The Deconstruction of Tammy Richardson

Her voice is powerful and has influenced women in so many fruitful ways. Her reputation as an exceptional personality with style and poise precedes her. Her drive and dedication to her work, in and out of the boardroom, are infectious to aspiring legal professionals and empowering Bermudians  from all walks of life. 

Meet Tammy Richardson, an exceptional lawyer, mother, and role model. And in her own words we learn about the moving parts of her life and her strategy for a purposeful and fulfilling relationship with herself and the people she loves. 

Tammy Richardson on a POSITIVE ATTITUDE :

My positive attitude can be attributed to my thankful heart.  I feel indescribably fortunate to be a resident of Bermuda, to have a supportive and loving family unit, and to have chosen to work in a field that I love.

“Laughter is to me what music is to others.”

As my friends and family will attest, I am generally a light-hearted soul who laughs easily and strives to unlock the potential in every situation. This is perhaps equal part nature and nurture.   

My parents (Brenda and the late Kenneth A Richardson CVO, CBE, JP) are the prototypes for indomitable spirits.  They helped foster my positive attitude by creating a joyous ecosystem in which my brother (K. Andrew Richardson) and I were able to thrive. The words “boredom” and “hate” were not allowed to be expressed in our household.  This assured that we both found creative ways to amuse ourselves and we learned to tackle fraught issues without the issue corroding us.  

Enthralled by Julian Hall’s oratory skills, I was drawn to the profession of law.  I took the scenic route, attaining a Bachelor of Commerce (in accounting and economics) and passing the certified public accountancy exams (CPA), but I never wavered from the ambition to be an honourable member of the Bermuda Bar Association.  After 20-plus years in the profession, the law still excites me. I have a cross-border transactional practice which is varied and challenging.  I specialise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, debt and equity finance, and corporate governance across a spectrum of industry sectors (including government, energy, oil & gas, banking, and maritime shipping).  To be entrusted to find novel solutions to clients pressing legal concerns is a formidable responsibility, especially in this new landscape of converging crisis (climate change, flight of talent, recessionary dynamics, and geopolitical conflict).  But it is also an opportunity I relish.

On STYLE:

There is a complete dichotomy in my style – but I feel empowered when I am expressing an authentic version of myself (whatever that may look like on the day).  

As a child, I admired my beloved Aunt Gloria Lawrence (now deceased) who was always immaculately coordinated.  Her hair pulled tightly back in a perfectly coiffed bun with a pencil through it.   She was the Manager of the Fabric Department at The Woman’s Shop (now Gibbons Company) at a time when the art of dressmaking was in its currency.   As a young adoring child, I would often sit at her side when she was ordering fabric for the upcoming season, and I would leaf through a plethora of European glossy magazines on her kitchen table as I kept her company late into the night. My Auntie always took responsibility for my school uniforms and I fondly recall attending the dressmakers for several fittings ahead of the academic year. I suppose my Aunt’s influence continues to inform my conservative work style…it’s usually the de facto black suit paired with something whimsical like a ‘swarm of bee’ pin, cocktail earrings, or fun & flirty tights.  For one must always be a little improbable!  

Outside of work hours, I am a chameleon.  I wear whatever my mood dictates, it could be anything from (vegan) fur with a t-shirt to ripped jeans and multi-strand pearls.  I am also a socially conscious shopper.

Perhaps Charmaine Li said it best in Ignant magazine “Fashion is often pigeonholed as consumerism—which it can be—but it can also be a lot more nuanced…fashion can be an extension of the self, or a way to (re)invent yourself…a visual manifestation of where one stands, colored by history, culture, emotions, and politics. Despite how you approach the ritual of getting dressed, it’s an inescapable part of our lives.” So why not have fun?!

On HOLISM:

I recognize that both fitness and balance are essentials for a quality life, and I live in awe of people who have mastered the same. I keep both at the top of my bucket list.  Simply put, they remain part of my collection of goals and aspirations that I earnestly hope to achieve them… in the [very near] future.

For now, I run at life with a sense of fearless resolve. My agenda is packed with family, professional commitments, and a healthy dose of charitable involvement, and each year I throw in a worthy challenge (sign language, abuse prevention facilitation, football coach license) to keep things interesting.  My latest challenge? Tackling all the obstacles to justice experienced by domestic abuse victims/survivors.  

On MOTHERHOOD:

People always remind you to spend your time wisely.  But I once heard Trevor Noah reflect the sentiment by saying “it matters how we spend our ‘heartbeats”…that re-framing resonated with me.  

I prioritise time with my children (son David Augustus 11 and daughter Drew Augustus 8) for whom I have endless affection.  David is unfailingly polite, thoughtful, courageous, and energetic.  Drew is witty, intuitive, spirited, and tenacious.  They remain my greatest source of pride.  

