Valissa Ramnarine
San Fernando
Summary
Experienced professional with expertise in corporate law, conveyancing, and telecommunications, complemented by a strong background in health and safety compliance and anti-corruption practices. Proficient in drafting and evaluating sub-sea contracts (RFPs) and skilled in fostering cross-functional collaboration to achieve organisational objectives. Adept at navigating complex legal frameworks while ensuring alignment with industry standards, with a focus on delivering strategic solutions that drive operational efficiency.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
14
14
years of post-secondary education
Work history
SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL- INFRASTRUCTURE
Digicel Group
2023.12 - 2025.03
- Provide support to all matters associated with cellular towers, sites, cables, subsea cables, cable landing stations, ducts, manholes, leases and licences, poles and Health and Safety
- Regularisation of Agreements and provide structure for agreements related to the roadways and government contracts
- Collaborate with the cross functional teams to provide support as required
- Work together with the commercial teams in negotiations
- Assess the requirements for approval from the various government / regulatory bodies
- Update contract templates to ensure uniformity of contractual documents(existing and going forward);
- Co-location dispute support
- Wayleave issues support
- Drafting of policies and procedures related to Health and Safety compliance and Leases/Licences compliance across of Digicel markets
SENIOR MANAGER, LEGAL
Digicel Business Group
2022.10 - 2023.12
- In addition to the duties listed below, in 2023 I conducted legal compliance training for 15 markets, both in market and online
- As the needs arose there were also a lot more cyber security contracts successfully negotiated (both with Customers and strategic external partners) and legal advice rendered as requested
- Successfully negotiated and drafted all government contracts inclusive of CCTV
- I was in charge of and successfully completed a project to standardize templates and make them available for Customers online and conducted the required training for all Sales Agents that required same
SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL, Group Business Solutions
Digicel Group Limited
2018.12 - 2022.10
- As part of the Deal Review Board- To review and advise on associated risks in a RFP, draft contracts and Non-Disclosure Agreements
- To draft and / or negotiate contracts upon award of contract
- Draft and Update Contract Templates – ensure compliance from all markets in utilizing up to date templates and ensuring Board Approved Clauses are contained therein (as updated from time to time)
- Other business as usual duties included negotiation of Customer and Vendor contracts in markets
- Contract negotiation with Vendors / Partners / Resellers for Digicel Group
- Support all Group initiatives as required
- Ensure timely update and renewal of Customer and Vendor contracts as instructed
- Review, advise / highlight risks and negotiation of smaller RFPs and contracts that do not go through the Deal Review Board process, but as requested by the markets
- Continuous support provided for all markets for all Business Solutions opportunities inclusive of Corporate Mobile, ICT, DIA, Managed Services and Cyber Security
- Working with Products team to ensure alignment with Templates, procedures and development of SLAs and Service Descriptions
- Liaises directly with market CEOs, Heads of Business and Account Managers in the various markets
- Reported directly to the Chief Revenue Officer, Chief Business Officer
- I was involved in Strategic planning as part of the Executive Leadership Team of Digicel Business Group
- Provision of legal support for the Group and across all 26 markets in their different time-zones
- I also successfully negotiated the 2 largest government contracts for Digicel Trinidad and Digicel Bermuda (cyber-security) and renewal of the government contract for Digicel Barbados
SENIOR LEGAL OFFICER
The Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT)
2015.06 - 2018.10
- In light of UDeCOTT’s role as a Project Manager, my roles and responsibilities were related to the preparation of FIDIC forms of contracts
- I also dealt with the issue of claims related thereto
- I also prepared the Facilities and Maintenance contracts related to the other sides of our business
- As FIDIC has numerous identifiable stages of construction, I periodically visited construction sites and attended site meetings with the Contractor/s, the FIDIC Engineer/s and UDeCOTT’s Senior Project Manager/s
- From December 2016 to 31st May 2017 in addition to my responsibilities as Senior Legal Officer, I was also acting as the Divisional Manager, Legal and Procurement which included a lot more administrative duties such as preparing Board Notes, draft and roll out of the Strategic Plan, Financial Reports, Employee Performance Appraisals and liaising directly with the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
- I provided legal support to the other departments by identifying the need for and subsequently preparing company Policy documents to ensure the company was well protected as well as its employees rights’ were maintained
