Title

The Firm

Having celebrated over 110 years of doing business, Hamel-Smith is recognised as a leader both in the Trinidad & Tobago business community and its legal profession. We serve a large number of the local and international companies that do business in Trinidad & Tobago. Hamel-Smith provides services across all areas of practice which are relevant to our business clients. We are proud of the key role that we play in helping new enterprises to grow and international companies to enter the Trinidad & Tobago market.

Hamel-Smith is a member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Hamel-Smith has extensive experience with cross-border transactions. We have worked with several of the world’s leading law firms on world-class energy-based projects in Trinidad. Hamel-Smith has been engaged in almost all of the major oil, gas and energy-based projects in Trinidad, either on the project side or in connection with the financing aspect of these transactions. We have also been involved in many financings and transactions throughout the Caribbean.

HAMEL-SMITH IS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE COMPETITION

  • the quality and depth of our resources; and
  • our commitment to understanding our client’s business and to providing practical solutions which achieve our client’s objectives.

QUALITY AND DEPTH OF RESOURCES

The quality of Hamel-Smith’s lawyers and service is independently confirmed by Chambers Global which has consistently ranked Hamel-Smith at #1 in Trinidad.

Based on client interviews, Chambers Global has reported the following comments about Hamel-Smith:

“This firm remains a market leader across the entire spectrum of business law, both transactional and contentious.”

“You get service from them that you would expect to find in any of the major business centres in the world.”

“If I have a very difficult transaction, this team is who I call.”

“Knowledgeable, responsive, and everything you want in outside counsel.”

“The best in the Caribbean from a technical point of view.”

“Undoubtedly one of the leading firms in the country – its reputation precedes it and it never disappoints.”

“We’ve never needed to go anywhere else.”

Hamel-Smith’s unparalleled depth is also confirmed by having seven Hamel-Smith partners individually ranked by Chambers Global in Trinidad and Tobago.

MEMBER OF LEX MUNDI

Hamel-Smith is the exclusive member firm in Trinidad and Tobago for Lex Mundi – the world’s leading network of independent law firms with in-depth experience in more than 125 countries worldwide.

Lex Mundi brings the best together – law firms, lawyers, and business professionals – to provide world-class cross-border legal solutions. Member firms offer a global resource of unmatched breadth and depth, with over 22,000 lawyers worldwide.

Lex Mundi selects the top independent law firm in each jurisdiction based on leadership in, and commitment to, its local market and requires its members to maintain this level of excellence to retain membership.

Lex Mundi ensures that member firms collaborate closely to provide on-the-ground expertise and experience in every global market, wherever their clients need to operate. Coupled with innovative, collaborative software, clients receive a seamless worldwide service from Lex Mundi member firms, able to handle their most challenging cross-border transactions and disputes.

WORKING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE EACH CLIENT’S BUSINESS OBJECTIVES

Some lawyers see legal problems as requiring purely legal solutions. At Hamel-Smith, we see things differently. We know that our clients are business partners who need practical solutions that help them to pursue opportunities while managing legal and other commercial risks. Hamel-Smith lawyers are committed to understanding our clients business. We work in a collaborative manner with our clients to achieve their business objectives, while managing their risks.

Hamel-Smith’s focus on providing practical solutions that meet our clients business objectives is emphasized in the comments recorded by Chambers Global in client interviews, including:

“really step into the shoes of the client and try to understand the issues we are trying to address.”

“sees both the legal and the commercial dimensions, however complex.”

“has a keen sense of the business and delves into the law, guiding people to get what the client wants.”

“looks out for the solution that is best suited to the client even where that is low-key and low-profile.”

OUR MISSION

To be a leader in –

Providing the highest quality legal service, responding to clients’ needs and exceeding their expectations while maintaining exemplary standards of proficiency and ethical conduct.

Securing our jobs and income by consolidating and selectively broadening and deepening our client base, with a particular focus on the commercial and financial sectors.

Growing and developing our team by attracting the best available talent, recognising and rewarding commitment, excellence and achievement, encouraging initiative and supporting self-improvement.

Contributing to and supporting the upliftment of the legal profession and the community by active participation at various business, educational and community service levels.