The Judicial and Legal Services Commission of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court has approved the contractual appointment of Mr. Barry Leon as High Court Judge (Ag.), Commercial Division for a period of three years effective March 16, 2015.

Mr. Leon will preside over the Commercial Division of the High Court which is recognised as a world-class commercial court located in the British Virgin Islands.  The court is however applicable to six sovereign states and three United Kingdom Overseas Territories which comprise the judicial jurisdiction of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States.

He will assist the Chairman of the Judicial Education Institute of the Supreme Court with designing and organising judicial education programmes for judges of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court relevant to the conduct of commercial litigation.   

The incoming Acting High Court Judge will ensure the smooth succession of judges to the High Court to further the work of the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court at the end of the contract period.  He will also assist the Chief Justice with the evolution and implementation of a succession plan for judges of the High Court to take over the leadership of the Commercial Division, training the staff of the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court and undertaking any other relevant duties as may from time to time be directed by the Chief Justice.

Mr. Leon was admitted to the Bar in Ontario in 1976 and comes to the post with over 30 years of experience as a counsel. 

He received his Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Toronto in 1974, his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario in 1971 and his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Alberta in 1969.

He presently serves as a Partner and Head of the International Arbitration Group at Perley-Robertson, Hill and McDougall LLP/s.r.l.

Mr. Leon will succeed Justice Edward Bannister, Q.C. who served as Commercial Court Judge since the establishment of the Commercial Division of the High Court in 2009.