James Levy CBE KC
Senior Partner
James is a hugely experienced, highly intelligent, knowledgeable and very commercial lawyer who always puts client service at the forefront of everything he does.” – Legal 500 EMEA 2021. James Levy is the Senior Partner of Hassans, specialising in corporate and international tax law.
He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in October 2002 and, in 2013, was awarded a CBE for his services to the community of Gibraltar and for his work in helping to grow and develop its economy.
James advises large public companies on mergers and acquisitions and property companies on acquisitions throughout Europe. He is often called upon by high-net-worth individuals from around the world to provide advice on complicated commercial and family dispute resolution. His in-depth legal knowledge is eclipsed only by his common-sense approach to problem-solving.
He assisted the Government of Gibraltar in its development of the jurisdiction as a finance centre. This has included advice on anti-money laundering, banking, insurance, financial services and trust legislation.
James pioneered the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Gibraltar and is a qualified Mediator.
He advised the Government of Gibraltar in the 1980s/1990s in respect of the transposition of a backlog of EU Directives. He also advised the Government of Gibraltar in the landmark Spanish Pension Case. He advised TGWU (now Unite) in their successful challenge of the Ministry of Defence’s decision of the Naval Base under the Crown Proceedings Act.
He was a contributing author to Tolley’s ‘Tax Planning International, joint editor of Tolley’s ‘Taxation in Gibraltar’ and a frequent lecturer on various aspects of financial services legislation.
James Levy is consistently ranked as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500. For over 12 years James has been awarded Star Practitioner status by Chambers and Partners. This accolade, which he first received in 2007, is granted only to the very best lawyers in each jurisdiction. Chambers and Partners also conferred the highly prestigious “Life Time Achievement Award” upon James in May 2008.
The 2018 edition of Chambers and Partners, meanwhile, describes James as “a first-class lawyer” and “the most experienced and well-connected lawyer in Gibraltar.”
An Honours graduate from Manchester University, James attended the Council of Legal Education in London and qualified in 1972, becoming a partner of Hassans soon after in 1974.
Hassans International Law Firm
The Hassans’ Private Client team has once again been ranked in Band 1 in the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide. Congratulations to the team. Also to James Levy CBE KC, Isaac Levy, Peter Montegriffo KC and Vikram Nagrani who all achieved individual Band 1 rankings in the Guide. Our continued thanks to our clients and peers who take the time to provide feedback on our work and client service. It is hugely appreciated.
Hassans started out as a small family-run law firm some 75 years ago but is now the major player in the industry in Gibraltar. It has expanded overseas, offering a whole gamut of different services to an ever-increasing international client base.
Hassans is not only Gibraltar’s leading law firm and the only one rated Tier 1 by Chambers and Partners; it is also an institution in its own right. When you think of Hassans, you think of Gibraltar; and when you think of Gibraltar, you think of Hassans, such is the extent of the company’s role in transforming a British military base into a vibrant services-based modern economy.
The founder of the firm, Joshua Hassans, was a long-serving chief minister of the territory, while current premier Fabian Picardo was a partner of the group – as was today’s education minister, Gilbert Licudi. In that respect, Hassans could be considered something of a nursery for future political leaders. Hassans has also played a key role in helping to draft rules and regulations, transforming the territory into an agile and vibrant onshore financial services centre.
Awards & Accolades
We are “a widely respected full-service firm”, ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners for 20 years running. 15 of our partners are listed as leaders in their field, along with James Levy QC CBE listed as a Star Individual. “Full-service firm occupying a prominent position in the Gibraltarian legal landscape…”
Legal 500’s EMEA 2021 ranks Hassans Tier 1 across eleven separate areas of legal practice and the sole leaders in four; Corporate & Commercial, Private Client, Tax and Funds. We have been ranked in the top tier for the majority of the firm’s practice areas since the inception of the Legal 500 EMEA guide. “Hassans maintains its top position as the largest and most established firm.”
7 of the firm’s Partners are listed across 11 practice areas in the Legal 500’s ‘Hall of Fame’. Following in the footsteps of the esteemed US edition, only European lawyers that have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence for 7 years or more are listed.
Ranked in Tier 1 for FinTech in Gibraltar by Chambers and Partners: Professional Advisers. Anthony Provasoli (Band 1) and Vikram Nagrani (Band 2) were listed as leaders in the FinTech field. “I know that I can get legal support from them as they are very responsive and flexible. What I appreciate about Hassans is that they are willing to go the extra mile for their customers.”
Ranked in Band 1 in the Chambers: High Net Worth guide: “They are a very strong firm in Gibraltar and act for some very wealthy clients. They will have a level of clout and experience which makes them a leader in this field.”
Voted Offshore Law Firm of the Year by Citywealth IFC Awards each year since 2014. The accolade was split into regions and as from 2016 became Law Firm of the Year – Mediterranean, which we were also awarded.
A finalist for Offshore Law Firm of the Year by The Lawyer in May 2015 and consistently listed as a Top 10 Offshore Law Firm in the rankings published by The Lawyer in June each year.
The firm’s insurance team was voted Law Firm of the Year by European Captive 2018 and 2016, Offshore Law Firm of the Year by UK Captive 2016 Services Awards, Highly Commended in the European & UK Captive Awards 2017 and Highly Commended by the FT Innovative Lawyers 2016. Awarded Law Firm of the Year at the European & UK Captive Awards 2018. Also shortlisted for 2016 FT Innovative Lawyers Awards and the European & UK Captive Awards 2017
We are greatly honoured by these esteemed accolades, though it is the kind words, recommendations and continued patronage of our clients that fills us with a particular sense of satisfaction.
To reap the benefits of our decades of experience contact Hassans today.
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