New Director, Legal and Enforcement Appointed

Tortola, British Virgin Islands – 21 January, 2013 – The British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (FSC) has today confirmed the appointment of Ms. Dawn Smith as the new General Counsel/Director, Legal and Enforcement with effect from 2 January, 2013.  Ms. Smith replaces Ms. Jacqueline Wilson who completed her contractual arrangements with the FSC and demitted office in 2012. 

On being appointed General Counsel/Director, Legal and Enforcement, Ms Smith remarked, “ the Commission is a key player in our economy and has developed a motivated team of professionals. I am pleased to join the Commission team at this time and look forward to the multi-faceted challenges attached to the General Counsel role.”

Ms. Smith will be primarily responsible for providing legal advice to the FSC in relation to the Financial Services Commission Act, 2001 and other supporting financial services legislation. She will also advise on enforcement action, take conduct of court proceedings in which the FSC is involved and coordinate and execute requests for assistance that the Commission receives from foreign regulatory authorities.  In her capacity as Director, Legal and Enforcement, Ms. Smith will also serve as the FSC’s representative on many regional financial services committees and working groups.

Managing Director/CEO of the FSC, Robert Mathavious commented that, “The Commission is delighted to be able to recruit such a high caliber legal professional, as Ms. Smith to serve as General Counsel/Director, Legal and Enforcement at this time.  Dawn is a BVIslander who brings a wealth of experience both in the private and public sectors that will be a fillip to the Commission. Her passion for excellence in all her undertakings and in seeing young lawyers develop their full potential argurs well for our legal and enforcement teams that she will lead. I look forward to working closely with her and to tapping her immense drive, dedication, energy and knowledge in furthering the development of the Commission and the BVI Financial Services Industry.”

Prior to beginning her tenure with the FSC, Ms. Smith worked as an associate lawyer at Conyers, Dill and Pearman from 2009 – 2012 and from 2002 – 2006.  She also served as Director of the BVI’s London Office from 2006 – 2009 and as an associate lawyer at the former O’Neal Webster O’Neal Myers Fletcher and Gordon from 1997 – 2001.

Ms. Smith is admitted as a Barrister of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Virgin Islands).  She holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts (cum laude) from Middlebury College - Vermont, USA, a Bachelor of Laws (upper Second Class Honours) from the University of the West Indies - Cave Hill Campus, Barbados and a Certificate of Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School – Kingston, Jamaica.  She is a member of the BVI Bar Association, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is a founding member and currently serves as Chairperson of the BVI Chapter of the Caribbean Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.