Ms. Nyree Alfonso is a specialist maritime and commercial Attorney-at-Law who has been in private practice for over thirty-five (35) years. She practices across much of the Caribbean Region and is admitted to practice law in the jurisdictions of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and Grenada.

Ms. Alfonso is the holder of a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B) (Hons) (1987) from the University of the West Indies, Legal Education Certificate (L.E.C.) (1989) and Master’s Degree (LL.M) (1990) in Commercial and Corporate Law from King’s College (University of London), Post Graduate Diploma in Maritime Law (Merit) awarded by Lloyd’s Maritime Academy/London Metropolitan University (2009) and was awarded the “Accredited Director” designation by the Chartered Secretaries Association of Canada (2013).

Ms. Alfonso has extensive experience in admiralty/maritime law in the areas of judicial arrest and sale of vessels, maritime claims of all nature including breach of contract/charterparties, collision claims, marine insurance, tug and tow disputes, contracts of affreightment, bills of lading, salvage, piracy and arbitrations. Ms. Alfonso has also served as an Arbitrator in maritime disputes.

Ms. Alfonso has provided representation in complex litigation matters in the areas of admiralty / Ms. Alfonso has practiced as a commercial litigator for over thirty-five (35) years and manages non-contentious matters such as the drafting of contracts, charterparties, ship sales and purchases as well as port management and operations. Ms. Alfonso has represented and rendered advice to the Damen Shipyard Group, foreign ship operators/owners including in the oil and gas sector, international insurers and underwriters, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, including the Maritime Services Division and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, as well as the Shipping Association of Trinidad and Tobago. Ms. Alfonso is a member in good standing of the said Association since the year 2017.

Ms. Alfonso has worked extensively since the year 1993 in collaboration with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), a London based trade union and its local affiliate union in Trinidad and Tobago – Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU) and has been instrumental in the repatriation and recovery of wages of many hundreds of foreign and regional seafarers. Ms. Alfonso has, for more than three (3) decades, served the interest of at-risk seafarers who have been abandoned by shipowners or other interests or subjected to detention by State Authorities.

Ms. Alfonso has extensive commercial and corporate law experience in commercial negotiations, corporate and contract law, insurance law, labour and industrial law, wrongful dismissal, severance and redundancy issues, employment contract negotiations, personal injury claims and assessment of damages.

Ms. Alfonso also has extensive public law experience including in constitutional law and judicial review matters.

Ms. Alfonso has garnered extensive experience serving on Boards of Directors both in the private and public sectors. In the public sector Ms. Alfonso has served on the Board of The Power Generation Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (POWERGEN), and as Chairman of the First Citizens Bank Group and Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited.