CCLC - Key Persons
Mr. Frederick A. Gilkes entered into private Chambers on March 1, 2009 as a sole practitioner. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Gilkes was a partner of a large Port of Spain law firm from 1996 to 2009.
Fred Gilkes is the founder The Caribbean Commercial Law Chambers. With over 30 years experience he has been at the forefront of his profession.
Areas of Expertise
Civil Litigation -Mr. Gilkes has practised as a litigation attorney sincehis admission to practice in Trinidad and Tobago in 1988 and has appeared before the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago, before the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago and before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. His areas of specialty are banking and commercial litigation, defamation, personal injury, insurance and land disputes. He has also litigated before the High Court of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines and before the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal. Mr. Gilkes has developed close working relationships with attorneys practising in these areas in the above mentioned jurisdictions.
Banking, Commercial, and Securities Law -Almost 30 years ofexperience in an intense litigation environment have provided an ideal foundation for practical advice in these areas with a view to the resolution of disputes outside of the litigation process. Mr. Gilkes has developed close working relationships with attorneys practising in these areas in the jurisdictions in which he has been admitted to practice and in Barbados.
Employment Law -Mr. Gilkes has practised before the Industrial Courtof Trinidad and Tobago since 1989 and has represented many large employers in proceedings before that Court. He has been involved in numerous Court sponsored mediation sessions as well as mediation sessions before the Ministry of Labour in Trinidad. Although he has litigated extensively in the areas of dismissal, severance and workmen's compensation, he has, over the years, placed considerable emphasis on guiding his clients towards out of Court settlements of their employment disputes.
Intellectual Property Litigation - Since the mid 1990's Mr. Gilkes haslitigated in this area both before the Intellectual Property Office in Port of Spain and before the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago, the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago and before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, which is the highest court in Trinidad and Tobago's judicial system litigation experience in trade mark law, patent law, copyright law and unfair competition.. He has advised extensively in this area and has acquired considerable.
Estates -Mr. Gilkes has led the Probate Department of one of Trinidadand Tobago's largest law firms and has accordingly accumulated significant experience in this area which he shares with the junior attorneys in the Chambers. .
Admiralty -Mr. Gilkes has extensive experience in ship arrests and inthe various property issues that arise in this area.
Mediation -Mr. Gilkes is a certified mediator and has also represented anumber of large corporate clients in mediation exercises.
Other Information
Frederick A. Gilkes was admitted to practise law in Trinidad and Tobago in 1988. He was also admitted to practise in Antigua and Barbuda in 1994, in Grenada in 2006 and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2014. In his 13 years as a partner of Trinidad and Tobago's oldest and largest law firm, and then as its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gilkes has had extensive exposure to the wide range of legal services that such an organization offers and has, as such, acquired considerable experience in the various areas of practice set out above.
Mr. Gilkes has presented papers at the Intellectual Property Office in Trinidad on litigation procedure in proceedings before the Intellectual Property Office and on employment issues at the Employers' Consultative Association in Trinidad and at the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago.
Mr. Gilkes has also lectured and tutored at the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad in various spells from 1986 to the present in the areas of the Law of Contract and in Criminal Law.
Reisa graduated with a Bachelor of Laws Degree, Upper Second Class Honours, from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad in 2014. In July 2016, she graduated from the Sir Hugh Wooding Law School where she obtained her Legal Education Certificate.
Reisa completed the Law School's In-Service Training requirements under the guidance of a prominent Criminal Attorney but subsequently interned at Caribbean Commercial Law Chambers during the period May-August 2014 and joined the Chambers on November 11, 2016 upon her admission to practice.
Reisa is currently pursing her Masters of Laws (LLM) in Intellectual Property Law. She obtained training in this area at the Intellectual Property Office in 2017.
Reisa also knows intermediate Sign Language, having completed her first level in signing. She is currently pursuing the second level.
Education
LLB, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad - 2014
Legal Education Certificate, Hugh Wooding Law School - 2016
Areas of Expertise
Reisa's main practice is in Civil Litigation with emphasis on Debt Collection as well as Contract, Tort (Personal Injuries), Family Law, Probate and Real Property (Conveyancing).
Reisa has litigated in various courts including the High Court (Family and Civil) and in the Magistrates' Court. She has also appeared alongside counsel at the Industrial Court.