Michelle Pindling-Sands, is a Partner in the firm's Corporate and Financial Services, and Tax Practices. She also leads the firm's Shipping and Aviation Practice.

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Michelle's practice is focused primarily on cross-border commercial transactions, including complex structured financing transactions with international lenders and other financial institutions and in advising on and applying for all governmental approvals. She also acts for individual clients on general corporate and commercial matters, which range from company incorporations, continuations or re-domiciliations, mergers and acquisitions,and liquidations.

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Recent engagements include:

• Acted as lead Bahamian counsel to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, a leading global cruise company in connection with a $675 million senior secured notes offering in response to impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the company and the cruise industry.
• Advising in connection with an exchange offer memorandum and consent solicitation statement for a national airline to exchange existing 8.375% Senior Notes for a new issuance of senior unsecured notes guaranteed by among others, a company incorporated under the laws of The Bahamas.
• Advising Administrative Agent as Collateral Agent in connection with $260,000,000 financing for a market leader in the cruise ship industry with financing secured by, among other things, a statutory ship mortgage over its Bahamian flag registered ship.
• Advised a leading retailer in connection with its corporate restructuring within the group involving local mergers and cross-border mergers.
• Acted as lead Bahamian counsel for a US$550 million offering to refinance existing debt for a market leader in the luxury cruise industry.

Bar Admissions

• Bar of England & Wales, 1986
• The Bahamas Bar, 1986

Education
London School of Economics & Political Science, London, England, United Kingdom
The Council of Legal Education, London, England, United Kingdom

Chambers and Partners, Band 2 Attorney, Chambers Global – General Business Law (2024 and 2023).

Chambers and Partners, Band 3 Attorney, Chambers Global – General Business Law (2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019).

Recognized by IFLR 1000 - Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms - as a “Highly Regarded” Leading Lawyer 2023 and 2022.

Recognized by IFLR 1000 - Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms - as a “Highly Regarded” Leading Lawyer 2021, 2020, 2019.

Recognized by IFLR 1000 - Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms - as a “Notable Practitioner”, 2019

The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

The Bahamas Bar Association

Founding Member and Director WISTA (Women's International Shipping and Trading Association), Bahamas Chapter

ICLG Shipping Law 2018. A Practical Cross-Boarder Insight into Shipping Law. The Bahamas, Chapter 9 [July 2018]

Author of “Getting the Deal Through: Ship Finance“, 2016 (Bahamas Edition), published by Law Business Research Limited on gettingthedealthrough.com