The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial, Ogier is a second tier firm,

Ogier's 'advice is proactive and thorough'. Key mandates included advising BTG Pactual on a senior unsecured notes offering, and acting for a Cayman investment fund in relation to the sale of a majority interest in its investment manager, Gave Gestao de Patrimonio. Peter Cockhill is managing partner; James Bagnall 'has technical depth'; and Angus Davison, Nick Rogers and Giorgio Subiotto are also recommended. Andrew Morehouse was made a partner in 2011.

Within Dispute resolution, Ogier is a second tier firm,

Ogier is 'going from strength to strength'. The practice acted for Andersen in respect of a precedent-setting judgment in an auditors' negligence claim. Other highlights included acting for the trustee of a Cayman STAR trust regarding ongoing proceedings in Hong Kong between the settlors of the trust, the case involving the first consideration by the Cayman court of the question of whether a trustee, which is joined to foreign matrimonial proceedings ongoing between beneficiaries of a Cayman trust, should submit to the jurisdiction of the foreign court. Disputes head Christopher Russell is 'first-class'; Shaun Folpp's 'knowledge of the law and attention to detail is impressive', and Rachael Reynolds is widely praised.

Within Investment funds, Ogier is a second tier firm,

Ogier 'combines large firm resources with a smaller firm feel'. The investment funds team provides offshore legal advice on fund formation, structuring, regulation, de-registration, termination, and ongoing advice to investment funds, administrators and managers. The practice recently acted in the formation of approximately eighteen segregated portfolios for incubator funds and nine standalone funds sponsored by JP Fund Foundations. Managing partner Peter Cockhill, Andrew Morehouse, Nick Rogers and Giorgio Subiotto are key contacts. Angus Davison 'has outstanding knowledge of how funds are structured and work', and counsel Colin Berryman 'combines commercial awareness with a detailed and pragmatic understanding of the law'.

Within Legal market overview,

For some clients, Maples and Calder is 'without question the best law firm in the Cayman Islands', with international offshore practices Appleby, Conyers Dill & Pearman, Ogier Mourant Ozannes and Walkers all aggressively chasing. Campbells is, overall, the strongest of the local firms, with Solomon Harris also a serious contender.

Within Trusts/private client, Ogier is a third tier firm,

Ogier's private client and trusts legal team has extensive experience in advising on the establishment and administration of private trusts, purpose trusts and other vehicles typically used by private clients, as well as being well versed in establishing and administrating such entities. The firm's private wealth division is a multi-jurisdictional independent administrator of offshore trusts, foundations and other asset-holding vehicles, and it is able to administer structures under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The team regularly advises trustees in relation to their duties and liabilities, and it recently acted on the restructuring and redomiciliation of trusts. Giorgio Subiotto is 'knowledgeable, responsive and practical'; Christopher Russell is 'exceedingly responsive and reliable'; and Neil Kandelaars is also a key contact.