STEP BAHAMAS CONFERENCE
SCHEDULE
7:00am-8:00am
Conference Registration and Breakfast
8:00am-8:15am
Opening Remarks
Theo is assistant general counsel in international trust services at J.P. Morgan Trust Company (Bahamas) Limited with legal responsibility for The Bahamas, Jersey and Singapore trust companies. He is the chairman of the STEP Bahamas Branch, a member of the Caribbean and Latin America Regional Committee and a member of STEP’s Governing Council.
8:15am-8:40am
Welcome Remarks
Brandace B. Duncanson first joined the Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration as the Ministry’s Deputy Director of Financial Services. As of August 2022, she serves as Director of Financial Services in the recently formed Ministry of Economic Affairs. Director Duncanson has experience in a broad range of matters and possesses a sound knowledge of the practice, procedures and laws governing the financial and corporate structure in The Bahamas. Additionally, she is a trained legislative draftsperson and facilitated the preparation and drafting of a wide range of legislation on behalf of the Government of The Bahamas including, but not limited to, land reform and financial services.
8:40am- 9:05am
John Lawrence Trailblazer Award Presentation
AWARD RECIPIENT
Antoinette Russell is the founder and CEO of Maran Global Solutions Limited, a Bahamas-based boutique company focused on providing a range of professional services including compliance consulting, corporate governance training, human capital and leadership development, operational reviews and assessments, and corporate and concierge services. As CEO she leverages her decades of experience to deliver solutions that exceed each client’s needs.
Prior to founding Maran Global, Antoinette spent over 35 years in the international financial services sector, rising to the position of Managing Director of an International Trust Company where she was the first female appointed for the Trust Division of the global financial services giant. She has received numerous awards in recognition of her professional achievements and long-term commitment to the business sector, including the 2006 “Executive of The Year” Nominee for outstanding contribution to Bahamas Financial Services Industry, the 2013 Minister’s Award for Contribution to Financial Services, and the 2014 Bahamas Association of Compliance Officers Founding Presidents Award.
Antoinette has been a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) since 1996, Bahamas Association of Compliance Officers (BACO), the International Tax Planning Association (ITPA), a former council member of the Bahamas Institute of Financial Services (BIFS) she formerly served as Chair and Director of both the Association of International Banks & Trust Companies (AIBT), and the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) the first female to serve in both positions. Antoinette is a mentor to many and is known to be available, inclusive, always giving advice and guidance through life lessons from her own experiences.
Antoinette obtained her MBA from the University of Miami, a Fellow of both the International Compliance Association (FICA) and The Chartered Governance Institute of Canada (FCG), Chartered Director (C. Dir.)
Antoinette currently serves as Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of several banks, a Director of the Bahamas Aids Foundation & Chair of the Annual Red Ribbon Ball, Director of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce representing the Chamber on the Board of the Small Business Development Centre and most recently as a part time lecturer at Eugene Dupuch Law School.
9:05am- 9:50am
TOPIC
Fireside Chat: Legal and Regulatory Outlook
Erin M. Hill is a senior associate of the firm who is well-versed in a variety of practice areas, including banking and finance, corporate and commercial litigation, and trusts/private client litigation.
Erin attended Davidson College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Literature and Language and a minor in Philosophy in May 2012. While at Davidson College, she spent a semester abroad in Salamanca, Spain, where she studied at the University of Salamanca while fully immersed in the local culture. During her time there, Erin became fluent in Spanish and acquired an in-depth of knowledge in Spanish literature and culture.
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9:50am-10:35am
Maynard-Gibson, a known advocate for the rights of women and children is a former Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs of The Bahamas. Of the living former Attorneys-General, she is the longest serving. She was the first Minister of Financial Services and is the first female to take Silk in The Bahamas.
