legal system for a journal published by the international law section of the California Bar.

Mr. McMillan said he hoped his article would help to inform California's lawyers about the strengths of Bermuda law and the areas of expertise which the Island has developed.

Mr. McMillan, who is a senior litigation attorney with local law firm Hall Duncan and Trott, is the only Bermuda-based member of the California Bar and recently attended the organisation's annual meeting in San Francisco.

The State Bar Association is the largest and wealthiest in the world, with an annual budget of $50 million.

Among the discussion groups which Mr. McMillan attended was one on off-shore centres.

Mr. McMillan said: "The main theme which was apparent was a strong desire for efficient highly developed systems of regulation, together with sophisticated professional and political infrastructure. There was much disquiet at poorly regulated jurisdictions.'' Mr. McMillan also attended a series of talks on Pacific Rim transactions which was of particular interest since he is also a member of the Hong Kong Bar.

While in San Francisco, Mr. McMillan met the Chief Justice of California, the president of the State Bar and the president of the Beverly Hills Bar Association.

He said: "Trends which were apparent at the conference included a great concern about maintaining and improving ethical standards and creating a greater sense of social obligation on the part of practitioners in the straitened circumstances of the 1990s.''