Bermuda-based international law firm, Mello Jones & Martin has announced that Jay W. Kempe has joined the firm as senior counsel.

Mr. Kempe will specialise in Trust Law and Private Client matters.

Mr. Kempe's extensive estate planning experience will be called upon to assist Mello Jones & Martin's local and international clientele with their estate planning requirements.

Mr. Kempe joins Mello Jones & Martin, after serving five years as in-house counsel at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and managing director of Abacus Trust Limited.

Prior to PWC, Mr. Kempe spent 14 years as a partner with Appleby Spurling & Kempe, where he was instrumental in building the firm's Trusts & Estates practice.

"We are extremely excited to have a lawyer with the range of experience and knowledge that Jay brings to our Trusts and Estates clients," commented Michael Mello, Mello Jones & Martin's Trusts & Estates Partner.

"Our continued growth in this area has afforded us the opportunity to add Jay to our team, establishing our Trusts & Estates practice as a leader in Bermuda in terms of our ability to provide quality, responsive service to our clients."

Mr. Kempe is well known in the local community for his personal and professional interests and affiliations.

Mr. Kempe is a Barrister and Attorney, called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1978 and the Bermuda Bar in 1979.

Mr. Kempe is a member of Gray's Inn, London and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

He has also served on a number of Advisory Committees for the Bermuda Government and the Bermuda International Business Association's Trust Law and Practice Committee.