International Law Firm in Gibraltar and Spain

Isolas

Centro Comercial Mar Y Sol Local 325-626, Sotogrande Cadiz Spain

 +34 956796667
 +34 956796660

www.gibraltarlawyers.com
 Contact Selwyn Figueras

 Published Articles   

Law Firm Overview

Isolas is a leading international law firm in Gibraltar. We offer our clients solid professional advice based on experience and expertise. Truly independent, we offer our clients the benefit of commitment, continuity and the close personal interest expected of a long-established law firm. We are consistently ranked as one of the leading law firms in the jurisdiction by major international legal directories.

The nature and variety of the work we undertake provides a challenging and stimulating environment for us to work in. All professionals within the firm are predominantly UK qualified and in addition to solicitors and barristers include chartered accountants, fund administrators, bankers, trust specialists and investment advisors. Our people are what make us different; we believe they are the best in their respective fields. Because of this we invest significantly in recruitment and training to ensure our clients receive the best advice, taking into consideration the practical and commercial realities of modern business. We share a total commitment to our clients because they know that without them we would not have become the firm that we are today.

Isolas has a reputation for combining expert legal advice with commercial pragmatism. Our clients’ interests always come first. If something is not right for you we will tell you. Most of our new assignments come from personal recommendations. We value and work hard to maintain close client relationships, for this reason the majority of our clients engage us on an ongoing basis. Our ability to combine the service ethos of a long established family firm with the resources of a modern legal practice has made us the most dynamic legal firm in Gibraltar, where you will find creative and innovative solutions.

The many unique qualities about Isolas include our dedication to continuity and building client relationships. The legal team you hire will be the one advising you, working with you and for you. The team is responsible for the legal advice, service quality, communication and administrative arrangements between you and the firm. Whether you are a local entrepreneur, multinational corporation, institutional investor or professional adviser, our people will communicate with you with clarity on a regular basis.

Isolas has been established for over 115 years; we know what it takes to be successful. We have been at the forefront of Gibraltar’s legal and political development. We are extremely well resourced. Our experience and resources enable us to think creatively for our clients. We understand the tough competitive world that our clients operate in and they value our ability to deliver fast, accurate and commercially-shrewd legal advice.

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Pensions, Residency; Judicial Review Proceedings; Property Development.

Practice Areas Description

Isolas provides legal representation and services in the following areas of practice:

- Admiralty and Shipping

Gibraltar is one of the premier arrest jurisdictions in the world as a result of its geographical location and use of English admiralty law and practice. Not only can vessels be arrested in Gibraltar, but also, in certain cases, cargo and/or freight. Whilst Gibraltar boasts a large number of law firms, there are very few which have a specialist Admiralty Department. Of these, ISOLAS have more years experience than any other firm which makes ISOLAS the number one choice for shipping lawyers in Gibraltar. When instructed to carry out an arrest, we advise our Clients as to exactly what documentation will need to be provided in support of the application to arrest and will guide the Client towards the necessary steps necessary to protect their claim, leading up to, if necessary, an eventual sale of the vessel. Credit to our experience and expertise in Admiralty matters is the fact that we are continuously involved in the great majority of shipping disputes in Gibraltar as well as receiving instructions from many of the major London shipping law firms.

- Banking and Financial Services

The Banking and Financial Services team at ISOLAS regularly advises both local and major international banks and other regulated entities on a vast array of matters, from licensing and regulatory issues to lending and day to day general banking business. The team incorporates ISOLAS dedicated MiFID team which has been instrumental in a large number of regulated entities achieving MiFID compliance within the relevant time frames. The team not only understands the Gibraltar industry but also brings an international perspective that accommodates today’s increasingly common cross-border nature of banking and financial services transactions.

- Betting, Gaming and E-Commerce

ISOLAS has a dedicated team of professionals with broad and in-depth experience with transactions, regulation and legal issues facing companies and their suppliers involved in gaming, gambling, betting, lotteries (both remote and land-based) and e-commerce business. The Gaming Team regularly assists companies in this sector, from start-ups and gaming license applications to large corporations, in commercial and corporate transactions.

