FEB 25, 2020. BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS – STEP, the global professional body of trust and estate professional advisors, has announced that O’Neal Webster Managing Partner Vanessa King has been elected to chair the STEP Caribbean and Latin America Region Committee for a three-year term. Ms. King (British Virgin Islands) assumes the leadership role from outgoing chair Ivan Hooper of Uruguay, and is joined on the executive council by newly elected Deputy Chair Natalie Glitzenhirn-Augustin (St. Lucia) and Secretary Rosa Restrepo (Panama). The executive council and 17 committee members liaise with STEP Worldwide to represent the interests and concerns of the region’s approximately 2,000 STEP members across 16 branches.
“Vanessa has been very involved with the Committee for many years, providing great value and support as a member, also serving as an officer, including serving as Deputy Chair during the previous term,” explains outgoing Chair Hooper. “I am extremely pleased Vanessa has been elected as Chair for the next term. She will bring great experience and be an excellent Chair, taking the region further forward.”
In 2016, Ms. King received the prestigious STEP Founder’s Award which recognized her outstanding, long term contributions to the organization. In addition to being an active member in STEP leadership, she has been instrumental in the development of the annual STEP Caribbean educational conference, including the upcoming 2020 STEP Caribbean Conference, scheduled for May 3-6 in Panama City, Panama.
“I have been involved with the Committee for many years and have sat at the table to discuss the challenges that affect the industry and, importantly, solutions. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee and throughout the region in delivering on the solutions, and creating policies that foster the further development and growth of our industry in the Caribbean and LatAM region,” says Ms. King, who also chairs the British Virgin Islands STEP branch. “I applaud the accomplishments of our outgoing chair, Ivan Hooper, and look forward to his continuing support.”
Qualified in the BVI and Jamaica, Ms. King leads O’Neal Webster’s Commercial Department, where her legal practice is focused on the establishment of and issues arising from all forms of BVI trusts, commercial finance, and general banking and corporate law. Her client base covers the world’s major financial centres and includes leading domestic and international financial institutions, law firms, trust companies, resorts, and high net-worth individuals. Her expertise has been recognized over the years by highly respected ranking bodies, including The Legal500, Chambers and Partners, IFLR1000, and CityWealth IFC.
About STEP
STEP is the worldwide professional association for those advising families across generations. With over 20,000 members throughout 95 countries, it promotes best practice and professional integrity, and provides educational opportunities. Learn more at step.org.
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 BVI in 1989, and more recently, adding offices in London and New York. The firm serves international and domestic corporate, finance, banking, business, real estate, admiralty, and trust and estate clients, and is well known for its expert handling of transactional, funds, regulatory, and litigation matters. Learn more at onealwebster.com.
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