The law firm of Richards, Francis & Francis has added lawyer, Miss Robin Todd to their expanding international trust, corporate and commercial division.

Miss Todd is advising local and international clients on setting up companies, mutual funds, pension funds and other currently used offshore vehicles here.

Called to the bar two years ago this month, she was able to take advantage of a significant cooperation agreement between Richards, Francis & Francis and prominent English law firm, Eversheds, Jaques & Lewis, (now known as Eversheds) which had offices in London, Isle of Man, Jersey, Brussells and at Lloyd's of London.

It was in London where Miss Todd was able to gain practical experience in the firm's corporate/commercial department where she undertook work in the areas of employment, company law and entertainment.

She also spent seven months doing international corporate and trust work in their Jersey office.

After 15 months of fee earning experience, Miss Todd has returned to Richards, Francis & Francis to take over a substantial work load, as the local firm strengthens its position in the growing international business field.

Senior partner, QC Mr. Arnold Francis, CBE JP, said that he was delighted to see a young Bermudian seize the opportunity of the specialist training.

Miss Todd was educated here at Warwick Academy and Saltus Senior Year. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and English Literature in 1987.

Three years later, she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from University of East Anglia, School of Law, Norwich. In 1991 she completed the Bar Vocational Course and was called to the Bar of England and Wales as a member of Gray's Inn, London in February 1992.

Following a six month course in French language studies in Paris, she did a six month pupillage with the chambers of George Newman, QC, Temple, London covering areas within the range of the Privy Council, common law and commercial work.

Having always had an interest in shipping law, Miss Todd undertook to extend her pupillage for a further six months in order to gain specialist shipping training in the chambers of Anthony Hallgarten, QC and the chambers of Richard Stone, QC, respectively, before returning to Bermuda to be called to the Bar.

JOINING LAW FIRM -- Miss Robin Todd