The Legal 500

Appleby's key matters included advising Kane Group on the acquisition of the insurance management business of HSBC in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, the deal involving a number of key offshore jurisdictions. In contentious matters, the practice advised in an insurance claim pursued by the owners of the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman Resort, in respect of hurricane damage sustained to the Hyatt premises and consequent business interruption losses. Simon Raftopoulos is recommended.

Maples and Calder houses specialists in alternative risk transfer such as catastrophe bond vehicles and other insurance-linked products, as well as captive insurance vehicles. The team is experienced in establishing insurance companies, insurance management and broker operations, and the litigation team advises insurers in disputes. The practice acted on the acquisition of two Cayman insurers. Tim Frawley is recommended.

Campbells's 'smart and business-oriented' Alan Craig is recognised as holding a leading position in the insurance/reinsurance sector in the Cayman Islands. Craig is involved in the formation, licensing and ongoing operation of captive insurance entities, as well as advising reinsurers established in or redomesticating to the Cayman Islands, assisting foreign insurers participating in the domestic market, and acting on insurance-related capital market products.

The 'responsive and knowledgeable' Solomon Harris enjoyed an active period involving the merger, migration and restructuring of a number of captives, including the merger of captives owned by a household name US airline. It also experienced a solid flow of business from various Cayman captive managers, as well as specialist US law firms. Senior associate Kay Carter works closely with team head Paul Scrivener in captive insurance. Carter 'does an excellent job of explaining the differences between Caymanian and US law'.

'Excellent firm' Conyers Dill & Pearman's insurance practice is complemented by experienced corporate, trust and litigation lawyers, the latter advising in insurance and reinsurance litigation. The practice represented AIG in evaluating a potential sale of 100% of the stock of Delaware-based American Life Insurance Company. Kevin Butler is a principal contact.

Mourant Ozannes' team advises private and listed companies in relation to all aspects of insurance and reinsurance matters. The practice specialises in advising on the establishment, regulatory compliance and business operations of insurance and reinsurance companies, as well as acting for insurance managers and brokers based in the Cayman Islands. It also acts for client companies seeking to carry on insurance business in the Cayman Islands or transact business with locally-based insurers. Richard de Basto is recommended.

Thorp Alberga advises in the incorporation and licensing of domestic insurers, reinsurers and captives, insurance brokers and insurance managers, segregated portfolio regulated captives, insurance policies and policy wording, the preparation of annuities, regulatory advice, catastrophe bonds and hybrid alternative risk transfer vehicles. Ruth Hatt is recommended.

Walkers acts for insurance managers, advising on the establishment of local insurers, captives, rent-a-captives and other insurance products, and has been involved in catastrophe bond issues. Global chairman Grant Stein is a key contact.