Vanessa King, corporate, commercial, and trusts and estates attorney, stepped into the managing partner role for the law firm O'Neal Webster as of February 1, 2018. Photo: onealwebster.com

King rotates in for long-time managing partner and investment funds and regulatory attorney Kerry Anderson who served as O’Neal Webster’s managing partner since 2009. The leadership rotation was unanimously approved by the partnership.

“Vanessa has been performing yeoman’s service to O’Neal Webster and its clients in the last few months, following the disruption caused by the recent hurricanes,” says Anderson. “On behalf of our partners and staff, we welcome her fresh ideas and approach to the job. She is a great legal talent and brings proven leadership skills, which will undoubtedly set us on a new trajectory and take us closer to our goals.”

King, a recipient of the worldwide Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners’ ninth annual, prestigious Founder’s Award, has a long-standing record for her exceptional leadership and service in professional, charitable, and community organisations. She currently serves as STEP BVI Chairperson, Deputy Chair of the STEP Caribbean and Latin America Region, and member of the steering committee of the STEP Caribbean Conference. She is a member of the board of directors of BVI Finance Limited, a member of the BVI Financial Services Institute Advisory Council, and the BVI Bar Association, and also serves as the Deputy Chair of the Board of the BVI Red Cross.

Anderson, who no longer has managing partner duties, will now focus on the firm’s overseas expansion opportunities while continuing to provide legal counsel to O’Neal Webster clients.

King says taking over the helm from Anderson will be a tall order. “Kerry has truly been a smart leader and a pillar of the management of our firm. He has deftly guided us through challenges and opportunities. I appreciate his confidence and that of our partners, associates, and staff who will be supporting me in this new role. I look forward to building on to the great legacy left to us by our founders, Paul Webster and Colin O’Neal. It is a high honour to serve their legacy, our clients, and our firm.”

About O’Neal Webster

O’Neal Webster holds a decidedly unique position among all [British] Virgin Islands law firms, being among the first to establish exclusively in the VI. The firm serves local and international clientele in areas of corporate, finance, banking, business, investment funds, property, and trusts and estates, and is highly regarded for its expert handling of transactional, regulatory, and contentious litigation matters. The firm also staffs an office in London, UK.