Preparing for Success, Young Professionals Series: Attorney-at-Law Christopher Thompson

Oct 16, 2022 News

---

==The Creators’ Coven==

By Zena Henry

Kaieteur News – The road to achieving your desires is never an easy one. In fact, I’ve heard some people say that the bigger the dream, the harder the journey. But as we have spoken about success and some of the ways we can align ourselves, we understand that there are key elements that are necessary to take us through. We understand that it is more than just wanting something, but to actually put in the effort in preparing ourselves for that achievement. As young people, we always hear about putting our best foot forward by making use of our time and energies to secure the lives that we desire.

There is a lot of work that each individual must put in if he or she is determined. Thirty-four- year-old Christopher Anthony Thompson is well aware of this after diligently paving the way to achieve his dream of becoming an Attorney and now able to practice his profession in a Court of Law. If I should recommend a young professional from where encouragement and inspiration could be drawn, I’d recommend ‘Chris’ as he is fondly called.

Chris, after graduating Valedictorian, Best Graduating Student and Best Graduating English A Student from St. John’s College in 2005, was able to move from National Hardware (Guyana) Limited as an Audit Clerk in 2006 to Layout Artist at Kaieteur News, National Media and Publishing Company Ltd. in 2007 to Legal Intern at Christopher Ram & Associates, Attorneys-at-Law by 2017 and legal assistance by 2018. By 2020, Chris was an associate Attorney-at-Law, Engagement Attorney, Office Manager at Christopher Ram & Associates, Attorneys-at-Law serving as the firm’s Engagement Attorney, directly responsible for all civil litigation and non-contentious proceedings, serving as a reliable advocate for the firm. He also functions as the firm’s Office Manager with oversight responsibility for file management, maintaining accurate and updated case files. Some of the areas of law practiced include: advice and litigation on Anti-Money Laundering Legislation; Employment Law matters; advice on Oil and Gas legislation, Taxation Negotiation and Litigation; Registration & Incorporation of Companies, review of contracts; Trademark Registration; Probate and Administration of Estate; Conveyance matters; Defamation actions,Divorce and Custody proceedings, and Social Security (NIS) negotiation and litigation.

He has also served as Management Secretary of the Guyana Public Service Co-operative Credit Union with responsibility as Corporate Department Manager, General Counsel and Compliance Officer. His responsibilities and duties included the management of all aspects of the Management Committee, other Committee and Credit Union Member’s Meetings, developing the agenda for meetings, coordinating and attending Committee Meetings, arrange meeting logistics, ensure minutes are recorded, provide secretarial support and implement decisions made by the Management Committee.

He also served as a liaison for Directors, Officers, and Members, direct activities related to meeting of Members, maintain corporate documents and records, be conversant with activities in the Securities Markets and ensure compliance with Laws and Regulations as well as ensure the integrity of the governance framework, compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, while providing information on the Committee’s best practices and adapt the Management Committee’s Governance Framework to harmonise with the needs of the organisation, execute fiduciary duties, and he worked closely with the Chief Executive, and Senior Officers.

With significant achievements under his belt, Chris was one of the four Heads of Department to conceptualise, propose, and implement the Credit Union’s highly successful Covid-19 Relief Loan, to the benefit of over three thousand (3000) Credit Union members. Hosting the agency’s AGM after a 11-years hiatus, he was also one of four Heads of Department to prepare and successfully execute a mixed virtual and in person Annual General Meeting, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the first of its kind in Guyana and the Caribbean.

Chris provided competent legal advice and guidance to the Ministry of Labour, Department of Co-operative, and the Society’s Interim Management Committee on issues surrounding the holding of AGM, relative to the absence of a substantive Chief Cooperative Development Officer. He took part in the defence against the AGM injunction as one of two lawyers to successfully defend against a halt of the long-awaited AGM. The defeat of the injunction averted the waste of over G$20M that the Society had already invested in the hosting of the AGM.

Chris has been able to take part in the creation of a new department at the Society. He is responsible for the implementation and management of the Marketing and Public Relations Unit. That department engages in the review of proposals, marketing plans and all press releases and statements, the Management of the Society’s social media platform and website, and overall corporate socially responsible portfolio of the Society. Chris was also responsible for the formation and management of the society’s Legal Unit which vets all applications for mortgages and vehicle loans, review of proposals, and recommend necessary legal changes in keeping with legislative updates. Chris is especially proud of his contribution toward the development of the Society’s Mortgages and Vehicle Loans, to which he established and implemented the legal framework for the Society to execute the said loans. The vetting and creation of mortgages and vehicle loans were designed to be performed by the Society’s in-house Legal Unit when all other major financial institutions in the country have outsourced the services to major law firms.

Already making a name for himself within the legal sector, Chris says there is a lot more work to put in coupled with the winning attitude and qualities necessary for success. One of those, he said, is discipline, “a main ingredient to succeed in whatever we aspire to in life.”

A particularly interesting fun fact that comes to mind is the original meaning of the Chinese’s martial arts artform, ‘kung fu’ which simply refers to any discipline or skill achieved through hard work and practice, not necessarily martial arts. “Indeed, the legal profession is no different, with discipline being one of its hallmarks,” he said.

In consciously applying the principles of discipline and being responsible to his profession, Chris related the saying that the law is a jealous mistress and requires a long and constant courtship. “Truer words have never been spoken, and I am certain they apply analogously to any profession. Therefore, time management becomes an indispensable attribute of any professional, this allows you to balance other responsibilities in life, and I would dare to say, to guard your mental health before life overwhelms you.”

Chris related that during his undergrad years, he became aware of the financial challenges relative to attending or completing law school as one of his biggest challenges and the recent trend indicates no significant improvement to this dilemma, despite several appeals by law students for financial aid. This was not a shortcoming the Attorney was willing to let stop him. He believes, however, that a more holistic approach needs to be taken to comprehensively address the problem, which may have implications relative to access to justice and the rule of law.

There must be some level of motivation to keep going. For Chris, his family is his biggest motivation to get up and do it all over again every day. “But outside of this,” he said, “the legal profession is a noble one because it is a service-oriented profession, which aims to serve society. Therefore, being a part of the machinery that delivers that service has its own intrinsic reward, I presume it may be similar in nature to that of a teacher watching his or her students attain their full potential.”

 

 

---

---