- Commercial and Civil Litigation

The Litigation Team at ISOLAS offers practical and technical expertise to clients involved in a broad range of disputes. As you would expect in an offshore environment, these disputes are often multi-jurisdictional in nature. Our lawyers – all of whom have trained as barristers or solicitors in the United Kingdom – have particular expertise in banking, trusts, company matters, regulatory matters, insolvency and asset recovery, and fraud and asset tracing claims. We are frequently instructed to apply for interim relief – usually in the form of freezing orders and Norwich Pharmacal orders – in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar. Due to the international character of much of our work, we have considerable experience of working in conjunction with lawyers in other offshore jurisdictions and in the City of London.

Our Litigation Team offers strategic advice that will enable you to manage disputes and potential disputes effectively. We strive to gain a thorough understanding of our clients’ businesses so that we are in a position to pursue their interests vigorously. Where appropriate we give careful consideration to alternatives to litigation, and we have successfully negotiated a number of settlements through mediation. When recourse to the courts becomes necessary our lawyers offer strong, determined representation to secure the best outcome for our clients.

- Construction

Gibraltar’s construction industry has expanded beyond belief in recent years with British, Spanish, Dutch, and Danish contractors all jockeying position in the property development boom that Gibraltar has enjoyed these past years. ISOLAS has been heavily involved in this construction boom and has enormous experience in negotiating with, contracting for, and representing the interests of those engaged in the construction and property development industries. By virtue of its vast experience ISOLAS has been heavily engaged in the resolution of disputes in recent developments in Gibraltar and is well respected in this area. We have worked with bespoken and standard construction documentation and all aspects of appointments, bonds, warranties and security documentation. ISOLAS is well placed to advise clients on all aspects of the construction industry.

Our expertise includes:

. Building contract documentation;
. Collateral Warranties and professional appointments;
. Performance bonds and parent company guarantees;
. Security documentation;
. Insurance;
. Dispute resolution.

- Corporate Law & Corporate Finance

ISOLAS has a dedicated team of professionals supporting companies on major strategic transactions, regulation and legal issues as well as their day-to-day business needs. The Corporate Team brings disciplined and effective management to large structured deals whilst also remaining flexible and open to innovative opportunities. Delivering commercial solutions for clients across a range of industry sectors and jurisdictions, the Team not only understands the Gibraltar corporate legal framework but also brings an international perspective that accommodates today’s increasingly common cross-border nature of global business transactions.

The main company law legislation in Gibraltar comes under the Gibraltar Companies Act which is based on the UK Companies Act 1929. Since enactment of the UK 1929 Act, the respective corporate regimes of Gibraltar and the UK have diverged, and Gibraltar and English company law now differ in a number of significant areas.

- Employment, Employee Benefits and Pensions

The most important asset of any business is its human capital and ISOLAS has long recognized and understood the investment made by a business in its people. At ISOLAS we understand the importance a business places on recruitment, retention and rewarding its most talented people. We guide and advise clients on the practical application of the law from Human Resource function to employees seeking advice on options available to them. We can help clients meet challenges with our committed experienced team of lawyers specializing in employment, employee benefits and pensions who not only pride themselves on their understanding of the legal issues but on their ability not to lose sight of the commercial context.

Our expertise includes:

. Employment Contracts & Staff Handbooks;
. Variation of employment terms and conditions;
. Data protection and workplace monitoring;
. Disciplinary and grievance procedures;
. Discrimination issues;
. Dismissals and redundancies (collective and individual);
. Compromise Agreements;
. Executive/Board terminations;
. Industrial Tribunal and court claims;
. Flexible working and parental rights;
. Detached and temporary workers;
. Industrial relations;
. Trade Unions;
. Restrictive covenants;
. Pensions;
. Share schemes;
. TUPE.

