Unregistered barrister disbarred for theft

An unregistered barrister in the West Indies has been struck off after being convicted of theft.

St Vincent and the Grenadines-based Vanessa Gibson-Marks was disbarred from the bar of England and Wales at a disciplinary tribunal hearing earlier this week. The order follows charges brought by the Bar Standards Board.

Gibson-Marks was convicted for theft in October 2014 by the High Court in St Vincent and the Grenadines, where she also held the public office of registrar of the high court. She stole $21,925 Eastern Caribbean Dollars (£6,700). She was also convicted of an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of another person, when she requested that a bank account for the benefit of another be closed.

This occurred while she was appointed as a trustee of the account while employed as registrar.

BSB director of professional conduct Sara Jagger said: 'A conviction for theft and acting prejudicially to the rights of another person is incompatible with membership of the bar. The standards of professional conduct for barristers called to the Bar of England and Wales apply no matter where you are in the world. The tribunal’s decision to disbar Mrs Gibson-Marks reflects the gravity of her actions.’

Gibson-Marks was also fined £500 for not informing the BSB of her criminal convictions. She has never practised in England and Wales.

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Unregistered barrister disbarred for theft