Geoffrey Gee
& PartnersBarristers. Solicitors . Notary Public
WELCOME
As a firm of barristers, solicitors and notaries public, we have been present in Vanuatu since 1987. Geoffrey Gee & Partners was first set up by its senior partner, Geoffrey Gee, as a general practice with emphasis on corporate, commercial, land, trust and business law in Vanuatu.
The firm then strengthened its litigation practice in 1991 when John Malcolm joined the firm, specializing in civil and commercial litigation. John became a partner of the firm in 1995.
We provide a comprehensive service for clients. As one of the major private firms in Vanuatu, a small yet fast-developing jurisdiction, with both internationally qualified lawyers and local staff, we have assisted clients of all sizes in a wide range of matters across all sectors (tourism, banking, real estate, construction, telecommunication, shipping and etc.).
Our clients range from multi-nationals with sophisticated investment interests in the Pacific to the indigenous custom land owners of Vanuatu, from international financial institutions to small local businesses.
We ensure that our clients are aware of all benefits and pitfalls of investment in Vanuatu whilst assisting in taking decisions about their investment in the country with knowledgeable recommendations of where to go, who to see and where problems might arise.
Vanuatu at present is at the cusp of a very bright future and we are delighted to be part of that future
Primary Practice Areas
Finance
We have extensive experience in secured lending, corporate facilities, asset finance, in each case across a broad range of sectors. Our clients include BRED bank and ANZ bank in Vanuatu, the two major banks in the country.
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We regularly advise corporate borrowers and other public, private and government bodies regarding financial activities permitted by the relevant laws within Vanuatu.
Moreover, Geoffrey Gee & Partners, over the past years of practice have kept it a priority to keep up to date with the appropriate or applicable legislation that govern Finance law and all other genres.
Litigation
Our litigation practice is led by our senior partner, John Malcolm, who has considerable experience of all litigation matters. In addition, we have senior associate Stephanie Mahuk who is also experienced and knowledgeable with both criminal and civil litigation.
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Both John and Stephanie are well versed in litigation within Vanuatu and extremely familiar with litigation practices in the Vanuatu jurisdiction.
Our clients are a fairly large variety of private individuals, corporations, banks, public institutions, companies and businesses. We also periodically act for overseas clients litigating or seeking enforcement in Vanuatu.
Commercial Law
We have a broad-based commercial practice. We have experience with commercial contracts/agreements involving virtually all industries in Vanuatu and, in particular, real estate, hotels, construction, insurance and telecommunications.
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We regularly act as local counsel in collaboration with international law firms based in other parts of the Asia Pacific region, U.S. and Europe in advising international transactions involving a Vanuatu element.
We further have the advantage of local knowledge and understanding of Vanuatu legislation in relation to commercial law.
Property Law
Our property law practice covers an array of genres surrounding property such as sales, acquisitions, letting and development transactions for residential and commercial properties both in rural and urban areas.
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We deal with leasehold titles and strata titles. Moreover, Geoffrey Gee & Partners has done a large amount of conveyancing for a variety of clients over the past 30 years, covering properties in and around of Vanuatu.
We understand the complexity of the land legislation, process and the issues which are unique to Vanuatu, and this gives us an advantage in helping our clients making informed investment decisions.
Private properties listings
(No listing at the moment
Corporate
We provide corporate services for a substantial number of companies in Vanuatu and offshore. We are licensed under the Company and Trust Services Act (No. 8 of 2010) to provide regulated company services.
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We assist a wide range of clients and investors with setting up and incorporation of both local and International Companies. We also advise on compliance with Company law and regulations.
As part of our corporate services, we also provide trademark representation and assist clients with securing investment and business licences (such as foreign investment approval (VIPA approval), business licence and business names).
Other Laws
Geoffrey Gee & Partners also provides services relating to employment, residency and immigration, and private clients (prenuptials, wills, estates and family trusts). And also, the partners here at the firm are Notaries Public, we provide notarial services on local and international transactions.
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Our Team
Geoffrey Gee
Managing Partner
Geoff has had 40 years’ experience in law since graduating from the University of Auckland in New Zealand in 1978. He started practicing in Vanuatu in 1985 and set up his own practise in 1987. Geoff has had 30 plus years’ experience in Vanuatu which covers most facets of the profession but specializes in corporate, commercial, trust and banking work.
He advises a large number of local companies in their corporate and commercial activities within Vanuatu. His clients include commercial banks, hotel and resort owners and developers throughout Vanuatu, major telecommunication companies, in addition to overseas institutional clients from Asia Pacific, U.S. and Europe.
Prior to establishing his own practice and the firm, he worked in legal practice and elsewhere in Auckland, London (UK) and Saudi Arabia.
John Malcolm
Litigation Partner
John specialises in commercial, civil and criminal litigation but is experienced in all facets of the practice and the range is extensive. John has been practicing law now for 36 years’, and has been in practice in Vanuatu for 26 years as senior partner and litigation partner.
