Elizabeth A. Harper is a Partner at the law firm and head of the Financial Services Department. Her practice areas include Banking & Finance, Commercial and Offshore Trust, Civil and Commercial Litigation, Company Law and Corporate Law. Her client base consists of numerous international banks, corporations and corporate trustees whom she advises on various banking, commercial, trust, financial, regulatory and securitization matters. Elizabeth’s recent accolades include being in the ranking ‘Leaders in their Field’ for the Chambers and Partners Global Guide 2018. Elizabeth has been previously recognized as a leading asset recovery lawyer in the directory Who’s Who Legal: Asset Recovery 2014.
Elizabeth holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of London, and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (Hons.) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) (Hons.) both from the University of the West Indies. She is a graduate of the Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica. Elizabeth also holds the designation of a Chartered Director from the Caribbean Governance training Institute, is a Notary Public in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
She practices before the High Court and Court of Appeal and has been involved in numerous high end commercial litigation including a shareholder dispute in a company valued at over US$3 billion; a dispute in an international company of strategic interest in the Russian Federation valued at over US$30 billion; international fraudulent transactions involving bribe payments, secret commissions, and dishonest diversion of monies arising in over US$50 million in damages; and the first class action law suit brought in the Eastern Caribbean under the provisions of the Civil Procedure Rules 2000. She has also handled a wide range of contractual and tortious disputes, and financial services and related matters, both contentious and non-contentious. She has provided expert written testimony on aspects of the laws of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in several proceedings internationally.
Elizabeth regularly advises on and attends to the incorporation of International Business Corporations, the formation of Limited Liability Companies, the registration of International Trusts, and the establishment of Multiform Foundations. Elizabeth also has an extensive trust practice which includes her regularly advising and rendering opinions to trustees, protectors and beneficiaries on various trust matters, and where necessary, conducting litigation of claims on their behalf. She has been involved in several significant trust matters including a major multi-jurisdictional trust dispute concerning several billion dollars of assets and claims for removal of trustees.
Elizabeth is admitted to practice in Jamaica and the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis. She is a member of the St. Christopher and Nevis Bar Association and the OECS Bar Association. Elizabeth currently serves as a member of the Bar Council of the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association. She is also a full member of STEP, and currently serves as the Vice Chairperson and the Assistant Secretary for the STEP Nevis and sits as a member of the STEP Caribbean Conference Committee and the STEP Caribbean and Latin America Regional Committee.
Firm Overview:
Daniel Brantley is a full service law firm operating in the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis and Anguilla. It has been in existence for over 30 years and services individuals, corporations, governments, non-profits and tribunals domestically, within the Caribbean region and internationally guaranteeing the highest quality of legal services from the preferred legal team. The Legal Team offers a reassuring blend of experience and impeccable academic credentials. The members have between them over fifty years at the Bar and an intimacy with Government and the workings of the law at the highest level. The Firm has associations with leading Law Firms throughout the region and internationally and utilize all moderns forms of technology within its operations.
The Firm is engaged primarily in the areas of Admiralty & Shipping, Banking & Finance, Civil & Commercial litigation, Insolvency, Intellectual Property law, Employment law, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law. The Firm has been and continues to be involved in significant commercial litigation running to the hundreds of millions of dollars. The Firm was involved in the first class action suit brought in the Eastern Caribbean involving some 120 Claimants.
In Nevis, the Firm has handled well over US$20 million worth of purchases in the Four Seasons Resort Estates alone and millions of dollars worth of real estate elsewhere on the island. The Firm has also done securitization work for various international hotel chains well in excess of US$80 million. In Anguilla, the Firm represents several high end clients including liquidators of major resorts.
The Firm operates in an environment of political and economic stability on islands that are attractive, comfortable and safe for visitors. Nevis is easily accessible by several daily inexpensive trips by ferry or light aeroplane from the bustling neighbouring island of St Kitts. Additionally, there are the following benefits:
– Same day arrival from the United States via Antigua, St Maarten, Puerto Rico and St. Kitts.
– Accommodation at the Caribbean’s only five diamond Four Seasons Resort and historical plantation inns.
– English-speaking population.
– Legislation formulated specifically to favour the formation of offshore corporations, trusts, limited liability companies and offshore banks
– Zero tax on personal income, capital gains, dividends, gift or sales in Nevis.
– Severe criminal and civil penalties for violation of privacy laws.
– Courier, fax and e-mail services.
– Modern telecommunications network.
The Firm is committed to community development and is a frequent sponsor of cultural events within the Federation.