Founded on innovation…
In January 1948 – at a time when other lawyers
in The Bahamas were either in solo or father-and-son
practices, Higgs & Johnson’s founders Hon.
Godfrey W. Higgs, CBE and friend, Mr. Mervyn Johnson
– a former Registrar-General of The Bahamas –
established a novel legal partnership. In addition to
a long and distinguished career in law and politics,
Mr. Higgs holds a place in history for leading the successful
defence of Count Alfred DeMarigny in the renowned Sir
Harry Oakes murder case of 1943. Messrs. Higgs and Johnson
were joined in 1950 by Mr. Geoffrey Johnstone (later
Sir Geoffrey), the senior partner of the firm from 1968
to 1998.
The firm has grown steadily since inception, reflecting
the development over the same period of The Bahamas
itself which, due to the energy and foresight of a number
of pioneers, was well marketed. These marketing efforts
were directed to capture the imagination of estate planners,
tax advisers and other offshore professions and directly
led to The Bahamas' success in realising the large volume
of land and resort development, the domiciliation of
trusts and management companies, and the provision generally
of offshore financial services that has firmly taken
hold here.
Strong from its inception in areas of property and commercial
law, the firm was able to play a leading role in many
of these developments with the legacy today of being
eminently well placed to provide comprehensive services
throughout a wide spectrum of commercial, trust and
financial matters. A few highlights follow: in 1999, the year that well respected commercial litigator,
Mr. Phillip C. Dunkley became Senior Partner, the firm
re-opened its second office at Freeport, Grand Bahama; Higgs & Johnson opened its third office
at Lyford Cay in 2001, an internationally renowned residential
community and financial district at the western end
of New Providence; in 2006, the firm moved its main
offices to Ocean Centre, a state-of-the art business
facility at Montagu Foreshore on East Bay Street;
2007 saw John
K. F. Delaney, a partner of the firm since 1994, named Managing Partner in addition to the opening of
its third office in Marsh Harbour, Abaco. In 2008, Higgs &
Johnson celebrated 60 years of continuous practice under
the same name.
On 1 January 2009, Higgs & Johnson became the first
Bahamian law firm to expand outside of The Bahamas
through its merger with the Cayman law firm Truman
Bodden & Company. This merger showcases the first law
practice to straddle both The Bahamas and the Cayman
Islands.
Truman Bodden & Company, located in the heart of
George Town, Grand Cayman, started practicing law over
35 years ago when formed by a local attorney Mr. Truman
Bodden. A prominent political figure, he was a former Acting Attorney General
(1970 - 1972), variously a member of the Legislative
Assembly, a Minister of a number of Government
portfolios including Aviation (responsible for Cayman
Airways) and Leader of Government Business (1976 - 1984
& 1992 - 2000). The Cayman firm is a general commercial
practice and has particular experience in mutual funds,
offshore investment vehicles, captive insurance and
capital market transactions.
Higgs & Johnson is
committed to remaining at the forefront of the
profession, providing quality legal services. We continue to be proud of our history and faithfully
adhere to the honoured values of the firm's founder.
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