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Professional Conduct Committee's Mandate & Responsibilities

 

The Professional Conduct Committee is the disciplinary body of the Bermuda Bar Association. It was created under the Bermuda Bar Act 1974 and operates under the Bar Professional Conduct Committee Rules 1997 and the Bar Disciplinary Tribunal Rules 1997. Any allegation of improper conduct, as that expression is defined in the Barristers’ Code of Professional Conduct 1981 (“the Code”), is dealt with by the Professional Conduct Committee (“PCC”). The powers of the PCC are specific and are set out in Section 18A of the Bermuda Bar Act 1974. Broadly speaking, its principal function is to investigate and determine if there is a prima facie case of improper conduct against an attorney. The PCC may also appoint accountants to manage the trust funds of the attorney. If a complaint of improper conduct warrants further disciplinary action, other than the admonishment that the PCC can give, the complaint is referred to a tribunal. The tribunal has the power to admonish, reprimand, fine, suspend or disbar the attorney.

 

In accordance with Section 18 of the Bermuda Bar Act 1974, the following members have been appointed by Bar Council to serve on the Professional Conduct Committee for the ensuing year April 2022.

 

From the Membership: Jeffrey Elkinson (Chairman), Saul Froomkin QC, Delroy Duncan QC, Lorren Wilson, Larissa Burgess & Susan Davis Crockwell.  

 

 From Bar Council: Keith Robinson 

 

Chairman, Jeffrey Elkinson is a Barrister and Attorney, Justice of the Peace, Trust and Estate Practitioner, Chartered Arbitrator and Mediator, M.A., B.A. (Moderatorship Legal Science), LLB, B.L. 

 

Member of the Bars of: - Ireland, England & Wales, Hong Kong, New South Wales, New York, Bermuda, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, United States Court of International Trade, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and Dubai International Financial Centre.  Special Assistant Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Assistant Judge of the Supreme Court of Bermuda.  Director of Conyers Dill and Pearman Limited.

 

Jeffrey is experienced in the areas of Insurance, construction, telecoms, banking, maritime and commercial matters generally. He is an active arbitrator, mediator and counsel in domestic and international disputes with appointments from ICC, LCIA, CIArb.  He is Past President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2012) and course director and tutor for Fellowship and Membership courses of the Institute.  Chairman of the Professional Conduct Committee of the Bermuda Bar since 2009, member since 2006, and Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority.  Door tenant of Des Voeux Chambers, Hong Kong.  Co-Author of the Bermuda Chapter of the ICCA Handbook, Spitz’ Tax Havens of the World., World Arbitration Reporter and Butterworths Offshore Cases and Materials. 

 

Chambers Global recognizes Jeffrey as a leading dispute resolution lawyer “… very well regarded for his prolific work on trusts cases and the strong telecoms’ expertise that supports his broad commercial litigation practice” and….. “a very tactically minded lawyer with a huge amount of common sense and great fun to work with.”  He is also recognized as a leader in his field in The International Who’s Who of Commercial Arbitration 2018, The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2018 and The International Who’s Who of Construction Lawyers 2018 and in PLC Which Lawyer 2018.Described in the Legal 500 2017 as a ‘star litigator, highly commercial and effective.’

  

Saul Froomkin QC, OBE has over 50 years call and has both vast and diverse experience in legal practice that makes him truly unique. He obtained both his Bachelors Degree in Law (LLB) and his Masters of Law Degree (LLM) in 1960 and 1965 respectively from the University of Manitoba. He was appointed as a Queen's Counsel in Canada in 1975 and Bermuda in 1988. He has also been admitted to practice in the United Kingdom, Anguilla, and specially admitted in Antigua, St.Kitts and Nevis.  Saul was the Honorary Canadian Consul to Bermuda from 2001-2006. Prior to coming to Bermuda, Saul practiced as an advocate in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for 9 years as Senior Advisory Counsel (1961 – 1969). He was also Director of Criminal Law for the Department of Justice in Ottawa, Canada between 1975 and 1978. After arriving in Bermuda, He held the post of Solicitor General from 1978 – 1981, after which he held the post of the Attorney General from 1981- 1991. After leaving government service Saul became a partner with the firm of Mello Jones and Martin (now MJM) where he was engaged in criminal, corporate, commercial and civil litigation matters to name a few. In February 2012 Saul moved on to new pastures and joined BeesMont Law (formerly ISIS Law) as a senior attorney where he continued to practice in a diverse number of areas until November 2017. Since January 2018, Saul has been working with Swan & Co. As well he served as chairman of the International Symposium on Economic Crime, Cambridge, England from 1984- 2011. In recognition of his service to the community through his legal work, Saul was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and received the Gold Medal of Honour, Ministry of Justice, Republic of China in 2011. Further, he is a member of the following societies: Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; Fellow, Society of Advanced Legal Studies; Fellow, American Bar Foundation and is Honorary Canadian Consul to Bermuda. Saul was appointed to the role of Professional Conduct Committee member in April 2011. His years of experience and extensive court appearances are very useful as the PCC members are regularly called upon to prosecute matters during tribunals.

