Edward Bannister


Edward Alexander Bannister CMG QC is the former Commercial Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court based in the British Virgin Islands. He was appointed in 2009, and was the first ever person to hold the post.

Life

Bannister was born on 12 August 1942, the son of Edward Bannister and Antonina Bannister. He was educated at St John's School, Leatherhead and Keble College, Oxford. He became a barrister practising in London, where he was regarded as one of the more able senior barristers. As counsel he appeared before the House of Lords in.
During his appointment Justice Bannister has handed down a number of decisions which have helped to reshape British Virgin Islands commercial law, including creating the jurisdiction for "Black Swan" orders and reformulating the basis for minority prejudice relief. Justice Bannister also heard the various first instance claims relating to the Bernie Madoff fraud claims in the British Virgin Islands.
Justice Bannister is a relatively bold judge in terms of treatment of judicial precedent:
Bannister retired from his post in 2015.
He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 2017 Birthday Honours.

Offices