Cayman Islands > Corporate and commercial
Corporate and commercial
Maples and Calder is 'extremely responsive on short notice'. The team advised Scottish Re Group, a global life reinsurance specialist with operating businesses in Bermuda, Ireland and the US, in its acquisition by a company indirectly owned by its controlling shareholders, the transaction novel as it took advantage of changes to the Companies Law in order to utilise the statutory merger regime for the takeover of a widely-held company. Paul Lumsden is corporate head; finance group head Alasdair Robertson 'adds value to every transaction in which he is involved'; Tim Frawley is 'smart, knowledgeable, strategical and a decision maker'; Wanda Ebanks is 'responsive and helpful'; Nicholas Butcher is 'very knowledgeable'; and Simon Firth has a 'very broad and in-depth knowledge of both Cayman Island law and lore.' Henry Smith, Iain McMurdo and Matthew Gardner are also singled out for praise.
Appleby's group head is Bryan Hunter. The practice advised Banco Bradesco's Grand Cayman Branch as issuer, in connection with the issue of subordinated notes in the aggregate principal amount of $1.1bn; and represented BNP Paribas in the $9.5bn sale of its North American reserve-based and related diversified energy lending business to Wells Fargo. Stephen James, Julian Black, Sherice Arman, Simon Raftopoulos and Richard Addlestone are key advisers.
Mourant Ozannes' 'service level is comparable to a top New York City law firm'. The team represented Ipreo Holdings in its sale to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co; and acted for RC Cayman Holdings, the entity becoming the major lender in respect of the financing of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Cayman. Cayman managing partner Neal Lomax is 'excellent on all fronts'; Richard de Basto is Cayman finance head; and James Wauchope 'combines deep knowledge of the law with a solutions-oriented attitude'. Julian Fletcher is also rated.
Ogier's 'service is consistently high quality'. The practice advised Banco BTG on a transaction involving the merger of BTG Pactual Banking with Banco BTG Pactual, believed to be the first merger of a licensed financial institution using the revised merger provisions from the recently-enacted Companies (Amendment) Law 2011. It also acted for Transocean, the Swiss-domiciled provider of global drilling management services, on its multi-term, billion-dollar senior notes offering. Nick Rogers is managing partner; Peter Cockhill and James Bagnall are 'uniformly excellent'; and Colin Berryman is a 'standout lawyer in our eyes'. Angus Davison, Andrew Morehouse and Giorgio Subiotto are also praised.
Walkers' recent highlights include advising HSBC in relation to the $3bn refinancing of an existing $1.25bn syndicated financing package provided to the Kosmos Energy Group for the purpose of further developing the Jubilee oilfields located off the coast of Ghana; and acting as counsel on over $13bn (in aggregate) of debt issued by Pifco, Petrobras's finance subsidiary, in 2010 and 2011 alone, marking the largest ever corporate bond offerings by a South American company in the international markets. Antonia Hardy, Philip Paschalides, Rob Jackson, Ramesh Maharaj, Richard Munden, Caroline Williams and Rolf Lindsay are recommended practitioners.
Campbells is a 'responsive and knowledgeable firm'. The practice acted for Alberta Investment Management Corporation in the acquisition of a 50% interest in Grupo SAESA. Corporate head John Wolf is 'personable and responsive'; Alan Craig and Ian Dillon are also key contacts.
Conyers Dill & Pearman saw an increase in asset finance work and steady growth in investment funds and private equity matters, as well an increase in insurance and reinsurance re-domicilings. The practice advised Credit Suisse on the sale of a loan secured against the assets of the developer of the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman. Directors Richard Finlay and Kevin Butler are rated. Gene DaCosta is also well regarded.
Solomon Harris' recent dominant feature has been M&A work utilising statutory merger provisions, both as arms length transactions and to facilitate internal reorganisations. Other highlights included assisting on the Cayman aspects of a $1.5bn joint venture and financing of a manufacturing plant in the Far East. Department head Paul Scrivener 'seeks to understand the underlying business issues before presenting a legal solution'; Sophia Harris is managing partner.
Harney Westwood & Riegels welcomed Joss Morris as partner from Walkers' Jersey office and Louise Groom joined from Walkers in Cayman. The team acted as Cayman counsel to Entropic Communications on a cross-border corporate transaction that involved the acquisition of certain key assets of Trident Microsystems in an insolvency procedure. Marco Martins is Cayman office head, and Jonathan Law is a key contact. Kieron O'Rourke retired, and Tim Clipstone joined Walkers before moving on to Maples and Calder in the BVI.
Higgs & Johnson's recent highlights include acting for a publicly listed company in the transfer of its Cayman Islands business to a third party purchaser. Chris Narborough is group head, and Gina Berry 'always makes me feel like my request is her top priority and the advice she offers is always insightful and informative'. Derek Jones is also praised.
Stuarts, Walker Hersant Attorneys-At-Law 'understands the complex issues we face and the firm offers substantial value in relation to the fees charged'. The team advised 3G Capital, a global investment firm and Burger King Worldwide's principal shareholder, on the Cayman legal aspects of its disposal of a minority stake of its holding in Burger King Worldwide. Team head Chris Humphries 'demonstrates a thorough understanding of Cayman law, and is pro-active in helping devise successful negotiating strategies in transactions'. Andrew Hersant is rated.
Forbes Hare welcomed Peter Goddard, a former XXIV Old Buildings barrister and senior counsel at ATC Group in the Cayman Islands, who joined in April 2012. The practice represented Cogo Group in its re-domestication merger into the Cayman Islands. Barry Smith has 'a deep understanding of the local market'.
Thorp Alberga 'performs impressively'. The practice acted as Cayman counsel to the UK Government's Export Credit Guarantee Department in relation to the export credit-backed financing of 1 Airbus A380, a novel transaction involving a dual-tier structure that utilised a segregated portfolio company. Linda Martin is a 'technically strong lawyer'; Ruth Hatt is 'charming and responsive'; and Richard Mansi 'thinks through every last detail'. Anne Todd is also praised.