Established in 1937 by the late Sir Harrison Courtenay, the country's first local Speaker of the House of Representatives, this third generation law firm is Belize's oldest, headed presently by Derek Courtenay S.C., who is the first recipient of the Bar Association's "Custos Justicia" Award in 2006 for excellence.
The firm has over the decades served as counsel for prominent international investment bankers, venture capitalists, private lenders, real estate developers and multinational corporations. Locally, the firm has represented commercial banks, statutory agencies and corporations, and local entrepreneurs etc.
The firm has provided counsel on a wide range of transactions, including privatisation of a number of public utility companies, securitisation programs for overseas institutions for on-lending to government entities
intellectual property matters, real estate development ventures
free zones
complex commercial agreements as well as corporate re-organisations, mergers and acquisitions and international loans and financing to both private and public sector entities.
Law firm Alliances/Associations: TERRALEX: an international network of independent law firms
DEREK BASIL COURTENAY S.C. - Educational Background and Experience: Oxford University (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) Legal Training - Lincoln's Inn, London. Admitted to English Bar in 1967 and then Belize later that same year, served as Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese for more than 25 years. Twice past President of the Bar Association, Presently sits on the General Legal Council. Has served on the boards of Central Bank of Belize, Social Security Board, Elections and Boundaries Commission, Help for Progress, Legal Aid Center, Salvation Army and as a lecturer for the paralegal program of the University of Belize, presently serves on the Codrington Trust in Barbados, Serves on the boards of several commercial concerns: Areas of Practice real property, commerciallaw, taxation, mediation, offshore corporate banking financial services & re-organisation, privatisation, asset protection, foreign investment, petroleum and minerals law.
SHIRLEY ROSE COURTENAY- Educational background: Gray's Inn, London Admitted to the English Bar in 1966 and the Belize Bar in 1967. Areas of Practice Intellectual Property including the registration and protection of Trade Marks and Designs, Copyright
JEREMY D. COURTENAY - Educational background: University of the West Indies and the Norman Manley Law School, Admitted to the Belize Bar in 1993. Areas of Practice Real Estate and Land Development, drafting and negotiation of Commercial Contracts, Debt Recovery, Free Zones, Gaming, Investment Logistics, Business Formation.
