Dillon Eustace’s Cayman Islands office is housed on Grand Cayman.
One of four locations, the firm also boasts Dublin,
New York and Tokyo outfits.
The firm’s Cayman Islands office is largely dedicated to the investment funds practice, advising the managers, prime brokers, independent directors, etc. of
hedge funds, private equity funds and a variety of other investment vehicles in the formation of
international
capital-raising funds.
Key clients for the firm are confidential.
Research period review: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
During the research period, the firm’s investment funds activity was characterized by a variety of high value
private equity
fund formations for
several prominent
international clients.
In addition to representing traditional investment vehicles in this regard, the firm also advised in the
reinsurance and cryptocurrency sectors.
Loeb Smith’s Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands office is
one of three of the offshore corporate firm’s locations.
The firm’s
involvement is largely
contained to the
practices of
banking and finance, capital markets, investment funds and M&A.
In banking and finance, the firm represents
fund managers in
a number of regards, including acquisition and asset financing.
The firm’s
work in capital markets
includes both debt and equity side representation, including counsel on bond and note issuances
and IPO’s.
In the investment funds space, the
firm’s team
advises on the formation and restructuring of a variety of fund types largely for clients in
blockchain and
fintech.
The firm’s M&A involvement
is largely concerned with providing counsel in connection
with mergers and privatizations in the corporate and financial services spheres.
Key firm clients include Acorn International, Ansen Fund, Vendavel and Pedogenesis Fund.
Research period review: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Over the research period, the firm was active in the banking and finance, capital markets, investment funds and
M&A practices with
the majority of its activity being in the investment funds space.
This included both fund formation and restructuring
involvement largely for clients from the financial services sector.
In capital markets, the firm
advised on multiple Shanghai Stock Exchange
IPO’s in the technology sector.
In the M&A
practice, the firm
attended to mergers in the education and financial services sectors.
Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
ProLogium Holding $326 million fundraise
Stuarts
Humphries is a notable offshore firm with its headquarters on the island of Grand Cayman.
The firm emphasizes a variety of financial and corporate as well as investment fund matters.
In the corporate space, the firm is noted for its involvement on M&A deals as well as in restructuring.
The firm also represents monetary and financial entities in a variety of financings.
The firm’s investment funds involvement includes more traditional fund formations, as well as those pertaining to fintech and cryptocurrency.
Key clients include 3G Capital, Guggenheim Investments, Lion Capital, Mariner Investment Group, Bluesky Capital Management, BlackPearl Capital and VTCarbon.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
During the research period the firm was particularly active in the investment
funds sphere, undertaking several confidential fund formations on behalf of investment vehicle managers. Several of the team’s matters pertained to the spheres of cryptocurrency and fintech.
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Financial services regulatory
“Thoroughness and turnaround time.”
“Responsive, good local knowledge, quality work.”
“The team at Stuarts is incredibly responsive and provides pragmatic Cayman legal advice.”
“Very responsive and know the latest information and laws.”
“Very responsive and know the market.”
“The firm is very professional in its outlook and
advises us on legal matters – they are also service providers for us and our clients.”
“Knowledgeable. Dependable. Focused.”
“Knowledge and response time.”
“Excellent problem solver, very responsive for upper-level partner.”
“Knowledgeable. Approachable. Problem solving.”
“Responsiveness and ensuring that all Cayman legal needs are being met.”
“Super-responsive and provides creative fund solutions.”
“He is very professional and has advised us throughout our tenure with Stuarts Walker Hersant and Humphries”
While Bedell Cristin’s Cayman Islands office is found on Grand Cayman, the firm boasts additional offices in
the British Virgin Islands, Guernsey, Jersey,
London and Singapore.
The firm is active in a variety of practices, including finance, investment funds, M&A, real estate finance and restructuring.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
“Responsive, timely and detail oriented.”
“Very responsive. Highly qualified. Delightful attorneys.”
Founded in 1970,
Campbells is an internationally
recognised offshore firm. It maintains offices in the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong. Its Caymans office is located on the island of Grand Cayman.
The firm advises clients in mergers, acquisitions, equity financing, strategic investments, bond issuances, IPOs, restructurings and general corporate financing matters.
The firm also has experience with investment funds, acting for private equity and investment firms in regulatory compliance, restructurings, fund formations and strategic investments.
The firm’s key clients include
Algorand,
Athene, Creditas,
Covalto,
Fidelity Bank,
Infobip, Nubank, Ripio Holdings and 2TM.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2021/2022)
“Reactive, professional, excellent knowledge of the market.”
Investment funds: hedge funds
“They provide expert advice in a timely manner.”
One of nine
firm offices including Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Channel Islands, Singapore, South Africa, Hong Kong and UK outfits,
Carey Olsen’s Cayman Islands office was opened in 2012 and is located on Grand Cayman.
