Miss Gilchrist comes to us with a wealth of experience having worked in the Attorney General’s Chambers for over 10 years. As Deputy Solicitor General for the Commercial Affairs Division of the Chambers, she has reviewed major infrastructure contracts and negotiated commercial loan agreements with Government’s multilateral and bilateral partners and has represented the Government at the CARICOM level and at the International Civil Aviation Authority having had specific responsibilities for air policy at the Chambers. Her experience also includes providing legal advice to Government and regulatory bodies on a myriad of legal issues relating to statutory obligations, the granting of licences, public procurement, employment law, corporate governance, insurance claims, intellectual property, the sale of Government assets and public-private partnerships. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Chambers, she worked as an associate in private practice with Jacqueline Samuels-Brown Q.C., handling personal injury, employment, estate, land and litigation matters.
She is currently a board member of the Transport Authority and the Jamaica International Financial Services Authority and has represented the Government in negotiations with trade unions and staff associations through the Public Sector Monitoring Committee. She has also sat as a member of the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Appeals Tribunal.
Miss Gilchrist holds a Certificate of Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School, LLB (Hons.) UWI Cave Hill, Barbados, and a BSc (Hons.) History, with a minor in Political Science. She also holds a Teachers’ Diploma from the Sam Sharpe teachers’ College, specializing in English and History. She is a former tutor at the Faculty of Law, UWI. Currently, Melanie is a member of the Jamaica Bar Association, Commercial Law Sub-Committee. She also has training as a Mediator through the Dispute Resolution Foundation of Jamaica.
Current role