Vincentian Barrister, joins prestigious London Chambers

One of the top-ranked legal chambers in England and Wales and across the world has bolstered its fleet by welcoming a Vincentian into their ranks.

Barrister, Mikhail Charles officially joined the 5 Pump Court Chambers in Temple, London on April 7, 2024.

Landing a position in English chambers is considered a tremendous achievement as securing an apprenticeship position is a highly competitive process, with candidates often applying multiple times before being successful.

Charles’ success is particularly noteworthy as he is the only known West Indian to have secured pupillage in 2022 and gone on to obtain tenancy.

“I am indeed grateful to Chambers for allowing me to bring to bear a wealth of Caribbean experience, a unique perspective, and a deep commitment to the law,” Charles said.

He was one of the island’s top performers in the then Common Entrance Examination and went on to attend the SVG Boys Grammar School and the SVG Community College. He is the son of Maxwell Charles, a former Minister of Labour, and the grandson of Ruby Mattis, a Justice of the Peace.

He credits them for exposure to the values of public service and the importance of upholding justice. After earning his LL.B from the University of Wales in 2011, he went on to complete the Bar Professional Training Course at City University Law School in London, and was called to the bar in England and Wales the following year.

September last year marked a decade for Charles as a Vincentian barrister, having been admitted to the local Bar in 2013. He has also gained admission to practice in several Eastern Caribbean jurisdictions, including Saint Lucia, the British Virgin Islands, and St Kitts and Nevis.

Charles has appeared at every level of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and most levels of courts in England and Wales. He practices in a wide range of areas including specialist criminal litigation, civil litigation, commercial law, and international disputes, and has a number of reported cases across the region and internationally.

Charles is steadily building a portfolio of firsts, having been the first Caribbean lawyer to take part in the inaugural Young Professionals Programme from 2015 to 2017 which saw him take part in and lead matters of legal reform across the Commonwealth.

Outside of the court room, Charles is an accomplished martial artist and he holds black belts in Taekwondo, Shito Ryu Karate, Shotokan Karate with experience in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Krav Maga.

Charles said he expects to not only improve on his legal experience while at 5 Pump Court Chambers, but also to bring the legal communities in the UK and the region closer.

“I do hope that my presence at the chambers not only strengthens its ability to handle complex international cases but also serves as a bridge between the Caribbean and the United Kingdom legal communities. I reflect on the examples of my father and grandmother and hold and cherish their admonition to remain rooted in the traditions of humility, faith, hope and charity,” Charles said.