Government gets British QC

Nigel Pleming, QC

Tuesday, May 11, 2004

The Cayman Islands Cabinet has retained an outside attorney and leading counsel to defend the action by the Caymanian Bar Association (CBA) seeking judicial review of the wholesale grants of status in 2003, according to reliable sources.

It is understood that Attorney General Sam Bulgin has instructed the local law firm of Quin and Hampson, who have in turn instructed Nigel Pleming, QC, one of London’s leading judicial review barristers.

Mr Bulgin recently traveled to the UK, where it is assumed he met with Mr Pleming.

Mr Pleming is described in the Legal 500 October 2000 edition as "an outstanding practitioner", and a leading silk in Administrative and Public Law, Civil Liberties, Environment, Immigration, and Value Added Tax.

Similar ratings have been repeated for the 2001 and 2002 edition - being described in 2002 as "one of the key figures at the Public Law Bar".

He was nominated, one of five, by The Lawyer magazine for the Barrister of the Year Award 2000.

Mr Pleming has a reputation as an "elegant, smooth and funny advocate," and a "brilliant and approachable barrister."

Normally, all legal actions to which the government is a party are generally prosecuted or defended by the Attorney General. It is likely, however, that this latest development recognises the inherent conflict of interest in the involvement of the Attorney General because he was one of the recipients of Cabinet’s Status grants being challenged.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill, QC, is understood to be the leading counsel retained to represent the CBA in this matter, assisted by judicial review specialist Mr Jonathan Auburn, and instructed by local attorney, Miss Micki Jafa Bodden.

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