Knowledge

Bedell Cristin has four of its lawyers included in the Citywealth 2014 IFC Power Women "Top 200" list and is the only firm to have three included in the Jersey section.

Emily Haithwaite, a partner in the funds practice; Zillah Howard, partner in the international private client group; Lisa Springate, partner in the commercial litigation team and Valerie George Thomas, senior associate based in the BVI office, are included among the most influential women in the International Finance Centres (IFCs).

Zillah Howard has 25 years’ experience in international private client work and is an active member of the Jersey working party shaping legislation for the private client industry. She has been awarded ‘Best in Offshore’ at the Europe Women in Business Law Awards for three consecutive years.

In addition to being included in the "Top 200" IFC Power Women List, commercial litigation lawyer, Lisa Springate, has also been short listed for Woman of the Year (Business Growth) at the Power Woman Awards, the results of which are due to be announced in London early in January 2015.

Funds lawyer, Emily Haithwaite, who is a regular speaker at international fund conference events, also sits on a working party which is reviewing Jersey’s regime for investment funds following the introduction of the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive.

Valerie Georges-Thomas, a former partner at a BVI legal firm, has extensive experience in the BVI and specialises in advising on all aspects of the formation and structuring of BVI investment funds and a broad range of corporate and commercial law matters.

Citywealth, the financial publishing, events and networking group, say that the idea of the list, was ‘to recognise women of achievement who are opinion formers, helping to promote business excellence in their home jurisdiction and consolidating the reputations of the financial services industry globally.’ They describe those on the list as the most ‘powerful women in government, private wealth, private client advisory and philanthropy across the International Finance Centres.' They took into account recommendations from leading figures in the financial services industry when compiling the list.