Alden made QC after decade’s absence from court
(CNS): Former premier Alden McLaughlin has some new letters to add to his name as he has been made Queen’s Counsel, along with four other Caymanian lawyers. McLaughlin is said to be returning to the bar after well over a decade’s absence from the courtroom. With his return to the legal stage as a ‘silk’, he will be required to do some pro bono work for people unable to afford representation, though the professional accolade will ensure that his fees for paying work will be worth his while. In addition to McLaughlin, Solicitor General Reshma Sharma has also become one of the country’s latest QCs.
They are joined by Mac Webster Imrie, a consultant with Maples and Calder; Rachael Reynolds, global senior partner at Ogier; and Colette Ann Wilkins, a partner with Walkers.
It is four years since any attorneys in Cayman received ‘silk’ designation and no criminal prosecutors or defence attorneys have been elevated in this latest round of QC appointments.
In a press release from Judicial Administration, Chief Justice Anthony Smellie, who recommends the appointment to the governor, gave a detailed explanation of how the lawyers were selected and the need to balance these senior appointments.
And while Cayman already has a number of silks still practicing in financial and civil areas, with the exception of one QC who occasionally takes on criminal defence work, the courts are almost entirely dependent on senior lawyers from the UK to do the more serious criminal work.
In a release announcing the new QCs, who will be formally inducted at the Grand Court on Friday, Chief Justice Smellie said the appointments came at the end of an intensive process of consultation and vetting, this time commencing in January 2021, by himself and his colleagues, and the UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
He said the selections were made having regard to the needs of the jurisdiction, as prior holders relocate, retire, or channel their service into the local judiciary, and the need to maintain a stable pool of QCs relative to the size of the profession and local population.
See the full release outlining the details of and process for appointing QCs, the history of the role and more information on each one of the new silks in the CNS Library.
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I can name at least 10 attorneys more deserving of qc than that former joke of a premier. What exactly is the selection process that the CJ is applying??????????? CJ explain yourself!
Clearly you are envious and full of hatred. This is personal.
You ungrateful whatever. Joker Premier have you living comfortably without Covid. Smh.
Living comfortably??? Are you kidding I live in despair each day of the corruption taking over my home, the kids starving and receiving subpar education, the high cost of living. I’m not jealous but I am scared of where we are going.
First, if you think its the Premiers doing and not Dr Lees and the Governors, you are smoking your socks. Second, even if that were true, what on earth does that have to do with being appointed a QC? Its not a gong from the Queen for service to the community you know,. Its MEANT to be a badge of serious expertise in law.
Alden was born in Cayman and went to the CI Law School.
Some of the negative posters here are probably saying, not possible…
can we finally replace the CJ and the AG???!!!!!
What’s your issue with the CJ?
Pretty much everything- but this was the straw that broke the camels back
If you think you’re tired of him, imagine how tired he must be of all of you.
AG and CJ must go!
Heck, McKeeva has probably appeared in court more times in the last 20 years than Alden has,
Comment of the year
Yep Mac for QC honoris causa!
For all those making this a Caymanian v Expat issue, it isn’t.
Cayman’s economy (and civil and public services) are overwhelmingly dependent on financial services. The reason we have a robust, competitive financial services industry is because we have credibility in that market. That credibility is very largely based on the global perception that we have a capable, world-class legal profession with competent reliable judges and attorneys.
Appointing failed politicians to silk as some kind of gesture does nothing to support the reputation of the Cayman legal system.
Being a re-elected Premier hardly qualifies him as ‘failed politician’. In Caymanian terms he’s pretty much as successful as you can be.
Nah – thats Mac. Served way longer, and gets re -elected irrespective of personal scandal. Says a lot about us.
The way the majority of these comments are bashing, instead of celebrating that a Caymanian received an accolade, just reinforces my perception that going into politics is a thankless job everywhere; how ever many years someone serves or how many laws they manage to pass to improve people’s lives, means nothing, They please very few and gain hundreds of enemies who bash them at every opportunity for the rest of their life. And we say they earn too much? Ha! You could not pay me ENOUGH to serve us, bunch of ingrates…
We should celebrate just because he’s caymanian? Even though he did f all to deserve it? That’s rich. That’s sick too.
