Partner Emeritus, Dispute & Risk Management Group
Address: P.O. Box 219
Eleven Albion
Cor. Dere & Albion Streets, Port of Spain
Trinidad & Tobago
Phone: 868 821 5508
Mobile: 868 353 1000
Email: send email
Profile
As Partner Emeritus in the Dispute & Risk Management Department, Christopher Hamel-Smith works along with a team of professionals focused on avoiding, managing and resolving commercial disputes cost-effectively. They utilize negotiation, alternative dispute resolution and litigation processes, as appropriate, in order to most effectively protect and advance clients’ interests.
Christopher handles significant commercial disputes, particularly matters involving issues in Intellectual Property, Information and Communications Technology, e-Commerce, Employment, Banking and Finance, Admiralty and Antidumping.
Since his admission as a barrister-at-law in Trinidad & Tobago in 1981 and the United Kingdom in 1982, Christopher has practised as an advocate before the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Industrial Court. He is widely recognised as one of the most thorough and formidable advocates practicing at the commercial bar in Trinidad & Tobago. He also regularly represents clients in arbitration proceedings, mediations and negotiations.
He has special interest in the legal aspects of Information Technology and e-Commerce, and has written extensively and delivered many presentations on these topics. A collection of some of his articles written to introduce Trinidad & Tobago’s business community to legal issues in this area, and their options for managing the associated risks, are available at www.trinidadlaw.com. He was a member of the Cabinet appointed National Electronic Commerce Policy Committee which was charged with developing Trinidad & Tobago’s national policy for e-Commerce.
A keen supporter of using appropriate alternative dispute resolution processes, Christopher is on the panel of mediators maintained by the Dispute Resolution Centre of the Trinidad & Tobago Chamber of Commerce. He also collaborates with the Institute of Business at the University of the West Indies in providing negotiation skills training for business executives.
Admitted
1981 - Trinidad & Tobago
1982 - England, United Kingdom
2003 - St. Kitts/Nevis
Areas of Practice
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Admiralty and Maritime |
Alternative Dispute Resolution |
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Appellate Practice |
Arbitration / Mediation |
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Banking |
Commercial Litigation |
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Computer Law |
Constitutional Law |
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Copyright |
Corporate Litigation |
|
E-Commerce |
Employment and Labor |
|
Environmental |
Financial Litigation |
|
Financial Services |
Human Rights |
|
Insurance |
Internet and Cyberspace |
|
Litigation |
Mediations/Arbitrations |
|
Patents |
Personal Injury |
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Professional Malpractice |
Technology |
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Telecommunications |
Trademarks |
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Unfair Competition |
|
Litigation Percentage 80%
Career
Reported Cases
(1998) 55 WIR 374: Grell-Taurel Ltd v Caribbean Home Insurance Ltd and Others
Joseph Nahous & Co Ltd v Maritime General Insurance Co Ltd and Others
(1998) 54 WIR 387: Thomas and Another v Baptiste and Others
(1997) 52 WIR 440: Well Services ltd v Board of Inland Revenue
(1996) 50 WIR 462: Attorney General v M M Brokers Ltd
(1995) 49 WIR 371: Sumayyah Mohammed v Moraine and Another
(1994) 45 WIR 392: Wallen and Another v Baptiste and Others (No 1)
(1985) 38 WIR 272: Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Co of the West Indies Ltd v Maillard
Bar and Professional Associations
The Law Association of Trinidad & Tobago
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, United Kingdom
Publications
Author:
"Law and Information Technology"- Business Guardian 1999 - 2001
Co-Author: "Enforcement of Money Judgements in Trinidad & Tobago," Juris Publishing, Inc. USA 1999.
Education
1981: Utter Barrister, The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, United Kingdom
1980: LL.B (Hons) University of Bristol, United Kingdom