CONFERENCE
VIDEOS
Speaker Videos
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 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.
Welcome Remarks
Senator the Hon. Michael B. Halkitis, CFA, CAMS, is Minister of Economic Affairs and Leader of Government Business in the Senate.
John Lawrence Trailblazer Award Presentation
AWARD RECIPIENT
Wendy Warren is the Founder and Managing Director of Caystone. Prior to establishing Caystone Solutions, Ms. Warren spent 11 years as CEO and Executive Director of the Bahamas Financial Services Board, a financial sector body that works closely with government, regulators and private industry to ensure The Bahamas provides global clients with best in class financial services. Following her time with BFSB, in 2012 Ms. Warren established Caystone, an operational family office focused on full corporate and fund administration services.
Ms. Warren has worked in a variety of roles in the fund administration, wealth management and audit fields including 8 years co-leading the establishment and operation of a leading investment funds administrator. She has worked with families and family businesses for over 30 years and her knowledge of the financial services business and community is broad, augmented by a deep understanding of The Bahamas and its legislative framework. Ms. Warren is a Chartered Accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Waterloo, Canada.
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TOPIC
Building Resiliency in a Disruptive World
Discussing the challenges trustees face and how to mitigate and survive such challenges.
SPEAKER
TOPIC
It was left all to me - grounds for challenging a will
Our speaker will discuss (a) the requirements of a valid will, (b) when to challenge a will and (c) the grounds for challenging a will.
SPEAKERS
Martin is founding partner of Lundy Legal and prior to that was a partner at Callenders and Co. He came up through the ranks, firstly working his summer internships at Graham Thompson under the tutelage of Sir Michael Barnett, Kt, and later as a pupil under the tutelage of the late Colin Callender, KC. Martin has a robust and eclectic practice covering many areas of law. Starting out in commercial law, his practice quickly grew to include government applications, dispute resolutions, complex trust and estate disputes, environmental disputes and human rights matters – which recently led him to argue successfully before the Privy Council.
TOPIC
When Things Go Wrong - Problem Solving for Trustees
Our speaker will discuss and explore the following sub-topics: (i) saving defective exercises of powers, (ii) trustees’ remorse: I wish I hadn’t done that, (iii) many ways to skin a cat: some less than obvious trustee options, (iv) variations on a theme: express, indirect and statutory variations and (v) is it time to review standard trust deeds?
SPEAKER
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.
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TOPIC
Small Island Nations - Surviving the Constant Changing Requirements of International Bodies (EU/OECD/FATF)
Panelists will address the effects of the changing goalpost on the economies of island nations and their strategies to thrive and ensure survival .
SPEAKERS
LaTonia Symonette-Tinker is the Founder, President & Managing Director of The Bayshore Group LLC in Nassau, The Bahamas, a professional financial and corporate services provider established in 2013 which provides support for financial institutions and professionals around the world. In her current role at The Bayshore
Group, LaTonia leads strategic business development, strengthened client relationships, change and program management, and guides the success of high-performing staff. She has consistently found success through her effective communication and interpersonal skills and the unique ability to navigate the details.
LaTonia has earned the trust, respect and admiration of her clients and peers alike. She is a former Consultant for The Bahamas government in the office of the Ministry of Financial Services on the promotion and policy development of the financial services sector. She is a frequent presenter on Anti-Money Laundering and Compliance Legislation, Regulation, as well as International Regulatory Initiatives and Strategies.
Michelle I. Deveaux is a partner of the firm who specializes in civil, commercial and trust litigation. Her ability to handle complex litigation, strong research capabilities, and proactive approach to every case makes her a valuable asset to the firm.
Michelle completed her Bachelor of Laws, LLB at the University of Guyana in 1999, and obtained her Legal Education Certificate, LEC at Sir Hugh Wooding Law School in 2001. She also obtained her Master of Laws Corporate and Commercial Law, LL.M from the University of the West Indies in 2006. Michelle was called to the Bar in Guyana, Barbados, and the British Virgin Islands in 2001, 2004, and 2005, respectively.
(Justice Darville-Gomez only)
TOPIC
Illusory Trusts & Trojan Horses - Reserving Too Many Powers
Our speaker will look at the extent to which the analysis of Briss J in the English High Court decision in Pugachez or that of the Privy Council in the Cook Islands’ decision of Webb v Webb is likely to be applied by courts in international financial centers – in particular those jurisdictions which have legislative provisions expressly enabling substantial powers to be reserved to or conferred on settlors and others. He will also touch on several other lines of attack which tend to be adopted by those seeking to set aside reserved powers trusts.
