bahamas attorney
Jacy Whittaker

Position

Partner / Strategist

Practice Areas

Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Trust Litigation, Asset Tracing, Enforcement of Foreign Judgments, Estate Disputes, Maritime,

Contact

The Bahamas

Profile on MartinDale

Personal Experience

For Jacy Whittaker, the key to winning cases is being abundantly overprepared. As an attorney, Jacy gears up for war on everything. The litigator never walks into a courtroom without more research, more evidence, and more potential angles than warranted. This over-preparation allows him to think on his feet, building confidence—and the court’s regard—through each winning application, writ, submission, and hearing. Rather than being exhausted by sheer volume, the youthful lawyer becomes even more invigorated. After all, he lives to argue—and win.

Jacy got his start in 2000, working as a legal assistant for Frederick R.M. Smith, QC, a legendary attorney in the Bahamas. Mr. Smith had been intrigued by a brand of intelligence that has since served Jacy well in the courtroom. Even then, a talent analysis showed Jacy’s strengths as a future litigator.

Jacy enrolled in law school (University of Buckingham, 2001 and later Inns of Court School of Law, 2005), then joined Callenders & Co., where he worked side-by-side with Mr. Smith on multiple matters—including one of the Bahamas’ most monumental matters. Six years later, he and partner Arthur K. Parris, Jr left to form ParrisWhittaker. Jacy has since added admiralty law, probate law, commercial transactions, corporate structuring, restructuring, and formation to his list of capabilities, He acts as local counsel for a handful of Fortune 500 companies and numerous international companies.

In addition to his legal practice, Jacy is one of the most active members of the Grand Bahama business community. He is/was a director, advisor, or committee chair for numerous boards, including the Bahamas Bar Council, Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, Freeport Law Society, and Salvation Army. He is also a member of the Bahamas Bar Association and a member of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Bar.

Practice Areas: Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Trust Litigation, Asset Tracing, Enforcement of Foreign Judgments, Estate Disputes, Maritime.

Organizations & Memberships

  • Vice President (Bahamas Bar Association) 2020-2023
  • Council Member (Bahamas Bar Association) 2016-2022
  • Advisory Board Member (The Salvation Army) 2013-2022
  • Director (Freeport Law Society) 2013-2019
  • Bahamas Federation of Performing Artists (Director of Legal and Foreign Affairs) 2017 to present
  • Member, Rotary International
  • American Bar Association (Associate) 2008-2014
  • Onatario Bar Association (Associate) 2009-2014
  • International Services Committee Director, (Rotary International, Grand Bahama Sunrise Club) 2013
  • Chairman of Public Relations (Rotary International, Grand Bahama Sunrise Club) 2013
  • Director (Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce) 2012-2014
  • Chair of the Ethics Committee, (Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce) 2012-2014
  • Police Liaison (Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce) 2012-2014
  • Members of the International Trade Committee (Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce) 2012-2014
  • Fundraising Committee (Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce) 2012-2014

He has addressed a number of legal organisations in the area of ethics, marketing, cybersecurity and practice and procedure. He has provided a number of lectures to various organisations including various civic groups.

Honors & Achievements

  1. 2021 – Global Law Experts (GLE) Award for Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year in the Bahamas;
  2. 2021 – Global Law Experts (GLE) Award for Maritime & Shipping Law Firm of the Year in the Bahamas
  3. 2021 – Corporate INTL Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year in the Bahamas
  4. 2020 – Global Law Experts (GLE) Award for Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year in the Bahamas;
  5. 2019 – Global Law Experts (GLE) Award for Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year in the Bahamas;
  6. 2018 – Global Law Experts (GLE) Award for Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year in the Bahamas;
  7. 2020 – Global Law Experts (GLE) Recommended Lawyer for Commercial Litigation  in the Bahamas;
  8. 2019 – Global Law Experts (GLE) Recommended Lawyer for Commercial Litigation  in the Bahamas;
  9. 2018 – Global Law Experts (GLE) Recommended Lawyer for Commercial Litigation  in the Bahamas;
  10. 2017 – Finalist Lloyd’s List Americas;
  11. 2013 – ACQ Shipping and Maritime Firm of the Year;
  12. 2013 – ACQ Corporate Firm of the Year;

He has litigated over $250,000,000.00 on behalf of his clients.  The following cases are some of the matters that Jacy Whittaker has litigated on behalf of his clients:

  • Synovus Bank v. WJ et al: Asset Tracing/Freezing Order/Enforcement of US Judgments
  • AFS v BB:Multi million Breach of Contract claim valued at approximately $35M
  • E v H: Breach of Contract claim valued at approximately $15M
  • Re: O – Representing Fortune 500 company in claim against Bahamas Government
  • Re: O – Representing Fortune 500 company in Baha Mar liquidation claim
  • Re: OH: Representing 18 crew members in a claim against the owners of a Motor Tanker for salaries and wages;
  • Re: L: representing a LPC Vessel and their owners in a ship collision at the Freeport Harbour
  • Re: Munin Explorer: Acting for Owners in obtaining release of vessel under arrest;
  • C v Freeport Harbor Company: Acting for the Freeport Harbor in defending their interests against a tortious claim
  • Re: Odebrecht Amdiental: Acting for Odebrecht in arresting a vessel in the Bahamas
  • Re: IB v TK: Representing a group of Belarusian Creditors in asset tracing litigation;
  • Re: M: Representing a Canadian Corporation in asset tracing litigation;
  • GP v SIL et al: representing the Third Defendant in multi-jurisdiction Asset Protection Trust Litigation;
  • Re: AMBL: Representing the developers of a multi-million dollar development in the Bahamas
  • Re: B: Representing a local leading industrial company in various employment disputes and general advice
  • Re: Q: Representing a local leading industrial company in various employment disputes, union issues and and general advice
  • Re: S: representing a company against a local attorney for breaches under the Rate of Interest Act and fraudulent mortgages
  • Re: Gs: Representing condominium owners against the Condominium Association and the Developer
  • Re: K: representing a beneficiary in a complex multi-million multi-jurisdictional Estate dispute;
  • Re: L: representing the sole beneficiary in a complex multi-million multi-jurisdictional Estate dispute;

CLOSE X

c1f84afce64b29069b27ffb36226af5a