With a vision of empowering women as one of its hallmarks, the law firm of Kyte Small Barker—which consists of only female attorneys—the only such firm in the country is committed to a goal of ensuring that women attain the very best version of themselves.
The 13-year-old firm which is headed by Attorney-at-Law Kim Kyte-Thomas and partner attorneys Sharon Small and Faye Barker provides a diverse range of legal services including criminal litigation, constitutional and administrative law, family law, estate planning, land law, contract law and corporate and commercial law in which they specialize.
They are, however, not limited to these areas as the women provide a myriad of services in other areas of law and are all Registered Patent and Trademark Agents as well.
In a telephone interview with the Sunday Stabroek, Kyte-Thomas who said that theirs is the only all-female-attorney firm in the country said that they did not deliberately set out with this aim, but eventually gravitated towards it and intend to now keep it that way.
“We do not plan to change from being all-female lawyers, because we believe that the fact that we can succeed as an all-female law firm is an example to women that we can succeed at anything we put our minds to” she said.
Noting that she and her associate partners jelled well from the beginning, Kyte-Thomas said they would soon realise that they all had the same vision, goals and the objective of empowering women.
Kyte-Thomas said that they started doing matters together and realised they had similar goals and that “together our services would be more effectual so we created the firm.”
She said that over the years they have been training future female law school student attorneys during their in-service attachment and have specifically assisted in their development during and after being qualified.
In efforts to further bolster their support to women, Kyte-Thomas said that all partners of the firm are members of the registered NGO called Dorcas Mending Hearts Ministry of which she is President and Barker, Treasurer.
Dorcas’ mission statement according to its Facebook page is “We aspire to help you to be the best you! #Bethebestyou!”
According to its Facebook post, the organization is strategically geared to assist victims of domestic violence and consists of “purposeful women” who are passionate about assisting victims of domestic violence, and indirectly the less fortunate.
“Our mission entails mending the broken hearts of men, women and children who are victims of violence and abuse through provision of information, advocacy, legal representation, life skills training, empowerment and education,” the post said.
The services of doctors, lawyers, counsellors, and other professionals are utilized in an effort to efficiently and effectively assist victims to become “strong, independent and better versions of themselves.”
KSB as the firm is also referred, was established in 2007 when Kyte-Thomas ventured into private practice, opening offices in Georgetown and Berbice, practicing extensively in both civil and criminal law.
Counsel said that the attorneys of the firm have a combined total of over 50 years’ experience, adding that “along with the committed and dedicated administrative staff, our firm is able to deliver efficient and professional legal services of the highest quality.”
She said their mission is to ensure the continuity of the standard of excellence which was the hallmark of their role as key suppliers of a vast array of legal services to the community.
Kyte-Thomas was admitted to the Bar in October 2001.
She was a State Prosecutor attached to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions from 2001 to 2004 and thereafter was appointed a Magistrate by the Judicial Service Commission, in which capacity she served from 2004 to 2007.
The firm’s managing attorney has also been a lecturer in the Department of Law of the University of Guyana for over a decade and has lectured in the areas of Real Property, Tort Law, Commercial and Contract Law for several years.
She holds a Masters of Law and a Masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice both from the University of London, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Public Procurement Law and Governance from the University of the West Indies.
Kyte-Thomas is currently a doctoral candidate pursuing her PHD in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Conflict Resolution with the EUCLID University.
Batch mate with Kyte-Thomas, Small was also admitted to the Bar in October 2001.
She worked with the law firm of Hughes, Fields and Stoby for approximately eight years before venturing into private practice and eventually joining forces with the other founding partners of KSB.
Whilst at Hughes, Fields & Stoby, Small was promoted to Manager of HFS INC, a department responsible for mortgages, bills of sale and litigation for the financial institution DFL SA INC.
She practices extensively in civil law specializing in commercial and corporate law, Estate planning, Family law and Land law. She was previously an executive member of the Guyana Bar Association and the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers.
Small holds a Masters in Law from the University of London specializing in Commercial and Corporate Law.
Barker was admitted to the Bar in October 2007. She commenced her legal career as a state counsel attached to the Attorney General’s Chambers and thereafter served as an associate attorney at Hughes, Fields & Stoby, for approximately three and half years.
She ventured into private practice in 2011 before joining forces with Kyte-Thomas and Small to establish KSB.
She has served as an executive member of the Guyana Bar Association and the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers.
Barker is the holder of a Post Graduate Certificate with Merit, and a Post Graduate Diploma with Merit specializing in Family Law and a Masters in Law with Merit specializing in Human Rights Law from the University of London.
Apart from the founding attorneys of the firm, KSB has one other lawyer— Patricia Lorraine Shepherd who was admitted to the local Bar on Monday.
She obtained her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) from the Hugh Wooding Law School on April 20th, 2020 and is also an International Accredited Civil/Commercial Mediator having attained the Alternative Dispute Resolution -Online Dispute Resolution International, London, United Kingdom in 2018.
She holds a Bar Professional Training Certificate from the BPP Law School, Leeds, United Kingdom which she obtained in 2018 and was admitted to practice as a Barrister before the Courts of England and Wales in November of that year.
Shepherd also has a Bachelor of Laws with (Hons) which she received in 2016 from the University of London and has a Diploma in Business Management and a Certificate in Industrial Relations and Management.
KSB has two offices, its Lot 12 North Road, Georgetown location and 98 Amsville Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam, Berbice.
They can be reached on telephone numbers 225-1094 or 223-1219 or via Email at info@kytesmallbarker.com