Kim Hollis
KC

A criminal practitioner with over 47 years of practical experience, including 24 years as Queen’s Counsel and then King’s Counsel. She was the first Asian female Queen's Counsel to be appointed in England and Wales. Prosecuting, defending and advising in high-profile cases throughout the UK and Caribbean, as well as advising the FCO on the prosecution of serious sexual offences in the Overseas Territories since 2012.

Whilst DPP, she advised at the highest government, cabinet and national security council levels in the British Virgin Islands, as well as exclusively managing a government department with sole responsibility for all prosecutions within the Jurisdiction of the Territory of the Virgin Islands, regularly liaising with the United States Virgin Islands in relation to mutual co-operation and extradition. While in office, she successfully prosecuted numerous cases to Privy Council level.

Since returning to the UK, she has advised the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office in conducting a root and branch review of the Criminal Justice System of the British Virgin Islands with recommendations for reform. She advises and acts in successful challenges related to Mutual Legal Assistance in the British Virgin Islands as well as in large-scale complex commercial cases with specific emphasis on considering perjury and other serious criminal offences committed during proceedings before the commercial courts of the Virgin Islands in high-net-worth actions.

Due to her unique experience, Kim is available to advise and speak on the following topics:

  • Combating cross-jurisdictional crime in the British Virgin Islands and its detection during the Epstein years.

  • Unchecked perjury in the commercial courts of the British Virgin Islands and its possible consequences for high-net-worth cases – Fraud by stealth?

  • Natural disasters – Their practical effect on the breakdown of the rule of law, and the recovery of a criminal justice system.

  • Financial crime, corruption, extradition and fraud in the British Virgin Islands – Their cost and prosecution in the British Virgin Islands. Is it worth it? Are the criminals winning?

  • The practicalities of jury trials in the British Virgin Islands – Should juries be retained in small-island jurisdictions? Are they effective? Is justice served?