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Appleby’s ‘service is second to none’, with Paul Morris noted as ‘strong, determined and highly capable’. Christopher Cope acted in connection with the multi-jurisdictional litigation concerning Bitel, the Kyrgyz mobile telecommunications company.

For some, Cains has ‘the best team in town’. It advised PwC in the successful defence of Mike Simpson and Peter Spratt as joint liquidators of Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander (Isle of Man) in a resulting trust claim brought as a test case in the Manx High Court. Seth Caine provides ‘excellent support during the litigation process’, and Peter Clucas is noted for his ‘extremely sensible advice’.

Gough Advocates delivers ‘first-class contentious advice’, and is highly regarded in the field of asset tracing and fraud recovery. The practice acted for a creditor in test-case proceedings against a bank, seeking a declaration that certain sums were held on a constructive or resulting trust rather than on deposit. Alan Gough is ‘pragmatic and commercial, with an eye for detail’. Insolvency expert Mark Holligon and Charles Coleman are also recommended.

Simcocks Advocates advised on the Isle of Man aspects of proceedings involving the Alfa Group, concerning the ownership of a substantial stake in the Kyrgyz Republic’s mobile telecommunications industry. For one client, Christopher Arrowsmith is ‘the best advocate we have seen from the island’s major firms’. Kevin O’Riordan ‘provides skilled and mature advice that is solution focused’.

Callin Wild’s Jonathan Wild is noted for his experience in obtaining interlocutory relief including freezing and disclosure orders, both locally and in relation to multi-jurisdictional applications. He has also worked on major cross-border insolvencies and is the island’s exclusive representative with FraudNet, a specialist network of fraud and financial crime lawyers worldwide. Jeremy Callin is another principal contact.

Dougherty Quinn ‘performs like a London firm, which is well above the IoM standard’. Key matters included acting for a mining company in Kazakhstan to recover unpaid contractual sums. Walter Wannenburgh and former Cains departmental director Giles Hill are recommended. Michael Craine joined from Simcocks Advocates.

Long & Humphrey’s litigators are ‘experienced and very effective advocates’. The firm was instructed by board members of Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander to advise on issues arising out of its liquidation. Rob Long is ‘an effective courtroom litigator who consistently achieves good results for his clients’.

M&P Legal provides ‘pragmatic advice based on the situation rather than a strictly legal view’. The practice saw growth in high-value commercial litigation claims, and has a strong reputation for clinical, dental and cosmetic negligence defence work, as well as trust litigation. Department head John Aycock advised President Zardari of Pakistan in relation to Manx liquidations, while Christopher Brooks was recently involved in the discharge of a freezing order against a financial institution.

Bridson Halsall’s Richard Halsall is focused on commercial and international cross-border litigation, including large trust disputes.

MannBenham Advocates Limited’s practice includes advice on contract claims and regulatory investigations.

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