Appleby Trainee Associate Admitted as British Virgin Islands Barrister
Appleby is delighted to announce the admission of British Virgin Islander, Akeya Herbert as a barrister in the British Virgin Islands.
Akeya was called to the Bar and sworn in as a Barrister of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, at a hearing which took place before Justice Abbas Mithani KC on 19 May 2026.
Akeya was born in the Virgin Islands and is a graduate of the Elmore Stoutt High School. She was the recipient of a scholarship granted by the Government of the Virgin Islands on account of academic achievements in the BVI, which included 13 subjects at CXC with a perfect 4.0 GPA. and later became the first recipient of Appleby BVI’s legal scholarship, which was awarded following a record of academic excellence at University. She also graduated from the City St George’s, University of London with distinction with an LLM in Bar Vocational Studies, with a specialism in corporate law and practice.
She has been training with Appleby since September 2025 in the Dispute Resolution department under the supervision of the Managing Partner, Andrew Willins KC. She will now move into the Corporate department under the supervision of the Local Head of Corporate, Shana Simmonds-Lewis.
Akeya commented “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, I am proud to continue this next chapter of my career serving in the jurisdiction I call home. I remain deeply grateful to Appleby for the opportunities, mentorship and support that have guided my professional development thus far, and I look forward to continuing to grow within the profession while contributing to both the firm and the wider Virgin Islands community.”
Managing Partner Andrew Willins KC said: “Akeya’s achievement is a testament to her determination, strong 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.”
Partner, Chair of Appleby BVI’s Scholarships Committee and Head of Corporate Shana Simmonds-Lewis added: “Investing in the development of future legal talent remains a key priority for Appleby. Through our scholarship and training programmes, we are proud to support and invest in aspiring Virgin Islanders, providing meaningful opportunities to gain practical experience and build a strong foundation for their careers. 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. ”
