Speaker details

Biography

Christel Sands-Feaste is a partner in the law firm of Higgs & Johnson, based in The Bahamas, where she leads the firms practice groups in financial services, securities, investment funds, and Fintech. A highly regarded lawyer for her specialist expertise in advising on financing transactions, securities (in The Bahamas and international capital markets), securitisations, and investment fund structuring, Christel has also developed a keen interest and expertise in emerging digital assets and related Fintech. In addition to transactional work, Christel regularly advises clients on company legal issues including licensing and compliance matters as well as general corporate and operational activities. Christel is ranked Tier 1, Band 1 in the General Business Law Category in Chambers Global legal directory, as a “Highly Regarded” attorney in The Bahamas in IFLR1000, and is included in the IFLR1000 Women Leaders List for her outstanding contribution as a female lawyer. She has been recommended as a ‘leading individual’ by Legal 500 Caribbean (Commercial Transactions) and Global Law Experts (Mergers & Acquisitions Law). In 2014 Christel was honored to receive The Bahamas Financial Services Board’s (BFSB) award for ‘Financial Services Development & Promotion’ in recognition for her work as a member of the working group responsible for introducing the Bahamas Investment Condominium (ICON) a groundbreaking and innovative legal structure. Christel is a Director of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, and Co-chairperson of its’ Ease of Doing Business Division and a member of the Fiscal Responsibility Council. She is a member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors, the Investment Funds Working Group of the Bahamas Financial Services Board and the Nassau Chapter of Links Incorporated. She previously served as a Director of the Bahamas Financial Services Board and as Vice Chairman of the Bahamas Hospitals and Health Care Facilities Licensing Board. Christel has also served as Vice President – legal for a family office and a leading Bahamian development company. Key industry sectors • Banking • Financial Services • Investment Management • Fintech • Hospitality • Utilities Education University of Reading (LL.B.), Reading, England London School of Economics & Political Science (LLM – Banking & Finance Law), London, England Bar admissions • England and Wales, 1998 • The Bahamas, 1998 Recent Publications • The Legal 500 Fintech Country Comparative Guide, for The Bahamas (2021) • Thompson Reuters, Country Update, The Bahamas, Securities and Banking (2021) • Chambers and Partners, Banking and Finance Trends and Developments (2021) • Opalesque Roundtable Series, The Bahamas (2021 and 2022) • Securities & Banking for The Bahamas. Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence (2020)