- Finance

The Finance market is characterized by its constantly evolving nature and by the highly innovative financing techniques and products developed to adapt to such changes. At ISOLAS, we understand the need to provide expert advice quickly, and efficiently and in such a challenging market, our approach is based on identifying clients’ requirements promptly and accurately and adopting a forward-thinking and proactive approach to make sure our clients’ needs are met. Our finance team has a breadth of experience in advising banks and financial institutions in relation to the full spectrum of financial products. Our team have acted for major financial institutions operating at the cutting edge of multi-jurisdictional securitisation transactions, lending, project finance, real estate finance, asset finance, insolvency and restructuring and structured finance completed mostly in Europe but also in the US. Our team work together as a seamless group to meet our clients’ objectives. Transactional work is partner led, to ensure that our clients' needs are serviced efficiently and at the most appropriate level.

Regarded as leaders for many years by clients, peers and industry commentators, we deliver first class legal service underpinned by market knowledge, industry experience and commercial understanding. We pride ourselves in providing disciplined and effective input to a transaction and are aware that every step of the transaction is crucial to achieving a successful completion. We have an unrivaled reputation to working to tight deadlines and producing work in time and on budget.

- Funds

Gibraltar’s position as a rapidly growing jurisdiction for Funds has been well recognized and ISOLAS have been on the front of this development. Our position within the EU, and the advantage of working within a jurisdiction that is highly regulated, operating internationally recognized and EU standard anti-money laundering and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) conventions, makes Gibraltar a very attractive alternative funds jurisdiction within Europe. The Experienced Investor Fund (EIF) regime was launched in 2005 and has seen many other jurisdictions follow suit with similar styled products. The speed and ease of set up along with the degree of flexibility that the EIF allows makes it an excellent alternative/hedge fund/private equity/property vehicle. EIF’s can also be structured as protected cell companies under the Gibraltar Protected Cell Companies Act 2001. This allows for a single corporate body, with an internal ‘umbrella’ structure consisting of any number of subdivisions that allow for the legal segregation of assets and liabilities into different Cells allowing for multiple strategies.

ISOLAS have advised private clients, family offices and an international base of investment managers on the structuring and set up of Gibraltar based fund solutions. We are regarded as one of the leading Fund teams in Gibraltar, offering a first class and personal service while also developing synergies with our clients in the Funds sector. Our team is able to advise on all aspects of a fund set up and to assist in taking any project from concept through to launch and beyond as well as being able to act as a central reference point for all counterparties to make the procedure seamless. ISOLAS have also advised international firms on Gibraltar fund related issues, and on the promotion of collective investment schemes in Gibraltar as well as the effect of the newly proposed Alternative Investment Fund Manager Directive.

- Trade Mark and Patent Registration

We are instructed on an on-going basis by companies and trademark lawyers worldwide to attend to their trade mark and patent registration needs. Fees are fixed for each stage and we would be happy to provide our Schedule of Fees upon receipt of your enquiry.

Origination applications to register a trade mark or patent may not be made in Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Registry will only replicate successful registrations already made in a central registry such as the UK Patent Office, the European Central Registry or in a national registry of an EU country.

- Pensions

ISOLAS prides itself on being the only law firm in Gibraltar with a specialist Pensions Team. We can advise and support you at every stage of the life of a pension scheme, from selecting which of the options available is most suitable when establishing a new scheme to winding up a pension arrangement. We also provide ongoing support in the form of reviewing and updating scheme rules in the light of changes to taxation and legislation and assisting with any contentious decisions which need to be made. ISOLAS’ experience in this area is unrivalled and ensures that you have the very best advice, based on a firm foundation of legal expertise and a pragmatic, commercial approach tailored to your needs.

- Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate

Whatever your financial situation, at ISOLAS we appreciate that there are three issues which concern you. Firstly, that you will want as much of your wealth as possible to remain at your disposal during your life; secondly, that you will be keen to ensure that as much of it as possible passes on after your death; and thirdly, that you will want to make certain that it passes on to the beneficiaries of your choice.

For a long time our clients have sought to exploit Gibraltar’s unique position as a modern offshore jurisdiction to maximize their chances of achieving this. As Gibraltar’s oldest law firm, no-one has helped their clients accomplish these goals for longer. Our team has vast experience in helping our clients manage, protect and perpetuate their wealth in the most effective and tax efficient manner, taking account of their short term needs as well as their long term goals.

