Martina de Lima is the newest Caymanian attorney at Ogier, having been called to the bar on 5th June, 2007. Martina joined Ogier in November 2005 to do her articles, and will continue with the firm to practice as a qualified lawyer.
Martina was called to the bar by Ogier's Managing Partner James Bergstrom, and admitted by Justice Henderson. Bergstrom spoke warmly of Martina's achievement, saying, "We are extraordinarily pleased to welcome Martina to Ogier. Martina is both bright and capable, and is an excellent addition to the business law group. Her commitment to the law and her willingness to challenge herself are commendable, and we are sure she will be a credit to the firm". During her articling period, Martina worked with the commercial banking, local practice, litigation and investment funds teams, and is now joining the business law group, where she will advise on structured finance and investment funds.
Martina obtained her law degree from the University of Liverpool in 2002, following the completion of her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, which she received from the University of Alberta in 1998. While at law school, Martina scored the top marks in each year of her studies, and was awarded the Sweet & Maxwell Prize, the Butterworth's Prize, the Dean's Prize, the Chamber of Commerce Prize, and the Tim Shea Memorial Prize, each recognising her academic achievement. She was admitted to the New York Bar in October 2003 and completed the Cayman Islands Professional Practice Course with distinction in 2005.
"It is a great a pleasure to work at Ogier," said de Lima on her employment with the firm. "The firm has provided me with a wonderful introduction to legal practice, and I am excited about specialising in the field I have chosen. I feel extremely privileged to have been able to complete my articles and begin my legal career with a firm that is receiving more and more recognition as Cayman's leading provider of offshore legal services, and have benefited immensely from the wealth of experience of my colleagues. Without a doubt, given the recent expansion of affiliates with offices in nine worldwide locations, as well as the countless number of awards it has received, Ogier's future looks very bright, and I could not have chosen a better firm in which to start my career."