Member Profiles

Karen has over 28 years’ experience as a practicing Attorney at Law, in the Caribbean. She spent her first seven years in the field of law in her native country, Guyana, South America at the law firm deCaries Fitzpatrick and Karran where she became a partner. In the year 2000, she migrated to Barbados and joined the law firm Aequus Chambers in Bridgetown Barbados where she specialized in banking, property, offshore and trust and estate matters. She then merged with Hastings Attorney-at-law until 2011 when she started her own firm, Perreira Law that in 2015 rebranded and is now known as InterCaribbean Legal. Karen has developed a very large commercial litigation and international business practice. She has attracted a clientele of individuals, family businesses and private and public companies. She works for various financial institutions advising on banking law and loans for both domestic and offshore borrowers and private investors. Her portfolio of clients includes international insurance companies, large construction companies, property developers, and HNWIs seeking investment opportunities in Barbados. Her area of specialties are Trust and Estate Planning, Compliance (AML), Securities; Private Banking; Loan Documentation; Mergers & Acquisitions; Real Estate Transactions and Construction Contracts; Intellectual Property; Commercial Contracts; Procurement; Commercial and Trust Litigation; Licensing (regulatory and compliance); Maritime Law and Arbitration and Mediation. She obtained a Diploma in International Trust and is currently the only practicing Attorney in Barbados who can boast of holding a STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust Disputes. This invaluable qualification has equipped her with the expertise to advise and safeguard international clients and investors in the preparation of trust instruments, structuring and administration of trusts. She is also a certified anti-money laundering specialist with the Association of Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS) and has obtained a Fellowship CIArb membership. She is a member of the International Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, and an executive Committee member of the Barbados Branch. She joined the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists and The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. In 2015 she also became a member of the Barbados International Business Association and the Barbados Bar Association.

Catherine has over 20 years experience working for the Aviation sector. From 2003 until 2016 she has been the co-head of a global law firm’s international Aviation Group. Since 1 January 2017 she launched a new niche firm called “Erkelens Law” which focusses on the Aviation sector. Catherine has developed a strong client base and leading reputation working for companies operating in or dealing with the Aviation & Aerospace sector, and was responsible for several landmark litigations with international impact.

Tom was admitted to the Brussels Bar in 2012. Prior to joining the bar, he held various management and legal positions in the financial industry. Currently, Tom advises companies and financial institutions on all aspects of banking and financial law, corporate law and general contract law. Tom has a broad experience in dealing with a wide range of corporate and commercial law matters, with a particular focus on M&A, restructurings, corporate finance transactions, shareholder issues, corporate governance and property transactions. Tom’s practice also covers banking, insurance and the regulation of financial markets. He has been counsel to many complex and high-profile transactions, involving Belgian companies as well as foreign multinational companies.

Van Aerde & Partners is a solid team of outstanding lawyers. They are available for legal advice, mediation, negotiations and the drafting of contracts, as well as for litigation and the defence of clients’ interests before any court, judge, arbitrator or other authority anywhere in Belgium. The lawyers of Van Aerde & Partners are renowned for the first-rate quality of their services.

Dieter's focus is on intellectual property related litigation. His experience covers a variety of subject matters, including complex patent disputes, trademark infringement proceedings and litigation over copyrighted work of all kinds (audio-visual productions, tv-formats, original fashion and other designs, publications etc.). He also assists clients in proceedings on other, related subjects: unfair competition, freedom of speech, contractual disputes, etc. His transactional expertise includes drafting and negotiating a wide range of license and other collaboration agreements, and assisting companies with the intellectual property aspects of corporate transactions (IP due diligence). In addition to traditional IP work, Dieter advises clients who operate in a creative and innovative environment (in particular in media & entertainment and life sciences) on other legal issues affecting their business. Such advice includes informing clients of the impact of the regulatory framework in which they operate, clearing proposed advertising campaigns, weighing privacy and personality rights against freedom of speech, safeguarding the protection of confidential know how, etc. Dieter studied law at the University of Ghent and subsequently obtained an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law at the George Washington University in Washington DC (LL.M.). He authored various contributions to legal journals, and is often called upon by newspapers and radio stations to comment on intellectual property related news items. He is recommended by legal directory LEGAL 500.