During her 15 years in front line politics and while she served as Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, great strides were made in access to justice, especially through the use of technology, focus on people centered justice, data-based decision making, and, simplification of systems for access to justice. As Minister of Financial Services and Investment, she, and her team, with the private sector, promulgated and implemented the first 5 Year Strategic Plan for Financial Services.
She is the first woman from the Caribbean to serve on the Advisory Council of the Club de Madrid and the first Bahamian to be elected as Overseas Bencher of The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. Other leadership roles include, serving as President of the International Women’s Forum; Chairman of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force; past Assistant Director of International Trends and Services of The Links, Incorporated; past Bahamas President of The Links, Incorporated; and, serving in many advisory capacities in the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Dancia is a lawyer in active practice. She is a former Attorney General of The Virgin Islands and became King’s Counsel in 1996. Her legal experience includes contentious and non-contentious matters in corporate and commercial law including financial services, insolvency, dispute resolution, regulatory matters as well as a wide range of other areas of private law, including trusts and estates, and public law.
Dancia regularly advises and assists clients in BVI, in the Caribbean, United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Far East on matters of BVI law. She appears in the High Court and the Commercial Court in major commercial disputes. She has appeared in the Courts at all levels including the Privy Council.
Tara Cooper Burnside, K.C. is a Partner and Deputy Chair of the Firm’s Financial Services, Insurance Law & Regulation and Insolvency & Restructuring practice groups. She has detailed knowledge of the Bahamian insolvency regime and has worked on a number of cross-border insolvencies and restructurings including the compulsory liquidation of Moore Park Funding and the $100 million insolvency of the Realto Group. She is regularly retained to advise insolvency practitioners, and is a Fellow of INSOL International.
Dwana heads the firm’s Civil and Commercial Litigation practice which involves advising individual and institutional clients and representing their interests in the courts of the Commonwealth on the Bahamas on matters involving various areas of law including, trust law, estate planning, employment law, insurance law, company law, intellectual property, banking law, personal injury, etc.
Dwana has over 11 years of legal experience, having served in active practice at reputable partnerships in The Bahamas (where she was a member of and as a full-time lecturer at the local Bar School in Civil Practice and Procedure II (a Level 2 course), the Law of Associations (a Level 2 course) and the Law of Remedies (a Level 1 course).
(MODERATOR)
10:35am-10:55am
Coffee Break
10:55am-11:40am
TOPIC
Trump, Starmer, Milei and Beyond - Considerations for International Families
With experience across the range of private client matters, Paul Whitehead is described as ‘spectacular’ in advising clients on matters including onshore and offshore trusts, UK personal taxation, Wills and estate planning, residence and domicile and offshore structures.
Paul is listed as a recommended lawyer by both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners (HNW) guides, with the latter noting “Paul explains complex things in an easy-to-understand manner”. Others comment “I would go to Paul for anything tax related. He is so good at distilling complex tax issues into a very easy-to-understand executive summary, signposting you to a clear way forward. He is fabulous on UK tax.”
Paul is chair of STEP City of London Committee. He is a regular author on matters relating to private wealth law, and speaks at various seminars in London, the Channel Islands, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, the Baltic States, Luxembourg, Israel and the US on different aspects of tax and international estate planning.
Ariel Fleischer is a member of the Wealth Advisory team at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Mr.
Fleischer advises individuals and families in Latin America on tax-efficient strategies and wealth
planning solutions. His areas of expertise include offshore and cross-border estate planning for
individuals, such as trusts, corporations, partnerships and pre-immigration planning.
Before joining J.P. Morgan in 2012, Ariel worked as a partner at a boutique law firm in
Argentina, where he provided legal counsel to individuals and companies on matters related to
family, commercial, and labor law.
Mr. Fleischer was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He earned his law degree from the
University of Belgrano, and completed an Intensive Program focused on International Business
at Boston University. He is a member of STEP (Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners) and
holds Series 7 and Series 63 securities licenses.
Joseph A. Tubio is a Managing Director of the Latin America Wealth Advisory
practice for the Private Bank at JPMorgan.
