R. Omari Drakes

Omari Drakes is a Partner in the Litigation Department at our Firm. Within this, he has developed particular expertise and is now recognised as one of the leading practitioners in employment law in Barbados. In fact, in recognition of his deep understanding of employment law, Omari was appointed as a Deputy Chair of the Employment Rights Tribunal in 2013 and is the longest serving member of the Tribunal, having served for over a decade.

Omari has provided, and continues to provide, advice and training for clients and organisations on employment law related matters both locally and regionally. He participated in a panel discussion hosted by Human Resource Management Association of Barbados for their membership on the topic of sexual harassment in the workplace.

In 2021, he was invited by the Caribbean Society for Human Resource Professionals, a regional body, to be a guest speaker at their annual LOUD conference.  In 2023 he conducted a workshop for the Barbados Bar Association.  In 2024, Omari was invited to guest lecture to students at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus on the Law of Dismissals in Barbados.

Although Omari is one of our Firm’s youngest and most recent Partners, his association with the Firm spans nearly 20 years, having first entered the Firm as an intern in 2005 while pursuing a Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) at the University of Kent, Canterbury, England. Thereafter he returned to the Firm throughout the course of his degree to complete further internships. Omari graduated from the University of Kent with Honours in 2007 and successfully completed the Bar Vocational Course at the College of Law of England and Wales in 2008. Following the successful completion of the Bar Vocational Course, Omari was called to the Utter Bar of England and Wales at the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 2008.

Following his studies in England, Omari returned to the Caribbean. In 2009, he commenced the transitional program at the Hugh Wooding Law School and successfully obtained the Legal Education Certificate in 2010. Omari was admitted to the Barbados Bar in 2010 and in May of that year he rejoined the Firm as an Associate in the Litigation Department. Since then, Omari has assisted on and/or managed a wide range of unique matters including a judicial management, a contentious out of Court receivership, applications to remove restrictive covenants and various employment related matters.

Omari is an avid sports fan and a former national hockey player. He continues to contribute to the Barbados Hockey Federation not only as a player but as a member of its Disciplinary Committee. He also gives back to the legal fraternity as an elected member of the Bar’s Disciplinary Committee.