Providenciales, TCI, September 14, 2016 – On Wednesday, July 20, 2016, in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, Hon. Attorney General Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles announced four new senior legal appointments within the Attorney General’s Chambers.
Three new appointments as Principal Crown Counsel saw Mrs. Khalila Astwood-Tatem becoming the first Principal Crown Counsel with responsibility for International matters, Ms. Yaa McCartney as the Principal Crown Counsel with responsibility for commercial matters and Ms. Clemar Hippolyte taking the reins as Principal Crown Counsel with responsibility for litigation.
First, Mrs. Khalila Astwood-Tatem, a Grand Turk native, practiced for many years in the Bahamas, first as an Associate and then as a Partner at Evans & Co. Now, she returns home to the Turks and Caicos Islands Attorney General’s Chambers, where she became Senior Crown Counsel and then Principal Crown Counsel and lead on commercial matters. Through training and development opportunities, Mrs. Astwood-Tatem has gained quality experience and expertise in commercial law. These include; Development Agreements, land acquisition, public-private partnerships, company law, civil litigation and appeals, industrial relations and employment, probate and wills, real property and conveyancing, personal Injuries. Whilst also offering legal advice/opinions on a wide spectrum of issues such as; constitutional and administrative law, international compliance, combatting anti-money laundering, and mutual legal assistance. As lead in this new division on international initiatives which have an impact on domestic law, such as the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and Exchange of information for Tax Purposes, Mrs. Astwood-Tatem’s experience make her best suited to take on responsibility for responding to international requests; advising on international conventions and agreements and advising on various issues which touch and concern international law and international relations.
Second, the daughter of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ sole national hero, Ms. Yaa McCartney has a legacy of public service. Ms McCartney joined the Attorney General’s Chambers right out of law school and practiced first as a criminal prosecutor for many years prosecuting criminal trials and appeals in all courts in the Turks and Caicos Islands before rising to the level of Senior Crown Counsel conducting civil litigation before all of the courts and tribunals on behalf of the Government and statutory bodies as well as dealing with complex commercial agreements and advices. Training and development opportunities have contributed to Ms. McCartney’s skills in the areas of criminal prosecutions, civil and commercial litigation, employment law, advice and opinion writing, and the drafting and negotiation of commercial agreements which will serve her well in her new role as lead on commercial matters.
Third, Ms. Clemar Hippolyte hails from St. Lucia where she worked first as an Associate at Larcher Barnard & Associates then McNamara & Company thereby gaining a wealth of experience in administrative law, employment law, judicial review, civil and commercial litigation, personal injury, commercial contract negotiation, opinions and mediation before joining the Attorney General’s Chambers as Senior Crown Counsel. Ms. Hippolyte’s quality experience in litigation matters, especially before the Courts of the Turks and Caicos Islands is a particular asset in her new role.
Finally, as the new Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Michael Dillon is responsible for the management of the legal and administrative work flow within the Attorney General’s Chambers. Dr. Michael Dillon originates from Dublin Ireland where he authored the first and leading textbook on the law of intoxication, Law of Intoxication as a defence to violent and non-violent offences as an exhaustive and practical analysis of the current law of Ireland, England and Wales, United States of America, Canada, Scotland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
A practicing barrister appearing on a near daily basis before courts, tribunals and decision-makers for many years in Criminal and Civil litigation, Dr. Dillon brings to the Attorney General’s Chambers in the Turks and Caicos Islands, significant advisory experience involving opinion work. He has expertise in criminal law especially involving any issue of intoxication or mental disorder, significant Judicial review experience, commercial law including franchise law and breach of confidentiality, mental health law, administrative law, professional negligence, financial services law, personal injuries, human rights and civil liberties, and constitutional law.
Dr. Dillon has worked in Ireland, the United States of America, England and Wales, and Australia.
In announcing these new appointments, the Attorney General said; “Over the last few years we have made great progress in developing the professional staff, legal resources and better service delivery standards in the provision of quality legal work. The professional development of the Chambers continues to improve, along with a solid reputation of responsiveness to the legal needs of the public sector.”
“As the Chambers continues to evolve, the skills of the professional staff in particular will be critical in managing our operational effectiveness. These individuals bring to their new appointments the experience and expertise needed to meet the challenges of their new responsibilities through proven track records of quality legal expertise in practice, leadership, team building, financial and relationship management. I am very pleased with the appointments of these new additions to our senior management team.”