As part of the Private Bank’s 50 member Wealth Advisory team worldwide, Mr.
Tubio counsels individuals and families on tax-efficient strategies to hold and
manage wealth, and to transfer wealth across generations and to charitable
organizations. His areas of expertise include off-shore and cross-border wealth
planning for individuals and related legal entities, such as trusts, corporations and
partnerships, as well as pre-immigration planning.
Prior to joining JPMorgan in 1993, Joseph was Trust Department Manager for the
Miami office of Bank of America, where he managed the Trust Department for
both domestic and international clients.
Joseph is an attorney, admitted to practice before the Florida Bar, where he is a
member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section and the Tax Law
Section. He is also a member of the American Bar Association. He has served as
an instructor to the Florida Bankers Association Trust School, at the University of
South Florida, and as an advisor to the Cannon Trust School. He is the author of
“The Challenge of Repatriating Off-Shore Trusts”, published by the New York
State Bar Association – International Law Section.
Joseph earned a B.A. in Economics from Rutgers College at Rutgers University,
an M.B.A. summa cum laude, from the New York Institute of Technology, and a
Juris Doctor, cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law.
John has 30 years’ experience in legal & regulatory compliance, and is a common law lawyer with educational emphasis on taxation, trusts & estate planning.
He also has extensive experience in ensuring multi-jurisdictional compliance for product offerings (working with outside counsel & adapting products for sale in relevant jurisdictions), including product management skills to direct complex products from concept to fully operational status.
(MODERATOR)
11:40am-12:25pm
TOPIC
Re-Imagining AI & Digital Assets: Welcome To The Future - Staying Ahead Of The Curve With The Latest In Advancements In AI & Digital Assets
With an extensive background in economics and finance, Michael Clare holds a Bachelor’s Degree (BSc.) in Finance, an MBA with a focus of Economics and Finance and a second Master’s degree (MSc.) in Digital Currency and Blockchain technology from the University of Nicosia located in Nicosia, Cyprus making him the first Bahamian to possess a masters degree in the space. Mr. Clare holds a significant role as a member and advisor within the Stanford University AI & Web3 Research Lab Association, an organization comprised of prominent industry leaders and experts in the Web 3.0 industry. He also actively contributes to the Bahamas Financial Services Board Fintech Working Group and serves as the Regional Ambassador for the Bahamas within the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC).
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12:25pm-1:55pm
Lunch Break
1:55pm-2:40pm
TOPIC
Mervie Gone Wild - Considerations for the Vulnerable Client
Ziva, a solicitor-advocate, advises clients on dispute resolution issues, including complex trust disputes, contested estates and commercial disputes containing fiduciary elements. She counsels individuals and companies on the conduct and the avoidance of disputes and has extensive experience in cross-jurisdictional and international litigation.
Ziva brings her wealth of experience in litigation to advise on structuring trusts and other arrangements to minimize the risk of future disputes. She reviews matters to determine whether the structure will meet the family’s evolving needs, to ensure the choice of jurisdiction best suits the individual circumstances of the case and that the structure includes as many litigation deterrents as possible.
When disputes arise, Ziva will advise on and conduct mediation as well as other forms of alternative dispute resolution. In cases when litigation has been threatened or commenced, Ziva has successfully pursued and defended cases in the UK and abroad, including the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Channel Islands and the Middle East.
Kimberly A. Whaley is the Founding Partner at WEL PARTNERS. She practices in the areas of Estate, Trusts, Fiduciary Litigation including Power of Attorney Disputes, Contentious and noncontentious Passing of Accounts Applications, Guardianship, Dependants’ Support, and Elder Law.
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2:40pm-3:25pm
TOPIC
Litigation Station - The Gloves are Off!
David Brownbill KC specialises in international trust, company and financial services disputes and advice. His experience covers international trust, corporate and commercial structuring; investment funds, commercial trusts and pensions; political risks, international sanctions, investment disputes and bilateral investment treaties.
