private legal firm of Hall, Duncan and Trott as an associate.

Mr. McMillan, who took up his new position yesterday, is one of Bermuda's most prominent lawyers after serving for 12 years with the Government's legal department.

The 41-year-old Irishman is a former senior crown counsel but lost the post two years ago to Mr. Barrie Meade in what was seen by some people as a move to greater Bermudianise the Attorney General's Chambers.

Mr. McMillan would not go into details as to why he had decided to go back into private practice. He would only say that he was "very excited'' about his new post.

He has vast legal experience in several countries and is a member of the Bars of England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Hong Kong and Bermuda. He has on occasion been acting solicitor general in Bermuda.

Mr. Julian Hall MP, a partner of Hall, Duncan and Trott, said yesterday: "We're absolutely delighted to have a lawyer of Robin McMillan's calibre join us. He has many years of expertise and experience.'' Mr. Hall also announced plans to add another three lawyers to the company by the end of the year.

He said the company, which now has four lawyers, had quickly established itself since it was formed almost exactly a year ago.

"We currently need to expand our lawyer base to keep apace of growing demands for our services,'' he said.

"We were concerned at one stage that we were regarded as just criminal lawyers when, in fact, all of us have been actively working in other spheres which tended not to get much publicity.

"This firm has now succeeded in establishing itself as a group of active commercial, as well as civil and common law, litigators.'' Mr. Hall said the company was being very careful not to expand too quickly.

"We must not develop a knee jerk expansion response to what could be only a temporary demand for our services,'' he added.