TOPIC
A Masterclass in Probate - a complete guide to probate applications and procedure
Our speaker will discuss: (a)the types of grants of representation, (b) the procedures for making the various applications and (c) the forms which lead to the issuance of a grant.
TOPIC
Understanding
BlockChain
Our speaker will discuss the fundamentals of blockchain, applications of blockchain in financial transaction and a case study using blockchain (e.g. The Sand Dollar).
TOPIC
Exercising Trustee Powers
Our speaker has appeared in all of the recent leading cases on the exercise of trustee powers (Wong v Grand View, Futter v Futter, Dawson-Damer v Grampian) and will provide his expert analysis of what it all means for the trustee
SPEAKER
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TOPIC
Women in Financial Services. Work-Life Balance.
Women are proven leaders globally, regionally and locally! Have women leaders in financial services impacted/changed the industry? What is their secret to maintaining a life balance? Hear from some of our leaders!
SPEAKERS
Ronique Bastian has worked in the Financial Services industry for 15 years. She is a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in International Business, Finance and Spanish. Ronique has also studied in Mexico, which has given her a keen interest in servicing clients in the Latin American market. She is a certified Trust and Estate Practitioner and currently sits on the STEP Bahamas Board of Directors. Ronique is also a member of the Trust and Fiduciary Services team at Butterfield Trust (Bahamas) Limited.
Ivylyn Cassar is Chair of Equity Bank Bahamas Limited and has over three decades of international wealth management experience. She is a Certified Public Accountant, Trust and Estate Practitioner and also a Securities Investment Advisor having completed the Series 7 examination. She was most recently the Managing Director of Leopold Joseph (Bahamas) Limited prior to joining Equity Trust Bahamas Limited.
Dianne is a multiple award-winning practitioner in the financial services industry with more than 30 years’ experience. She recently retired in 2021 as managing director of Leno Trust Ltd. and, immediately prior to joining Leno, served as vice president and head of trust and fiduciary at Butterfield Trust (Bahamas) Limited. She is a recipient of the Bahamas Financial Services Professional of the Year Award and also of STEP’s prestigious Founders Award.
Ronique Bastian has worked in the Financial Services industry for 15 years. She is a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in International Business, Finance and Spanish. Ronique has also studied in Mexico, which has given her a keen interest in servicing clients in the Latin American market.
Shivron has over 5 years of experience in offshore banking and a deep understanding and wider market view on the compliance processes, risk mitigation and internal control systems, trust, compliance & quality assurance framework, and internal audit. He holds a Bachelors of Laws degree from UWI, a Master of Laws degree in Banking & Finance law from the University of London, a Certificate of Legal Education from Eugene Dupuch Law School, and a Diploma in International Trust Management from STEP.
Anastacia Hepburn is an attorney currently working at a Private Bank, specializing in Financial Services law and regulation, Fiduciary Services and Corporate Governance. Anastacia has sat on private and public boards where she has assisted with providing guidance and oversight to the boards.
Taryn Gordon, TEP is a financial services professional who is currently employed at FirstCaribbean International Trust Company (Bahamas) Limited as a Trust Administrator. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Business and Finance from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a Series 7 license from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Mrs. Gordon currently serves as a Director on the Board of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (“STEP”) Bahamas Branch. She became a full member of STEP on March 10, 2015. She was a Bahamas Financial Services Board, Achiever of the Year Nominee in 2018. In her free time, she likes to read, travel and exercise.
George T. Carey is an Attorney-at-Law, a Notary Public, and he was admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas on October 27th, 2006. He is the Managing Partner of Oasis Law Chambers, and provides consultancy services in compliance, anti-money laundering, common reporting standards (‘CRS’), foreign accounts tax compliance act (‘FATCA’), etc. Mr. Carey is also a Trust and Estate Practitioner, and formerly a Vice Presidents of a leading offshore bank in The Bahamas.
STEP Bahamas Branch Chair
Mrs. Anita Bain is the Chief Examiner at The Central Bank of The Bahamas, where she leads the Onsite Examination Unit within the Bank Supervision Department. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with memberships in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and The Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA). In addition, she is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), and a Society of Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP).
C. Dianne Bingham, a trust practitioner of more than forty years has served in senior roles of various international trust companies, leading in the establishment and licensing of a fully owned and operated Bahamian trust company.