Emile G. R. Leiba
Managing Partner
Emile Leiba is currently the firm’s Managing Partner. He is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department.
Emile Leiba practices in Employment Law and Civil Litigation specializing primarily in Commercial Litigation.
Emile has acted for international and local clients in providing general labour law advice, drafting and reviewing policy manuals and contracts of employment, advising on claims for bargaining rights by unions and acted in contested dismissal claims in the Industrial Disputes Tribunal, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. He has also acted for maritime clients and litigated contested ship arrest applications at the Supreme Court and Appellate levels in addition to other substantive maritime claims. Emile has presented at seminars and published articles on labour and maritime law.
Emile practiced in Property and Commercial law prior to specializing in Litigation and Employment law.
Emile is a Partner and member of the Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Department. He is a member of the Council, Executive and Social Affairs Committee of the Jamaican Bar Association; the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Legislation and Regulations Sub-Committee; the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission, First Instance Tribunal and Chairperson of the Industrial Relations and Labour Law Sub-Committee. Emile has also served as Honorary Counsel to the Little Theatre Movement of Jamaica and is an Associate Tutor in Civil Procedure and Practice at Norman Manley Law School.
Emile is a former Commissioner of the Fair Trading Commission, a member and former President of the Jamdammers Running Club, a primary organizer of the internationally known Reggae Marathon and an avid marathon runner and triathlete who has participated in several international events.
Bars / Solicitors' Rolls
Jamaican Bar 2002
Education
Legal Education Certificate, Norman Manley Law School 2002
LL.B., University of the West Indies 2000
Recent Experience
- Lead Counsel in Jamaica’s first case on the applicability of the principles of Diplomatic Immunity.
- Lead Counsel in numerous precedent setting procedural decisions of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
- Conducted and lead employment law aspects of due diligence on restructuring of companies being acquired by international corporations.
- Lead Counsel in decisions on mortgage documents, instruments of guarantee, debentures and other securities in Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
- Expert Respondent in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index® 2018-2019 report
Publications & Presentations
Co-Existing In The Future – Paper presented at Webinar on “Managing Safety in the workplace – Covid-19 and beyond” held on May 28, 2020 in partnership with the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce.
Whistleblower vs. NDA’s – Paper presented at Seminar on the topic ‘Is the Whistle-blower Protected Against Non-Disclosure Agreements?’ held on December 10, 2019 at the Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston Jamaica in partnership with the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce.
Employment Law for Law Offices- June 2018
Sexual Harassment and You – April 2018
Public-Private Partnerships, published, in The Gleaner, Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Managing Contract Safety – April 2016
Flexitime – Present and Future – Paper presented at Seminar on ‘The Changing Face of Employment Law – What Employers Need to Know’ held on May 19, 2015 at the Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston Jamaica.
Death to Notice Clauses in Employment Contracts – November 2013
Amendments to the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act – Is the Labour Code Now Binding Law? – Paper presented at Seminar on ‘Labour Relations & Industrial Disputes – A New Paradigm?’ held on September 13, 2011 in Kingston Jamaica