The Honourable Sir Brian Moree Kt, KC is a former Chief Justice of The Bahamas and a former
Justice of the Court of Appeal of The Bahamas.
Prior to his appointment as Chief Justice, Sir Brian was the Senior Partner and Chair of the
Litigation and Dispute Resolution and the Financial Services & Regulation Practice Groups of
McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes. He was admitted to the Bahamas Bar in February 1979 and was
appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2009.
While in private practice at McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes, Sir Brian specialized in Civil and
Commercial litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Insurance, Banking, domestic and cross
border Insolvency and Private Client work. He acted as senior counsel in multiple cases
commenced in The Bahamas involving disputes in The Bahamas, Europe, Trinidad & Tobago,
the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the United States of America, Canada, Australia,
South America and Africa. He provided expert evidence on different subjects of Bahamian law
including company law and insolvency law in court and arbitration proceedings commenced in
Hong Kong, England, the United States of America and The Hague. Sir Brian has also authored
numerous articles for journals and legal publications.
Sir Brian is a citizen of The Bahamas and during his career he served on numerous
Commissions and Boards. He was the Co-Chair of the Arbitration Tribunal in The Bahamas and
the Chairman of the Financial Services Consultative Forum. Additionally, Sir Brian served as a
member of the Judicial Salary Review Commission and also as a member and later the
Chairman of The Judicial and Legal Service Commission. He was a director of the Bahamas
Financial Services Board and the Co-Chairman of the Bahamas Trade Commission. Further, Sir
Brian also served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Business License Review
Board for New Providence and as the Chairman of the Public Service Commission.
In 2007, Sir Brian was named as the Executive of the Year by the Bahamas Financial Services
Board in recognition of his contribution to the Financial Services Industry in the Bahamas.
Brian Simms KC is the Senior Partner of the firm and the head of its Litigation and Insolvency & Restructuring Groups. He is one of the Bahamas’ leading advocates and has vast experience in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, in addition to having appeared a number of times in the Privy Council.
He was made a Queen’s Counsel in 2009 and is instructed in the most substantial Bahamian and international offshore cases.
Consistently ranked in Band 1 by Chambers Global and Chambers High-Net-Worth, Brian is praised for the quality of his work and expertise in commercial litigation, trust disputes, insolvency and fraud cases. He is described by clients as “a top offshore Silk” and “the best litigation lawyer in the Bahamas”.
Edward joined Delaney Partners as a Partner in January 2020 and practices primarily commercial litigation, including corporate litigation, real property litigation, trust litigation and employment litigation.
(MODERATOR)
3:25pm-4:10pm
TOPIC
Leadership Forum
Franklyn Butler has established himself as a family business resource, strategic thinker and value added partner throughout the Bahamian capital markets. During his time with Milo Butler group he focused on the growth and transformation of his family’s business and led the transition from G2 (the sibling generation) to G3 (the generation of cousin consortiums) in management and ownership with the story being featured on the cover of the Family Business Magazine a US publication in their November/December 2014 publication. Franklyn is considered one of the region’s leading experts in corporate governance and succession planning in family businesses. He is often used as a resource for speaking and educating multi-generational businesses on the do’s and don’ts of managing the family and the business.
In 2017 Franklyn was appointed Executive Vice Chairman of Cable Bahamas Group and was appointed President & CEO in 2018. In addition to this role Franklyn is no stranger to Bahamian capital markets as he serves as Chairman and Director of AML Foods Limited – the leading supermarket chain in the Bahamas, Chairman and Director of Be Aliv Limited – the second mobile operator in there Bahamas where he was involved in negotiating the second mobile license for the Bahamas, architecting the brand ALIV and leading management through the startup and launch of the business. He is also a director of Arawak Port Development Company and continues as Chairman of Milo Butler Group.
4:10pm
CLOSING REMARKS
(Free Evening)
