CLA News / Welcoming Sophie Stanbrook as the First President-Elect of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association: Strengthening Leadership and Inclusive Governance

Introducing the President-Elect Role

I am delighted to introduce Sophie Stanbrook as the first President-Elect of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA).

At the Special General Meeting held on 4 September 2025, CLA members approved an amendment to the CLA’s Articles of Association to formally establish the position of President-Elect. The creation of this office marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the CLA’s governance. It signifies a deliberate commitment to clear succession in leadership and to institutional stability. It also helps support the sustained implementation of CLA’s strategic vision across terms, enabling incoming leaders to prepare thoughtfully for their future responsibilities and to contribute meaningfully before assuming office.

A Career Across Jurisdictions and Legal Specialties

Sophie is currently the Vice-President of the CLA’s Americas Hub. She is a citizen of the Turks and Caicos Islands, where she currently resides, and is a mother of four. Her formative years in the legal profession were shaped across multiple jurisdictions, including London and Brussels. This early exposure to diverse legal and cultural environments lends to her worldview and her appreciation for the richness of Commonwealth engagement.

With over 25 years of experience in corporate, commercial, and finance law, Sophie began her legal career in 1997 at a leading firm in the City of London before moving into senior in-house roles with major investment banks. These early chapters equipped her not only with technical expertise but also with a deep understanding of governance, accountability, and leadership in complex institutional settings.

Public Service and Enterprise Leadership

Sophie’s career trajectory reflects a rare blend of professional excellence and public service. In 2007, she took on a leadership role managing Toleza Farm and Cotton in Malawi, a move that underscored her willingness to step beyond traditional legal pathways and immerse herself directly in development and enterprise. In 2010, she served as Campaign Manager for a parliamentary candidate in the UK general elections, further deepening her engagement with democratic processes and civic responsibility.

She was then called to the Bar of the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2012. Together with her late father, she co-founded Stanbrooks Law in 2013, building a practice that would come to specialise in corporate-commercial, real estate development, and finance law. In 2022, the firm merged with a pan-Caribbean disputes practice to form Stanbrook Prudhoe, expanding its reach across the Commonwealth Caribbean and reinforcing its commitment to regional legal excellence.

Sustained CLA Involvement Over the Years

Sophie’s connection to the CLA is long-standing and deeply personal. Her journey began in 1996, when she attended the CLA’s Commonwealth Law Conference in Vancouver alongside her father. That experience, witnessing first-hand the diversity, collaboration, and cultural exchange within the Commonwealth legal family, left a lasting impression on her. Those values continue to define her work today.

Her contributions to the CLA have been both substantial and impactful. Elected as Vice President of the Americas Hub, Sophie has demonstrated a clear vision for advancing initiatives that resonate deeply within the region. Her focus on freedom of expression, access to justice, and judicial independence reflects not only her professional priorities but also the broader challenges facing Commonwealth jurisdictions today.

In addition to her leadership within the Americas Hub, Sophie co-chairs the Human Rights and Rule of Law Committee and serves as Editor of its regional newsletter, through which she actively encourages contributions from emerging legal voices. Her commitment to nurturing the next generation is perhaps most vividly expressed through her leadership of the “Women in Law” movement in the Turks and Caicos Islands, an initiative dedicated to empowering women in the profession and expanding pathways to leadership.

Collegiality and a Tradition of Service

This is a fitting occasion to acknowledge the spirit of collegiality and shared service that sets the CLA apart.

In this regard, I extend the CLA’s sincere appreciation to Hasan Irfan Khan, Vice President for the Australasia Hub, who stood for the same position. Hasan has been a steadfast and deeply valued contributor to the CLA’s work. Notably, he led a pro bono project addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse in collaboration with It’s a Penalty, a UK-based non-governmental organisation, demonstrating the CLA’s enduring resolve to safeguard vulnerable communities. His leadership as co-convener of the Climate Justice Committee has further strengthened the CLA’s efforts in addressing one of the defining challenges of our time.

Leadership, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Commonwealth is strengthened when its institutions reflect the diversity of its people. Its vitality depends on leadership pathways that are open, inclusive, and forward-looking, and it flourishes when those who step into positions of responsibility do so with humility, purpose, and a commitment to service.

Sophie’s election underscores the CLA’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion, in line with the CLA’s policy on diversity and inclusion. The CLA actively promotes justice, integrity, equality, and professional excellence by striving to ensure that recruitment, appointments, and leadership succession consciously embody diverse representation across committees, leadership roles, and events. Elevating diverse voices enriches decision-making, strengthens governance, provides visible role models, and enhances the credibility and inclusivity of the legal profession throughout the Commonwealth.

Sophie’s rise to the position of President-Elect stands not merely as a personal achievement but as an encouraging example of progress in leadership representation and institutional maturity. It signals to lawyers across the Commonwealth — especially women — that leadership at the highest levels is attainable, while reinforcing that inclusive representation strengthens our profession and advances the CLA’s mission.

Congratulations and Looking Ahead

On behalf of the CLA, I warmly congratulate Sophie on her election as President-Elect.

I am confident that her insight and vision will guide the CLA in fulfilling its mission and navigating the evolving priorities of the Commonwealth legal community, and I look forward to working closely with her in the months ahead.

Steven Thiru

President

Commonwealth Lawyers Association

24th February 2026