McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes

Real Estate, Foreign & Local Investment, Immigration, Corporate & Commercial, Admiralty, Shipping & Aviation and Labour & Employment

Partner

Gia was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales and to the Bahamas Bar in  2011. She joined the firm in November 2011, was made Senior Associate in 2019 and Partner in 2021.

Gia R. Sands is developing a reputation for collegiality in addition to knowledgeability in her legal practice, which focuses on real estate transactions, foreign and local investment, corporate and commercial transactions, immigration matter, admiralty, shipping and aviation and labour and employment. She works closely with her clients in the important tourism and leisure sectors of The Bahamas while cultivating a close network of contacts with the future leaders of the government, business, and legal communities.

Her clients appreciate her expediency in facilitating solutions to their problems, even when working under short deadlines. Gia is adept at securing approval from the Bahamas Investment Authority and drafting and negotiating Heads of Agreements and Hotel Encouragement Act Agreements.

Gia also undertakes complex conveyancing, business and immigration issues and the day-to-day practice of helping clients purchase homes, helping businesses establish themselves and securing the relevant immigration status documents required for non-Bahamians to work or reside in The Bahamas.  Gia is affable yet professional and is known to be attentive and responsive to the needs of her clients. She is kind yet firm and operates with caution to ensure that her clients receive well considered and sound advice.  Gia provides realistic and reasonable expectations and keeps her clients updated and informed throughout all stages of the relevant transactions.

Gia has developed a strong professional relationship with officers of the Bahamas Maritime Authority as she is frequently engaged by clients to assist them in registering and discharging vessel mortgages.

English

Member of The Bahamas Bar since 2011 Member of The Bar of England and Wales since 2011 Member of The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn

University College London – LLM. 2011

BPP Law School – BVC 2011

University of London (SOAS) – LLB. 2009

University of Toronto BA 2006

Spending time with my family, reading a good book (preferably on the beach) and cooking