Managing Partner of local law firm O’Neal Webster, Ms Vanessa M. King was recently elected as a STEP Worldwide Council representative for the Caribbean and Latin America Region. Photo: O'Neal Webster/Facebook

In 1989, O’Neal Webster was among the first law firms to establish exclusively in the VI to serve onshore and offshore corporate, commercial, finance, banking, business, property, and trust and estate clients in transactional, regulatory and litigation matters in the jurisdiction.

In this role, King represents the interests of thousands of STEP members across multiple jurisdictions, including the [British] Virgin Islands (VI), The Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman, Bermuda, Nevis, Anguilla, Saint Lucia, Panama, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay and elsewhere.

STEP, formerly Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, is a global professional body with more than 21,000 members in 100 countries comprised of lawyers, accountants, trustees and other practitioners that sets and upholds high standards, informs public policy, promotes education and connects practitioners globally to share knowledge and best practices in estate planning and related disciplines.

King is held in ‘extremely high regard’ by peers

Chris McKenzie, head of O’Neal Webster’s Trusts and Estates Department, stated in a press release that King’s election “demonstrates the extremely high regard in which Vanessa is held by her peers throughout an especially diverse Region with many competing interests.”

McKenzie added: “Having worked closely with Vanessa on STEP issues over the years, I am thrilled about this news, knowing as I do that Vanessa will represent all our interests very well.”

Stellar track regard with STEP

King is a 2016 global recipient of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners’ ninth annual Founder’s Award, the current chair of the Caribbean and Latin America Region and the outgoing chair of the STEP BVI Branch. She also sits on the STEP Caribbean Conference Committee and was appointed to judge the prestigious STEP private client awards in 2023.

Ms King stated: “Thank you to the Caribbean and Latin America Regional Committee members for their continued confidence in my representation of our interests. I look forward to being a voice at the table for our members.”

About STEP Worldwide Council

Council members are the primary channels for communication and representation between STEP members and central governance bodies, acting as a consultative body that advises the Board of Directors on aspects of STEP’s strategic journey and matters of interest to the wider membership. The Council is elected by members or their representatives from branches and chapters globally, with regional representation proportionate to membership numbers.