“…an exceptional lawyer today needs three things: adaptability, integrity, and empathy.” – Nissa Thompson
Nissa Thompson is the Founding Counsel of Thompson Law Chambers, a dynamic and growing legal practice based in Seychelles. With over five years of experience across a wide range of legal fields, she is a licensed Attorney-at-Law known for her sharp litigation skills, strategic insight, and dedication to delivering tailored legal solutions. She is also an internationally recognised EU Expert in the field of financial crimes, bringing specialised knowledge and credibility to her work in complex financial and cross-border legal matters. Prior to founding Thompson Law Chambers, she served as a State Prosecutor and led the Financial Crimes & International Cooperation Unit within the Seychelles Attorney General’s Office. Her prosecutorial background and deep understanding of international cooperation frameworks continue to inform her litigation and advisory work, particularly in offshore disputes, enforcement actions, and financial crime matters. Thompson Law Chambers offers a comprehensive suite of legal services and is well-equipped to handle complex, high-value, and cross-border disputes, drawing on Nissa’s extensive experience across both the public and private sectors. The Chambers remains committed to excellence, innovation, and integrity in legal service, continuously evolving to meet the demands of novel and complex factual and legal challenges in Seychelles and beyond.
1. The Driving Force for Choosing the Legal Profession.
Growing up in a humble community where many people did not know their rights or have access to the law sparked Nissa’s interest in becoming a lawyer. She has always been fascinated by the power of law to shape people’s lives and society as a whole. As a young student, she loved how legal reasoning combined precision and creativity to solve real problems. She was actively involved in public speaking and leadership, participating in debates, serving as a school representative, deputy speaker in the Seychelles National Youth Assembly, and deputy speaker of the 3rd CPA Africa Region Youth Parliamentarian. These experiences honed her oratory and advocacy skills, laying a strong foundation for her legal career.
Her early work as a State Prosecutor, particularly in financial crimes, gave her invaluable experience navigating complex cases, which continues to inform her approach today as a private attorney. Running her own practice is deeply fulfilling because it allows her to provide strategic, practical solutions to clients, advocate for their rights, and contribute to a fair and equitable justice system.
2. Qualities of an Exceptional Lawyer and How Young Professionals Can Cultivate Such Attributes.
In Nissa’s opinion, an exceptional lawyer today needs three things: adaptability, integrity, and empathy. Adaptability to navigate fast-changing laws, technology, and global trends; integrity to act as a trusted adviser and officer of the court; and empathy to understand not only legal issues but the human and business impact behind them. Young professionals can cultivate these attributes by staying curious, investing in continuous learning, and actively seeking mentors and networks that expose them to different perspectives.
3. Significant Ongoing Project or Initiatives and Possible Impacts.
Since July 2025, Nissa has been lecturing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) course at the University of Seychelles, which allows her to train the next generation of professionals and share practical insights from her field of specialties. In parallel, she is working on a plan to help fast-track asset recovery for international victims to support the formal mutual legal assistance process, which can often take significant time and resources. Her work as a former specialised financial crime prosecutor who established and led the Financial Crimes Unit at the Attorney General’s Office, combined with her current role as a private attorney, gives her a unique perspective on the challenges clients face in complex legal matters, allowing her to advocate effectively while contributing to broader systemic improvements.
4. Role Models and Impactful Books.
As a Christian, the Bible has been Nissa’s deepest and earliest influence — it is where everything started for her. It has shaped her understanding of justice, fairness, accountability, and leadership. Alongside this spiritual foundation, she has been inspired by judges, especially female judges, legal professionals, and thought leaders in financial crime and international cooperation, whose dedication to justice has guided her professional growth.
5. Advice or Guiding Principles for Young Legal Professionals and Advocates Trying to Find their Place and Purpose in the Legal Terrain
Nissa advises first to be clear about one’s values. Law offers many paths, but integrity is non-negotiable. Second, she emphasises building technical competence early while remembering the importance of soft skills like communication and empathy — they are what make a lawyer stand out. Third, she encourages saying “yes” to opportunities that stretch one’s abilities, even if they feel intimidating at first, as that is where real growth happens. Finally, she stresses the importance of seeking mentors and peers who support and challenge one in equal measure — no one builds a meaningful legal career alone.
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Editorial Team
Silver Obioha
Clinton Nyamongo
Kazeem Afolabi
Dikeledi Matlhagare
Tolulope Olasunkanmi
Sulaimon Badmus
Aya Hamdy
Princess Maake
Jemilat Akerele
Vera Enubianozor
Brandon Otieno
Oluwabusayo Awodele
Kyenpiya Wonang
Gift Nwoke
Jessica Odoh
Tracy Karumba
Mary-Jones Ossi
Halimah Oladunni
Mary Linus
Peter Momoh
Jessica Omoruyi
