LEAD COUNSEL
Justin Phelps SC
Attorney-at-Law for commercial litigation, arbitration and high-value disputes across the English-speaking Caribbean. Three decades of advocacy in the superior courts of Trinidad and Tobago and beyond, instructed by corporate boards, financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals.
2024
Elevated to Senior Counsel
5
Caribbean and English jurisdictions
BIOGRAPHY
Three decades of advocacy at the Caribbean commercial bar.
Justin Phelps was called to the Bar of England and Wales at the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple in October 1995 and admitted to practise in Trinidad and Tobago in 1996. He has since been admitted to the Bars of St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and Guyana, building thirty years of advocacy across the English-speaking Caribbean.
On 18 June 2024 he received the instrument of appointment to the rank of Senior Counsel from Her Excellency President Christine Carla Kangaloo at The President's House. The appointment recognises three decades of practice in the superior courts of Trinidad and Tobago.
Justin Phelps SC provides advocacy and advisory work across a broad range of commercial areas: arbitration (ICC and ad hoc), commercial fraud, insolvency and company law, banking, construction matters under FIDIC forms, and defamation, acting for both claimants and major media defendants. He accepts appointments as arbitrator.
CORE EXPERTISE
NOTABLE ENGAGEMENTS
Recent reported matters and inquiries
High Court of Trinidad and Tobago
Mickela Panday v Phillip Edward Alexander
Lead counsel for the claimant in a landmark defamation matter, CV2020-02580. Mr Justice Rampersad awarded TT$600,000 in general damages, TT$250,000 in exemplary damages and TT$97,750 in costs in the first-instance judgment of 8 November 2023.
Read case studyCommission of Enquiry and High Court
Re CL Financial
Acted for former CL Financial executives as the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago withdrew its long-running corporate-recovery claim in January 2026. Justin had earlier appeared at the related Commission of Enquiry into the collapse.
High Court of Trinidad and Tobago
Authentic Builders v Harnarine
Counsel for the claimants in commercial-fraud proceedings against the former president of the Hindu Credit Union. Mr Justice Robin Mohammed granted an interim freezing injunction pending a forensic audit.
THE FULL CASE HISTORY
A comprehensive record of reported judgments and advisory matters.
CALL AND ADMISSION
Education and bar admissions
Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Called to the Bar of England and Wales, October 1995
Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago
Admitted to practise, 1996
APPOINTMENTS AND STANDING
Bars admitted and offices held
Senior Counsel of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Appointed 18 June 2024
Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago
Practising member
Bar of St Kitts and Nevis
Admitted
Bars of Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana
Admitted
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Memberships and learned societies
LexisNexis (UK and Canada)
International Bar Association
American Society of International Law
International Council for Commercial Arbitration
The European Society of International Law