02/09/2021 at 2:03pm Your comment is rich and sick too. According to you, what do people have to do to deserve it?
1. Be an actual practicing attorney 2. Be a good practicing attorney with extensive experience and knowledge that is beneficial to the public 3. Be of good character.
None of those have been satisfied.
I haven’t taught in a school for fifteen years but feel free to upgrade me to Head Teacher.
Cheers
Are you a lodge member? If so you get to move past go.
Absent is the perfect word to describe Alden ! Great job CNS could have said it better!
I whole-heartedly agree! A two-term zero!
Alden has not practised law since 2000. 21 years absence from legal practice and he is being granted silk. If this is not wrong I do not know what is. The CJ should be ashamed of himself. But this is to ensure that Alden can draw high level clients when he forms a firm with a certain high level attorney who will be at the call tomorrow. Watch and see things unfold.
QC should be awarded for skills as a lawyer not a politician. This is a slap in the face to other QCs.
If he could just permanently absent himself that would be appreciated by all
Alden has as much credibility as a QC as those who award him this titled.”An intense consultation and vetting process, where I may ask The prospect temple? please spare us the sanctimonious warble This Corrupt conspiracy continues unfortunately everyday in this little place and we the people of these islands understand far too well the disparity now that exists when it comes to dispensing Justice! Loyalty Money looking after mother interest nah true mista Roper? Sadly we the people of these island will always suffer the consequences and repercussions of these disastrous decisions made by those of little significance or relevance to us . Well done Alden you have once again achieve something for doing absolutely nothing for Cayman or its people ! My question is When is Franz going to get his ?
I’ve got a billion dollar trial coming up, I must see if Alden’s available to handle it for me.
Said no attorney ever.
But you just did!
Something else for him to be shyte at.
Congrats Alden! Ignore the envious comments here. There are plenty of Caymanians that are proud of you and appreciative of your leadership over the past 8 years. It’s amazing how far we came ahead in the absence of corruption on your watch.
Wey dem deh anon 702am?
What bull baloney! Family member?
Either you are an absolute master at subtle sarcasm, or dimwitted PPM sycophant. I’m betting on the latter, but if it’s the former, then well done!
Oh yes we are all jealous but only of Alden.. not the others that got awarded silk. Your slide he is the only one being attacked- because he did not deserve it and even the dumb public is smart enough to smell something very fishy here
Congratulations Captain High Pants
Okay here is my bartender evaluation. My dealings with Alden have been less than positive, but not horrible. He is super misogynistic, but a good tipper. He never gets sloppy drunk like Mac, jeez don’t even ask to go there. I work in F&B. But hey, I wish him well. At least he tips 15%. Better than most MLA’s. Ezzard never tips, and complains about everything. Not political, so not even sure he is an MLA anymore. Big Mac is a train wreck, everyone just gets out of the way. McTaggart is a kind person, always polite. Not a big drinker.
And those are the only nice things that are yet known to us. His score on good leadership is zero.
Wow! So now we know…… he was a better tipper than most.
Okay …my dealings with him have been less than positive. I work in F&B. But hey, I wish him well. At least he tips 15%. Better than most MLA’s.
More brazen confirmation that Cayman’s corruption problems run all the way through to the top of the judiciary. A gut punch to everyone that’s out there day-after-day putting in honest yeoman’s work to keep our territory off the blacklists. We might ask if it’s all in vane when appointments like these are made.
Vain not vane
This is a casual comments section not a professional essay submission site. For you (and others) to take the time to point out a minor spelling error is pompous and unnecessary.
The writer used clear language and made an easily understood point. Your correction added nothing to the discourse.
In my opinion you have too much time on your hands, which could be better spent in other ways.
We agree with Virginia..
If the writer had put his/her name to the piece, then I would agree with you because it would have caused embarrassment. But since the writer posted anonymously, that saves the embarrassment and I see no harm in pointing out (without derision) the mistake. Who knows – maybe the writer didn’t know the difference and will have learned something from the correction. And, if you must know, your opinion at the end didn’t add a thing to the discussion at hand either!
