CLA News / Spotlight on Sophie Stanbrook, the New CLA President-Elect

I am a Caribbean lawyer, trained in England, but shaped by small jurisdictions and global conversations. I have spent my career advising on complex commercial and regulatory matters while being committed to the laws, institutions, and governance systems that enable markets and societies to function. I believe in institutions that work, in laws that are applied fairly, and in professional communities that support one another across borders. I am at my best where governance, reform and practical problem-solving meet. Whether building a law firm, advising on sector reform, or serving within the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, I am motivated by the same instinct: to strengthen the structures that allow people and countries, particularly smaller ones, to stand confidently in a world that does not always make space for them.

The rule of law, judicial independence, professional integrity and accountable governance are dear to me. I return to them because I have seen how fragile they can be. In smaller jurisdictions especially, the scope for institutional weakness is narrow. When systems falter, the effects are immediate and personal.

What matters to me is continuity, whether that is leadership or purpose. And consistency – between principle and action. Across a Commonwealth that spans very different political, economic and social contexts, I believe the Commonwealth Lawyers Association has a particular responsibility: to be a steady, credible and independent legal voice that is measured rather than reactive, and principled rather than partisan.

During my term, I intend to focus on three areas.

First, strengthening the CLA’s contribution to the rule of law through work that is sustained and measurable. That means fewer isolated interventions and more carefully chosen, long-term workstreams. It means being prepared to engage when judicial independence, constitutional order or the autonomy of the profession comes under strain, and doing so in a way that is rigorous and respected.

Second, deepening collaboration across jurisdictions, especially among smaller states. In a world where geopolitical influence is increasingly concentrated in a handful of powerful actors, smaller jurisdictions cannot afford isolation. Shared legal standards, peer support and cross-border professional solidarity are a form of resilience.

Third, ensuring that the CLA itself is institutionally strong. That includes maintaining high standards of governance, using limited resources responsibly and transparently, and nurturing our relationship with the Commonwealth Secretariat. Our external credibility depends on our internal integrity.

My term will not be about reinvention. It will be about consolidation and sharper focus. Building work that endures beyond a single presidency and making leadership transition deliberate rather than accidental. Being clear about what the CLA will speak on, how it will act, and where it will concentrate its energy.

Above all, I want the CLA to be known for seriousness: Serious lawyers addressing serious questions; a trusted voice across the Commonwealth; an organisation that smaller jurisdictions know will stand with them when it matters.

This is the work I intend to advance. I look forward to continuing to work with my CLA colleagues and the wider Commonwealth family to strengthen the structures that sustain justice, integrity and accountable governance across our jurisdictions.

As Kofi Annan reminded us, “In a world of growing interdependence, there is no substitute for collective action.”

Sophie Stanbrook

President Elect and Vice President Americas

Commonwealth Lawyers Association

25th February 2026