The Ministry of Justice is deeply saddened by the passing of Gwen Nawa Johnson on 10 January 2026 and extends its sincere condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.
Ms Johnson was a distinguished Zambian-born legal practitioner whose career spanned more than four decades across multiple Commonwealth jurisdictions, marked by exceptional service in legislative drafting, financial services regulation, and international law.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Zambia in 1980 and was admitted to practise as an advocate in Zambia in 1982.
Her early career included service as an advocate within Zambia’s Legal Aid Department and Ombudsman’s Office, followed by private practice and later senior roles as a legislative drafter.
She went on to serve in Botswana as Principal and later Chief Legal Draftsperson, and subsequently as Assistant Attorney General, where she worked extensively on financial services legislation and the negotiation of international agreements.
Ms Johnson’s commitment to professional excellence was reflected in her extensive academic achievements, including postgraduate qualifications in securities and capital market development, legislative drafting and international negotiations, an MBA, and a Master of Laws in International Business Law and Finance.
She joined the Ministry of Justice in Bermuda in 2010 within the Attorney-General’s Chambers, initially serving as Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel, before continuing her service as Parliamentary Counsel and later as Consultant Parliamentary Counsel.
During her tenure in Bermuda, Ms Johnson made an extraordinary and lasting contribution to the Island’s legislative framework, particularly in strengthening Bermuda’s position as a leading, well-regulated international financial services jurisdiction.
She handled a substantial portfolio of complex legislation for the Ministry of Finance and the Bermuda Monetary Authority, including Bills relating to insurance, banks, investment funds, trusts, corporate service providers, money service businesses, beneficial ownership, public accountability, taxation and corporate regulation — work that helped pave the way for major reforms, including the introduction of corporate income tax.
Her expertise was also applied across a wide range of domestic policy areas, including tourism, landlord and tenant reform, cost of living measures, and the introduction of a minimum hourly wage.
Owing to her technical mastery, she was entrusted with highly complex legislation in areas such as intellectual property, cybercrime, and computer misuse.
Her work played a critical role in strengthening Bermuda’s regulatory and legal landscape, including reforms that supported financial services oversight, public health protections, and measures that proved vital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Johnson was instrumental in modernising Bermuda’s public health and quarantine laws and drafted numerous emergency regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing the legal framework that enabled the Government to respond decisively to protect public health in an evolving and unprecedented crisis.
She also prepared a legislative drafting manual that continues to serve as a key training resource, underscoring her enduring commitment to capacity-building and institutional strength within the Chambers.
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson, JP, reflected: “Gwen was a deeply principled lawyer and a loyal public servant who gave her best to this Ministry every day. Her work strengthened Bermuda’s legal and regulatory framework and enhanced the Island’s reputation internationally as a credible, well-governed jurisdiction.”
“Her breadth of knowledge, calm authority, and quiet leadership earned the respect of colleagues across Government, and her contributions will continue to shape our laws for generations to come.”
Minister Wilkerson added: “Beyond her professional excellence, Gwen was a mentor, a source of guidance, and a steady presence within the Chambers. She served Bermuda with integrity and grace, and her loss is felt profoundly by all who had the privilege of working alongside her.”
Ms Johnson was laid to rest in her native Zambia, where she was honoured with a special valedictory sitting of the Supreme Court of Zambia on Wednesday, 14 January 2026.
The sitting, attended by members of the legal profession, family and friends, was followed by a church service and burial, recognising her distinguished service to the law and her lasting contribution to the legal profession in the diaspora.
A memorial service, in Bermuda, is being planned to honour her contribution to the jurisdiction.