First Appleby Scholar Called to the Bar
Akeya Herbert, the first recipient of the Appleby BVI legal scholarship, was called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court on May 19, 2026. Herbert has trained with Appleby since September 2025 and will move from Dispute Resolution into the firm’s Corporate Department.
Akeya Herbert, the inaugural recipient of the Appleby BVI legal scholarship, was formally called to the Bar and sworn in as a Barrister of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court at a hearing before Justice Abbas Mithani, KC, on May 19, 2026, Appleby said in a press release dated June 5, 2026.
Herbert graduated with distinction from City, University of London (St George’s) with an LLM in Bar Vocational Studies, specialising in corporate law and practice. She began training with Appleby’s BVI office in September 2025 in the Dispute Resolution Department and will now transfer to the Corporate Department under the supervision of Local Head of Corporate Shana Simmonds-Lewis. “Being admitted to the Bar of the Territory of the Virgin Islands is a milestone of immense personal significance to me.
The BVI has played a fundamental role in shaping who I am, and as a Virgin Islander,” Herbert said. She added that she was proud to continue her career serving in the jurisdiction she calls home and expressed gratitude to Appleby for the mentorship and support that guided her professional development.
Appleby Managing Partner Andrew Willins, KC, praised Herbert’s determination, work ethic and commitment to excellence throughout her training. “She has embraced every opportunity to learn and develop her skills, and we are pleased to celebrate this important step in her professional journey.
We look forward to seeing her continue to thrive as she advances her legal career,” he said. Shana Simmonds-Lewis, Partner, Chair of Appleby BVI’s Scholarships Committee and Head of Corporate, emphasised the firm’s focus on developing local legal talent. “Investing in the development of future legal talent remains a key priority for Appleby….
Akeya’s success reflects the value of that commitment, and we are delighted to support her as she takes the next step in her professional journey,” Simmonds-Lewis said. Herbert’s admission to the Bar means she is now authorised to practise as a barrister in the Virgin Islands before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, the superior court that serves the BVI and other jurisdictions in the region.
For BVI residents, her progression from a locally focused scholarship to a practising barrister underlines the importance of investment in homegrown legal professionals and the role that mentorship and local training play in retaining talent within the Territory.
Primary source: VINO