M. Glenn Hamel-Smith
Partner, Head – Banking & Finance
Phone: 868 299 0981
Mobile: 868 389 6803
Bar Admissions
1998: Florida
2003: Trinidad & Tobago
Areas of Practice
- Banking and Financial Services
- Corporate and Securities
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Capital Markets
- Secured Lending
- Foreign Investment
- Project Finance
Profile
Glenn Hamel-Smith is the Head of our Banking & Finance Practice Group and is admitted to practice both in the State of Florida and in Trinidad & Tobago. He began his legal career in 1998 as an Associate in the International and Corporate Departments of one of the largest international law firms headquartered in Miami, Florida at the time. He joined our firm upon his return to Trinidad in 2002 and was appointed Partner in 2007.
Glenn’s core practice is in the corporate and commercial areas of law, focusing in particular on bank finance and regulation, project finance, secured and unsecured lending, mergers & acquisitions including merger control issues, and IPO’s and other securities and capital markets transactions. He has acted as trusted adviser to lenders, borrowers, arrangers, issuers, underwriters, securities companies, trustees and financial advisers in billion dollar transactions. Glenn has also authored and co-authored numerous published articles on topics such as corporate governance, securities laws, merger control, bank finance and regulations, taking security over collateral, and mergers and acquisitions.
Rankings and Accolades – Chambers Global 2022: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business
Glenn Hamel-Smith: is featured with a No. 2. Ranking among the corporate/commercial lawyers in Trinidad & Tobago. A sample of the commentaries reported by Chambers Global include:
“He is notable for his debt capital markets practice and has additional expertise in rights issuances, M&A and restructuring matters.” – 2022
“He regularly advises on revolving credit facilities and acts for an impressive list of commercial lenders.” – 2021
“has a strong aptitude for banking and finance. His work in this field spans transactional and regulatory mandates, including bank mergers, high-value note issuances and project finance.” – 2020
“He is a well-regarded figure whose practice covers regulatory banking matters in addition to project finance and acting for underwriters on high-value IPOs.” Clients describe him as “an excellent attorney.” – 2019
“is in high demand for banking and finance and capital markets matters. He regularly acts as counsel to major financial institutions in connection with secured note issuances, syndicated loans and high-value refinancing transactions.” – 2018
“No matter how tense we get, or pressed for time, he has an even perspective, doesn’t get very riled up and is measured in his responses.” – 2017
“developed a significant role at the firm, and is adding value to clients” – 2016
Recent Experience includes Representation of:
- Numerous multinational enterprises in advising on and assisting with the merger control aspects of various high-stake merger transactions;
- Several international financial institutions on issues relating to transition from LIBOR facilities;
- RBC Merchant Bank (Caribbean) Limited in the cross-currency refinancing of $172M loan facilities for a local conglomerate that financed two significant acquisition transactions;
- NCB Merchant Bank (Caribbean) Limited as arranger of the rollover of a US$30.6M Note facility by its parent company;
- RBC Royal Bank (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited in a $200M Government Guaranteed Loan Facility for a Government controlled company;
- NCB Merchant Bank (Caribbean) Limited as arranger of a $500M Fixed Rate Government Bond Facility;
- Guardian Group Trust Limited in a $200M securitisation of tranche of a $1.3B Fixed Rate Government Bond Facility;
- ANSA Merchant Bank Limited as arranger of a $265M short term facility for a mortgage lending facility;
- The local arranger/subsidiary of an international financial institution in a US$150M Fixed Rate Note Issue by the locally headquartered holding company of a regional financial group;
- Caribbean Financial Group and its local subsidiary in an acquisition/change of ownership and the financing and security arrangements to accomplish same;
- National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited in a take-over bid for up to 67% of the ordinary shares of Guardian Holdings Limited, a publicly listed holding company of a group of regional companies in the insurance and financial services sector;
- Cemex, SA and its subsidiary Sierra Trading in a successful takeover bid to increase its stake to up to 74.9% of Trinidad Cement Limited, the publicly listed parent company of a regional group companies in the cement production and related industries;
- NCB Global Finance Limited in a $35M syndicated secured loan facility to a marketing/distribution company to partially finance its recapitalization;
- National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited in its acquisition of a 29.99% stake in Guardian Holdings Limited, a publicly listed holding company of a group of regional companies in the insurance and financial services sector;
- The Issuer and Selling Shareholder in a TT$1.5B initial public offering of 49% of the shares in Trinidad and Tobago NGL Limited, a holding company whose sole asset consists of 39% of the shares of Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited, the only natural gas processing and natural gas liquids fractionation plant (and the largest producer and marketer of propane, mixed butane, isobutane and natural gasoline) in Trinidad and Tobago;
- KfW and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH in its participation as lender in a US$1.1B shareholder acquisition of the remaining shares of Methanol Holdings (Trinidad) Limited financed by fixed and floating rate bond issues with consequential amendments required to existing loan facilities;
- RBC Merchant Bank (Caribbean) Limited as Arranger and Massy Holdings Limited as Issuer, as Counsel to the Issue of a TT$1.2B Unsecured Fixed Rate Bond Issue to, inter alia, re-pay existing debt and fund future strategic acquisitions and expansions;
