AlexanderCall-11May18 (26 images)

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John

My Lord, thanks for acceding to my request that I appear before your Lordship in this matter, it is a great privilege to stand here again.

As a preliminary matter, let me also say that my interest in so appearing is, as no doubt your Lordship will have perceived, that I am interested in the matter before this Honourable court, and I think it proper that I should so declare to your Lordship. I should say that I don’t believe my interest rises to a conflict, but I can assure your Lordship that I will be particularly conscious to stick to the important facts, and resist any temptation to embellish.

This is a matter pursuant to section 51 of the Supreme Court Act 1905 to admit and enrol Mr Collis to practise as a Barrister and Attorney before this Court and to appoint him to be a Commissioner for taking Affidavits, Declarations and Affirmations.
Your Lordship will have before you the Affidavit of Mr Collis attesting to his qualifications to be admitted as a Barrister, which I trust your Lordship will find in order.

My Lord you should also have before you the affidavit of Mr Charles Collis, a Director of Conyers Dill & Pearman, attesting to the fact the Mr Alexander Collis is Bermudian and, in his view, is of good character and a fit and proper person to be called to the Bermuda Bar.

If it pleases your Lordship, I will briefly highlight Mr Collis’s qualifications:

1. Mr Collis’s first university level education was at the University of Toronto from where he graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science.
Like many young graduates, Mr Collis was then faced with the decision of what to do for a career. It is common practice to provide your Lordship with some insight into why the Applicant set out to become a lawyer. His mother would say that, as a son coming from a family full of lawyers, she made every effort to make him aware that there were many other worthwhile endeavours in the world, and so the first degree in science appeared to be a good start. However, while at University of Toronto, Mr Collis found himself actively engaged in student government where the
disciplines of law were often the necessary tools of that trade.

2. So, following his graduation from Toronto, he quickly determined to pursue a degree in law. Later in 2008, Mr Collis entered a Masters programme at the University of Bristol and graduated in June 2010 with a Masters of Arts in Law with Merit.

3. Next, Mr Collis attended the College of Law in London and passed the examinations for the Legal Practice Course with Distinction in July, 2011 to qualify as a Solicitor in England and Wales.

4. Between August, 2011 and August, 2013, Mr Collis completed 24 months of training with Watson Farley & Williams LLP, solicitors in the City of London.

5. And on 2nd September, 2013, Mr Collis was admitted by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority in the United Kingdom as a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales.

6. Since being admitted as a solicitor, Mr Collis has practiced with the same Watson Farley & Williams LLP in London. He practices with the Energy and Infrastructure team, specialising in project finance for energy projects, particularly solar plants, biomass plants, onshore wind farms, and offshore wind farms. During his time at Watson Farley, he has been seconded at the firm’s request to the firm's Singapore office, Standard Chartered Bank, Lightsource BP (previously Lightsource Renewable Energy) one of the largest solar generators in Europe and Qila Energy, a leading engineering company funding and building biomethane plants.

7. On these occasions, my Lord, it is also common to comment on the Applicant’s intentions vis-à-vis practice in Bermuda. While Mr Collis enjoys the experience he is getting at practice in London, his long term plans anticipate a return to Bermuda with a view to practicing in corporate law. That said, my Lord, such a return is not imminent. Mr Collis’s wife, Holly, has herself recently re-qualified in law and has accepted articles in London to train as a solicitor in England and Wales which, as your Lordship is aware, is a two year commitment. As such, there is still a while to go, but when he does return, I am sure he will be a loyal and committed member of the Bermuda Bar.

8. My Lord, I trust my comments have been helpful and given you a fuller picture of the Applicant than is sometimes apparent from a collection of certificates. So, unless I can help you further, may I ask you to make the order in terms of the papers:
to admit and enroll to practise as a Barrister and Attorney Alexander James Collis before this Honourable Court, and
to appoint Alexander James Collis to be a Commissioner for taking Affidavits, Oaths, Declarations and Affirmations.

9. Thank you, my Lord.

Chief Justice, Ian Kawaley (synopsis)

The CJ said he found the papers to be in order.

He noted particularly that there were no objections ...
although he commented that, if there had been a Monopolies Commission in Bermuda, it may have had something to say about the large and increasing number of Collis family members who were members of the Bar.  He thought the Collis family probably had the largest single representation of any family in the Bermuda legal world.

The CJ agreed to make the order.  Alexander then went out to be robed.

The CJ then welcomed Alexander to the Bermuda Bar and noted that now he could not only see Mr Collis, but also could "hear" him. 

Alexander

My Lord, I am the Applicant in respect of the current matter.

1. My Lord let me first start by thanking you for allowing this application to admit and enrol me to practise as a Barrister and Attorney before this Court and to appoint me to be a Commissioner for taking Affidavits, Declarations and Affirmations. I am humbled and honoured to be able to appear before you today.

2. I feel particularly privileged to have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of so many of my family members including; my Grandfather, my father, my mother and I understand that I will soon be joined by my brother and sister in law who seek to make similar applications later this year.

3. I am grateful for the support of each of my family and friends. Their support continues even to this day, Your Lordship will of course be aware that it was my father who appeared before you on my behalf in relation to this Application. And no doubt, Your Lordship will have noticed that the wig I wear on my head now is slightly too small and that is because my mother has kindly allowed me to borrow her wig today.

4. My Lord I am privileged to be accompanied by my wife Holly. Holly and I met 13 days after I was admitted by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority in the United Kingdom as a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and she has offered me unwavering support and patience since then.

5. Your Lordship will recall from Mr Collis’s [x] that whilst I, and indeed my wife, intend to return to Bermuda in due course, Holly has recently accepted articles to train as a solicitor in London and so we are bound to stay in London until her training is complete.

6. Your Lordship will however, be aware that I am currently practicing as a Solicitor in London at Watson Farley & Williams where I predominantly advise Lenders and Investors seeking to provide finance for renewable energy projects. These projects could be anything from solar plants in the midlands of England, to Danish offshore windfarms and more recently solar projects in South East Asia. Certainly, a new, flourishing and unique area of law, and my interest in this area of Project Finance is, I believe firmly grounded by my connection to my home, Bermuda.

7. My Lord, growing up on this cherished island I have always valued the importance of leaving a positive legacy for future generations. My role in assisting the financing of these renewable projects, wherever they are, is always with that in mind. My hope, my Lord, is that by gathering as much experience and exposure to this unique area of law I will be best placed to provide a meaningful contribution to the community and the Bermuda Bar.
Finally

9. Once again, I would like to thank your Lordship and this Court for hearing my application.

Chief Justice, Ian Kawaley (synopsis)

The CJ thanked Alexander for his comments.

He noted that Holly had been very wise to wait until Alexander had finished his qualifications before meeting him.

The CJ also noted Alexander's current practice and interest in energy projects and wondered whether such came as a result of his first degree in sciences.  He also said that it was good to see Alexander cutting his teeth in law on his own unique specialty.