Aruba bids farewell to respected attorney Jeannot de Cuba

ORANJESTAD — Aruba’s legal community is mourning the passing of well-known and respected attorney Jean Maurice (Jeannot) de Cuba, who lost his battle with cancer and passed away on Thursday. With his passing, Aruba has lost a professional who dedicated more than 30 years of his life to the legal profession, justice and service to the community. Jeannot de Cuba was not only an attorney with an extensive career but also a professional who held several positions of responsibility and leadership, including Dean of the Aruba Bar Association.

A CAREER SPANNING MORE THAN 30 YEARS

Jeannot de Cuba graduated from Leiden University in the Netherlands in 1994, earning his degree in Dutch civil law. That same year, he began practicing law, a profession that would define his life for more than three decades. Throughout his career, he worked as an attorney in Amsterdam, Curaçao and Aruba, gaining extensive experience in civil, commercial and corporate law. He represented both local and international clients, including financial institutions, government authorities, businesses and investors.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

His areas of specialization included bankruptcy, financial restructuring, estate administration and commercial litigation. He was regularly appointed by the courts as a trustee or administrator in complex cases, including proceedings involving multiple jurisdictions.

DEAN OF THE ARUBA BAR ASSOCIATION

One of the important chapters of his career was his contribution to the professional organization representing attorneys in Aruba. De Cuba served as Vice-Dean from 2009 to 2011, Treasurer from 2014 to 2016, and ultimately Dean of the Aruba Bar Association from 2016 to 2018. In this position, he represented the legal profession and helped lead an institution that plays an essential role in defending the independence of the legal profession and ensuring the proper functioning of the justice system.

HIS CONTRIBUTIONS EXTENDED BEYOND THE COURTROOM

Jeannot de Cuba’s professional commitment was not limited to representing clients in court. Between 2008 and 2012, he served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Algemeen Pensioenfonds Aruba (APFA), the pension fund for public-sector employees. He also participated in government committees responsible for advising on civil and corporate legislation, as well as investigations concerning the quality of governance and the application of the law in Aruba.

ATIA

Between 2016 and 2019, he served on the board of the Aruba Trade & Industry Association (ATIA), where he also held the position of Chairman. His career illustrates how his legal expertise was applied not only for the benefit of his clients but also across several areas of Aruba’s institutional development.

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

His professional abilities also earned international recognition. The prestigious legal directory Chambers and Partners included Jeannot de Cuba among Aruba’s distinguished attorneys in the General Business Law category. The publication described him as a respected attorney with considerable experience in corporate transactions, bankruptcy and insolvency matters. As one of the professionals associated with the law firm De Cuba Ormel Noordhuizen, his name became linked to a legal practice handling both local and international matters.

A LASTING LEGACY

Behind every successful professional career lies a human story. In Jeannot de Cuba’s case, it is a story of perseverance, education, responsibility and many years devoted to a profession that demands knowledge, discipline and commitment. From his first steps in the legal profession in 1994 to his tenure as Dean of the Bar Association, De Cuba built a career reflecting the importance of experience and preparation in the legal world. His work as an attorney, adviser, court-appointed trustee and member of several important organizations forms part of the professional legacy he leaves behind. But no career, however distinguished, can take away the pain of saying goodbye. After his battle with cancer, Jeannot de Cuba closed his eyes for the final time. The cases he defended, the responsibilities he carried and the contributions he made to Aruba remain a testament to a professional life spanning more than three decades. Now, beyond the titles and positions he held, it is Jeannot the person whom his loved ones must bid farewell.

HIS FAMILY

Jeannot de Cuba leaves behind his beloved wife, Mireille, and their three daughters, for whom his passing represents a deeply personal loss. Noticiacla extends its most sincere condolences to Mireille, their three daughters, the De Cuba and Saleh families, his colleagues in the legal profession, and everyone who knew and appreciated Jeannot throughout his life. Jeannot de Cuba has been laid to rest, but his name and his contributions to Aruba’s legal profession will remain part of the island’s legal history.