Through their lens, my understanding of the world has evolved.  They truly bolster my resolve, inform my convictions, how I traverse life and where I apply my talents.  As my parents did for me, I always strive to mirror the behavior I want them to exhibit and to work tirelessly to create a Bermuda they will always want to return home to.

On ADVOCACY:

This cause lies at the intersection of 3 sacrosanct matters: 1) that one should always act in the paramount best interest of the child; 2) the example of excellence, service, and truth that I have rightfully come to expect of leaders and 3) my long-held view of  the justice system as a harbinger of hope.

It is often said that bravery resides in everyone’s heart and someday it would be summoned. If this is true, I don’t think I found a cause, I think the moment found me.

I certainly never expected to be a part of the national discourse on abuse and the role of the family court.   My personal experiences were a catalyst.  The current state of affairs left me no choice but to use my agency to advocate for victims/survivors (V/S) who have been silenced from challenging the status quo (whether because of a diminished sense of self-worth,  shame, or homicide). It’s in my DNA to want to understand and then cure all the fault lines in a process.

My initial focus was on educating young people and thereby lessening the incidence of abuse. I did so by collaborating with the One Love Foundation, a US nonprofit established in 2010 in honor of Yeardley Love, a University of Virginia student who was tragically killed by her ex-boyfriend.  

Informed by the students’ voices (male and female), we worked to close the knowledge gap and reach people across a broader stratosphere with this life-saving education (parents, teachers, judges, healthcare providers etc.). This was developed through invaluable partnerships with local charities (including Raleigh International, Coalition for the Protection of Children, The Family Centre, Transitional Community Services, and Centre Against Abuse among others); engaging with the dedicated Hon Tinee Furbert JP, MP and Senator Lindsay Simmons; inviting award-winning keynote speakers to Bermuda to raise awareness; assisting with mandatory training of the new cohort of police recruits; submitting law reform suggestions, contributing to panels (local and international); and working tirelessly to keep the topic on the agenda.  

Despite Incremental gains, V/S continued to feel gaslit and revictimised by the family court process.  This remains a tremendous impediment to guaranteeing their safety. UK data points provide that 58% of abuse cases end with retractions of complaints due to, inter alia, a lack of faith in the judicial process. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the statistics are more stunning in Bermuda.

On JUSTICE:

The rule of law and protections of the (Bermuda) Constitution belong to each one of us and it takes all of us to demand adherence to it. 

My dad (Kenneth A Richardson CVO, CBE, JP) joined Government circa 1968 – the year the Bermuda Constitution came into force, political parties were starting to form and the labour movement began to gain momentum.  He ensured that my brother and I were grounded in knowledge of Bermuda’s history and the workings of the 3 branches of Government (the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary). On his passing, I discovered he had left his copy of the Constitution for me, it was well worn from handling, yellowed from age, and tabbed at Chapter V (the Judiciary).  

Against this backdrop, we are striving to inform change makers about the challenges with the Bermuda family court process.  There is no open justice in family court.  Sensitive matters adjudicated in family court are not and can not be reported upon by the media (save in an anonymised way).  Accordingly, the public know very little about this forum.  This lack of transparency is (rightly) supposed to safeguard the dignity of litigants.  It is not intended to be a cloak for a lack of due process.  Infidelity to the rule of law can lead to perilous consequences to V/S and must be just as dispiriting to those substantive Judges who adhere to their oath (to faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office).

The current focus of our abuse prevention work is therefore on ensuring accountability for judicial officers who depart from the constitution. 

I recite the words of the former Governor of Bermuda, John Rankin CMG (now His Excellency the Governor of the British Virgin Islands):

“I know this community is a small but proud one, and I know you care deeply about the reputation of this great Territory. Rule of law, transparency, accountability and good governance is and must be the foundations of a Territory’s reputation”.

Abuse is a root cause issue.  By tackling abuse, we can cure downstream community issues that continue to perplex us (including mental health illness, substance abuse, and gang violence).  The re-fortification of governance standards and credibility of our judicial officers is a key element in this exercise.  

On LIFE:

As one gets older, one develops the muscle to take feedforward in stride.  

Equally, one learns how to more calmly push back (without derailing their day) when something feels wrong.  To get to that place of accepting sharp truth and repelling undeserved /unsolicited commentary, is a journey, one that requires us to keep re-setting boundaries and tolerances in light of existing circumstances.

To read more from our series on women in leadership see the articles below:
Taking Back Life with Tina Laws
Elena Strong on Shaping our Identity and Strengthening our Purpose
Meet Abigail Clifford, the CEO of BF&M