CHAMBERS GLOBAL 2025 LEGAL RANKINGS RELEASED
Karel Frielink ranked Band 1 for the 16th time: “He is incredibly knowledgeable.”
Once again, I have been selected as a ranked lawyer in Chambers Global 2025, identifying me as one of the best lawyers in the Dutch Caribbean.
Chambers and Partners: “Karel Frielink is a leading lawyer who advises on a wide range of matters including commercial transactions, corporate governance and disputes. He is also the Dutch Caribbean representative of asset-tracing legal network ICC FraudNet.” (Emeritus member of FraudNet)
“Strengths: Karel Frielink is an extremely helpful individual who always makes time for you and responds promptly. Moreover, he is …
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NEW CURRENCY FOR CURACAO AND ST. MAARTEN
Curacao and (Dutch) St. Maarten began the transition from the Antillean Guilder (NAf or ANG) to the Caribbean Guilder (Cg or XCG) on March 31, 2025. From now on, the Caribbean Guilder is the legal tender in both countries. All prices, invoices, statements, receipts etc. will be in the new currency (XCG). The XCG has replaced the Antillean Guilder at the same exchange rate of 1 USD = 1.79 XCG.
The Caribbean guilder coins have been issued in the following denominations: 5 guilders, 1 guilder, 50 cents, 25 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents and 1 cent. For banknotes, the denominations …
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BUY YOUR PHOTO FOR HOME OR OFFICE
𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍
Who wouldn’t want a real “Frielink” on the wall? In addition to my work as an attorney and legal scholar, I have been active as a non-professional photographer for years.
My photos sometimes make it to the newspaper or an international maritime magazine. A modest selection can be seen in my virtual store at “Werk aan de Muur” (“Art on the Wall“) and …
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WIE ZIT DAAR OP MIJN STOEL?
Blijf binnen je orgaan!
Bij rechtspersonen dienen organen goed van elkaar te worden onderscheiden. Een orgaan is een kring van personen aan wie op grond van (primair) de wet en de statuten bepaalde rechten, bevoegdheden en verplichtingen zijn verbonden. Denk aan de algemene vergadering (bij verenigingen en vennootschappen), het bestuur (bij alle rechtspersonen) en een raad van commissarissen, ook wel raad van toezicht geheten (niet bij elke rechtspersoon verplicht). De organen zijn, zoals dat heet, autonoom. Bij het orgaan bestuur wordt dan over bestuursautonomie gesproken, wat inhoudt dat andere organen daarop geen inbreuk mogen maken. De grenzen dienen goed te …
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APPOINTED CHAIRMAN SUPERVISORY BOARD OF ENNIA
Effective January 1, 2025
An interesting challenge. I have been appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ennia Holding N.V., Ennia Leven N.V., Ennia Caribe Zorg N.V. and Ennia Caribe Schade N.V. in Curacao, effective January 1, 2025. The two other supervisory directors appointed are Geomaly Martes and Eduard van Gelderen.
It has been a tumultuous few years for Ennia, but there is every reason to have confidence in this insurer that is important to Curacao. As former basketball player Michael Jordan once aptly said, “With talent you win games, with teamwork you win championships.”
Karel Frielink(attorney / legal scholar)
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025
BZSE Attorneys at Law in Curacao celebrates its 10th anniversary
They were ten exciting and challenging years, with many unique cases and fascinating people. Every reason to keep going full steam ahead. For us, success is always the result of teamwork. We thank everyone who contributed to our success!
This photo is of an office building that really exists. In fact, this is our office in Curacao.
COPILOT ON KAREL FRIELINK
This is what Copilot has to say about me
Karel Frielink is a prominent attorney based in Curaçao, specializing in finance law, corporate law, and corporate governance. He has been practicing law since 1989 and is currently the managing partner at BZSE Attorneys at Law in Curaçao.
Frielink has a distinguished career, having worked in the Dutch Caribbean since 1997. He has authored over 200 books and articles on various aspects of Dutch and Dutch Caribbean law, including a leading textbook on Dutch Caribbean corporate law. He also holds a PhD from the University of Curaçao, with research focused on …
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CHATGPT ON KAREL FRIELINK
This is what ChatGPT has to say about me
Karel Frielink is a prominent Dutch Caribbean attorney, known for his expertise in finance, corporate law, corporate governance, and complex fraud and asset recovery cases. Based in Curaçao, he leads BZSE Attorneys at Law in the Caribbean and has been active as a lawyer since 1989. He is also an emeritus member of FraudNet, an elite network of lawyers specializing in cross-border fraud and asset recovery. As an advocate for transparency and accountability in governance, he has chaired the revision of Bonaire’s Corporate Governance Code, aimed at enhancing business practices in …
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HANDBOEK GESCHILLENREGELING
Vooraankondiging: Handboek over geschillen tussen aandeelhouders onderling en met de vennootschap
Voor een begin 2025 in Nederland te verschijnen ‘Handboek Geschillenregeling’ heb ik mijn hoofdstuk ingeleverd. Mijn bijdrage gaat over de geschillenregelingen voor vennootschappen in de Caribische delen van het Koninkrijk en in Suriname. Het gaat om wettelijke, statutaire en contractuele mogelijkheden om een einde te maken aan geschillen. Denk in dat verband aan vorderingen tot uittreding (een aandeelhouder wil zelf weg) en uitstoting (om een aandeelhouder te dwingen zijn aandelen over te dragen). Je moet nog even geduld hebben, maar een prachtig Handboek komt er aan! Tot die tijd …
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35 JAAR ADVOCAAT – 35 YEARS BEING AN ATTORNEY
Ik vier dat door gewoon door te werken / I celebrate that with just continuing to work
Of je daarvoor nou wel of niet de vlag uithangt, vandaag ben ik 35 jaar advocaat. En als je cliënten, vakgenoten en andere professionals mag geloven, dan ben ik erg goed in mijn vak. Mijn CV mag er wellicht indrukwekkend uitzien, maar je kunt het pas goed beoordelen als je het zelf hebt ervaren.
Whether you hang out the flag to celebrate or not, today I have been an attorney for 35 years. And if clients, peers and other professionals are to be …
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AANDELEN ZONDER NOMINALE WAARDE
Enkele kwesties uit de dagelijkse praktijk
Het fenomeen aandelen zonder nominale waarde roept soms vragen op. Kennelijk is het niet voor iedereen duidelijk wat je bijvoorbeeld wel en niet in de statuten moet opnemen. Recent zijn enkele vragen in het kader van Boek 2 Burgerlijk Wetboek van St. Maarten gerezen en door mij bestudeerd, maar de analyse hieronder is ook van toepassing op de andere Nederlands Caribische jurisdicties. En dat geldt in beginsel ook voor het nieuwe Boek 2 BW van Suriname, dat nog in werking zal treden. In dat wetboek is wat vennootschappen betreft alleen de naamloze vennootschap (NV) …
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ON FULL HUMAN BRAIN READING
Will the last protective wall disappear?
It probably won’t be very long before artificial intelligence allows brain scanners to accurately and in detail report what images, thoughts and (memories of) feelings are stored in human brains. Decoding of brain activity raises all sorts of questions.
First of all, it would be wonderful if this new technology could help detect and treat diseases. For individuals, it might be helpful if, for example, they could easily transfer images located in their brain to a desktop computer or smartphone or whatever “device” will be available by then.
Every leap forward has positive aspects. …
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