Cox Hallett Wilkinson Limited (“CHW”)

CHW’s Corporate & Commercial department is presently recognised as one of the leading corporate and commercial practices in Bermuda.   Headed by Ernest Morrison, Managing Director of CHW, the corporate team acts for a number of sophisticated international and local clients. 

CHW’s corporate attorneys provide a knowledgeable, efficient and experienced service to their clients, assisting both global and local clients. Our attorneys have developed a broad corporate skill set and together they advise on a wide range of matters, including:

• mergers and acquisitions of public and private companies
• IPO’s and public company fund raisings
• structured financing & private equity
• the establishment, operation and regulation of insurance and reinsurance companies, captive insurers and rent-a-captives
• corporate governance and regulatory issues
• the formation, listing and regulation of investment funds
• Pension trust funds
• share option schemes
• global restructuring projects involving Bermuda entities, both private and public
• banking and asset financing, including aviation and shipping finance
• the registration of aircraft and shipping vessels in Bermuda
• continuation and discontinuation of companies into and out of Bermuda
• the incorporation of Bermuda companies and the formation of limited liability companies, purposes trusts, partnerships and the registration of overseas partnerships.

The continued building of its reputation in this practice area has been acknowledged in a number of the leading guides to international law firms with Chambers and Partners Global Guide to the World's leading lawyers for business commenting:

“This firm earns plaudits for the outstanding quality of service it provides”,

and IFLR 1000: The guide to the World’s leading financial law firms ranking CHW as one of the top three practices in Bermuda and stating that:

“The firm produces quality work... and they have good commercial sense”,

and one particular client being quoted as saying that:

"They are prudent in what they bill for and very efficient”.

The litigation department of CHW is amongst the foremost in Bermuda.  Attorneys work individually and in teams to provide practical advice and competent representation in a wide range of individual, corporate and commercial disputes including:

• insurance and reinsurance litigation
   
• hostile take-overs and shareholder disputes
• compulsory liquidations and insolvency
• international trade
• receiverships
• breach of trust actions

CHW’s litigation attorneys are experienced in arbitration.  Our attorneys not only act as counsel to parties in arbitration but, in appropriate cases, also accept appointment as party-nominated or sole arbitrators.  Although mostly orientated towards corporate and commercial work, our attorneys are experienced in most areas of law in which contention can arise including:

• family and matrimonial law
• administrative law
• personal injury
• construction law
• landlord and tenant
• the interpretation of wills
• contentious probate
• variation and setting aside of trust settlements
• sale of land
• planning law and mortgage actions

CHW’s attorneys advise on arrange of private client matters including:

• advice on trust issues
• trust litigation
• formation and migration of trusts
• trust management and administration

CHW’s real estate attorneys are experienced in all facets of freehold and leasehold property acquisition and disposal (both commercial and residential) and advise both local and international clients in relation to land transactions.

The acquisition of Bermuda real estate by foreigners is restricted by the Bermuda Government to those properties forming the upper end of the real estate market (as determined by their annual rental value (ARV) being over a certain level).

Non-Bermudians require a Government licence before being able to buy a house or condominium, application for which must be made in the prescribed form with supporting character and financial references.  CHW’s attorneys assist clients in all stages of the application process, advising what is required and compiling and submitting the application on their behalf.

CHW's attorneys offer prompt, practical and confidential advice on the full range of employment issues including:

• Employment Tribunal and court proceedings including dismissal, discrimination and other individual disputes
• drafting and negotiating employment agreements and policies
• advising upon the termination of contracts and negotiating severance packages for both employer and employee
• confidentiality and non-compete arrangements
• Human Rights claims and employer's liability claims

CHW's attorneys advise both local and international employers as well as employees. We have a commitment to quality and solving employment issues in an effective and straightforward manner that has resulted in us being instructed by a wide variety of clients.

CHW's attorneys, supported by an in-house Immigration Administrator, offer advice in all aspects of Immigration including:

• All forms of work permit applications, both initial and renewals
• Bermuda Status and Naturalization applications
• Passport and Visa applications
• Licence applications for Non-Bermudians wishing to acquire land in Bermuda
• Residential Certificate applications

CHW's attorneys offer prompt, practical and confidential advice on the full range of employment issues including:

• Employment Tribunal and court proceedings including dismissal, discrimination and other individual disputes
• drafting and negotiating employment agreements and policies
• advising upon the termination of contracts and negotiating severance packages for both employer and employee
• confidentiality and non-compete arrangements
• Human Rights claims and employer's liability claims

CHW's attorneys advise both local and international employers as well as employees. We have a commitment to quality and solving employment issues in an effective and straightforward manner that has resulted in us being instructed by a wide variety of clients.

CHW's attorneys, supported by an in-house Immigration Administrator, offer advice in all aspects of Immigration including:

• All forms of work permit applications, both initial and renewals
• Bermuda Status and Naturalization applications
• Passport and Visa applications
• Licence applications for Non-Bermudians wishing to acquire land in Bermuda
• Residential Certificate applications

CHW provides a complete service for the registration in Bermuda of trade marks, service marks, designs and patents. In addition CHW provides useful advice and guidance in connection with establishing copyright in original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works or in defending a claim of copyright ownership by others in such works.

Please email [email protected] for more information.