Pictured: Jo-Anne Stephens (right) with Dr Earl Cash, chair of the firm’s private client and wealth management practice group at the STEP Caribbean Conference in Grand Cayman. (Photos courtesy Higgs & Johnson)

Jo-Anne Stephens, an associate at full service corporate and commercial law firm Higgs & Johnson, has been awarded the Society of Trust & Estate Professionals’ (STEP) Student Award.

The award is presented to the STEP student in the Caribbean and Latin American region who has achieved the highest average marks in all exams for the STEP Diploma in International Trust Management during 2016.

Stephens accepted the award at the annual STEP Caribbean conference in the Cayman Islands earlier this month, adding to a list of top honours from the organisation, including four STEP Worldwide Excellence Awards for the highest average scores.

She also received an award for the highest average score overall in all exams worldwide.

“I am honoured to receive this award, and to be a part of an organisation of elite professionals who are continually enhancing their knowledge and experience in order to provide superior advice and service to their clients” says Stephens.

“I received incredible support from the private wealth team at Higgs & Johnson during the course of my studies and I am proud to be representing the firm and two premier financial centres such as the Cayman Islands and The Bahamas in such a positive way.”

Dr Earl Cash, chair of Higgs & Johnson’s private client and wealth management practice group says: “Jo-Anne’s dedication to high professional standards and commitment to the best ideals of the industry make her a high contributing member of our team and one of the future leaders of our esteemed profession.”

Stephens joined the Cayman office of Higgs & Johnson in 2015 as a member of the firm’s private client & wealth management group.

Pictured: Jo-Anne Stephens (left), an associate at Higgs & Johnson, receives the STEP Student Award from STEP chief executive George Hodgson at the STEP Caribbean Conference in Grand Cayman. (Photos courtesy Higgs & Johnson)