Caymanian Appointed as Deputy Solicitor General

by Bina Mani, GIS

Caymanian Mrs. Marilyn Brandt has been promoted to Deputy Solicitor General in the Portfolio of Legal Affairs (PoLA).

This is the first time that a Caymanian attorney has been appointed as the Deputy Solicitor General. Mrs. Brandt brings to the job 14 years’ experience gleaned as a practising public sector attorney, following being called to the Cayman Islands Bar.

She gained professional practical experience by being an articled clerk within the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Portfolio of Legal Affairs.

Deputy Governor and Head of the Civil Service, Hon. Franz Manderson, MBE, Cert. Hon., JP commented on the recent appointment: “I am delighted that a Caymanian civil servant, who is also a public sector practising attorney, has been promoted for the first time to this senior position. This is certainly a testimony to the capabilities, qualifications and work of this hardworking and dedicated career civil servant.”

Recalling that Mrs. Brandt worked as a colleague at the Immigration Department (when he was the head of Immigration), the DG added, “Her work ethos of giving her best and pursuing excellence struck me as stellar qualities. I am pleased she will also lead the clerkship programme for Caymanians seeking to become lawyers, who will learn about work behind the scenes on behalf of CIG. I wish Mrs. Brandt well in her current role.”

Attorney General, Hon. Samuel Bulgin, QC commented that “Mrs. Brandt’s promotion within the Portfolio is timely” and he looks forward to her continuing growth and professional development as an invaluable member within the Chambers of the Attorney General.

The promotion is also an endorsement of succession planning within the Cayman Islands Government, in particular at PoLA under the leadership of the Attorney General and the Solicitor General, Ms Reshma Sharma, QC. Mr. Manderson commented: “I am equally elated that succession planning played a part in the promotion of Mrs. Brandt. I laud the Attorney General and Solicitor General in this regard.”

Solicitor General, Ms Sharma QC said, “I have had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Brandt throughout her tenure with the Attorney General’s Chambers, both as an Articled Clerk and thereafter, as a practising attorney following her admission to the Bar. During that time, she was exposed to a broad range of work within the Chambers and provided sound legal support to her clients. The role of Deputy Solicitor General is an important one but equally, a demanding one and I wish her continued success with the new challenges that lie ahead. I hope that her journey within the civil service will inspire a new generation of young Caymanians to consider a similar path.”

Mrs. Brandt’s core legal work within the Portfolio work includes providing extensive advice on behalf of the Attorney General to the Cayman Islands Government (CIG) on matters concerning immigration, children’s law, planning, contract and employment.

Additionally, she prepares and represents CIG before both the Grand Court and the Court of Appeal. She also appears on CIG’s behalf before statutory tribunals including the Health Appeals Tribunal, Planning Appeals Tribunal and Civil Service Appeals Commission.

Mrs. Brandt is also the Chairperson of the Expungement Board which deals with the erasing of criminal records for eligible persons who have committed minor infractions of the law and served their time, as handed down by the Cayman Islands judicial system.

She is also an ex-officio member of the Cayman Islands Development Bank’s board of directors as well as the Legal Advisor to the Medical and Dental Council, the Trade and Business Licensing Board, the Liquor Licensing Board and the Builders Board.

The Articled Clerkship programme run by the Attorney General’s Chambers will now be overseen by Mrs. Brandt who brings her special brand of leadership and enthusiasm to a programme that is dear to her heart, having herself been a former article clerk within the Chambers.

Mrs. Brandt’s 14 years of experience as an attorney in CIG’s employ began in the then Legal Department headed by the Attorney General, (which included the criminal division, now Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions or ODPP). She joined after completing her Bachelor of Laws (Hons.) degree from the University of Liverpool through the Truman Bodden Law School (TBLS).

This was followed by a Professional Practice Course at TBLS and her articleship within the Chambers of the Attorney General, leading to admission to the Cayman Islands Bar in 2008. She has also acquired, within her busy work schedule, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Walden University.

Previously, Mrs. Brandt served as Crown Counsel, rising to Crown Counsel I and later Acting Senior Crown Counsel before taking up the Deputy Solicitor General position.

Commenting on her appointment, Mrs. Brandt said, “I am honoured to be appointed to the post of Deputy Solicitor General. Having been a career civil servant for almost 14 years, it is truly fulfilling to be able to serve the community in this capacity. I am particularly pleased that one of my key responsibilities will be the management of the Articles of Clerkship programme.

“This will provide me with the opportunity to pave the way for budding Caymanian attorneys to consider the Civil Service as a viable career option. I also look forward to supporting the Attorney General and Solicitor General, as part of the senior leadership team, in carrying out the mandate of the Attorney General’s Chambers.”