New lawyer Matthew Sharpe is embarking on a career in corporate law, having been Called to the Bermuda Bar at the close of his training contract with the firm Conyers Dill and Pearman.

Counting himself fortunate to have set off in the field, Mr Sharpe told the gathering that his course might have been “very different” if he had followed career test results in high school.

“There is a sense of relief that comes with being here today — but it needs to be mentioned that I would not be standing here without the help of a lot of people,” Mr Sharpe said, thanking among others his aunt Kathy Keane and uncle John Sharpe, both veterans of CD & P — as well as lawyer Kim White, for allowing him to shadow him in his early days as a law student.

Proud parents Sue and Bruce, whom he called “the most consistent pillars of support throughout my life”, looked on.

Mr Sharpe acquired his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Kent, as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from Cardiff University. He previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Western Ontario.

“It will be a great honour to be able to count myself a part of the legal fraternity in Bermuda, that many highly esteemed and intelligent individuals are a part of”, Mr Sharpe said. “I must thank everyone again who has helped guide me to this point in my life.”