BELIZE Law and Practice Contributed by: Nigel Ebanks and Darinka Muñoz, Barrow and Williams LLP
14.2 Growth Areas The main area of growth for commercial disputes in Belize is primarily driven by the increasing complexity of cross-border transactions, for- eign investments and real estate development. Specific areas of growth include the following. • Real estate and property disputes: with the rapid development of tourism and real estate in areas like Ambergris Caye, disputes over land ownership, unregistered interests, property rights and development contracts have surged. Disputes requiring the resolution of issues concerning title to land, especially in prime areas of the country, are becoming more frequent.
• Financial services and banking: the financial sector has arguably also seen increasing litigation concerning investment agreements, securities and debt recovery. The effect of regulatory changes, including those concern- ing taxation and new corporate legislation, have also featured in these disputes. • Commercial contract disputes: the growth in Belize’s business environment has similarly been accompanied by a greater scope for disputes concerning breaches of contract, shareholder disputes and issues around joint ventures.
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