London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

CoI Trio Seeking Approval To Practice Law In BVI Faces Objection By Speaker, Deputy

CoI Trio Seeking Approval To Practice Law In BVI Faces Objection By Speaker, Deputy

Three United Kingdom attorneys assisting in the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI), who have submitted applications seeking to practise law in the British Virgin Islands, have been met with staunch objections at the High Court by Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Julian Willock and his deputy, Hon. Neville Smith.
According to court documents, Mr. Andrew Ian James King and Ms. Rhea Harrikissoon applied to practice as solicitors, and Mr. Bilal Mahmad Rawat applied to be admitted to practice as a barrister in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

However, the objectors, Hons. Willock and Smith both filed objections to the court on the matter on June 21st 2021, on the basis that they were not "fit and proper persons” to be permitted to practice law here.

The court document said the objectors argued that the trio: “were practising law despite not having being admitted to practise law in the Virgin Islands; and/or held themselves out to be solicitors and barristers despite not having being admitted to practice law in the Virgin Islands; and/or have practised law in the Virgin Islands without a practicing certificate.”

The document further said any commissioner that is appointed will be provided with administrative support and that lawyers may be appointed to assist them in the performance of their public duties and the work of lawyers include witness examination.

“It is not disputed that Mr. Rawat was appointed a Counsel to the Inquiry by the Hon. Attorney General and that Mr. King and Ms. Harrikissoon were both appointed by the Commissioner. It is not disputed that during the course of the Inquiry’s proceedings, Counsel for the proposed objectors queried whether the applicants had been admitted to practice law in the Virgin Islands. From all accounts, the Commissioner has indicated publicly that he does not consider the work being undertaken by these applicants in support of the Commission of Inquiry to be the practice of law, he has nevertheless directed that the applications herein be filed,” it continued.

High Court Judge Vicki Ann Ellis, who is overseeing the matter, has ordered the objectors to provide evidence to the court.

“The objectors will file written evidence setting out the details of their objections on or before the 15th September 2021. To the extent that they wish to rely on the affidavits filed in support of these applications, there is no need to re-file the same.”

Meanwhile, the applicants may file any evidence in response to the objections raised by Hons. Willock and Smith by 15th October 2021, and both parties are to lodge and exchange written submissions on or before no less than seven days before the hearing date, which is set for October 26.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×