Karyl D. Bertrand earned her law degree in 1999 from the University of the Netherlands Antilles in Curacao (presently University of Curacao) and worked prior to that for 3 years at the University’s legal aid office where she dealt mainly with matters relating to contracts, labor and employment and family law.
Karyl’s graduate thesis Music Copyright in the Netherlands Antilles: an inquiry into the right of the maker of a music work to claim royalties” lead to a speaking engagement for the Curacao Author’s Association after which she launched a career as an attorney with one of the larger firms in Curacao where she continued working for 14 years until she founded Bertrand Legal in December 2013. Bertrand Legal provides legal services with regard to the Dutch Caribbean (Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten and Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba).
Karyl is fluent in English, Dutch, Papiamento and Spanish.
Karyl’s practice areas include intellectual property; labor and employment; contracts/licenses; advertising/marketing/promotion; health law; administrative law/regulatory matters; liability; corporate law; personal injury; civil law; civil procedure; litigation.
Karyl counsels local and international corporations (including media and pharmaceutical companies (manufacturers and importers/distributors), banks, courier companies, money transfer companies, clothing manufacturers), medical and educational institutions, non-profit organizations and individuals (including artists and athletes).
Karyl is a trademark agent since 2000 and as such assists local/international clients with trademark registrations, trademark portfolio management and intellectual property related matters in the Dutch Caribbean.
Throughout her career Karyl has provided several seminars and lectures on copyright, trademarks and trade names, employment law and contracts, including for the Curacao Musicians and Artists Association, the Curacao Chamber of Commerce and the Bureau for Intellectual Property.
Karyl was the sole contributing writer for the former Netherlands Antilles jurisdiction for INTA’s International Trademark Opposition Guide editions 2003, 2007 and 2008.
Karyl is also a lecturer on Legal Skills and Techniques and Employment Law for a Legal Assistant program in Curacao and provides in-house training on Legal Skills and Employment Law for companies and government institutions.
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