Lawyers from across the legal spectrum paid tribute yesterday to Kehinde George, the former president of the Bermuda Bar Council and a strong influence on Bermuda’s insolvency law.

The special sitting was held at the Dame Lois Browne Evans Building, where legal professionals gathered with family members and dignitaries to honour the solicitor’s life.

Roderick Attride-Stirling, who cofounded ASW Law Limited along with Ms George, said his colleague was both “a titan in her field” and “a dear, dear friend”.

He told the packed room of more than 100 people: “She was my learned friend, but she was also my close friend. We built a reputation together that she was very proud of.”

Ms George died in November at age 65. She was set to retire from her presidential post this year.

Mr Attride-Stirling said his colleague, who was head of restructuring, was “the quiet one of the firm”, who brought focus and brilliance to their practice.

He said: “She trained so many, both inside our firm and outside of our firm.

“She could explain to you some particular narrow point of law — what the law was named, what the law was in the United States and what the law was in Bermuda.”

Using the words of his other business partner, Neil Horner, Mr Attride-Stirling described Ms George as having a “quiet strength” and “keen knowledge” that she balanced out with humour and kindness.

He added that her daughter, Kayo, was the “absolute love” of her life.

Ms George gained her law degree at King’s College and qualified as a solicitor.

She spent six years practising as a corporate and commercial lawyer before working for four years in the Government Legal Service in Britain, advising on insolvency law and policy.

Ms George advised the Department of Trade and Industry from 1991 to 1995 before moving to Bermuda and being called to the Bermuda Bar the following year.

Kim Wilkerson, the Attorney-General, said she knew Ms George from her time working at ASW Law in 2001.

She said she was “moulded” by Ms George and saw her as a model for other Black women in the field.

Ms Wilkerson said: “Kehinde showed how to set priority and in that, one of my biggest memories was when Kayo was born — she was in the office, in her playpen in her mom’s office.

“We didn’t see that modelled for us as women.”

She added: “I’m honoured and saddened that I’m here in a court talking about her legacy when it feels like it was not that long ago when she stood in court rooting for me as I was Called to the Bar.”

Turning to Kayo George, she said: “Your mother meant so many things to so many people. She was a great example to women and she was a leader the likes of which I have never seen before.

“I want to say thank you for lending your mom to the profession — in doing that it taught me, and many other women, so much.”

Larissa Burgess, of the Bermuda Monetary Authority, echoed this, adding that it was fitting to honour Ms George during Black History Month and ahead of International Women’s Day.

Ms Burgess said Ms George brought integrity to her field by balancing clear-headedness and professionalism.

She said: “Even in situations where views differed, Kehinde engaged with respect and calm, and she never lost sight of the broader responsibilities we all share to the court and to the public.”

Ms Burgess added: “It has been moving to see how widely her loss has been felt and how consistently we speak of her warmth, generosity of spirit and quiet strength.

“That is a rare legacy and one that speaks volumes of the type of person she was.”

Kevin Taylor, the head of insolvency and dispute resolution at Walkers Bermuda, said Ms George was not only a leader in his field but deeply kind and respectful.

He underscored Ms Burgess’s sentiments and told Ms George’s family: “My hope for you is that, in some small way, our testimonies today assist you here during this difficult time.”