Introduction
COB: Welcome to today's interview with Mikhail Charles, a barrister whose journey from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to Britain has been remarkable. Mikhail, thank you for joining us today.
MC: Thank you for having me, Christianah.
Background
COB: Please start by telling us a little bit about your background.
MC: I was born and raised in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. I attended Kingstown Preparatory School, then Saint Vincent Boys Grammar School, followed by A‑Levels at Saint Vincent Community College. During my teenage years, I considered several careers, including banking, diplomacy and real estate valuation. My first job was as a teller at the National Bank of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. My interest in the Bar began after jury service, where I watched a prosecutor present a case with exceptional skill.
My upbringing was a traditional, conservative West Indian one, with an emphasis on faith, sport, academics, and discipline. My parents were serving diplomats, and one was a former MP. I came to Britain for university and vocational training and lived with my parents for a time. I grew up in a nuclear family, but I am very close to my maternal grandmother, who helped raise me. I spend her birthday with her every year.
Journey to the Bar
COB: Can you tell us about your journey to the Bar so far?
MC: After A‑Levels, I completed the University of Wales Cardiff LL.B between 2008 and 2011 while working various jobs, including at Graze, doing door security, close protection and litter picking in West London. International student fees were significant, and I worked throughout my studies.
I completed the Bar Professional Training Course at City University Law School and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2012. I then worked in a tax and business consultancy in Kingston, Surrey. After not obtaining pupillage in England, I returned to the Caribbean. I was admitted in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2013, Grenada in 2015, Saint Lucia in 2015, the British Virgin Islands in 2018 and Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2019.
I later completed a Master's in Corporate and Insolvency Law at Nottingham Law School between 2015 and 2017 while working as a Legal Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat. I have worked in-house at the Telecommunications Authority for the Eastern Caribbean in Saint Lucia and at a boutique offshore litigation firm in the Turks and Caicos before taking a year off and then obtaining pupillage.
Inspiration
COB: What inspired you to become a barrister?
MC: I enjoy finding solutions and engaging in argument. I am very self-reliant and do not fit well into traditional employment structures. I saw the law as a tool for achieving justice and wanted to be part of that process.
Dual Practice
COB: Can you share how your dual practice in the UK and Grenada has shaped your legal career?
MC: To clarify, I am admitted in five Eastern Caribbean jurisdictions. I have actively practised for more than ten years in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Working across jurisdictions has given me a genuinely common law perspective. Former British colonies apply English common law unless their constitution or local legislation modifies it.
Many of my Caribbean cases involve cross-border elements, offshore structures or enforcement of judgments across jurisdictions. I have not yet replicated that level of complexity in London due to my junior call, but I have been instructed on matters where my overseas experience has been valuable.
Motivation and Balance
COB: What motivated you to pursue a legal career in both the UK and the Caribbean, and how do you strike a balance?
MC: I saw English barristers practising across the Commonwealth and thought the reverse should be possible too. We all read the same books and wear the same robes. I wanted to practise in a major commercial centre and broaden my skill set.
Saint Vincent has a population of approximately one hundred thousand compared to more than sixty million in England and Wales. The volume of work is naturally greater here. The Caribbean remains my home, and I care deeply about contributing to its legal development.
Balancing jurisdictions requires business development, organisation and discipline. Modern technology makes this easier. I can advise clients, appear in court (except for trials), deliver lectures, and collaborate with colleagues in different locations. Diary management is essential.
Dual Jurisdictional Experience
COB: Can you share any experiences where your dual jurisdictional expertise played a significant role in achieving a favourable outcome?
MC: One example is a case where I acted for a Texan judgment creditor pursuing a USD 40 million judgment debt against a Trinidadian company's subsidiary in the British Virgin Islands. It involved complex cross-border insolvency and enforcement issues. My understanding of US and Caribbean systems and my BVI admission enabled me to coordinate effectively and devise an enforcement strategy.
A current matter involves pursuing an offshore bank and its CEO who owe my client tens of millions in deposits. We have judgment but no recovery yet. Tracing assets across borders against political and banking obstacles has been strenuous but rewarding. I am confident my client will succeed.
Challenges
COB: Could you tell us about some of the challenges you face when dealing with proceedings in other jurisdictions?
MC: Navigating differences in legal systems is a frequent challenge. Saint Lucia has a hybrid system that combines English common law and a French civil code. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has an entirely unregistered land system similar to pre-1925 English land law. Many Caribbean jurisdictions do not have legislation or case law freely available online. Research is often the greatest challenge.
Time zones add logistical complexity. Cultural differences in urgency also play a role. Tracing assets and unwinding corporate structures across borders is difficult and time-consuming. Some jurisdictions have blocking statutes or are unwilling to provide judicial assistance. Persistence, creativity and strong relationships with local counsel are essential.
Quick Fire Questions
COB: Last concert you went to.
MC: It was Vibes with Voicey, featuring Voice and Skinny Fabulous, for Notting Hill Carnival 2023.
COB: Favourite dancehall artist.
MC: Vybz Kartel as a foundation, but currently Masicka, Shane O, Teejay and Popcaan.
COB: Tell us one thing people do not know about you.
MC: Despite my martial arts background, I am quite clumsy. I have been known to trip over thin air. I am also a classically trained flautist.
COB: Thank you once again for joining us today, Mikhail. It has been a pleasure speaking with you.
MC: Thank you, Christianah.
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