Our People
Education
Hugh Wooding Law School, LEC, 2012.
University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, LLB, 2010.
University of the West Indies, Mona, BA, 2002.
Bar Admissions
Barbados.
Shermaine N. Desnoes
Attorney-at-Law | BA, LLB.
Shermaine N. Desnoes is an accomplished attorney with over 13 years of legal experience in Barbados, specialising in insurance law, personal injury and dispute resolution. She has represented a wide range of clients from individuals involved in motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries and medical malpractice matters, to major insurance companies and corporate entities.
Before entering private practice, she served as in-house counsel for a leading Barbadian insurer, where she independently managed a portfolio of more than 100 active claims. This dual perspective having represented both claimants and insurers gives her a distinct advantage in developing effective strategies that balance legal precision with practical, results-oriented solutions.
Her expertise extends across regulatory compliance, reinsurance, risk management, commercial contracts, high-value property claims and professional and clinical negligence. She has also played an instrumental role in corporate governance matters, including overseeing a significant share purchase and merger between two major Caribbean entities.
Shermaine is also an avid practitioner of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Her passion for this field began in law school, where she received both The Sandra Paul Alternative Dispute Resolution Prize and The Mediation Prize for her outstanding performance in mediation and negotiation. She also represented the Hugh Wooding Law School (Trinidad) at the International Competition for Mediation Advocacy (ICMA) in Canada, earning the award for Most Outstanding Individual Competitor and helping her team secure second place overall.
That early passion for ADR continues to shape her legal practice today. Shermaine regularly employs negotiation and mediation techniques to achieve efficient and cost-effective outcomes for her clients. Notable feats include serving as counsel in a successful mediation involving a multi-million-dollar west coast property claim.
A self-proclaimed problem-solver at heart, Shermaine approaches each matter with creativity, empathy and a focus on resolution rather than conflict. She believes that effective lawyering goes beyond advocacy, it’s about understanding people, managing risk and finding practical solutions that deliver real results.
Known for her straightforward approach and commitment to clarity, Shermaine provides clients with practical legal advice and a clear roadmap toward resolution. Her balanced insight, meticulous preparation, and calm professionalism make her a trusted advocate in even the most complex disputes.