WHEN YOUR "LAWYER" IS NOT YOUR LAWYER

Amid all tumult and the shouting surrounding the noise over the validity of the CBI/CIP passports illegally issued at a deeply discounted rate, and the moves by East Caribbean states to cancel and void those identity documents, it is important to remember that anyone who chooses to invest six figures of his money in an economic citizenship ought to engage the services of a competent attorney, before entering into any contract to purchase an economic citizenship.

We have found that very few clients actually hire a lawyer for what is a very important transaction. The reason, as best we can determine, is that many of the passport consultancies assure prospects that some of their people are extremely knowledgeable "legal specialists" and therefore, by implication they are fully protected. We note that, even where these individual are lawyers, they are (1) not admitted to the practice of law in the jurisdictions where they want to sell you the passport, and therefore are not competent to advise you of both the advantages and disadvantages under local law, (2) Are not fully familiar with the extent of corruption and fraud that may taint that specific program, and (3) Have no genuine professional license and regulatory agency which you can go to later with complaints or claims.

Please, and I direct this to anyone who contemplates purchasing an economic citizenship, retain, in advance, the services of a competent attorney who is familiar with the jurisdiction, the program, the individuals and entities involved, and the risks you may be shouldering by the purchase itself. Not only your entire investment may be at risk, that passport may serve to paint a bull's-eye on your back, for reasons that were never explained to you by the people who sold you that citizenship.