The firm’s activity
is centered around offshore deals in the
banking and finance, capital markets, investment funds and
M&A practices.
In
banking and finance, the firm
represents both lenders and borrowers in a wide variety of offshore deals including those related to
acquisition and
real estate finance in addition to representing clients
from the aviation sector.
In capital markets, the firm is involved in representing issuers and sponsors in share
offer and IPO transactions.
The firm’s investment funds practice
is involved in a diversity of fund formations.
In the
M&A sphere, the firm
attends to deals
including asset acquisitions, joint ventures and mergers, representing clients on both the buyer and seller side.
Research period review: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Over the research period, the firm was active in the banking and finance, capital markets, investment funds, and M&A practices. In the banking and finance space, the firm attended
to transactions both on the bank and lender side.
In capital markets, the firm’s team advised on several share offers and Nasdaq IPOs, representing clients from the financial services, industrials and manufacturing and utilities
sectors.
In
the investment funds space, the firm represented clients from a variety of sectors in
numerous confidential offshore fund formations.
In M&A, the
team’s focus fell upon mergers
this year, representing several clients from the
investment management sector.
Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
DP Capital Acquisition Corp. I Nasdaq IPO
Global Technology Acquisition Corp. I Nasdaq IPO
Forbes Hare
is an offshore law firm founded in 2005 with offices in British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands,
London and Singapore. Its Cayman office is in Grand Cayman.
The firm is active in
capital markets, finance, M&A,
investment funds,
project finance and restructuring.
The firm’s capital markets involvement
is debt-side focused,
largely including IPO transactions.
In finance, the firm represents both lenders and borrowers, including
banks, corporations and financial institutions.
In the project finance space, the firm focuses on representing banks as
lenders on a variety of
sophisticated development deals.
The firm practices
both British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands law.
Among the firm’s key clients are
Butterfield Bank (Cayman), Cayman National Bank and
Scotiabank & Trust (Cayman).
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2021/2022)
Investment funds: hedge funds
“Their work is excellent and very detailed. They think with you on how to improve and work in the changing world.”
Investment funds: private equity funds
“Always available and responsive,
and providing sensible, pragmatic advice.”
Harneys
is an offshore law firm founded in 1960 in
British Virgin Islands. It has since expanded to other locations across the world including Hong Kong, London,
Montevideo and Singapore.
Its Cayman office is
found on Grand Cayman.
The firm is active in capital markets, finance, M&A, project finance, real estate and restructuring.
The capital markets group focuses on the debt side, specialising in IPOs.
In finance, the firm is noted for its experience in
securing acquisition financing.
The firm’s services run the gamut of public and private deal types in the M&A space, advising on both the acquirer and seller side.
It emphasises, however, advising partners on cross-border joint venture deals.
In the real estate space, the firm is active in securing
financing for development projects.
In restructuring,
the firm focuses on representing
corporate debtors.
Key clients include
Allen & Overy,
Bank of America, Barclays, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Kirkland, Linklaters and VTB Capital.
HSM is a full-service law firm founded in 2012 in the Cayman Islands. The firm has 55 employees and seven partners.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm advises financial institutions and businesses established in and/or operating in the Cayman Islands. The corporate department specializes in business and regulatory licensing.
The firm is able to practice Cayman, BVI, Canada, Gibralter and UK law.
Client feedback: 31st edition (2020/2021)
Investment funds
“They are excellent at Cayman law and are very timely in their response.”
Restructuring
“They are highly experienced in this area, they listened to the requests and required outcome and were able to provide the works on a timely manner allowing for the restructuring and exit plans to go into effect.”
“Personal service. Excellent lateral thinking and out of the box solutions provision. Solid understanding of business at large. Diverse team - cover many fields - used them for personal projects too.”
Founded in 1962,
Maples Group is an international firm boasting 19 offices
on three continents.
The firm splits its Caymans practice between two
locations on the island of Grand Cayman.
The firm is
among Cayman Islands’ premier commercial firms, advising clients in a variety of financial and corporate matters.
The firm is also active in
capital markets, specifically in the structured finance sphere wherein the team
advises regularly on CLO’s and securitizations.
Maples’ capital markets work also encompasses
equity-side
involvement including IPO’s and
debt-side bond issuances.
The firm’s corporate work more precisely includes representation on acquisitions, mergers and
privatizations, as well as a
variety of other general corporate matters.
In the financial space,
the team
attends to a variety of fund financings on both the lender and borrower side.
The firm is also noted for its work in the investment funds space where the
team represents investment
vehicle managers in the creation and maintenance of funds.
In addition to
practicing under Cayman Islands law, the firm
also advises in connection with the statutes of the British Virgin Islands, Ireland, Jersey and Luxembourg.
