A top lawyer who channelled his love of athletics into charity work was one of the founding partners at one of the island’s main law firms.

Jonathan Betts, known as Jonnie, was head of the corporate, finance, funds and insurance group at Walkers Bermuda.

The firm wrote that the partner, colleague and friend was “a hugely popular and highly regarded member of the local and international legal community”.

Mr Betts, who joined Walkers in 2016, was said to have played a critical role in developing its Bermuda office and advising large corporate clients and investment funds.

He was ranked as a Leading Individual by Legal 500 and Tier 1 notable practitioner by Chambers and recognised as being a “terrific lawyer”.

Kevin Taylor, a Walkers partner, shared a tribute online marking one month after Mr Betts passed away from a serious illness.

“Even after attending his memorial recently, it's still hard to accept,” Mr Taylor wrote.

“It's difficult to find the words to do justice to such a wonderful friend and colleague.”

Mr Taylor added: “For those of us lucky to have worked with Jonnie, he was much, much more than a top professional and trusted legal adviser who served our clients so well.

“My colleagues from Bermuda and across our global network have been sharing their memories of Jonnie and the lasting impression he made on everyone.

“They consistently recount his big smile, his kindness, positive energy and love for his family.

“We'll remember him for his positivity, encouragement and mentoring of our people and passion for their development, his friendship and ability to make everyone feel included and especially for his sense of humour.”

Mr Betts was recalled as “approachable, enthusiastic, fun, supportive and compassionate”.

“His contribution to our firm was far more than a commercial one,” Mr Taylor wrote.

“While Jonnie will be sorely missed, personally and professionally by all of us at Walkers, his positive impact on our people and culture will ensure a lasting legacy.

“Our thoughts are with his wife, Frances, children Angus, Connie and Flora, and all his family and friends.”

Mr Betts, who moved to Bermuda in 2004, started at the law firm Cox Hallett Wilkinson and became a senior associate.

He distinguished himself as a sportsman, despite being an asthma sufferer, competing in running, cycling and swimming as well as playing football.

He was a co-chairman on the board of the asthma and lung charity Open Airways and ran in the London Marathon to fundraise for the cause.

Liz Boden, the charity’s retired executive director, said its board was “devastated” at the news of his death.

“I persuaded him to join our board while standing on The Royal Gazette steps many years ago, when he presented our charity with a donation, having just run the London Marathon,” she said.

“He told me about his asthma and how he finally managed to control it and how he not only ran marathons but also did Iron Man triathlons too.”

Born in Northern Ireland, Mr Betts moved to the UK as a child.

He attended Loughborough University, obtaining a degree in banking and finance, and graduated from the University of Law, formerly the College of Law, with a Common Professional Exam and Legal Practice Course qualifications.

He began work as a lawyer in the Hong Kong office of the firm Clifford Chance, followed by SJ Berwin, before he moved to Bermuda.

Ms Boden said Mr Betts had been a top member of the Open Airways board, “always smiling, always willing to help us and go the extra mile — however busy he was”.

• Jonathan David Gwynfor Betts, a prominent lawyer and mainstay of the charity Open Airways, was born on May 6, 1971. He died on July 29, 2023, aged 52