Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer
Bruce Levy, lawyer at Myers, Fletcher and Gordon. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
BRUCE LEVY, a Jamaican-born commercial attorney from Myers, Fletcher and Gordon (MFG) in London, has come home to settle after 13 years of practice in the U.K.
He started his law career at the U.K. firm Mishcon de Reya in the early '90s, where he worked mostly in mergers and acquisitions and also some stock exchange listings, privatisations and a fair amount of commercial matters for sporting bodies.
"I chose to practise in England, because Jamaican and English law are basically homogenous and it is easy to convert," he says. Soon after, he joined MFG London, an associate company of MFG Kingston, where he became a partner in 2001. He describes the move to MFG London as his first step home.
While at MFG London, his practice focused mostly on representing the Jamaican and Caribbean financial institutions that have interests in the U.K. He also did sports-related work as well as in mergers and acquisitions.
WEALTHY JAMAICANS
To some extent his practice involved handling the affairs of wealthy Jamaicans and persons of Caribbean heritage, many of whom had amassed assets since migrating to the U.K. in the early '60s. Many, he says, came into wealth through property ownership as a result of the harsh racial climate which forced them to purchase land because no one would rent to them.
"Thirty to forty years hence, this land is worth millions," he explains. Furthermore, "a large percentage spent their life, rather like me, trying to save money over there to come back to Jamaica. Many plan to be returning residents, so they want to buy pieces of land, and build," he explains.
Finally, in December 2005 he returned to Jamaica to take up a partnership at MFG Kingston, bringing with him a wealth of experience afforded by his extensive practice in the U.K.
"Business here is actually quite dynamic," he said, and noting that there is has been substantial growth in the financial services industry. "Many of the local financial institutions are spreading their wings, and I am excited about the prospect of doing international business with them", he says.
"Quite a number are embarking on fairly impressive expansion plans", he added. He also pointed out that the local businesses are just as sophisticated as that found in the U.K. and even the U.S. With that, he hopes to get involved with ventures like major stock exchange listings, and even sports law, while practising here.
He noted that there are a host of new legal issues arising in the field of sports law in relation to events such as the World Cup, both cricket and football, which is particularly relevant with the upcoming 2007 Cricket World Cup that will be in Jamaica.
Commercial Attorney Bruce Levy, foresees expansion in the financial sector that will generate business for commercial lawyers
Bruce Levy, the attorney who headed the team from Myers, Fletcher and Gordon (MFG) London that helped the Gleaner to acquire the Voice Magazine, has returned to Jamaica and taken up a partnership at MFG Kingston. Mr. Levy, whose practice focuses on banking and commercial law, brings to MFG Jamaica the experience afforded by his 13 years of practice in England.
There he did much commercial work for the local and regional financial institutions that have interests in the U.K., and also a number of non-Caribbean institutions. His expertise also spans mergers and acquisitions, divestments, privatisations and more.
Questioned whether the commercial transactions here could business being generated here that would fully utilise his skills, he said the Jamaican business climate is quite dynamic, noting that the growth in the financial services industry.
"Many of the local financial institutions are spreading their wings, and I am excited about the prospect of doing international business with them", he said. "Quite a number are embarking on fairly impressive expansion plans."
He also pointed out that the local businesses are just as sophisticated as those in the U.K. and the U.S. He hopes to get involved with ventures like major stock exchange listings.
He also noted that there are a host of new legal issues arising in the field of sports law in relation to events such as the world cup in both cricket and football, which is particularly relevant with the upcoming 2007 Cricket World Cup that will be held in the Caribbean.