 

Delroy Duncan QC is a partner of Trott & Duncan Limited. He was called to the Bermuda Bar in 1989. He obtained his Law Degree from the University of North London and his Masters' Degree in Commercial Law from the University of Guildhall. In 1984 he was called to the Bar of England & Wales as a member of Gary's Inn. Following pupillage he was taken on as a tenant in Cloisters, a set of Chambers world renowned for Judicial Review cases. There he began to enhance his general practice by extensive work with commercial contracts, intellectual property, contracts and issues relating to the incorporation of private companies. As the head of the Litigation Department, he has been involved in criminal, civil and commercial litigation.  In particular, he has been involved in many judicial review cases. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the National Bar Association of America and a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers in America. For many years, Delroy volunteered advice and legal assistance to the Methodist Church and the West Indian Association. Delroy was appointed a member of Bar Council in April 2001 and during time he serverd as a member of the Professional Conduct Committee for 7 years. Delroy was appointed as the President of the Bar Association in April of 2011 in which he served 2 years. In May of 2014, Bar Council re-appointed Delroy to serve on the Professional Conduct Committee.

 

Lorren A.F. Wilson JP is a Director/Partner of Cox Hallett Wilkinson Limited and head of its Private Client Department. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University and a LLB (Hons) from the University of Buckingham. He is a former member of the Bermuda Police Service and has served as a Parliamentary Counsel in the Attorney Generals Chambers. Lorren currently specializes in commercial and residential property transactions, estate planning, wills and trusts. He has advised international organisations on the acquisition of local real estate for hotel development. He has published numerous articles and is regularly invited to speak before local real estate agencies, the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce (real estate division) and local lending institutions. He completed the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law Chester in 1999 and was admitted to the Bermuda Bar in 2000. Lorren is a Justice of the Peace, a member of the Bermuda Bar Association, an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, formerly chaired the Bermuda Rhodes Scholarship selection committee he currently sits as a member of the selection committee for the Human Rights Commissioners and on the Board of Education as deputy chair. Ellected to Bar Council in April 2019.

 

Larissa R. Burgess is a Bermudian, currently employed as a Crown Counsel for the Department of Public Prosecutions (“DPP”) in the Ministry of Legal Affairs of the Government of Bermuda. Ms Burgess attended the Warwick Academy High School and studied law at the University of Buckingham and the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom. On completion of her studies in the United Kingdom, she attained both bachelor and master of laws degrees and subsequently qualified as a Solicitor. She was called to the Bermuda Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor in April 2007.  Ms Burgess commenced her career as a junior lawyer in 2007 and now holds the post of Crown Counsel Specialist, specializing in fraud crimes, while also conducting everyday criminal prosecutions ranging from assault, theft, sexual assault and murder. Throughout her tenure in the DPP's Office Ms Burgess has served as Shop Steward on behalf of the Bermuda Public Services Union, maintaining a good rapport with staff and management. 

 

Ms Burgess joined the Bermuda Public Service Union (“BPSU”) as a member of the Civil Service in 2006 when she commenced employ in the Attorney General’s Chambers in the Ministry of Justice of the Bermuda Government.  In 2011 Ms Burgess commenced service on the Appeals Committee of the BPSU.  This was a natural fit for her as she utilized her analytical skills and experience as a Prosecutor to assist the committee with executing fair and reasoned judgments. In 2014 Ms Burgess began serving as an Executive Officer of the BPSU as Assistant Recording Secretary, Chair for the Disciplinary Committee.

 

Ms Burgess has served on the Executive Board of the Bermuda Credit Union since 2006 and is the current Treasurer. 

 

Ms Burgess has also served the Bermuda Brazilian Football School, a charity that works with school in Bermuda, as director Head of Compliance. Her duty was to ensure the charity remained compliant with the Act and to review/negotiate proposed contracts of engagement and services. 

 

After nearly 13 years as a Prosecutor Ms. Burgess will move on as Senior Counsel, Legal and Enforcement with the Bermuda Monetary Authority in mid-September.

 

In her spare time Ms Burgess enjoys the outdoors in particular swimming, boating and photography.

 

Susan Davis Crockwell bio pending.

 

Bar Council - Keith Robinson has practiced in Bermuda for more than 10 years and has been called to the Bar in Northern Ireland (1996), Ireland (2000), Bermuda (2009) and England and Wales (2010). He has two first class degrees in law from Oxford University and two LL.Ms. He has written extensively on Bermuda law and is a regular speaker to audiences both in Bermuda and internationally on Bermuda law. He is an elected member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and an active member of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners, Bermuda branch. He serves on the Trust Focus Group and the Trust Law Reform Committee of the Bermuda Business Development Agency, and is a member of the Bermuda branch of Restructuring and Insolvency Specialists Association. 

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