Graham Thompson Announces New Partners Christopher Wells and Samantha Williams

On January 1, 2014, Samantha M. Williams and Christopher J. Wells became Graham Thompson’s newest partners.  They join a law partnership which includes former Attorneys General, Supreme Court Justices and Magistrates.  Over the course of the Firm’s 65 year history, Graham Thompson has demonstrated industry defining leadership in key legal practice areas.

Samantha Williams, who joined the Firm in 2003, enjoys a successful practice in several practice areas including  Commercial & Corporate, Banking & Finance and Property & Development. She brings a wealth  of experience to her wide-ranging commercial client base.  Her portfolio includes a variety of financial matters ranging from  project finance to loan re-financing and financial services regulation matters.  She has done extensive work with regulatory and government agencies on matters of corporate finance, conveyancing, mergers and acquisitions.   Samantha is now looking ahead to specialisation in areas of international finance and greater involvement in international corporate services.

Christopher Wells, a second generation Graham Thompson partner, joined the Firm in 2005. The son of a Senior Partner Dana C. Wells, Christopher’s relationship with the Firm began long ago. “This Firm is less a workplace and more of a family. I grew here, coming here as a child and waiting for my dad to finish work. As a high school student I worked here during summers, so this place has always been like a home for me.” A member of the Firm’s Property & Development practice group, Christopher brings extensive experience with resort, hotel and residential community developments.  He also works in corporate finance, specifically in the structuring of syndicated loans.

On the new appointments, Managing Partner Judith Whitehead emphasized “The Firm is extremely proud of its history in The Bahamas, and constantly works to demonstrate leadership in key areas important to our economy. We are particularly pleased to be in a position to recognise the talents of these two young lawyers, Samantha and Christopher”.

Samantha, a graduate of the University of the West Indies, was admitted to The Bahamas Bar in 2003. She too got her start with Graham Thompson early, working with the Firm as a summer student. “Right out of law school and after being called to the Bar, I landed at Graham Thompson” . So it’s more than a job for me, it’s my second home.” She completed her legal education at the Eugene Dupuch Law School and  has since returned as a lecturer.  She calls teaching her “second love”, finding the biggest  reward  is  seeing “my efforts  come to fruition” with every student who  is called to the Bar.

Christopher was admitted to both the Bar of England and Wales and The Bahamas Bar in 2005. He studied at The University of Kent Law School in Canterbury and The College of Law in Guildford, both in the United Kingdom. Before joining Graham Thompson he spent two years at Pearson Lowe, a boutique firm in London.

Judith Whitehead underscores the rich diversity of the Firm’s partnership over the course of its history.   She stresses the importance of continuity while simultaneously embracing the input of talented young attorneys.   She sums up her hopes for the Firm’s future, indicating that “Graham Thompson intends to continue to set standards for excellence – not only for the quality of its legal work, but especially for public service to our country.”