- I assisted with redrafting the Employee Handbook, Health, Safety and Environment Policies and Procedure, Policy and Procedure documents for dealing with safety risks in the construction industry and training presentations for the FIDIC Yellow and Red Books
- I drafted a user manual on Public Private Partnerships detailing each department’s roles and responsibilities and the drafting of PPP Contracts
- I advised on a wide range of legal issues, reviewed Board notes and Cabinet notes, attended court and participated in Tender evaluations and negotiations
- I also provided legal advice on a range of legal issues, including corporate, tax, real estate, FOIA requests, subsidiaries, pension, insurance and reinsurance, contract law, employment law, commercial law, procurement, project management, contract management, consultancy arrangements, pensions and occupational health and safety
- I was an Executive Member of UDECOTT’s Occupational Safety and Health Committee and a member of the Peer Review Committee, charged with the responsibility of reviewing policy and procedure affecting the Corporation
DIVISIONAL MANAGER, LEGAL (Acting)
The Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT)
2016.12 - 2017.05
Self-Employed/Private Practice
2014.11 - 2015.06
CORPORATE LEGAL OFFICER
Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT)
2007.04 - 2014.11
- For the first 6 years, I was responsible for all of the legal matters in the Properties Department (Property and Cell Site acquisition, sale of properties and all other matters related thereto)
- My duties thereafter expanded to include assisting the Industrial Relations department, the Human Resource department, the preparation of Contracts (inclusive of Contract negotiations), preparation of legal documents and opinions, Tenders (openings and evaluation process) and other incidental matters related to the Telecommunications industry
- My assigned lines of business were Technology, Finance, Service Operations and Bmobile and Retail Distribution
- I occasionally represented TSTT at court
- I also acted as Head of the Corporate Legal and Compliance Department on several occasions
Lecturer
K. Beckles & Associates Law Tutors
2008.01 - 2009.01
- I lectured the subjects Law of Trusts and Land Law
Legal Aid
Hugh Wooding Law School
2004.01 - 2004.12
- My duties included interviewing clients, drafting legal documents, undertaking legal research in areas such as Conveyancing, Company Law and Family Law, contentious and non-contentious matters
In-Service Legal Trainee
Boynes and Company
2003.01 - 2003.12
- My duties included conducting client interviews, attending and taking notes in court, drafting legal documents and submissions, and quite extensive legal research in both contentious and non-contentious matters in all Civil Litigation Areas
Administrative Secretary (Summer job)
San-Fernando City Corporation
1995.01 - 1995.12
- I reported directly to the head Engineer and had a variety of responsibilities from taking of tenders to interacting with the other heads of departments
Education
Masters of Law (LLM) - International Trade
University of Wales
Wales 2005.02 - 2006.06
Legal Education Certificate -
Hugh Wooding Law School
Trinidad 2002.09 - 2004.05
Post- Graduate Diploma - International Relations
University of the West Indies
Trinidad 2001.09 - 2002.05
Bachelor Of Laws Degree (LLB) (Honours) - Law
University of London
Trinidad 1998.09 - 2001.05
Cambridge A-Level - General Paper, English Literature, History
St. Benedict’s College
1994.01 - 1997.01
Caribbean Examinations Council - English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Agricultural Science, Spanish, History
Holy Faith Convent
1989.01 - 1994.01
Skills
- Corporate law knowledge
- Conveyancing
- Telecommunications
- Health and Safety
- Sub-Sea contracts (RFP drafting and evaluation)
- Skilled in cross-functional collaboration
- Anti-Corruption practices
Personal Information
- Date of birth: 06/05/78
- Nationality: Trinidadian
- Marital status: Married
Custom
1-868-652-6611, 1-868-778-5962
Timeline
SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL- INFRASTRUCTURE
Digicel Group
2023.12 - 2025.03
SENIOR MANAGER, LEGAL
Digicel Business Group
2022.10 - 2023.12
SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL, Group Business Solutions
Digicel Group Limited
2018.12 - 2022.10
DIVISIONAL MANAGER, LEGAL (Acting)
The Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT)
2016.12 - 2017.05
SENIOR LEGAL OFFICER
The Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT)
2015.06 - 2018.10
Self-Employed/Private Practice
2014.11 - 2015.06
Lecturer
K. Beckles & Associates Law Tutors
2008.01 - 2009.01
CORPORATE LEGAL OFFICER
Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT)
2007.04 - 2014.11
Masters of Law (LLM) - International Trade
University of Wales
2005.02 - 2006.06
Legal Aid
Hugh Wooding Law School
2004.01 - 2004.12
In-Service Legal Trainee
Boynes and Company
2003.01 - 2003.12
Legal Education Certificate -
Hugh Wooding Law School
2002.09 - 2004.05
Post- Graduate Diploma - International Relations
University of the West Indies
2001.09 - 2002.05
Bachelor Of Laws Degree (LLB) (Honours) - Law
University of London
1998.09 - 2001.05
Administrative Secretary (Summer job)
San-Fernando City Corporation
1995.01 - 1995.12
Cambridge A-Level - General Paper, English Literature, History
St. Benedict’s College
1994.01 - 1997.01
Caribbean Examinations Council - English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Agricultural Science, Spanish, History
Holy Faith Convent
1989.01 - 1994.01