Congratulations to O’Neal Webster Trusts & Estates practice head Chris McKenzie, TEP, recipient of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Private Client Awards, held in London, England, on September 17, 2026.
The award recognizes Chris’ decades of service to the international private client profession and a career that has helped shape both trust law and professional practice across the Caribbean.
“Chris McKenzie’s contribution to the trust and private client services in the BVI is unparalleled,” said the Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE, TEP, Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development. She cited his role in developing innovative legislation, including the Virgin Islands Special Trust Act (VISTA), and his longstanding work with government, the BVI Bar, STEP, and the Financial Services Commission.
Chris’ influence extends well beyond the BVI. As founding chair of STEP’s BVI branch, he helped establish a strong professional community there and was instrumental in creating STEP branches in Anguilla, St. Lucia, and Barbados. That work required years of building relationships with local bar associations, encouraging practitioners to participate, and strengthening ties among private client professionals across the region.
Chris previously received the STEP Founder’s Award for outstanding achievement, and his team was named STEP Legal Team of the Year. He was also elected an emeritus member of the STEP Caribbean Conference in recognition of his longstanding service.
His intellect, persistence, principled advocacy, and commitment to the profession have left a lasting mark on the institutions and people he has served.
“Chris has given an extraordinary amount of his time and expertise to strengthening the private client profession,” said O’Neal Webster Managing Partner Vanessa King. “We are immensely proud to see that commitment recognized by STEP with its Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Congratulations, Chris, on this well-deserved recognition.
