doctrine, the internal affairs of a corporation are governed… Continue reading THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN INCORPORATION DOCTRINE

NON-POSSESSORY PLEDGE UNDER THE LAWS OF ARUBA

A non-possessory pledge requires a deed Security rights are an important issue, especially in financing transactions. A company may, for example, guarantee the obligations of another company under a certain loan facility. There are several alternatives, one of which will be discussed here. Under the laws of Aruba there are several kinds of pledges, in… Continue reading NON-POSSESSORY PLEDGE UNDER THE LAWS OF ARUBA

SCANNED EVIDENCE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

Electronic files will not be disregarded as evidence A Netherlands Antilles or Aruban court may only base its decision on facts. An alleged fact that is not disputed by the parties is considered to be such a fact, even if it does not correspond with reality. For example, if both parties state that they were… Continue reading SCANNED EVIDENCE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

SEE YOU IN COURT?

Arbitration as an alternative for settling disputes in Curacao Parties with a legal dispute can turn to the public court system to settle the dispute; however, instead of bringing a lawsuit in a public court, they can also opt for arbitration. Arbitration is a form of private dispute settlement in which the parties instruct one… Continue reading SEE YOU IN COURT?