Nicole Ferreira-Aaron
Managing Partner
Phone: 868 299 0981
Mobile: 868 384 5871
Bar Admissions
1991: Trinidad & Tobago
Areas of Practice
- Banking and Financial Services
- Corporate and Securities
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Aviation Finance
- Capital Markets
- Project Finance
Languages
- English
- Spanish
- French
Profile
Nicole Ferreira-Aaron’s core practice is in the commercial area specializing in corporate finance including secured and unsecured corporate financings, project finance, acquisition finance and capital markets. She is also actively involved in merger and acquisition transactions from due diligence to conclusion.
She has collaborated with several leading New York and London law firms in substantial international finance transactions with responsibility for preparing and perfecting local security documentation and providing advice on all local law issues. She is also regarded as a local expert in aviation lease purchase and finance having acted as local counsel to international aircraft manufacturers, financiers and leasing companies in the majority of aviation transactions concluded in Trinidad and Tobago in the last decade. She advises extensively on local securities laws and regulations to local banks, international investment houses and insurance companies.
Nicole began her career in the firm’s Dispute & Risk Management Group where she worked from 1991 to 1995, servicing some of the firm’s major commercial clients in commercial litigation. She became a partner in 1998. Her litigation background brings to her corporate practice a keen sensitivity to the risk aspects of finance, corporate and commercial transactions and their documentation. As a partner, she has developed a particular interest in client relations and professional development. Nicole currently serves as Lex Mundi’s Regional Vice Chair, North America.
Rankings and Accolades – Chambers Global 2008 – 2023: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business
Nicole Ferreira-Aaron is featured with a No. 1 Ranking among the corporate/commercial lawyers in Trinidad & Tobago. A sample of the commentaries reported by Chambers Global include:
Clients assert that “Nicole is client-focused, responsive and always able to help us achieve our goals.” – 2023
“She understands our business and sees the bigger picture. She imbues her approach with the pragmatism necessary to help our team get the deal done in an efficient manner.”– 2022
Clients applaud Nicole for providing “cogent advice and counsel,” remarking on her “pragmatic, clear and business-oriented approach.” Noted for her considerable expertise in aviation matters, her broader practice spans a wide variety of financing agreements in addition to M&A transactions and capital markets issuances. – 2021
Nicole is a noted expert in aviation law, with many years’ experience in acquisitions, aircraft finance and leasing. One source said: “She sees the whole picture; she is able to synthesise information and advise us very quickly.” – 2020
“is managing partner of the firm and best known for her practice in aviation finance. Her clients are highly impressed with her abilities, noting: “It’s good to have someone you can really trust. She has unbelievable subject-matter knowledge and she is compassionate, friendly and thoughtful.” – 2019
“very knowledgeable and prompt, and she understands the specific dynamics of cross-border finance.” – 2018
“very strong, very well considered, and well researched” – 2017
“ recognised as a long-standing practitioner in the legal market” – 2016
“commended for her “collaborative and knowledgeable” approach to legal matters” – 2015
“is highly thought of” for her work on corporate and commercial issues” – 2014
“is held in high esteem for her “good knowledge of financial markets.” – 2013
“very thorough from a technical point of view, yet still has a very commercial mindset”. 2012
“It’s virtually impossible to say where you can go wrong with her advice and analysis,” 2011
“she can think on her feet and respond quickly to complex issues.” – 2008
Recent Experiences include:
- Counsel for Stork Technical Holdings in the release of certain Trinidad security in connection with the sale of the Group.
- Representation of Range Resources (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited in the structuring and documenting of credit facilities to support its oil and gas exploration and production interests in Trinidad.
Publications
2020: Author: The Aviation Industry post COVID-19: Navigating through turbulence, featured in the Trinidad Guardian newspaper July 19, 2020
2019: Author: Rise Of The Drones: Business Opportunities and Risks, Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 10 Issue 7, June 2019
2018: Co-Author: Revisiting Cross Border Secured Financing Part II: The Security Package Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 10 Issue 3, January 2018
2017: Co-Author: Revisiting Cross-Border Secured Financing – Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 10 Issue 2, September 2017
2016: Insolvency: Obligations and Liabilities of Directors, Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 9 Issue 5, July 2016
2009: Co-Author: To Sell or Not to Sell: A Receiver’s Dilemma, Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 6 Issue 4, January 2009
2008: Co-Author: Using Exclusion Clauses to Limit Your Business Risks: How Effective are They? Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 6 Issue 3, June 2008
2008: Co-Author: Be Careful What You Say: Representations and Non-Reliance Clauses; Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 6 Issue 2
2006: Co-Author: Cross Border Financing: The Challenges of Withholding Tax; Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 5 Issue 4, May 2006
2005: Co-Author: Banks Left Floating: National Westminster Bank v. Spectrum Plus Ltd. & Ors; Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 5 Issue 2, September 2005
2010: Contributed to the publication “Success Strategies for Women Lawyers”, by Stiller Rikleen, Lauren
2009: Contributed to article “House Hunting I Trinidad & Tobago”, NY Times, December 1, 2009
Presentations:
2022: Panelist on “Gender Integration: In the Commonwealth Caribbean” at the T&T Student Association- UWI Cave Hill on November 8, 2022
2016: Presenter on: “Insolvency: Obligations and Liabilities of Directors” at Association of Caribbean Corporate Counsel (ACCC) Annual Conference.
2007: Presenter on “Challenges of a Multi-jurisdictional Acquisition” at RBTT Investors’ Forum ‘Capital Markets in the Caribbean and Central America… The Way Forward’.
Workshops/Training:
2010: Advanced Management, 22-26 August, Lex Mundi Institute, Monterey, CA
2008: Foundation Management, 18-24 August, Lex Mundi Institute, Monterey, CA
2008: International Project Finance Course, 9-11 December, Euromoney Training
Professional Memberships & Directorships
| Trinidad & Tobago Salaries Review Commission – Chairman, November 16, 2021 – Present | Lex Mundi – Regional Vice Chair, 2020 – Present |
| Law Association of Trinidad & Tobago – Member |
Education
1991: Legal Education Certificate (L.E.C) Hugh Wooding Law School
1989: LL.B (Hons) The University of the West Indies