The judiciary is compromised and neither is it independent or impartial. CJ wields too much power and lacks independence. CJ and AG have far too much of a close relationship.
This is a well deserved appointment and one that every Caymanian should be proud of. Here is what the CJ said:
XXXXX
CNS: You’ve just cut and pasted from the press release – the link is at the bottom of the article.
It does not appear he has a practicing certificate – at least as per CIG website listing licensed attorneys.
See https://www.judicial.ky/general-public/licensed-attorneys
takes them a while to update
So under this criteria any former lawyer could be a QC. Or is it only something happening in the Cayman Islands?
No, in the UK lawyers who become MP’s also become QC… no idea what the rules are or how/why it works.
I can’t think of any UK MP who was appointed silk after becoming an MP, other than those appointed to one of the Law Offices (eg attorney general)
It is quite common for barristers who have already been appointed as QCs to get elected as an MP however
Ken Clarke? It was called courtesy silk, but phased out in the 90’s
Nope, not all of them. If you get made AG or Solicitor General yes, but just being elected doesn’t cut it.
No, being made an MP is utterly irrelevant to who gets appointed Silk. In fact, becoming an MP would make you LESS likely.
So proud of what Alden has achieved.
Alden has carved out for himself expertise in the tenets of international and Cayman constitutional law that is unparalleled in Cayman and would be hard to match internationally. And he derived it from front line, hands-on experience that came after the usual arduous book learning. He has equally extensive hard-earned expertise in the nuts and bolts of Cayman’s regulatory regime.
He additionally has long range insights and hands on knowledge of the drafting of many other key laws, piloting them through cabinet and parliament over many years.
So while he hasn’t himself been in courts for the last few years, there are few lawyers in Cayman, if any, who can match his range of expertise and depth of intimate knowledge.
Indeed Very few have had the opportunities that he has had to comfortably stride across and command the local international legal stage.
Go, Alden, go. Greater things yet are to come.
Yet given his brilliant legal mind his government lost more judicial reviews of decisions his government made than any other in recent memory.
And this is his fault ? He wasn’t the representing attorney. Do you somehow think that the premier went to court to argue the governments case in a judicial review ? Are you that simple ?
Are you that dense? He was the Premier and sat at the Cabinet table when decisions were made that did not hold up to judicial review. Given his legal brilliance you would think he would be able to make decisions and implement legislation that would hold up to scrutiny. His huge legal brain believed that he was above any of us simpletons and that we just had to go along.
No one knows how a court battle is going to go. You really expect the man to read palms now ?
Anyway he was a way better premier than the current Premier of Waffle we have now
No he was not. I’m no Wayne fan either. This country needs to fall on its own corruption and be reborn.
If you actually believe any of that, you require urgent medical help.
What a total loser and tool you are, Alden pay you to post that nah?
“f expertise in the tenets of international and Cayman constitutional law that is unparalleled in Cayman and would be hard to match internationally”
Wow. Just wow. You may as well have said the earth is flat – it’s that degree Of detachment from reality. Go on then. Name all the major cases in that field he has opined on or led. Name the learned articles on international and constitutional law he has written. Specify the laws he has drafted.
Here’s a hint – being the Premier at a time a law is introduced doesn’t make you an expert on it. Being on the wrong end of a legal case on constitutional law just makes you the losing party, not an expert. Although being the Premier at a time a new law is approved by Cabinet without realizing it’s flawed is evidence that you might not actually be an expert.
Alden has achieved — and rightfully — the award for worst Premier of the Cayman Islands (twice in a row).
11.17pm You forgot Mac or what?
If he doesn’t have a practicing certificate he is not even an attorney and certainly cannot be given silk. What a slap in the face for those who actually earned QC status by being exceptional attorneys. This just confirms what I have suspected about the judiciary here for a long time… time to clean house Cayman!
So if these appointments were being decided on in January 2021, what would have happened if, God forbid, the PPMs had got back in as the Government? Alden would be wearing more hats than a Chinese hat sweatshop.
