WHAT IS DUTCH CARIBBEAN CORPORATE LAW ABOUT?
A broad concept
Corporate law is a broad concept. A Netherlands Antilles corporate lawyer (attorney) deals with a variety of matters, inter alia, the original establishment of businesses, the initial capitalization, ongoing financing transactions (private equity and debt), corporate governance, (cross-border) contractual relationships, joint ventures, shareholders’ agreements and directors’ liability.
This area of practice also includes advice on restructuring, exit-strategies (whether by private sale or initial public offering), (domestic or cross-border) mergers & acquisitions (hostile or friendly), E-Commerce, limited partnerships and tender offers. I didn’t mention tax issues yet, but it goes without saying that in many cases a corporate lawyer cannot operate without tax advice.
Corporate law is not just about law or drafting contracts. Negotiating is also part of the profession. Negotiating is about communication, effective communication to be more precise. Effective communication cannot take place without listening attentively, which to rule out any doubt means to stop talking and planning ones response. It is essential for a corporate lawyer to know how to negotiate successfully. To know his style and that of the others involved in the process: are (only) reasonable negotiators involved? Are the negotiators competitive or non-confrontational? Does the relationship matter more than the stakes? What is it one wants out of the negotiation? What is it the other party wants? What do they think you want? Determine your settlement range: the area between your best and worst-case scenario. Preparation is a key element in achieving success.
Karel Frielink
Attorney (Lawyer) / Partner
