Topaz L. M. Johnson
Partner
Topaz Johnson’s practice covers a range of areas in corporate law and commercial law. This includes a specialist practice in financial law and significant experience in major acquisition deals.
In the area of financial law, she has been legal adviser to banks and other lenders in a wide range of transactional matters and given extensive advice in work-out solutions for special loans. Topaz has also provided transactional advice to large borrowers and representation in the issuance of debt instruments.
Topaz has participated in several transactions as legal advisor to international companies in their bids for and acquisitions of companies or company-owned assets in Jamaica.
Prior to her legal practice, Topaz was a Manager at a large international commercial bank. She gained experience in Corporate Banking, Development Finance and Investment Management.
Topaz has been rated by IFLR1000 as “Highly Regarded” in the practice areas of Banking and Financial Restructuring and has been Ranked in Chambers Global.
Bars / Solicitors' Rolls
Jamaican Bar, 2008
Education
B.Sc., Management Studies (Major) and Economics (Minor), University of the West Indies, 1998
M.Sc., International Business, University of the West Indies, 2001
LL.B., University of London, 2006
Legal Education Certificate, Norman Manley Law School, 2008
LL.M. (Banking and Finance Law), University of London, 2020
Recent Experience
- 2022: Jurisdictional counsel to multilateral institution in lending transaction to bank for working capital loan to provide funding for MSMEs, as a part of COVID-19 economic recovery initiative.
- 2020: Represented bond issuer in successful private placement in funding of large commercial infrastructure project.
- 2019: Lead legal advisor to the Concessionaire of the Norman Manley International Airport during the transitional phase of the concession agreement culminating in its successful commencement of the operation of this airport.
- 2017-2018: Represented and provided advice to client in relation to its response to the Request for Qualification (RFQ) and Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the Government of Jamaica which resulted in the award of the concession for the operation, management, maintenance and development of the Norman Manley International Airport to the client through its SPV.
- 2018: Member of legal team that acted for an international finance institution in the funding of a major renewable energy project in Jamaica.
- 2017: Represented overseas company and affiliates in issuance of secured bonds.
- 2016-2017: Represented international investment banks in ISDA transactions with Jamaican counterparties.
- 2015-2016: Member of team representing resort facility as borrower in syndicated loan of over US$100 Million.
- 2015: Attorney that represented borrower in loan transaction to finance the construction of a large commercial facility that is being leased to several companies.
- 2015: Member of team representing multilateral lending agency in providing financing for renewable energy projects (solar).
- 2014-2015: Member of team representing syndicate of multilateral lending agencies in providing financing for renewable energy projects (wind).
- 2013-14: Represented international commercial bank in purchase of portion of loan portfolio from Jamaican commercial bank.
- 2012: One of the attorneys representing purchaser of shares in large petroleum marketing and retail distribution company.
- 2011: Member of team representing multilateral lending institution in providing financing for independent energy producing company that supplies energy to the national grid.
- 2011: One of the attorneys that represented syndicate of lenders in three security enforcement matters involving appointment of receivers in large secured loan transactions.
- 2010: Member of team which acted along with NY counsel for company in issuance of bonds and party to Total Return Swap transaction referencing the bonds.
- 2009: Member of team that represented commercial bank in large loan facility to complete construction of resort facility.
Publications & Presentations
- Financing in Uncertain Times – When is a Lender Obliged to Lend? Paper accredited by the General Legal Council of Jamaica for CLPD Seminar and presented on September 8, 2021
- When is a lender obliged to lend? Published in the Jambar Journal Volume 33 No. 1. January – July 2021
- Choosing between Bonds and Loans for Corporate Financing, published in Lexology by Globe Business Publishing Ltd., November 18, 2019 and in the Sunday Gleaner, December 22, 2019.
- Recognizing the Value of Innovation in Jamaican Laws, published in the Financial Gleaner, January 13, 2017
- Modernizing Insolvency Law – Paper presented at Seminar “The IMF Agreement – Practical Legal Consequences for the Financial Sector” – Held November 13, 2013, Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston Jamaica
- Retail Repos in Jamaica – A Legal Perspective – Paper presented at Seminar “The IMF Agreement – Practical Legal Consequences for the Financial Sector” – Held November 13, 2013, Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica
- Laws being changed to support Jamaica’s IMF economic programme, published in Lexology by Globe Business Publishing Ltd., August 21, 2013
- Derivatives 101, published in the Financial Gleaner, December 7, 2012
- A Decade of Business Development Facilitation – Co-Author of DunnCox’s submission to Chambers Global – The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business – 2010
- The Road To 2030 Pivots on Ease of Doing Business, published in the Financial Gleaner, April 17, 2009