Vincentian lawyer Colin Liverpool dies in Brooklyn

Author Trish St. Hill and Lawyer Colin Liverpool in June 2011 during a Vincentian unity conference at the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center in Brooklyn.
Author Trish St. Hill and Lawyer Colin Liverpool in June 2011 during a Vincentian unity conference at the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center in Brooklyn.
Photo by Nelson A. King

Colin Liverpool, a Vincentian-born lawyer in private practice in Brooklyn, died suddenly Saturday afternoon, Saturday, March 18, 2023, his younger brother, Kurt Liverpool, and close friend, Glenroy “Gobells” Phillips, respectively, confirmed. Colin Liverpool was 55.

Liverpool — whose law office is listed on his website as located at 15 Ocean Ave., Suite 2C, Brooklyn, NY 11225 — reportedly died at Brooklyn Hospital, downtown Brooklyn, where he was taken on Wednesday after reportedly suffering a massive heart attack.

Phillips confirmed Liverpool’s death in a text message to Caribbean Life, and Kurt Liverpool posted this message on Facebook: “Kurt Liverpool is with Colin Liverpool. It is with a very heavy heart that I announce the passing of my big brother, Colin Liverpool.

“The family asks for love and support at this time, but also space to take in this sudden and major loss,” Kurt Liverpool added. “We thank everyone in advance for your love and support and send our own to all of Colin’s friends and extended family.

“We will be in touch regarding final services and information and ask that the immediate family not be inundated with inquiries at this time,” he continued.

Colin Liverpool’s website states that he was “the principal at Liverpool Law Office P.C., a boutique law firm with concentrations in the areas of landlord/tenant, immigration, real estate, civil litigation, business formation, cannabis, data privacy and election law.

“Liverpool Law Office P.C. offers full service immigration law advice to individuals on adjustment of status, naturalization, removal and consular processing,” it says. “Liverpool Law Office P.C. represents landlords and tenants. This gives us a unique understanding of the issues and helps us to forge fair solutions.

“Liverpool Law Office P.C. provides the tools necessary for businesses to get started,” the website site continues. “The firm has assisted a number of not-for-profit organizations, including Vincy Day USA Inc. achieve IRS tax exempt status. Liverpool Law Office P.C., is proud of the fact that every election candidate we have represented has secured a place on the ballot at the New York City board of elections.

“The firm is a leader in the emerging cannabis and data privacy practice areas,” it says. “Liverpool Law Office P.C., we specialize in client-centric legal representation.”

The website also says that Liverpool was a graduate of the City of New York (CUNY) College of Staten Island (1998), “B.Sc., physics and engineering science – dual major”, and obtained his juris doctorate (law degree) from New York Law School (2008). He was licensed to practice law in New York since 2009.

On his Linkedin page, Liverpool had identified himself as an “innovation partner at Liverpool Law Office, P.C.” and that he was also licensed to practice law in New York from June 2009 and in Georgia from January 2022.

Liverpool’s sudden death sent shock waves throughout the Vincentian and Caribbean communities in New York.

Ruby Wood, the Vincentian-born owner of the Brooklyn-based Square Deal Shippers and Movers, told Caribbean Life that she was “deeply saddened by the passing of our friend, Colin Liverpool.

“His loss is immeasurable but so is the imprint he left on the Vincentian Diaspora,” she said. “He will be greatly missed. May the angels lead him into paradise and his soul rest in eternal peace. Sincerest condolences to his family.”

Dr. Rosalind “Rose” October-Edun, a Guyanese-born performing artist, expressed “condolences to the Vincentian community. My prayers of comfort are offered at this sad time.”

Dr. Zulema Blair, the Jamaican-American chair of the Department of Public Administration at Medgar Evers College, City University of New York (CUNY), said she was “so heartbroken about this.”

Erlene Williams-King, a prominent Vincentian gospel soloist and community worker in Brooklyn, said: “Just learnt of Colin’s passing. Shocked! Deepest condolences to his family.”

Dr. Olga Husbands, a registered nurse in Brooklyn, said: “OMG (Oh, my God), this is really a sad day for me. May his soul RIP (rest in peace), and may God comfort his family, especially his daughter.”

After Kurt Liverpool’s post on Facebook, New York State Sen. Roxanne Jacqueline Persaud, the Guyanese-born representative for the 19th Senate District in Brooklyn, wrote: “I’m in shock. My condolences to your family.”

Samantha Simmons also posted: “My condolences to you and the family. I couldn’t sleep last night. I was so saddened by the news. We lost a great, loving caring person; someone as genuine as your brother. I would of (have) never taught I would ever hear he’s gone, with tears in my eyes.”