All Rise 2025: Celebrating Community, Connection and 85 Years of the Barbados Bar
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, members of the legal profession gathered at the Wyndham Grand Barbados, Sam Lord’s Castle Resort for the Barbados Bar Association’s “All Rise” 2025 Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, an evening celebrating excellence, service, friendship and 85 years of the organised Bar in Barbados.
CACHARLES + CO. was represented by our Principal Attorney, Charlene A. Charles, and Attorney-at-Law, Rakeeme R. Smith, who joined colleagues from across the profession for a much-needed evening to relax, reconnect and catch up away from the usual demands of legal practice.
For Charlene, the evening also carried a particularly personal significance.
Just a few weeks earlier, she had experienced an unexpected medical emergency that required her to step away from both her professional and everyday routines. In the weeks that followed, her colleagues and friends within the legal profession rallied around her, offering their support and encouragement and, importantly, encouraging her to attend the Gala as part of her healing journey.
Sometimes community looks like professional collaboration, mentorship and referrals. At other times, it is simply the people around you reminding you to get dressed, come out and enjoy an evening among friends.
All Rise 2025 was a little bit of both.
Celebrating 85 Years of the Barbados Bar
The evening commemorated an important milestone: 85 years, from 1940 to 2025, of the journey from the Barbados Law Society to the Barbados Bar Association. Held in the gracious presence of Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, FB, GCMG, D.A., S.C., LLD, President of Barbados, the Gala brought together members of the Bench and Bar, newly admitted attorneys, senior practitioners, family members and friends to celebrate the profession’s past, present and future. Among the evening’s special moments was the recognition of The Hon. Mr. Justice Andrew Burgess (Ret’d) for 50 years of distinguished contribution to law, legal education and Caribbean jurisprudence.
The Association also welcomed the Class of 2025 newly admitted Attorneys-at-Law, presented the 2025 BBA Prize and paid tribute to esteemed senior members of the profession whose contributions have helped shape the legal landscape in Barbados. Guest speaker Mr. Martin Forde, KC, a leading UK barrister of St. Lucian and Barbadian heritage, added another dimension to an evening centred on achievement, legacy and service to the profession.
A Night to Relax, Reconnect and Catch Up
Beyond the awards and formalities, one of the most enjoyable aspects of All Rise 2025 was simply having an opportunity to spend time with colleagues outside of work.
The evening began with the “Raise the Bar” Cocktail Hour, giving Charlene and Rakeeme an opportunity to mingle with fellow members of the profession before settling in for the formal “All Rise” Dinner.
With good food, drinks, conversation and the smooth sounds of saxophonist Darren Watson, the evening offered something that can be surprisingly difficult to find in the midst of busy legal careers: time to relax and catch up.
It was a chance to put aside files, deadlines, transactions and client matters for a few hours, reconnect with old friends, strengthen professional relationships and simply enjoy each other’s company. The celebrations continued with the “Rise to the Occasion” After Party, bringing an energetic close to a memorable evening.
For Charlene in particular, those seemingly simple moments of conversation and laughter took on greater meaning. Following a challenging few weeks, being surrounded by familiar faces and genuine warmth was a welcome reminder of the community that exists within the profession.
Community Beyond the Practice of Law
The legal profession can be demanding. Long hours, significant responsibility, competing deadlines and the expectations that accompany serving clients can make it easy to become consumed by the work.
That is why community matters.
Our colleagues are often the people who understand the pressures of the profession in a way that few others can. They celebrate our professional milestones, exchange knowledge, provide guidance, make referrals and challenge us to become better practitioners. They can also be the people who check in when life takes an unexpected turn, offer encouragement and remind us that behind every professional title is a person.
For Charlene, the encouragement she received from colleagues to attend All Rise 2025 was a meaningful example of that support. For Charlene and Rakeeme, the evening as a whole was also an opportunity to step outside the everyday demands of practice and simply enjoy being part of the wider legal community.
At CACHARLES + CO., we believe there is tremendous value in cultivating these relationships. A strong legal profession is not built solely on individual achievement. It is strengthened by collegiality, mentorship, friendship and a willingness to support one another, professionally and personally.
We extend our congratulations to the Barbados Bar Association on 85 years of service to the profession, to the evening’s honourees and award recipients, and to the newly admitted Class of 2025 as they begin their own journeys at the Bar.
Most of all, we are grateful for an evening that reminded us that sometimes the best thing we can do as colleagues is simply come together, reconnect, laugh and enjoy the company of the people with whom we share this profession.
