Q&A with SOCAL’s 2024 Barrister of the Year Winner - Mikhail Charles
Can you share a bit about your upbringing and what first sparked your interest in pursuing a career in law?
I come from a reasonably comfortable, middle-class Caribbean background, and from very early on, there was an unspoken assumption (my Grandmother’s prompting) —especially given my family’s encouragement and the standards at my secondary school—that I would enter one of the traditional professions. My academic path took a bit of a detour, though. I did well in primary school—top five in the island—which secured me a place at Saint Vincent Boys’ Grammar School. Later on, I earned ten O-Level equivalents (two with distinctions), and naturally continued on to the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines A-Level College.
However, life had its twists: despite starting four A-Level subjects, I only ended up with two As and two Es (I was a bit of a rebel), which was a step down from my earlier academic history. At that point, I spent some time exploring other options—earning an undergraduate qualification in Real Estate Management and becoming a part-qualified accountant (all while learning to speak Spanish and working various roles at the National Bank).
The real turning point came when I served on a jury. Witnessing the craft of advocacy from both Crown and Defense counsel, and seeing how they engaged with each other in the courtroom, gave me that spark I hadn’t felt before.
Not too long after, I joined my parents, who were then Deputy Ambassadors to the United Kingdom for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and that exposure to diplomacy and international affairs cemented my desire to pursue law.
Fast forward a few years: I’m now a 36-year-old barrister called to the Bar of England and Wales, and also admitted to practice in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, the British Virgin Islands, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The journey wasn’t linear, but every detour ultimately led me here—standing in court, arguing cases, and fulfilling a vocation I’m genuinely passionate about.
What led you to specialise in civil and commercial litigation, and how did you develop your focus on cases with offshore elements?
In the Eastern Caribbean—and the Caribbean generally—you won’t find the same level of narrow specialisation that you do in England. Most counsel tend to be “polyglots,” tackling a wide range of practice areas. Yet, my journey gravitated towards commercial and civil litigation, particularly those matters with cross-border or offshore components.
I was Called to the English Bar in 2012 (did not obtain English pupillage) then returned to SVG in 2013 where I was admitted there then got admitted in Grenada and Saint Lucia in 2015.
My career really took off after defending the largest money laundering case in the Eastern Caribbean in 2013 – 15 and then a stint at the Commonwealth Secretariat, where I worked in policy and technical assistance. Soon after, I moved to Saint Lucia for almost two years, taking up a role in the regulatory body responsible for telecommunications across the Eastern Caribbean. From there, I was admitted to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands and Saint Kitts and Nevis, which naturally led to a good deal of cross-border work between the BVI and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines—a big nod to the team at Harneys for the opportunities that came my way.
In the midst of all this, I started to develop the fabled “commercial awareness.” I completed a two-year Master’s in Corporate and Commercial Law at Nottingham Law School, which further honed my expertise. Afterward, I spent another two years in the Turks and Caicos Islands, working with a boutique litigation firm. That experience was invaluable—one day I might be handling Hong Kong arbitrations, the next tackling trust-busting in Belgium or judgment enforcement in the BVI, and maybe even insolvency matters spanning Texas to Trinidad and Tobago.
All of these experiences, especially juggling issues that spanned multiple jurisdictions, laid a solid foundation for the commercial and civil work I handle now. When the opportunity arose to join the English Bar, I came armed with not only academic credentials but also the on-the-ground know-how that cross-border and offshore litigation demand. It’s precisely that blend—practical experience across several jurisdictions, underpinned by formal study—that shaped my focus on civil and commercial litigation.
Having practised in both England and Wales as well as multiple Caribbean jurisdictions, how do you navigate the legal nuances between these regions?
I often remind myself that England is historically the “mother” of the common law system, so the bedrock principles are familiar across jurisdictions. However, the local twists come in through written constitutions—common in the Caribbean but not in England and Wales—and through the varying degrees of codified statutes. In England and Wales, you’ll find highly detailed legislation governing areas like financial services, insolvency, contract, and tort.
In many Caribbean jurisdictions, comparable legislation may not be as comprehensive, so the common law often remains the guiding force, supplemented by local statutes or constitutional provisions.
That’s where the intellectual challenge lies: piecing together the solution from a blend of established jurisprudence and the unique local rules. You also have to bear in mind that the Caribbean isn’t a monolith. With over 20 independent states, each country’s approach can be very different.
Take land law, for example: Saint Vincent and Grenada operate almost entirely under unregistered land systems, whereas Antigua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia use variations of the Torrens system. That itself differs from the Land Registration Act 2002 in England and Wales. Yet, common law concepts like adverse possession and equitable interests still form a thread linking these systems.
So, the short answer is that navigating these nuances means staying grounded in universal common law principles while doing a deep dive into each jurisdiction’s statutory framework and constitutional context. It’s about recognising what’s fundamentally common, then adjusting for local law and practice. That interplay—between broad common law doctrines and local legislative or constitutional quirks—is what keeps the work both challenging and immensely rewarding.
