Core Practice Areas & Specializations

• Real Estate Transactions & Conveyancing
• Property Development
• Intellectual Property Law
• Estate Planning & Probate

Experience & Expertise

Sonji Pierre Chase has over 25 years of experience in property law, conveyancing, and commercial transactions. She has advised major financial institutions on security documentation, commercial leases, and landlord-tenant matters. She also has extensive experience in mineral title analysis and oil mining leases. Previously, she served as Legal Officer at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce and as a Legal Trade Specialist at the Ministry of Trade & Industry. Sonji is also an Associate Tutor at Hugh Wooding Law School and has contributed to intellectual property law reform.

Career Path to Date

• JCS Caribbean Law – Senior Partner, Head of Property, Estates & Conveyancing (2009–Present)
• Lex Caribbean – Partner, Conveyancing (2008-2009)
• Lex Caribbean – Senior Associate, (2006-2008)
• Ministry of Trade & Industry – Legal Trade Specialist (2006)
• Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce – Legal Officer (2003-2006)
• Petrotrin – Legal Officer, Exploration & Production Strategic Business Unit (2000-2002)

Educational Background

• LL.B., University of London
• Legal Education Certificate (LEC), Hugh Wooding Law School
• LL.M. (Conveyancing & Contracts, International Trade Law)
• Postgraduate Diplomas: International Relations, Anti-Trust Law

Recent Experience

• Acted on behalf of a major lending institution in the financing arrangements for one of its corporate clients in securing lending facilities to the value of TTD $125,000,000.00 for project financing for property development.
• Represented the largest commercial landlord in Trinidad and Tobago in negotiating, settling and preparation of all its commercial leases, as well resolving lease dispute, securing a favorable resolution through mediation.
• Successfully managed the probate process for several high-net-worth estates, ensuring efficient asset distribution.
• Effectively managed the cross-border registration of trademarks in several Caribbean territories for two of the largest manufacturers in Trinidad and Tobago, one in paper production and the other in consumer goods.

Publications, Presentations & Trainings

• Lecturer: Probate Practice and Procedure, Hugh Wooding Law School (2006 to Present)
• Paper delivered at the University of West Indies, Faculty of Law, Cave Hill Campus’ 20th Annual Caribbean Commercial Law Workshop, 2023 – A Review of Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions in Caricom.

Memberships

• Director: Trinidad & Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (2019 to Present)
• Member: Disciplinary Committee, Law Association (2019 to Present)
• Member: Corporate, Commercial & Conveyancing Attorneys Sub-committee of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (2015 to Present)
• Member: Ministerial Committee appointed to review the Management of Intellectual Property Rights in Trinidad and Tobago (2010 to 2012)
• Director: Trinidad and Tobago Film Company (2006–2011)
• Member: Law Association of Trinidad & Tobago (2000 to Present)