A high-flying lawyer who worked for a prestigious international law firm in London returned to her roots yesterday when she was Called to the Bermuda Bar.

Samantha Walker was welcomed into the island’s legal fraternity by newly appointed Chief Justice Larry Mussenden in a ceremony that was very much a family affair.

Ms Walker, a mother of two young boys, had been enjoying her career as a senior managing associate in the insurance and financial services division of the Sidley Austin law firm in London.

But after ten years in the UK’s capital, an informal meeting with island-based lawyers from Walkers brought the former Bermuda High School student home.

Ms Walker was sponsored by Kevin Taylor, managing partner of Walker’s Bermuda, who described his protégé as “very smart, hard-working diligent and someone who gets stuck into the work”.

“But more important for us is she’s a good person, and because of that we’re really proud to Call her to the Bar today,” Mr Taylor added.

“We got to know Sam at a couple of events in London and we consider ourselves very lucky that Sam has decided to continue her career with us at Walkers.”

Bermudian-born Ms Walker spent her early childhood on the island before completing her secondary education at boarding school in Britain. She read psychology at Durham University before obtaining at Graduate Diploma in Law at the BPP law school in London.

Mr Taylor added: "We are thrilled to welcome Samantha to the Walkers family.

"Her extensive experience and deep understanding of the insurance landscape make her a valuable addition to our team. Samantha's Bermudan heritage, coupled with her international perspective, aligns perfectly with Walkers' commitment to delivering exceptional service to our clients worldwide.

“Samantha's admission to the Bermuda Bar further strengthens Walkers' position as a leading law firm in Bermuda and underscores our dedication to nurturing local talent while attracting top legal professionals from around the globe.”

Addressing the Chief Justice, Ms Walker said it was the love and support of her family — and a good education — that had enabled her to achieve her career goals.

She said: “It is truly an honour to stand before you today. This is a very special day for me and my family.

“I would like to give special thank you to my parents who worked very hard to give me a great education. I’m grateful for all the support and advice they have given me on every step of my journey.”

Ms Walker also thanked her husband for his support.

Turning to her two sons, aged 4 and 2, Ms Walker said: “It is also a joy to have my children here today. I know that they probably won’t remember this day but for me it’s very special.

Ms Walker also thanks Mr Taylor and other colleagues at Walkers “for giving me this fantastic opportunity”.

Ms Walker will spend the next two months at Walkers’ Bermuda offices advising on transactional and regulatory matters for insurers, reinsurers, and investors in the global insurance market.

But she is set to head back to London later this year where she will continue her focus on insurance and contributing to the firm's global presence in the sector.

Mr Taylor said: “Sam can stay in London for as long as she wants but as soon as she wants to come home, she can come home.”