Welcome to our website, where we share and exchange know-how across all areas of commercial law in the Dutch Caribbean and Suriname. Scroll down to select your areas of interest and find tailored news and know-how. Save your preferences and at your next visit, our website will automatically load the content that is most relevant to you.
Welcome to our website, where we share and exchange know-how across all areas of commercial law in the Dutch Caribbean and Suriname. Scroll down to select your areas of interest and find tailored news and know-how. Save your preferences and at your next visit, our website will automatically load the content that is most relevant to you.
VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne advises regional and international (re)insurance companies as well as insurance intermediaries, including banks, on supervision and regulatory issues. This includes for example drafting and reviewing of conditions to insurance policies, advising and settling of liability claims and assisting in legal proceedings.
In the Dutch Caribbean, corporate law is regulated in Book 2 of the Civil Codes of Curaçao, Aruba, St. Maarten and the BES islands. There are minor differences, though. The islands have different licensing requirements for entrepreneurs in different sectors, for instance. The Dutch Caribbean offers international companies various opportunities for activities in offshore and free zones.
Also when it comes to litigation and dispute resolution the broad specialist knowledge that is available within our firm is of added value: we act in disputes about topics ranging from labor contracts to infrastructure projects. Our activities include not only regular court proceedings, but mediation and arbitration as well.
In the Dutch Caribbean the relationship between the employer and employee is regulated in a large number of individual sources, such as the Civil Code, separate labor laws and regulations, case law and individual or collective labor agreements. Our employment law specialists know the ropes in this field and advises and litigates on, amongst other things, (negotiations with) trade unions, collective labor agreements, employment contracts, mass layoffs, reorganizations and individual dismissals, redundancy payments and civil service law.
In the energy sector, the constant factor is change. Environmental challenges, supervision, regulations and a global demand for renewable energy are strategic issues that companies in this sector are faced with on a daily basis. In the Caribbean and Suriname we assist players in this sector with strategic partnerships, energy contracts, dispute resolution, power asset transactions, financing, environmental law and issues within the public sector.
The financial services sector has to deal with supervision and a high degree of regulation on a daily basis. Our specialists pave the way for local and international banks, credit institutions and insurance companies. Curaçao has a significant international financial services sector - financial and corporate management companies - since the island played a major part in its development. The sector has a pivotal role in the regional economy.
For many years now, VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne has been supporting government institutions and (semi-)public organizations with advice and litigation in the areas of administrative law, private law and international law. Our team has given advice on various legislative matters. Our lawyers know the procedures and understand how control and authority are divided within the sector.
Tourism is a key sector for the local economies in the Dutch Caribbean. It entails a need for specific legal services, such as employment law, real estate and project development (permits, zoning etc.), mergers and acquisitions, and financing. Our firm represents local and international brands, such as hotel chains, cruise lines, leisure companies such as casinos and movie theatres, and ancillary branches such as car rentals.
All jurisdictions within the Dutch Caribbean have their own BIP (including the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property for the BES islands). The Caribbean islands are a party to various international treaties in the field of intellectual property, although there are differences with regard to the treaties that apply to each island. Since 2013 all islands also have legislation concerning the protection of personal data.
Our firm has ample experience with large scale project development, including public-private partnerships and procurement processes. We are aware of the many types of stakeholders and various interests in development processes, both on the side of private parties and consortia as well as on the side of contracting governmental bodies. We assist clients from permits and approval to delivery and – if necessary – in negotiations and conflicts.
Both local and international parties manage to find their way to the Dutch Caribbean transportation sector, for instance thanks to tourism, storage and transshipment facilities for the oil industry, and favorable conditions for the seizure and execution of ships as well as aircraft registrations. Our team offers assistance in this area, but also gives advice on matters such as financing (aircraft and ship mortgages), registrations, and liability for damages.