John has represented clients from both the private and public sectors, which include a wide range of private and major businesses, companies, together with other institutions or organisations within Vanuatu.
John received his law degree from the University of Auckland in 1982 and worked as a barrister in Auckland prior to arriving in Vanuatu in 1991.
John is a founding member of the Port Vila Motorcycle Club and the resident exponent of bagpipes in Vanuatu.
Stephanie Mahuk
Senior Associate
Stephanie joined the Firm in early 2017 as Senior Associate. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) and a Bachelor of Law from the University of the South Pacific practising since 2012.
She has extensive experience in a wide range of practice areas including multi-jurisdictional transactions, telecommunications, banking and finance, companies, labour, employment, intellectual property, conveyancing, land leases and commercial and criminal litigation. She has represented and advised clients from a variety of sectors including government, telco, regulatory bodies, financial services, education, real estate, retail, hospitality, professional services and manufacturing.
Stephanie has served as a Secretary of Transparency International Vanuatu and she is the current President of the Vanuatu Surf Association being an avid surfer herself
So'oletaua Motuliki
Solicitor / Legal & Corporate Services
So’o holds a Bachelors of Law from the University of the South Pacific’s, School of Law. She initially came to the firm as a post-graduate intern and was our resident paralegal for sometime.
She is a Solicitor and Barrister of the High Court of Fiji and a Registered Legal Practitioner in the Republic of Vanuatu. So’o assists the firm in various genres of the law both locally and internationally.
However, she currently works with the firms corporate services faction dealing with local and international company’s incorporation and administration, covering Foreign Investment Approval Certification (VIPA), Immigration, Labour, Business licensing and VAT related matters.
Isabelle Nganga
Corporate Services Officer - Client Liaison
Isabelle works with So’o to provide corporate services for our local and international company clients.
She has been with the firm for the past 10 years. She has 4 years of experience in mortgage management and has been working in corporate for the past 5 years.
Her extensive experience and knowledge in mortgage management and also corporate services has assisted the firm over the years especially with matters ranging from foreign investment licensing, company administration, incorporation, work permits and immigration for international and local clients.
Forms
Foreign Investment Certificate (VIPA) (via external links):
VIPA new application form
VIPA variation application form
VIPA renewal application form
Business Licence
Business licence application form (via external links)
Immigration
Our Fee Schedule
| Government fees | Our service charges* (excluding VAT at 15%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate services | ||
| Incorporation of a local company under the Companies Act | VT 30,000 | VT 60,000 and VT50,000 Corporate Service Fee for Maintenance |
| Incorporation of a International Company under the International Companies Act | US$ 300.00 | US$ 600.00 |
| Registration of an overseas company on the Vanuatu register | VT 50,000 | On application |
| Annual Registration of a local company | VT 30,000 | VT 60,000 |
| Annual Registration of an International company | US$ 300.00 | US$ 600.00 |
| Foreign investment approval (VIPA) certificate | ||
| VIPA application fee | VT 120,000 | VT 60,000 |
| VIPA variation fee | VT 60,000 | VT 60,000 |
| VIPA renewal fee | VT 60,000 | VT 30,000 |
| Trusts | ||
| Trust settlement | VT 5,000 (stamp duty) | On application |
| Trust representation | N/A | VT 30,000 |
(* Our service charges are subject to client instructions and are reviewed yearly.)
Recent News
Changes to the United Nations Council Sanctions List
On 25 June 2019, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan enacted the amendments specified with underline in the entry below on its List of individuals subject to the travel ban and financial measures set out...
25th June, 2019 – Additional Amendments to the Consolidated UN Security Council Sanctions List
On 25 June 2019, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan enacted the amendments specified with underline in the entry below on its List of individuals subject to the travel ban and financial measures set out...
24th June, 2019 – Security Committee remove 17 Entities from the UN Security Council List of Individuals and Entities.
On 24 June 2019, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1518 (2003) approved the removal of the following entities from its List of Individuals and Entities subject to the assets freeze set out by paragraphs 19 and 23 of Security Council...
21st of May, 2019 – Security Council Committee remove an entry from ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions List
On 21 May 2019, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities removed the entry below from its ISIL (Da’esh) and...
1st of May, 2019 – Approved Addition to the United Nations Security Council Sanctions List
On 1 May 2019, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities approved the addition of the entry specified below to its...
18th of April – Changes to the Consolidated United Nations Security Council Sanctions List
On 18 April 2019, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic enacted the amendments specified with underline in the entry below on its Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the...
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Call Us
Telephone : +678-22067 / +678-23573
Fax: +678-23710
Address
2nd Floor Raffea House
Lini Highway, Port Vila
Vanuatu
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Geoffrey Gee & Partners
2nd Floor Raffea House
Lini Highway, Port Vila
Vanuatu