The Legal 500

Appleby's Jennifer Fraser is the local litigation and insolvency head. The team advised KPMG in the contentious insolvency of the first segregated account hedge fund in Bermuda, involving bespoke commercial issues of law. John Riihiluoma is local commercial litigation team leader, and counsel Kelvin Hastings-Smith's practice has an emphasis on fraud, asset-tracing and anti-money laundering issues. John Wasty is 'excellent for insurance/reinsurance dispute resolution', and Kiernan Bell 'deserves mention'.

Conyers Dill & Pearman's 'dedicated' Narinder Hargun heads the litigation and restructuring team. Key matters included successfully defending an international bank in a breach of duty action brought against it in its capacity as former administrator and custodian of two Bermuda hedge funds. Jeffrey Elkinson is 'able and responsive', Paul Smith, Christian Luthi and Robin Mayor are also key contacts.

Mello Jones & Martin regularly appears in the courts, from the Magistrates' Court to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and before administrative and quasi-judicial tribunals, as well as in domestic and international arbitrations. Alan Dunch is responsible for the firm's litigation practice group. Saul Froomkin practices in corporate, commercial and civil litigation, and Andrew Martin is 'an effective and respected litigator'.

Attride-Stirling & Woloniecki frequently acts on disputes relating to banking and financial services, corporate and securities, fraud and asset recovery, funds, insolvency, insurance and reinsurance, shipping and admiralty, trusts and estates, telecommunications and technology disputes. Litigation head Jan Woloniecki has appeared as counsel in over 50 reported cases. Kehinde George leads on the insolvency side.

Cox Hallett Wilkinson's dispute resolution team is headed by David Kessaram, whose 'advice is measured and commercial'. The practice advised two hedge funds in claims before the Supreme Court of Bermuda against HSBC Institutional Trust Services (Bermuda) for damages totalling over $1bn for breach of duty and/or negligence in connection with losses sustained as a result of the Madoff fraud. Kim White focuses on civil and commercial litigation, governmental and regulatory matters; Sarah-Jane Hurrion advises on commercial litigation, dispute resolution and insolvency; and Louise Charleson is noted for insurance and trust disputes.

Marshall Diel & Myers's senior partner Timothy Marshall, and partners Georgia Marshall, Mark Diel and Rod Michelmore have key litigation experience. Michelmore has a track record of conducting litigation involving commercial and employment law, as well as personal injury cases, medical negligence claims, and landlord and tenant, and immigration and naturalisation matters.

Sedgwick Chudleigh's 'service level is excellent'. The practice represented the joint liquidators of Madoff feeders, Kingate Global Fund and Kingate Global Fund, two of the largest investors affected by Bernard Madoff's fraud. Managing partner Mark Chudleigh is 'focused and knowledgeable'.

Trott & Duncan's key matters included acting for Bermuda Trust Companies as trustee of a multinational company, worth approximately $1bn, in relation to contested directors' applications. Delroy Duncan was elected as president of the Bermuda Bar Association.