Erica Paine is a Partner and Co-Chair of the firm’s Property and Development Practice Group.

Erica specializes in real estate transactions and conveyancing, sales and structuring for both high-end and private client matters and large commercial transactions.  Her practice covers condominium agreements and declarations, resorts, hotels, marinas, mixed use and residential projects, fractional ownership arrangements, private and commercial leases, subdivision planning, easements, title insurance, service charges and rights of way, mortgage-backed financing and loans, property title due diligence and opinions, commercial and residential leases and related tax matters and issues, and in advising on and applying for all governmental and requisite approvals.

Erica chairs the Firm’s VAT tax group.

Recent engagements include:

• Representing real estate developers with the purchase, development, financing and re-sale of resort and residential developments, including an approximately 500-acre project in the Abacos, an approximately 245-acre project in Grand Bahama and an approximately 1500-acre project in Eleuthera.
• Representing real estate developers with regard to subjecting property to the condominium form of ownership.
• Representing real estate developers with regard to time-share and other fractional ownership projects.
• Representing hotel developers and managers, including major global brands establishing a local branch in The Bahamas.
• Advising major corporate investors on local requirements in conjunction with international transactions.
• Advising on financing structure to local banks for local and international clients.
• Numerous conveyancing and mortgage transactions including whole islands and second homes.
• Advising on Value Added Tax liabilities, including pursuing a claim for a multi million-dollar refund.

Bar Admissions

• Bar of England and Wales, 1980
• The Bahamas Bar (Registered Associate)

Education
The Council of Legal Education, London, England, United Kingdom
Oxford University, England, United Kingdom

Significant Accomplishments
Transactions on which she has recently worked include:

Representing real estate developers with the purchase, development, financing and re-sale of resort and residential developers.
Representing real estate developers with regard to subjecting property to the condominium form of ownership. Representing real estate developers with regard to time-share and other fractional ownership projects.
Representing major hotel developers and managers.
Advising major corporate investors on local requirements in conjunction with international transactions.
Advising on financing structures to local banks. Numerous conveyancing and mortgage transactions.

Professional Associations

The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

Professional Activities and Experience
Erica, between 1981 and 1996, practiced at the English Bar at Falcon Chambers, London, specializing in Real Estate and Landlord and Tenant Law. During this period she was also a contributor to Halsbury's Laws of England on Landlord and Tenant Law.

• Demanding a Culture of Compliance: Obligations on Land Developers Under the Financial Transactions Reporting Act (FTRA), 2018

  By Erica Paine |May 2019

• Important Notes on Real Property Tax in The Bahamas and Rates for the 2019 Tax Year

  By Erica Paine |August 2018

• Top Ten Things to Know About Real Property Tax in The Bahamas

  By Erica Paine |August 2018

Additional Articles

Chambers Global Practice Guide: Real Estate 2023, Law & Practice in The Bahamas [June 2023]

Estate Planning and Inter Vivos Gifts, GT News & Insights, Vol 2, Issue 3, April 2020

Demanding a Culture of Compliance: The Obligations on Land Developers Under the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, 2018 [May 2019]

Important Notes on Real Property Taxes in The Bahamas. Rates for the 2019 Tax Year [July 2018]