Key
firm clients include American Airlines, BlackRock, The Blackstone Group, CVC Capital Partners, KKR, LATAM Airlines Group, Neuberger Berman and Prudential.
Research period review: 32nd edition (2021 / 2022)
Over the research period, the firm was most active in banking, capital markets, investment funds and M&A.
In banking, the firm advised several borrowers in connection with acquisition and asset
financing.
In capital markets, the firm was most active on the debt side including several bond issues and also advised on an IPO. Notably,
the firm’s team represented Credit Suisse
- Platinum Securities Cayman SPC in its issuance of $364 million
worth of secured packages pass-through notes
in connection with the largest marine conservation blue notes issuance in global history.
In the investment funds space, the Maples team carried out several multi-billion-dollar fund formations on
the behalf of
prominent investment management firms.
The firm was particularly active in M&A, providing local counsel to numerous acquirers. Several of the transactions overseen by the firm in this regard were multi-billion dollar
cross-border transactions.
Among the firm’s M&A clients this year were several prominent entities in banking and investment management.
Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2021 / 2022)
Altimeter Growth Corporation $40 billion merger
Credit Suisse – Platinum Securities Cayman SPC $364 million secured packaged pass-through bond
issuance
United Airlines $10 billion
bond issuance
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2021 / 2022)
"They are responsive and well-connected. They know the market better than anyone. They are also competitive with fee estimates and maintaining those estimates."
"Responsive; knowledgeable; pragmatic."
"Maples has always been a reliable contractor. They provide both legally nuanced advice and practical ways to comply with it, all within very good timeframe.”
Capital markets:
structured finance and securitization
"Overall best in the market for financial services; responsive, thorough, knowledgeable and commercial. Broadest range of services in Cayman and the best overall team. They provide practical, market-driven solutions to the most sophisticated
deals."
Investment funds:
private equity funds
"It is the largest Cayman law firm, very broad team, very in-the-know on existing Cayman law and proposed changes."
"The team is responsive, thoughtful and very consistent in terms of quality."
"The whole team is exceptional - they are quick to respond and quick with commercial advice even when the issues are sticky. I greatly enjoy working with all of them and hope to again
in the future regularly."
"They are very prompt and responsive, very professional, very reliable."
"Very professional, very quick to respond, very friendly."
Investment funds: hedge funds
"The lawyers we work with at the firm are experts in Cayman financial regulatory matters. They are also keenly aware of issues that impact US regulated investment managers when structuring offshore investment fund vehicles. "
"The firm provides excellent service. Its professionals are responsive and detail-oriented. They are very helpful and insightful."
"Knowledgeable, commercially minded, practical, responsible and patient. Iain operates as a one stop shop for all our Cayman needs - he can usually advise, and if he cannot, he will refer us to the right team member and assist in implementation."
"Knows our business and is solution focused."
"He is friendly, commercial, responsive. He is an expert in his field but also extremely easy to work with. He is the full package."
Tim Coak
"He has deep expertise in Cayman financial services industry and the regulation of investment funds. His knowledge and sensitivity to US securities laws allows him to provide innovative solutions to US-based investment managers seeking to set up offshore fund structures."
"Excellent lawyer, very knowledgeable, great interpersonal and communication skills."
"He is really our trusted Cayman adviser. He's extremely knowledgeable about Cayman rules and their application to various fund structures."
"He is the best restructuring lawyer in Cayman."
"He is responsive and trustworthy. He knows how to motivate his team. He provides excellent advice and is always helpful on transactions."
"He is highly responsive and assembles his team quickly. He is knowledgeable and trustworthy. He and his team produce high-quality work product."
Andrew
Keast
"He is very professional, responsive and a pleasure to work with."
"Very professional and very responsive."
"He is the best finance lawyer in Cayman."
"Simply put - the best finance lawyer in Cayman. Practice experience
second to none. Smart, thorough and practical with a deep knowledge of Cayman legal and regulatory matters."
Tina Meigh
"She knows everyone. She is a thought leader in the industry. She is engaged in industry-related conferences and activities. She is smart, responsive and able to problem-solve in the most efficient and commercially reasonable manner."
"She has good responsiveness and excellent understanding of pulse of the market trends and most recent legal structures; she has been involved with my financial institution clients for almost two decades and has deep understanding of their needs and high standards."
International offshore firm Mourant opened its Cayman Islands office in 1992 on the island of Grand Cayman.
Founded in Guernsey, the firm features additional locations in
the British Virgin Islands,
Hong Kong, Jersey and the UK.
The firm is noted for its involvement in capital markets, finance,
investment funds, M&A and restructuring.
The firm’s capital markets practice
handles transactions on both the debt and equity sides, attending to a high volume of IPOs and bond issuances.