I guess he is missing that big chunk of salary that I assuming he is no longer getting as he now sits in the back of the room and had to find it in the quickest way possible.
I don’t see him anywhere anymore, least of all in the district that he is supposed to be representing. But on the other hand it is kind of nice not having to listen to his condescending speeches.
Yes. That’s Alden. Neglecting his duties. Neglecting his constituents.
Alden’s appointment as QC was quid pro quo from the Chief Justice and others.
You sell out enough, you are sometimes rewarded for it.
The CJ was trying to fool people that there is a process that they use. He listens to Bulgin and his other “colleagues”. Bulgin will be standing for Alden tomorrow in court.
Yes. AG and CJ are behind this and have the Governor’s support. QC appointments are too political. Alden does not deserve to be a QC.
Was retirement to the farm not working out (…what a joke!)
What about the amount of free farm advertising on CIGTV
Arden must have choked on his coffee when he read this! 😂😂😂 S-S-Sputter!
No, ask any of his classmates what happened in maths class with a likkle bit of turkle soup.🤫😉
Fix our damn playground Alden!
This is a disgrace and makes a mockery of the profession
Agreed, the standards have been so watered down now that apparently anyone can now get it. And it used to be reserved for a deserving few who were to reverted and certainly worthy of being looked up to because of their legal skills. One well known QC of fame who has now passed commented that it was not what it used to be, and he was thinking of giving his up.
The legal profession in Cayman has always been a joke and anyone who has dealt with it can attest. This just adds to it…
6.55 Stop making up stuff. The legal profession here has never been a joke.
I wouldn’t mind if the courts were just a joke.
It has actually destroyed countless innocent and often young lives as well as families in “criminal” and civil/corporate courts.
From Judge “Crippling” Douglas, fired Judge Henry Graham and others.
At least Alden is local.
There was a lady from another part of the Caribbean who was made a QC in 2017 having not been to court for 40 years.
I’d suggest you Alden haters read his impressive resume before disparaging him. And by the way, many Queen’s Counsel never appear in court. The elevation is recognition of legal ability and performance,not just for advocacy.
And by the way he’s the only born Caymanian being recognized in this round. Why unna hate to see Caymanians succeed so much?
Oh dear you have been on the Kool Aid
He is no longer a lawyer. He is not licensed to practice law.
And I wouldn’t trust him if he was…… or wasn’t
For the same reasons why they try to hold Caymanians back: they think we could never earn it on merit, and that is proven time and time again.
At least one born Caymanian (albeit polarizing) is getting some recognition for a change.
Newly-minted always seem to be granted gongs just for showing up.
It’s ok that he does not deserve it and that others do and that this is yet another sign of the state of corruption here, as long as he’s caymanian, right?
It is such a crime to support the success of your own locals in their own nation?
It’s another matter if it is in another people’s country.
You don’t root for your own kids just a little more than the others at school events? Give me a break, wipe the crocodile tears, and get over yourself.
What exactly is an ‘impressive’ resume? It is only a summary of jobs and qualifications, doesn’t mean you are good at them, at all.
Hey Alden is that you writing these comments?
Sure would be nice to see Alden coming around to all the constituents/tax payers in Red Bay and not just his buddies.
Alden? Seriously? WT Absolute F?
Lol
The standard to become a QC is officially a joke you consider the new batch. When did any of them go to court?
Colette Wilkins litigates. She was an appointment based on merit.
This headline seems to indicate that an attorney has to appear in court to be eligible for the award. Is that really the case?
QC = Qualified Charlatan
and now we know the real perks involved
More like two decades!
I believe only McLaughlin and Mac Imrie are Caymanian. None of the other lawyers are Caymanian. All are however Cayman Islands Attorneys.
Oi! Take that!
The Chief Justice is taking the pi$$
Lodge promoting Lodge. Business as usual in the corrupt Caribbean.
There is such a divide between the ruling class and everyday people.
Poor guy was desperate for a knighthood. This is the consolation price that proves the system is rigged or politically driven.
Ridiculous – I’ve appeared in front of the Judges before him and I’m just a mere Insolvency Practitioner! When do I get the precious initials to use after my name?
