Ms. Kim Hollis, QC has been appointed as the next Director of Public Prosecutions of the British Virgin Islands.  

The appointment was made by His Excellency the Governor, Mr. John S. Duncan, OBE, in accordance with section 95 of the Virgin Islands Constitution, and acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission. The appointment will take effect on August 29.

 The Director of Public Prosecutionserves as the principal prosecutor in the Virgin Islands as established by the Constitution, and has the overall responsibility for all aspects of criminal proceedingsand management of the day-to-dayadministration and activities of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In this capacity, Ms. Hollis, QC will institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any civil court in respect of any offence against any law in force in the Virgin Islands. Additionally, she will provide written legal advice to Commissions, Government Ministries and Departments, as well as attend meetings to provide immediate oral advice on legal matters as required, in order to provide timely and professional information.

Her other responsibilities will include liaising with the Governor, Commissioner of Police and other institutions on criminal matters,and managing all summary court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council matters.

Ms. Hollis was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1979, and has been in practice for 35 years. She has extensive experience in criminal courts in Wales, England and Bermuda. An exclusively criminal specialist for many years, she has gained experience in many high profile criminal cases, first as a junior and then as leading counsel.

Her career, from an early stage, has spanned all levels of serious crime. She is frequently sought out on high profile fraud cases including most recent the Pakistan Cricket Allegations. She is highly experienced in cases of the most violent crimeswith sensitivity to the cultural issues that are involved.

Ms. Hollis holds a specialist knowledge and understanding of cases involving serious violence and sexual offences committed towards children, where detailed forensic skills are required in court presentation.

In addition, she is experienced in International Mediation. Her areas of legal expertise include crime, fraud and financial regulation, international criminal law,confiscation and proceeds of crime act, prison law, inquests and public enquiries.

Ms. Hollis was appointed a Master of the Bench of Gray’s Inn in 2008 and in 2013, she was appointed as a Member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Diplomatic Excellence panel. In 2014, she was appointed as the Diversity Advisor to the Legal Directorate of the FCO. Ms. Hollis is an Accredited School of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology (SPCP) International and National Mediator, and she is also on the list of counsel for instruction in cases at the International Criminal Court.