- Property and Conveyancing

The Conveyancing Team at ISOLAS boasts a wealth of experience in dealing with residential properties as a result of representing numerous clients in purchasing and selling properties throughout Gibraltar, ranging from low-cost housing projects partly financed by the Government of Gibraltar through to high-end luxury accommodation. Clients are provided with a professional and efficient service which will ensure that their transaction proceeds as smoothly as possible from the initial stages until completion.

ISOLAS are authorized to act for all major banks in Gibraltar, which is beneficial for those clients who are either obtaining mortgage financing to assist with their purchase of a property or who need to redeem a mortgage in order to sell their property. This means there is less opportunity for delays to arise throughout the transaction, and results in clients keeping their costs to a minimum.

ISOLAS also has vast experience in dealing with commercial premises, both in the purchase/sale of these as well as advising clients on leases. Having drawn up and dealt with leases for most major commercial complexes in Gibraltar, the Conveyancing Team has extensive knowledge and experience in this area and is able to advise clients on any matter which might arise.

- Property Development

Over the past ten years Gibraltar has enjoyed a boom of commercial and residential property development including an initiative by Government for the re-generation of the old part of the City of Gibraltar. ISOLAS has a wealth of experience in property development and finance and has been involved in almost every project in Gibraltar over that period of time. The work ranges from representing international banks with the financing of the new local hospital to assisting banks with the financing of large and small residential projects, as well as representing developers in the entire process of acquisition, design, planning, construction and dispute resolution through to the completion and sale of these projects to private purchasers.

Our property expertise emanates from working for many years in advising private individuals, property development companies and financial institutions on all aspects of this industry. The Property Development Team would provide you with the expertise required in order for you to optimize the anticipated returns on your project, as well as ensuring when working for financial institutions that good quality work is delivered on time and on budget.

- Small Business

The ISOLAS small business unit was established during the course of 2008 with a view to helping local small businesses deal with their legal advice requirements in an efficient, focused and small business-savvy manner. Our lawyers have helped many clients through the whole range of legal matters that a small business can face. Everything from registering a business name to filing trade licence applications, as well as assisting with all employment and contractual matters, ISOLAS can assist existing and startup businesses in with all their legal needs. The ISOLAS Small Business unit can help your small business survive and thrive. Browse through to our News section for plenty of articles dealing with a gamut of small business-related legal matters. If you need a guiding hand or simply a quick chat to find your way, get in touch with one of our small business lawyers today.

- Wills, Probate and Trust

We at ISOLAS appreciate that there is no right time to plan for the future so we have in place a dedicated team who will talk you through your options whether you are a Gibraltar national or a foreign national. We aim to provide a high quality, comprehensive and competitively priced service.

A Will and Testament is a declaration of a person’s intentions as to how they wish to distribute their estate and assets. We can offer you detailed advice on the drawing up and execution of a Will. You may well have some difficult decisions to make and our aim is to make things as simple as possible by understanding your needs and advising as to how best to protect your assets.

We also offer a storage facility for Wills at no charge which makes it easy for our clients to make changes to and update their Wills as their circumstances change. This can be done either by drawing up a new Will or simply amending an existing one by way of a Codicil.

We also specialize in the administration of estates as we realize that this can be a very daunting and complex task for a lay person. We can therefore assist you if you are appointed as an Executor/Administrator with the management of the assets and the settling of all debts and liabilities before the distribution of the estate. Administrators can become personally liable if the estate is not correctly administered and therefore we strongly recommend that you do seek legal advice.

Affiliations

More Information on Isolas

International Law Firm in Cadiz, Spain
Gaming Lawyers in Cadiz, Spain
Cadiz, Spain Banking Law Firm
Spain Commercial Litigation Lawyer
Company Law Firm in Cadiz, Spain
Shipping Lawyers in Cadiz, Spain
Cadiz, Spain Trademark Lawyers
Property Law Firm in Cadiz, Spain
Isolas News and Publications
Contact Isolas

Other Offices

• Gibraltar - Gibraltar - Main Office