- Intercommercial Bank Limited as Counsel to the Issue of an up to $100M Subordinated Bond Issue to, inter alia, effect a capital restructuring;
- Sagicor Financial Corporation in a US$50M Short Term Guaranteed Note Issue in which we structured the transaction to reduce the stamp duty obligation by approximately US$100,000;
- The Borrower and Guarantor in a TT$412M syndicated bridge loan project financing convertible to a long-term project financing loan for the development of a mixed-use commercial facility in Corinth, Trinidad;
- JMMB in its takeover and acquisition of the remaining 50% stake of Intercommercial Bank Limited, a licensed bank operating in Trinidad & Tobago;
- JMMB and Capital & Credit Merchant Bank Ltd., in a US$10M Secured Loan Facility for a Jamaican beverage company which was guaranteed by that company’s Trinidad parent company;
- KfW and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH in a US$92M project loan financing of an ammonia plant upgrade;
- CEMEX providing advice on its significant ownership stake in a Trinidad public company;
- Republic Bank Limited and First Citizens Bank Limited as Lead Lenders in a US$117M project loan financing of a desalination facility at Point Lisas;
- Caribbean Financial Group as Trinidad Counsel to the issuer for a US$178M Global Reg. S/144A Secured Note Issue with Jefferies and Company, Inc., as initial purchaser, and in a US$25M amended and restated secured revolving loan facility;
- ANSA Merchant Bank Limited as lead lender of a TT$488M Government Guaranteed Syndicated Fixed Rate Loan Facility and as arranger in the securitization of the Loan Facility;
- Campari as Trinidad Counsel in a US$414M public takeover of Lascelles de Mercado and Company, a public listed company on the Jamaica Stock Exchange;
Publications
- 2021: Contributor, Lex Mundi Global Foreign Investment Restrictions Guide, Trinidad and Tobago Chapter, Lex Mundi, July;
- 2021: Co-Contributor, Merger Thresholds & Foreign Investment Guide, Granville Knowledge Management, January;
- 2021: Co-Author, Merger Control – Getting the Guidance for Merger Transactions, T&T Guardian newspaper, January 31, 2021;
- 2020: Co-Author, Bankers Beware – The Duty to Protect Customers From Fraud, T&T Guardian, February 16, 2020;
- 2019: Co-Author, Fair Competition is Coming – Will it Ever Reach? T&T Guardian, August 4, 2019;
- 2019: Author, Know Your Capital, T&T Guardian, February 28, 2019;
- 2017: Co-Author, Fair Competition Coming, Hamel–Smith Forum, Vol. 9 Issue 7, March 2017;
- 2016: Contributor, Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All, Trinidad & Tobago Chapter, World Bank, October 2016;
- 2016: Co-Author, Insider Trading – Protecting Companies, Directors, Senior Officers and Employees, Linkage, Ed. 2, 2016; a publication of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago;
- 2014: Co-Author, The Securities (Amendment) Act, 2014: A Step Forward, Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol.8 Issue 7, November 2014;
- 2013: Co-Author, Access to the Foreign Market – The Securities Act, 2012, Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 8 Issue 4, October 2013;
- 2013: Co-Author, Doing Business in Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean Corporate Counsel, Winter 2013
- 2012: Co-Author, 2012 Lex Mundi Pre-Merger Notification Survey, Lex Mundi Antitrust, Competition and Trade Pre-Merger Global Practice Guide, Trinidad & Tobago Chapter;
- 2011: Co-Author, 2011 Lex Mundi Bank Finance and Regulation Survey, Trinidad & Tobago Chapter;
- 2011: Co-Author, Still Paying for Crime Not to Pay…, Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 7 Issue 2, May 2011; Republished in Linkage, Vol. 4 / 2011, ISSN 1814-1242, a publication of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago;
- 2010: Co-Author, Paying Again for Crime Not to Pay…, Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 7 Issue 1, November 2010; Republished in Linkage, Vol. 4 / 2010, ISSN 1814-1242;
- 2010: Co-Author of Paying for Crime Not to Pay – Amendments to the Proceeds of Crime Act and the Financial Obligations Regulations…, Hamel-Smith Forum, Vol. 6 Issue 7, June 2010. Republished in Linkage, Vol. 4 / 2010, ISSN 1814-1242;
- 2007: Co-Author, 2007 Lex Mundi Security Over Collateral Survey, Trinidad & Tobago Chapter;
- 2006/2007: Co-Author, 2006/2007 Lex Mundi Bank Finance and Regulation Survey, Trinidad & Tobago Chapter;
- 2005: Co-Author, Corporate Governance in Trinidad & Tobago, Hamel-Smith Forum, May 2005;
- 2003: SEC Update – Tell Everyone or Mum’s the Word (Avoiding Selective Disclosure of Price Sensitive Information), Hamel-Smith Forum, October 2003.
Professional Memberships and Directorships
| ExeQtrust Limited – Chairman, 2021 – Present | Island Finance Trinidad & Tobago Limited – Director, 2018 – Present |
| Readymix (West Indies) Limited – Chairman, June 2018 – Present; Director, 2015 – Present | Trinidad Cement Limited – Director, 2014 – 2015 |
| American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad & Tobago – Director & Secretary, 2015 – Present; Vice-President & Director 2014 – 2015; Legislative Committee Chair, 2010 – 2014 | Association of Caribbean Corporate Counsel – Regional Board Advisory Member, 2013 – 2015 |
| Law Association of Trinidad & Tobago – Member | The Florida Bar – Member |
Conferences / Seminars:
2021: Presenter at webinar for Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago on Secured Transactions, July;
2020: Moderator: Hamel-Smith’s Webinar on Covid-19 – Considerations for Employers and Businesses;
2019: Speaker at Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute’s Breakfast Seminar “Getting a Seat at the Table”, April;
2014: Lex Mundi Institute Business Management Program at University of Cambridge, Judge Business School;
2013: Speaker: “Registration Regime for Securities, Issuers, Broker-Dealers, Investment Advisers and Underwriters” at “Understanding the Securities Act” – American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad & Tobago;
Education
2003: Hugh Wooding Law School, L.E.C.
1998: University of Miami School of Law, J.D., Deans Honor Scholar
1995: Florida International University, B.B.A. cum laude, Management Information Systems/International Business, Faculty Scholar, Honors Program