Kerri-Ann Mew – Young lawyer
KERRI-ANN Mew is a 26-year-old dynamic, ambitious, young high achiever and all-rounder who is passionate about everything she’s a part of.
Born and raised in Kingston, Mew told All Woman she’s the eldest of four children, and growing up she was taught the importance of working hard, perseverance, integrity, honesty and being kind and compassionate.
“My parents always encouraged me to try new things. Every summer as a child was a new activity — I was involved in dancing, modelling and even synchronised swimming. No activity was out of reach. I believe this gave me the courage to always go for what I wanted,” she said.
As a result, Mew said at the age of 10 she became determined that she would become an attorney, and became involved in a slew of activities that would give her the exposure and boldness needed to chart her course to fulfilling her dream.
“I was a very well behaved child; very studious. I was the child who ‘played school’ during the summer and was excited to get a new storybook. After my siblings were born I became the responsible but fun older sister who could always be found helping with homework or orchestrating some game or other. I was also very active and involved in my school community — Girl Guides, steel pan, concert band, symphony orchestra, debate, quiz, among other things. My mother would often say “every pan knock”,” she said.
And so, after leaving Immaculate Conception High and going on to study law at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, it came as no surprise that this level of involvement continued.
“I was the executive assistant of the UWI First Year Experience cell group, head of the research team of the Mona Law Society Human Trafficking Committee from 2010-2011, ambassador for the UWISTAT (UWI Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow) Vice Chancellor’s Ambassador Corps, part of the UWI Leads gold programme, host of Campus Beat Live, vice-president of CARICOM Relations in UWISTAT, member of the Norman Manley Law School (NMLS) client interviewing team representing Norman Manley in the regional competition… and I’m now the alumni ambassador of UWISTAT,” she said.
As a result, Mew’s leadership skills were honed and she managed to cop awards such as being on the principal’s honour roll at the NMLS; the Norman Manley Memorial Prize for a final year Jamaican student who is outstanding in the areas of academic achievement; the Courtenay Coye LLP prize for most outstanding students over two years (third place); the Raphael Codlin prize Âfor most outstanding student over two years; second place in the Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court Competition, 2014; recipient of the VMBS Master Plan “Head Start” Scholarship Award, 2013; and the HH Dunn Memorial Prize for the first-year NMLS student with the best performance in Legal Drafting and Interpretation 2013 — just to name a few.
“As a child I recall being told many times, ‘you know you like to talk a lot, you should be an attorney’. It sounded like a good idea to me, so I stuck with it. Thankfully years later when I began my undergraduate degree in law I realised I truly loved the law, and my natural propensity for being detail-oriented and analytical meant it was also a good fit,” she said.
Called to the Bar two years ago, today Mew is an associate attorney at Hylton & Hylton where she practises in the firm’s commercial department. Her areas of practice include a range of corporate and commercial matters such as structuring corporate reorganisations, drafting commercial and residential leases and licences, drafting complex commercial contracts, and advising listed companies on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Her passion for nation building saw her working alongside her mother as a child with the Kiwanis Club doing many projects and outreaches with various children’s homes and communities. Though currently not affiliated with a service club, each year Mew and her family embark on various projects with children’s homes — including the donation of personal items and school supplies and hosting dinners.
“Giving back and contributing to the community is very important to me, and I try to assist in any way I can. I see Jamaica for what it could be, and yearn for us to take advantage of the resources and talents we have been blessed with and move forward as a people. My long-term career goal is to use my knowledge and expertise to contribute to the development of our beautiful island,” she said.
Her encouragement to young people is to hold on to their dreams, work hard, and believe in themselves above all else.
“Strive for the highest standard and keep your head held high, always. Do today what others won’t, so tomorrow you can do what others can’t,” she said.
