Our Team of Professionals

Ella N. Hoyos LLM, TEP, MCIArb

Ella Hoyos is the Principal of the Rockley Law Group. Her responsibilities include being the primary contact/liaison with the Firm’s clients; developing, executing and delivery of the Firm’s strategic imperatives and managing the day to day operation of the firm which provides Legal and Alternative Dispute Resolution services to Clients  in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

A seasoned Corporate Attorney, she commenced her legal career nearly 20 years ago as an Associate at Chancery Chambers where she had responsibility for a portfolio of clients and provided legal advice on a day to day basis to entities in the International Financial Services sector. She also provided advice to other corporate entities on a number of matters including regulatory permissions, exchange control, securities, contracts, financing, M&A, Employment, Trust & Estates, Franchises and Immigration. It was whilst there in 2002 that she was designated Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP).

She then went on to the CIBC First Caribbean Banking Group where she contributed over a decade of Senior Executive leadership as Head of Governance & Company Secretary, General Counsel and Managing Director Human Resources, leading teams with responsibility for supporting over 20 companies or 3,500 employees in 17 Caribbean Countries. She amassed a wealth of experience whilst leading the banks legal team dealing with mergers and acquisitions, routine as well as complex financial arrangements, securities and debt offerings, intracompany arrangements and and complex commercial litigation. She also was involved in managing relationships and accountabilities with ten banking regulators, four stock exchanges, four securities commissions without sanction and twelve trade unions without industrial unrest, even in the face of a major restructuring programme which she successfully led. Her experience on the inside makes her uniquely qualified to understand, manage expectations and assist corporate clients in an efficient and businesslike manner.

A skilled negotiator, trained Corporate Investigator, Mediator, Arbitrator, and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb), her ADR services are particularly tailored to support Executives in dealing with the gritty issues that plague corporate leadership and for parties who want to have some control over their outcomes, preserve relationships, and are interested in self-actualization in a win/win atmosphere.

She gained her Bachelor of Laws Degree with Honours from the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, her Master of Laws in International Trade from the University of Wolverhampton and her Legal Education Certificate from the Norman Manley Law School. She also pursued a one year Executive Education Certificate at the prestigious Wharton School of Business as well as a Certificate in Finance and Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager. She also holds a Diploma in Conflict Resolution from the University of Windsor Law School and a Diploma in Theology from Codrington College.

Ella is a Trustee of the Cherry Tree Trust (a micro finance charity); a Member of the Disciplinary Committee of the Barbados Bar Association and the Synod Council of the Anglican Church in Barbados. She enjoys reading, travelling, art, antiques and jazz.

Teri K. Manning M.A. LLB (Hons.)

Teri Manning is our Legal Associate. Having attained an Honours Degree in History from the University of the West Indies, she worked as a Social Studies and Guidance Teacher. It was whilst preparing young students to enter the world of work that Teri was inspired to pursue a Master’s Degree in Employment Studies and Human Resource Management at the London Metropolitan Business School, prior to embarking on her legal studies. An insightful thinker, she gained the prize for Criminal Law while at the Hugh Wooding Law School and couples her prowess in this area seamlessly with her Investigations Training to deliver laser-like focus in this critical area of work. It was also at Hugh Wooding that she was first exposed to courses in ADR and Mediation Advocacy.

She completed her Legal Internship at Chancery Chambers where she was exposed to several Corporate and Commercial matters. She gained further Corporate experience and developed meaningful professional relationships whilst working on the updating of the Register of Charges at the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office. She also developed her legal writing skills whilst working with the Impact Justice Project. Her particular choices of areas of study coupled with her practical experience renders this young Attorney a well-rounded resource and a valuable member of our team.

Teri enjoys travelling, experiencing new cultures, sampling new foods, reading, history, volunteering, exercise and fitness and learning new languages.

Helen Cole, LLB (Hons.)

Helen Cole is our Practice Consultant who is active in the Corporate Investigations and ADR areas of the practice. She is a qualified Barrister with over 20 years experience. She gained her Bachelor of Laws Degree with Honours at Bristol University and qualified for the bar at the Inns of Court School of Law.

She earned her stripes as a summary writer in the Appeal Court Criminal Division, before going on to practice in the areas of Crime and Family at the Magistrates Court, Crown Court, County and High Court level. She also honed her advocacy skills in the areas of, Crime, Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, latterly specializing in Education and Community Care in specific reference to Judicial Review while working as an in house Advocate where she had full caseload and responsibility from initial instructions to taxation. She has an eye for detail, is a skilled Investigator and brings a very balanced approach to her work.

Helen admits she retains a curious nature about most things and her interests include, sailing and boats in general, reading, Wikipedia, current affairs, politics, YouTube, sewing, music and culture.