Lex Caribbean announces new Barbados Managing Partner

Lex Caribbean is pleased to announce that Melanie Jones, lead Partner in the firm’s International Business Unit and Entrepreneurial Business Unit, has been appointed as the Managing Partner in the Barbados office, effective February 1, 2020.

Melanie joined Lex Caribbean, as a partner, in December 2003, having previously worked in London with international law firm, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and in the Cayman Islands with Maples and Calder. She has successfully built a team who enjoy thriving international business practice serving a variety of clients, including international conglomerates and financial institutions, foreign governments, global private equity firms and high net worth individuals. She also founded and leads Lex’s two sister entities: Lex Caribbean Corporate Services Inc., which is licensed to conduct corporate services pursuant to the Corporate and Trust Service Providers Act; and ISM Sponsor Services Inc., which has been certified by the International Securities Market of the Barbados Stock Exchange as one of five approved listing sponsors in Barbados. Melanie is also deeply involved in a number of major CSR initiatives and public-private collaborations, including through her work over several years, with the Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation and the Barbados International Business [Click here] 
Melanie succeeds Garth Patterson, Q.C., who will remain a Senior Partner with the firm’s Disputes group in Barbados and the OECS.

Commenting on her appointment, Melanie said:

“When I joined Lex Caribbean in Barbados, the nascent firm was the product of a visionary collaboration between founding partner Mary Mahabir and Peter Boos, the then chairman of the Caribbean collective of accounting practices, within a leading global firm. 

Shortly afterwards, because of global regulatory changes, Lex Caribbean struck out in its own, completely independently. Though it was a very small firm at the time, all of us were fiercely passionate about growing the firm, adding quality in the legal services arena and nurturing our people. Mary and Garth’s stewardship in their respective roles over the years, has left a beautiful legacy, and I am honoured now to be entrusted with leadership of the firm and its sister entities. 

I am also profoundly aware that we have developed and been supported by a superb cadre of lawyers and staff, without whom the firm could not be where it is today. My sense of gratitude and duty to them, is ineffable.

The vision I have, which will continue to underpin every aspect of my work, is that the Lex Caribbean group will embody: a place where our people find challenge and fulfillment; a professional services portfolio characterized by technical excellence and a consummately commercial approach; and an unwavering commitment to partnering with clients and stakeholders, for superlative outcomes – in business, and in our community at large.”