Bernadette is the head of our Cayman Islands trusts and private wealth team and has a broad private client practice advising on wealth structuring and estate planning matters including the creation of dynastic structures; the administration, restructuring, and termination of trusts; and probate and testamentary issues. She is also an experienced litigator in the private client space, regularly appearing before the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on multi-party non-contentious applications and contentious trust disputes, as well as in respect of estate litigation and other cross-border private client disputes.

Bernadette regularly advises high net worth individuals, trustees, beneficiaries, family offices, executors, wealth managers, institutional clients, and onshore legal teams on all aspects of trusts and estates law in the Cayman Islands.

Bernadette is an elected member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law (TIAETL), where membership to the global body is by invitation only. She is also an International Fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel (ACTEC), and a long-standing Council Member of the Cayman Islands branch of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners. She is a director of the Cayman Islands Family Office Association, launched in 2022. Bernadette is the author of the Cayman Islands chapters of numerous private client text books, including "International Estate Planning: A Reference Guide" and "Trusts in Prime Jurisdictions".

Bernadette is recognised for her trusts and private client work by Chambers, Who’s Who Legal, and Legal 500 with market sources describing her as 'incredibly hard-working' and 'really first class'. She has also been described as 'an exceptional talent and a pleasure to work with'; as someone who 'stands out as being especially intelligent, considered and commercial'. Bernadette's 'perspective on both contentious and non-contentious matters is very beneficial' and 'her background in litigation means she knows what works and what doesn't when it comes to trust structuring' (Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners HNW).

Bernadette is admitted as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand (2002) and Australia (2005), and as an attorney-at-law in the Cayman Islands (2008).

She was formerly with Buddle Findlay (New Zealand), Henry Davis York and Colin Biggers & Paisley (both Australia) and Conyers (Cayman Islands).

• Living but not working in the Cayman Islands
• Investing in a New World - ESG considerations for settlors and trustees of Cayman Islands trusts
• Cayman trusts: A toolbox for tough times
• An overview of Cayman Islands foundation companies
• Wills and estates in the Cayman Islands
• Types and uses of Cayman Islands law trusts
• Carey Olsen sponsors STEP Cayman Conference 2023
• Carey Olsen attending IBA International Private Client Conference
• Private Client Guide 2023 - British Virgin Islands (Legal 500)
• Private Client Guide 2023 - Cayman Islands (Legal 500)
• Carey Olsen attending Private Client Forum Americas 2023
• Carey Olsen's Bernadette Carey elected to The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law
• Four Carey Olsen partners named 'Top Recommended Offshore Experts' in Spear's 500 2023
• Privy Council Hands Down Landmark Ruling on Priority Between Trustees' Competing Rights of Indemnity
• Eight Carey Olsen lawyers featured in Private Client Global Elite directory
• Carey Olsen marks International Women's Day 2023 with the launch of Women's Network
• The risky business of being a professional trustee
• Five chapters authored for Legal 500 Private Client guides, 2023
• Carey Olsen attending TIAETL Conference 2023
• Carey Olsen's Bernadette Carey to speak at major international conference
• Carey Olsen named best offshore law firm at eprivateclient's Excellence Awards
• Trustee Troubleshooting: Dealing with trust deeds that are no longer fit for purpose
• Carey Olsen leads offshore firms in Chambers High Net Worth 2023
• Carey Olsen sponsors International Private Client Forum
• A word on trusts webinar - Tuesday 5 September 2023
• 22 Carey Olsen lawyers recognised in 2024 edition of The Legal 500 Caribbean