Shaunée trained and qualified as a solicitor of England and Wales in 2014 with Reed Smith LLP in London, England. She spent six years working in private practice at Reed Smith LLP and Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP and then over four years working as the primary transactions legal counsel at Chenavari Investment Managers, a fixed income credit fund in London, prior to returning to Bermuda to work as senior counsel at Walkers in April 2023.
Shaunée attended the Bermuda High School for Girls prior to completing the international baccalaureate diploma programme at Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa. She earned her Law Degree from the University of Manchester and completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP University, London.
In her address to the Court, Shaunée thanked the teachers at the Bermuda High School for Girls; the UWC Bermuda National Committee who awarded her with a scholarship to study in Southern Africa; and the Bank of Bermuda Foundation who awarded her with the Sir Henry Tucker Scholarship in 2007 which funded her legal studies in England.
Continuing her sentiments, Shaunée noted that "it was a long held ambition to practice law in Bermuda and thanked the partnership of Walkers and colleagues for warmly welcoming me into the legal fraternity of Bermuda."
Shaunée is grateful for the support of her friends and family, inclusive of her siblings, sister-in-law, mother and father, Kenrick James, who prior to retirement practiced as a barrister in the courts of Bermuda. As a the beneficiary of a "tribe of mentors" throughout her career, Shaunée "looks forward to mentoring and providing support to aspiring lawyers and more junior members of the legal profession in Bermuda."
Karina completed her Legal Practice Course in Law, Business and Management in 2021 at University of London and began her pupillage with Walkers in January 2023. Additionally, Karina completed her Masters of Laws in Innovation, Technology and the Law at University of Edinburgh and her Bachelor of Laws with Honours at University of Dundee.
In her remarks at court, Karina thanked her pupil masters, Peter Dunlop, Steven White and Sarah Demerling for the generosity of their time, advice and knowledge imparted during the course of her pupillage. Karina also expressed her gratitude towards her colleagues in particular Cathryn Minors and Nicholas Howard who provided support and mentorship by challenging and encouraging her throughout her pupillage.
Karina is grateful for the support, patience and guidance of her friends and family over the years, in particular her husband who has been a constant source of support.
Currently, 60 per cent of Walkers' practicing lawyers in Bermuda are female. "Joining an esteemed group of lawyers, the majority of which are female, in Bermuda is something from which I take great pride" noted Karina.
Bermuda partner Kevin Taylor moved Shaunée's application before Hon. Justice Mussenden and Karina Skinner's application before Hon. Acting Chief Justice Mussenden. "Moving the applications of two lawyers to the Bermuda bar in short succession fills us with tremendous pride at Walkers, as we diligently continue to grow and develop our Bermudian legal training programme."
The continued development of Walkers' Bermuda Pupillage programme supports the success of the three key Bermuda practice areas, Banking, Finance and Capital Markets; Dispute Resolution; and Insurance / Reinsurance, all of which are ranked Tier 1 in the Legal 500.
