The Bahamas Bar Association (BBA) held its annual general meeting and elections on June 27, 2025, at the meeting, Kahlil D. Parker, KC, was returned as president of the association, reflecting the continued confidence of the membership in his leadership. Also re-elected were Tara Rolle-Knowles as honorary secretary and Glenda Roker as treasurer. Krysta Moxey and Samuel Campell Jr. were returned to serve as one-year council members.

Western Air’s top executive has successfully persuaded the Supreme Court to appoint an administrator for one of Freeport’s most prominent condominium complexes. Justice Constance Delancy found that Harcourt Development (Bahamas), the property giant that also owns the dilapidated Royal Oasis resort, has violated the Law of Property and Conveyancing (Condominium) Act by failing to keep Suffolk Court insured, “in good repair” and to provide the unit owners with properly audited accounts.

Callenders & Co. has announced that experienced attorney I.A. Nicholas Mitchell will join the firm as a Senior Associate. According to a press release, Nicholas has over 11 years of experience practicing criminal and civil law both locally and internationally—including in the UK and South Africa—as well as local transactional work. “With a robust background in public law, commercial litigation, and criminal defense, he brings a wealth of experience and a creative approach to the firm.”

A Bahamian contractor has successfully overturned a $520,000 default judgment despite admitting he “breached the agreement to complete certain works” at a high-end West Bay Street property. Hugh Gordon Cash, trading as North Eleuthera Builders, persuaded acting Supreme Court registrar, Renaldo Toote, that there was an “irregularity” in how Jon and Valentina Snell obtained the April 19, 2023, judgment against him in a dispute over “incomplete and defective” renovations to 955 West Bay Street.

A BAHAMIAN law firm has promoted two attorneys to senior associates while confirming another duo as associates after they completed their pupillage. Callenders & Company, in a statement, confirmed that Syneisha Bootle and Raven Rolle are now senior associates while Ebonesse Bain and Miquel Cleare have been named as associates.

At just 35 years old, attorney R Dawson Malone has been chosen to head the Nassau office of the oldest and one of the most prestigious law firms in The Bahamas. Callenders & Co has thrived for nearly 120 years through a commitment to remaining on the cutting edge of the legal profession both locally and internationally and supporting and advancing young, emerging talent wherever possible.

Bank of The Bahamas yesterday emerged victorious in one of its two “highest risk” legal battles after a $6m default judgment against it was found to have been “irregularly” obtained. Justice Petra Hanna-Adderley upheld a prior decision to overturn the October 23, 2017, default entered against the BISX-listed institution by a group of companies alleged to have links to a former Cabinet minister.

Former Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA) Managing Director Katherine Forbes-Smith is seeking contractual damages to the tune of over $408,000 for an alleged breach of her contract. According to a writ filed in the Supreme Court against the DRA, Forbes-Smith is seeking contractual damages totaling $408,333.16, which includes $238,333.16 for 26 months’ salary; $65,000 in housing allowance; $32,500 in duty allowance; $6,500 in fuel allowance; and $66,000 in gratuity entitled at the end of her contract.

While making the case that Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) should have waited for the outcome of environmentalists’ judicial review application in the Supreme Court before drilling its exploratory oil well, Fred Smith, QC, told the court yesterday that the company has “poked a hole in the belly of mother nature”. However, BPC maintained that the exercise would pose further risk if stopped at this stage. Justice Petra Hanna-Weekes is expected to soon rule on whether she will grant leave for judicial review

FRED Smith, QC, attacked the government yesterday for a deal prohibiting it from terminating the heads of agreement with Oban Energies whatever an environment impact assessment may find, insisting he will launch judicial review proceedings within weeks to challenge the legality of the provision. He said “dozens” of Grand Bahama residents have asked him to do so. A persistent critic of administrations that push developments before consultation and environment assessments are completed, he said this is the first heads of agreement he