Have you encountered any unique challenges and opportunities representing clients across jurisdictions like the British Virgin Islands and St Kitts & Nevis? If there are any challenges, how can young lawyers prepare themselves for the challenges of cross-border and offshore work?
I wouldn’t describe it as a “unique” challenge so much as a reality we often face as Caribbean practitioners in offshore jurisdictions like the BVI or Saint Kitts and Nevis. There can be an almost insular dynamic between onshore firms and local attorneys—if you flip through many major commercial cases in the BVI, Cayman, or Bermuda, you’ll see the same big law firms and the same English counsel over and over. Local lawyers rarely get top billing, and that pattern shows up even at the Privy Council level. It’s a bit different in some Eastern Caribbean jurisdictions and in Trinidad, but overall, the English Bar still tends to dominate.
I see it as a challenge that we’re capable of meeting. For young lawyers who want to build a practice in cross-border or offshore work, the key is becoming a genuine specialist—academically, practically, and in the quality of service you provide. Even basics, like answering queries or emails promptly, can make a huge difference and signal that you can match (or exceed) the standards of more established onshore firms.
Once we master these fundamentals, I firmly believe we can step up and shape the landscape ourselves. After all, the English firms do need local expertise just as much as we sometimes need them. And as I like to say: if English lawyers can come to the Caribbean, there’s no reason Caribbean lawyers shouldn’t thrive at the English Bar. The door swings both ways—and we’re increasingly ready to walk through it.
As a qualified mediator with extensive ADR experience, what do you find most rewarding about helping clients resolve disputes outside of court?
What I find most gratifying about mediation is the freedom and creativity it offers in crafting resolutions that genuinely fit the parties’ needs—rather than just following a prescribed legal remedy. You can strip away the tension and animosity that often comes with court proceedings. In essence, you get everyone to focus on the core issue: one side needs a behavior to stop or to be modified, and the other side needs a fair resolution they can live with. Mediation allows both parties to problem-solve together in a way that court proceedings often can’t, preserving relationships and building a sense of mutual respect.
How does it feel to have been awarded Barrister of the Year at SOCAL’s inaugural gala? What does this award represent to you personally and professionally, especially coming from a Caribbean-focused organisation?
I must first thank the Most High, my family, and of course, Lord Briggs and the Society of Caribbean Lawyers. I’m truly humbled and honoured by this accolade, not least because it comes from an organisation dedicated to the growth and success of Caribbean legal practitioners.
On a personal level, it’s incredibly meaningful to be recognised by peers—people who understand where you come from and what you’ve had to overcome. Professionally, being acknowledged by leading lawyers in both England and Wales, as well as the Caribbean, reinforces my commitment to maintain the highest standards of advocacy and service.
It also motivates me to keep supporting younger lawyers—Caribbean lawyers in particular—who aspire to work at the pinnacle of our profession. It’s a reminder that we’re on par with the best legal minds anywhere in the world, and we can achieve excellence through dedication, resilience, and belief in our own abilities.
How important is it to you to mentor and inspire the next generation of lawyers and what advice would you offer to those wanting to build successful careers in law?
Mentorship and inspiration are everything in this profession—truth be told, I’m still learning from those around me. For me, the Bar is a fraternity, and one of the highest duties of membership is to stretch a hand back. When one person rises, we all do.
As for those aspiring to build a successful legal career, my key piece of advice is to ignore the noise. There’s a lot of chatter these days—about discrimination, DEI, “wokeness,” and so on. But very little is said about what actually makes a strong barrister. At the end of the day, you are a business. Think carefully about why someone would pay you—rather than someone else—to solve their problems.
It took a blunt question from a late English Queen’s Counsel—“Why?”—to get me thinking about my unique value. Ultimately, you must develop and showcase your full range of skills to stand out. Once you truly grasp that you’re running a business, your career can thrive.
What are your aspirations for the next phase of your career, and how do you hope to continue making an impact in the legal profession?
I don’t really view my career in discrete “phases.” Instead, I focus on continuous learning—whether that’s through volunteering with organisations like the Chancery Bar Association, my churches, or by tackling increasingly complex matters in the corporate and insolvency arenas – e.g. having just completed consulting with BIICL on matters related to partnership, company and insolvency for CARICOM (2022-2024)
This year, I’ll be appearing before the Privy Council, the apex court for England and Wales and many Commonwealth Caribbean jurisdictions. I see that as both an honour and an opportunity to learn even more about high-level advocacy.
As for my broader impact on the profession, I’m just one individual trying to help others reach even greater heights than I have. If I can inspire or mentor colleagues—particularly those from the Caribbean—then I’ve made a positive difference. It’s like I always say: a high tide raises all boats.
