What attracted to the sector?
My initial exposure to the sector was as a summer student in the Corporate Department at Higgs & Johnson in the mid-1990s.  After specializing in banking and finance law at the London School of Economics and Political Science, there was no doubt in my mind that I wished to pursue a commercial law practice with particular emphasis on banking and international financial transactions.
My interest in the securities pillar of the financial services industry developed a year or two into my career after the Securities Industry Act and Regulations were passed and I spent five months in the Securities Practice Group of the leading Canadian law firm, McMillan (formerly Lang Michener) in Toronto.

What keeps you motivated?
I love what I do.  I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment after closing a transaction, irrespective of whether the sums involved are five figures or thirteen figures; it is what is sometimes described as "the thrill of the game".  In addition, commercial practice is diverse and involves multiple areas of the law; it is not uncommon for a single transaction to involve regulatory, banking, real estate and other legal issues.  There is very little risk of boredom setting in. 
Why do you think you have been successful?
To my mind, there are a number of factors that have contributed to my success.  Firstly, a strong family support system.  My husband, mother, siblings and my five-year-old son are always "huddled in my corner".
Secondly, I continue to raise the bar for myself and am constantly striving to refine my intellectual capital by monitoring industry and legislative developments locally and internationally.
Thirdly, spending time in law firms in a number of jurisdictions around the world provided an invaluable insight into the global standard of productivity for commercial attorneys in tier-one firms.  I worked in firms in London and Paris as a student and spent five months at the Securities Practice Group of Lang Michener in Toronto.

What has been your biggest challenge in your career and how did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges in my career has been addressing the concern sometimes expressed by clients who are unfamiliar with the jurisdiction that the quality of professional services available in a small country like The Bahamas is inferior to that available elsewhere.  My strategy for allaying those concerns is to provide legal services at the very highest level in a timely fashion.

What advice would you give young people just staring out in the industry?
The advice I would give to young people starting out in the legal services side of the industry is: (i) try to gain some international exposure by working in a law firm outside of The Bahamas, (ii) find an experienced professional mentor and learn as much as you can from him or her, (iii) work diligently - the sacrifice of the long days (and often nights) will pay off, (iv) keep abreast of industry developments to broaden your knowledge of the field and (v) focus on rendering quality service to your clients at all times - this is a reflection not only of yourself but your firm and the jurisdiction as a whole.

Aside from work, what is important to you in life?
Spending time with my husband and five-year-old son and with my mother and siblings in Rock Sound (which I still call home).  Uninterrupted "family time" without a BlackBerry is essential.
Remaining grounded is also important.  I have been fortunate to have been provided with a great education and to have achieved some level of success as a professional.  However, I constantly remind myself that I am not standing alone but rather on the shoulders of my ancestors whose vision and sacrifice made all of this possible.

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