STvB Advocaten (“STvB”), formerly Smeets Thesseling van Bokhorst, is a leading law firm advising on the laws of Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten and the BES Islands (herein together also referred to as the “Netherlands Antilles”). STvB has an internationally acclaimed reputation built on integrity and professionalism. STvB has offices in Curaçao, Amsterdam and New York. The firm specializes in international transactions and provides legal advice to legal entities and individuals engaged in international operations.

The firm was founded in 1938 by Antonius A.G. Smeets, who laid the ground work of the off-shore investment and finance industry in the Netherlands Antilles.

In over 70 years of existence, STvB has become a renowned and reliable law firm in the Netherlands Antilles offering both legal and notarial services. The notarial services are presently rendered in close cooperation with civil law notaries in Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Aruba and the BES Islands.

STvB serves many leading international banks and other financial institutions requiring advice on corporate, banking and finance matters in the four jurisdictions constituting the Netherlands Antilles. The firm is counsel to most Curaçao listed companies and assists many other companies – including (offshore) banks, finance companies, insurance and investment companies, holding companies and royalty companies – and wealthy individuals that use any of the four Netherlands Antilles jurisdictions in their international operations.

As such STvB has been involved in most international transactions involving companies incorporated in one of the four Netherlands Antilles jurisdictions.
In addition, the firm over the years has been instrumental in the development of new financial products such as finance companies, off-shore investment funds and private foundations. The commercial law, laid down in Book 2 Civil Code that was introduced effective March 1, 2004, was prepared by a committee chaired by Gerard C.A. Smeets, former civil law notary in Curaçao.
For many of the Fortune 500 corporations, major banks, as well as prominent accounting firms, tax advisors and law firms in the United States, Europe, the Pacific Rim and Latin America, STvB has been and remains the logical choice for obtaining advice and assistance as to matters of the laws of any of the four Netherlands Antilles jurisdictions.