Sutherland lawyers are working to effect the marriage of public and private development interests in the Caribbean, the United States and around the world.
Winning the Race to Build the Next Great Resorts
Development of hotels and resorts in the Caribbean region presents a unique set of challenges, particularly in times of global economic and political instability. For many projects, a complex arrangement of public/private cooperation is the key to success.
Many proposed developments are under discussion, but not all of them will reach completion or perform to projections. Ultimately, the developments that benefit from a coordinated team approach at the outset are best positioned to enjoy long-term success.
Sutherland’s experience in putting together mutually beneficial public/private partnerships accelerates the development process by helping governments and developers find common ground sooner. In providing creative solutions that move projects forward, we call on the firm’s deep experience in tax policy, complex loan and bond transactions and real estate and resort development and management.
We also regularly represent hotel companies and developers in connection with investment and management opportunities throughout the Caribbean.
Blending Developer Expertise and Local Initiative
Public/private partnerships depend on an intricate balance of private funding, development expertise and local vision and initiative. The successful Caribbean partnerships will be truly international, involving capital and development know how from several nations. Each venture will have to overcome cultural differences, and each will have to satisfy supra national legal and lending standards – a formidable set of hurdles.
We know first hand the interests of the players on both sides of the table. Our clients include national and local governments and taxing authorities, lenders, title insurance companies, hotel operators, investors and developers.
For a wide range of projects, Sutherland lawyers have been the catalysts for expediting agreement on the right balance of:
- Credit enhancements and government guarantees;
- Tax abatements;
- Suspension or modification of work rules and hiring policies;
- Duty exemptions on building materials and hotel equipment;
- Environmental trade offs; and
- Legislative action to improve the quality of titles.
Caribbean and International Tax Experience
Sutherland has long been known as one of the leading tax law firms in the United States. More than 80 of our lawyers focus on tax law and the structuring of tax-sensitive transactions.
Our international tax experience is valuable in resort development, since we are often able to provide immediate advice on what is possible and what is not. Our tax lawyers have a close familiarity with the tax and commercial laws of many countries.
In addition, we regularly represent Bermuda based insurance companies that insure risks throughout the Caribbean.
© 2008 Sutherland