Michelle Pindling-Sands, is a Partner in the firm’s Financial Services, Private Client, Trusts and Estates Practice Group.

Michelle’s practice is focused primarily on cross-border commercial transactions, including complex structured financing transactions with international lenders and other financial institutions and in advising on and applying for all governmental approvals. She also acts for individual clients on general corporate and commercial matters, which range from company incorporations, continuations or re-domiciliations, mergers and acquisitions, and liquidations.

Michelle is also Chair of the firm’s Shipping Practice Group. She is recognised by the prestigious London-based Chambers and Partners as a top ranked attorney in Chambers Global General Business Law. She holds the distinction of a Band 3 ranking.

Chambers Review: Michelle Pindling-Sands heads the firm’s shipping practice. She is an acknowledged expert in shipping finance and is also noted for her transactional strengths more broadly. Commentators regard her as “excellent” and attest to her “good reputation.”

Recent engagements include:

• Acted as lead Bahamian counsel to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, a leading global cruise company in connection with a $675 million senior secured notes offering in response to impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the company and the cruise industry.
• Advising in connection with an exchange offer memorandum and consent solicitation statement for a national airline to exchange existing 8.375% Senior Notes for a new issuance of senior unsecured notes guaranteed by among others, a company incorporated under the laws of The Bahamas.
• Advising Administrative Agent as Collateral Agent in connection with $260,000,000 financing for a market leader in the cruise ship industry with financing secured by, among other things, a statutory ship mortgage over its Bahamian flag registered ship.
• Advised a leading retailer in connection with its corporate restructuring within the group involving local mergers and cross-border mergers.
• Acted as lead Bahamian counsel for a US$550 million offering to refinance existing debt for a market leader in the luxury cruise industry.
• Advised in connection with an additional US$70 million note offering to the above noted US$550 million transaction.
• Advised a lender in relation to financing to repay outstanding indebtedness of a group of ship-owning companies, with each ship-owning company providing ship security as guarantors in support of the loan facility, and drafting corporate resolutions and ship mortgages.
• Advised a lender in connection with a facility to oil and gas companies, secured by Bahamian all asset security and share pledges, and drafting and registering all Bahamian security.

Bar Admissions

• Bar of England & Wales, 1986
• The Bahamas Bar, 1986

Education
London School of Economics & Political Science, London, England, United Kingdom
The Council of Legal Education, London, England, United Kingdom

Chambers and Partners, Band 2 Attorney, Chambers Global – General Business Law: Real Estate (2023).

Chambers and Partners, Band 3 Attorney, Chambers Global – General Business Law (2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019).

Recognized by IFLR 1000 – Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms –  as a “Highly Regarded” Leading Lawyer 2023 and 2022.

Recognized by IFLR 1000 – Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms –  as a “Highly Regarded” Leading Lawyer 2021, 2020, 2019.

Recognized by IFLR 1000 – Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms –  as a “Notable Practitioner”, 2019

The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

The Bahamas Bar Association

Founding Member and Director WISTA (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association), Bahamas Chapter

ICLG Shipping Law 2018. A Practical Cross-Boarder Insight into Shipping Law. The Bahamas, Chapter 9 [July 2018]

Author of “Getting the Deal Through: Ship Finance“, 2016 (Bahamas Edition), published by Law Business Research Limited on gettingthedealthrough.com