Sonnel A. David-Longe

Associate
Brief info

Academic Qualifications:LLB (UG | 2012), LEC (HWLS | 2014), LLM (Cantab. | 2017)
Bar affiliations:Trinidad and Tobago | 2014, Guyana | 2014
Tel. No.: 1 (868) 623-4013 ext. 1250
Fax No.: 1 (868) 627-5006


Associations:
Member of the Legislative Committee, Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago
Course Director, Lecturer and Tutor, University of the West Indies
Board Member and Mentor, St. Augustine Evangelical Bible Church
Contributor, World Justice Project
Certified Mediator – Civil Non-Family Matters


Biography

Sonnel has been with our Firm since November 2017.

Sonnel provides critical support for the Firm’s dispute resolution services and its International Law and CSME Portfolio. She has appeared before the High Courts and Courts of Appeal in Trinidad and Tobago and before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Sonnel often provides legal advice and opinions to our clients on a wide range of legal issues arising in many practice areas.

Prior to joining our Firm, Sonnel was attached to another firm where she gained considerable trial experience in several key practice areas.

Sonnel, a Chevening Scholar, holds a Master’s degree in international law which has well-prepared her to treat with transnational disputes and matters relating to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. She is also certified by the Mediation Board of Trinidad and Tobago as a Mediator for Civil Non-Family Matters.

Sonnel has also served as a consultant for the Office of the Prime Minister in Guyana and UNICEF and currently serves as a course director, lecturer and tutor in Public International Law, Administrative Law, Contract Law, Gender and Law, Family Law and Caribbean Business Law at the University of the West Indies.

Sonnel maintains a strong interest in the creative and performance arts and is experienced in Taekwondo.

Recent Casework:

2020 – Paloma Mohamed Martin v. Femi Martin and Tricia Dyer Civ. App. P-129 of 2015- Together with Annabelle Sooklal, successfully represented the Respondents in relation to the interpretation and operation of certain provisions of the Succession Act.

2019 – Ronald Walcott v. Dane Wilson CV2018-00544- Together with Martin G. Daly S.C., successfully negotiated the settlement of a longstanding defamation action brought by the Chief Executive Officer of a major essential service against a prominent blogger.

2022 – Energizer Supermarket Limited v. Holiday Snacks Limited [2022] UKPC 16- Together with Christopher Sieuchand, successfully defended an appeal brought by a company alleging that an agreement made between the earlier owners of nearby lands was unenforceable.

2022 – Edward John v Ian Trumpet  CV 2019- 04265 – Together with Christopher Sieuchand, successfully brought a claim for possession on behalf of one squatter by which he was able to evict a subsequent squatter to facilitate his application for a Certificate of Comfort.

2023 – Gary Lewis v. The Chaguaramas Development Authority & Ors. 2020-01414 – Together with Kerwyn Garcia S.C., successfully defended against a claim for adverse possession of state lands, with the court upholding their submission of ‘no case to answer’.