In finance, the firm
is active on the lender and borrower side, representing
corporate clients and
banks in a variety of roles.
In the investment funds space, the firm is noted for its representation of
private equity and hedge fund managers in formations.
Key
firm clients include Capital Dynamics, Citibank, Credit Suisse, CVC Capital Partners, Goldman Sachs Bank, JP
Morgan and Montagu Private Equity.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2021/2022)
Investment funds: hedge funds
“They are prompt with action items and offer
well-thought-out advice. Team turnover is low, so our contacts have known our fund since inception. They will discuss matters over the telephone in addition to email.”
Investment funds: private equity funds
“There were a lot of moving parts and technical analysis required, but no hurdle was too high nor any demand too challenging.”
Ogier
is an offshore
firm with
10 offices dispersed around jurisdictions worldwide. Though its Cayman Islands office was established on Grand Cayman in 1991, it would not be
rebranded under the Ogier name until a
2004 merger.
The firm is active in capital markets, finance, investment funds, M&A and restructuring.
In the capital markets
space, the firm is active on both the debt and equity side, though it
emphasises IPOs and private placements of shares.
The team is also active in
securitisations and CLOs.
In finance, the firm advises on
asset financing,
equity financing, the
implementation of structured finance vehicles and
other matters.
The firm’s M&A team offers the full range of
transaction and disposal
services to its Cayman-based clientele.
Among the firm’s key clients are Advent International, Angelo Gordon, Borr Drilling,
Centerbridge Partners,
EMR Capital Advisors, Expro Group Holdings,
Indonesia Energy Corporation and
Perceptive Advisors and Washington Capital Management.
Travers Thorp Alberga is a boutique firm founded in the Cayman Islands in 1978. Since then, it has internationally expanded to offices in the British Virgin Islands, Canberra and Hong Kong.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm has experience in the financial and corporate and investment funds practice area. In the financial and corporate practice area, the firm works on capital markets matters, structured financings and private equity related matters.
In addition to advising on Cayman Islands law, the firm can also advise on British Virgin Islands law.
Key clients
Key clients include Arcapita and ASK Capital Management.
Client feedback: 31st edition (2020/2021)
Financial services regulatory
“Very technical but commercial partnership team who understand our business operations and strategy. The team have relevant experience in a number of fields which gives them a great perspective when discussing our requests.”
Investment funds
“Responsive, commercially minded, positively minded and great team players in multi-jurisdictional matters.”
“TTA has been a tremendous partner in that they go above and beyond to make sure we have the best product to deliver to our clients. There are plenty of things that they bring to our attention that we wouldn't have thought of. They assist in structuring. They assist in thought exercises. They prove to be a great partner when it comes to negotiating with our counterparts.”
“The firm's response has been very quick and the advice was well structured.”
Investment funds: Private equity funds
“Outstanding efficiency, round the clock availability, stunning professionalism and extremely valuable experience in funds as well as an incomparable ability to cease all issues at stake including business related matters. The kind of legal advisors that you actually think twice before recommending as they provide you with a clear advantage towards competition that you might not want to share with others.”
“Very responsive, professional, high-quality work.”
M&A
“The firm is very deal oriented, good negotiators and client focused.”
“They are responsive and adaptable. Our requirements changed multiple times during the process, and they were quick and dynamic, happily changing tact as required.”
“Competitive charge versus other Cayman Islands firms.”
“They are extremely responsive and knowledgeable and always available to assist.”
“Efficient service. Provides practical and thoughtful feedback. Ability to consider both onshore transaction matters, as well as providing offshore legal advice. Provides thorough review of transaction documents.”
“Informative and helpful.”
International law firm Walkers’ Cayman Islands office was founded in 1964 on Grand Cayman and has since become one of the Cayman Islands’ leading firms in financial and corporate law.
The firm maintains 10 offices globally in Bermuda, BVI, Cayman Islands, Dubai, Dublin, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Jersey, London and Singapore.
The firm boasts
specialised knowledge of the aviation sector
and is known widely for its proficiency in the practice areas of capital markets, finance, investment funds, M&A, project finance and restructuring.
In capital markets, the firm
represents debt-side clients in
such transactions as green bond issuances and notes programmes, in addition to attending to structured finance deals
including CDOs and CLOs
In the finance space, the firm is particularly active in
securing leveraged and aircraft financing, though it is also active in general corporate asset finance.
Among the firm’s key clients are Anchorage Capital, BlackRock, Blackstone, Cerberus, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Silicon Valley Bank, Carlyle Group and Wellfleet Credit Partners.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2021/2022)
Investment funds: private equity
“Extremely efficient and prompt with responses. Wealth of experience, which is invaluable in structuring bespoke funds.”
“Impressive response times and outstanding knowledge of the technical aspects relating to Cayman fund and corporate entities.”