When you grow up
Alden McLaughlin was a below average attorney propped up by Duckworth as the token Caymanian in the firm. Fear had him removed so he had to make a living in politics. Unfortunately, he was even worse as a MP that was propped up by Kurt Tibbetts then McKeeva Bush as a disconnected and delusional Premier.
I can see hatred and envy bleeding through your pores.
I hope you can get at least 1 minute sleep tonight. Smh
Hatred- I think you confuse that with honesty. That poster is spot on. Fact is fact, if you believe it or not.
Who cares that it’s decades late. A most deserved appointment.
I hope that he will be given a high award for his sterling performance as our Premier for 8 days.
Caymanians it’s time to stop the Crab in the barrel mentality. Let’s stop beating up on our own.
Are we going to beat up the non Caymanians that was given the award.
Deserved I’m sure for those 8 days of glory. Its those other 2,912 days of his premiership that I am not so sure about…
A QC appointment is not an award!
If not, what is it?
Joker. He shouldn’t accept it, it is not an honorary position.
You can’t keep a banana republic going unless you keep planting bananas.
Is this guy still getting paid….he doesn’t seem to be doing anything…sure it’s better than him giving away our futures or trying to stuff his personally lucrative port deal down our thought but all the same.
Certainly not for the people of the Red Bay district
What a joke
Congratulations to all recipients of QC designations.
I can’t articulate why I clicked the ‘angry’ icon. I just am.
Is this an April Fools joke? He has not practiced law in years if ever.
Vetting?!? He’s not been a practicing lawyer, let alone familiar with the law given the cases he’s brought AGAINST civilians. How many quiet redacted legal settlements were paid out of the public purse’s coffers during his period of ultimate approval and oversight? He should be disbarred, like the slippery small island Guiliani he is.
CIG is on course to pay (either damages or big settlements) for judicial review/constitutional proceedings that stem from Alden’s poor decisions/actions as Premier previously.
I venture to bet that, after the dust settles with these matters, Alden will be criticizing the PACT Government’s expenditures for damages or settlement.
The Cayman Islands has not yet finished paying (both financially and otherwise) for Alden’s massive failures when he was Premier.
What a farce. Now you understand why the legaL practicioner bill/act was passed by the People Poontang Pie members. OMG you can’t make this s£it up.
True the Legal Services Act was quid pro quo to the big law firms (such as Maples and Walkers).
Oh brother, now he is a QC, interested to see how quick he does some “Pro-Bono work” and for who.
Would be really nice if out of his busy schedule he could find a little time to deal with the people in Red Bay,of course that’s not “pro-bono” because we are already paying him a real nice salary. But maybe he could delegate that to Roy or one of the other PPM members (or perhaps someone from PACT) since he is such a busy guy. Guess he will have to get some refresher courses in law now since he was out of it for so long.
I look forward to someone instructing him to challenge government on one of the many issues they need to be called to task on. Is he bound by the cab rank rule? Can he turn away instructions?
Not bound by the cab rank rule in the Cayman Islands. So, yes, he can turn away instructions.
You people in Red Bay got what you deserved. You can’t pick the speckles off of a guinea hens back. The spotted leopard.
A lot of us did not vote for this man but as he won the vote, then he is our representative. I believe by him not helping all the constituents of Red Bay (whether they are his supporter or not) that is dereliction of his duty and could be a violation of our civil rights; what is it only people who supported him that will get help? All of Red Bay deserve our elected representative’s attention as we pay taxes that pay his salary.
The inference in CNS’ headline to this article mirrors thoughts I also had. Hmmm?
However I guess the criteria in Mr. McLaughlin’s case may have been leading 2 Governments. Perhaps it could be argued that such level of leadership (for good or bad) equates to years of court experience.
Anyway, if his handling of covid in Cayman was a consideration, he may have earned it.
Excellent excellent headline!!! Also total mockery of the system and which QC does pro Bono? Wishful thinking CJ.
Well deserved Ms Sharma and Wilkins- well deserved such bright and talented women.
Tom Lowe QC does a great deal of pro bono work.
Exactly.
They rule you