The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial, Maples and Calder is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Dispute resolution, Maples and Calder is a first tier firm,

Maples and Calder's courtroom practice is 'excellent and its client service is terrific'. The team acted for Renova and for its principal, Viktor Vekselberg - one of Russia's richest and most prominent businessmen - as claimants in a shareholder dispute concerning the alleged misappropriation of world-famous brand name Fabergé. It also represented Orbita Capital Return Strategy in a clawback claim by Fairfield Sentry (in liquidation). Aristos Galatopoulos is team head; Colin McKie 'demonstrates an excellent grasp of the realities of litigation in the Cayman Islands'; and Mac Imrie, Matthew Crawford, and Martin Livingston are also key contacts.

Within Insurance/reinsurance, Maples and Calder is a first tier firm,

Maples and Calder' 'knows the law and has the right experience'. The practice includes corporate and regulatory work for Cayman based insurer/reinsurers, whether captives or otherwise; advising local insurers on Cayman insurance law matters; assisting in dispute resolution for insurance companies in Cayman; and advising special purpose insurance companies, such as catastrophe bond issuers and finite risk vehicles. The team represented Scottish Re, a Cayman incorporated and licensed 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. Team head Tim Frawley is 'right to the point'; and John Dykstra is noted for catastrophe bond transactions.

Within Investment funds, Maples and Calder is a first tier firm,

'Extremely practical firm' Maples and Calder is 'simply superb at helping to address the issues'. It recently bolstered its practice by raiding Walkers for partners Philip Millward, Heidi De Vries, Julian Ashworth, David Marshall, Sheryl Dean and Gwyneth Rees. Highlights included acting for C12 Capital Management on the formation and launch of C12 Helix Liquid Opportunities, which was the fifth largest hedge fund that was launched in North America in 2011. Jon Fowler is team head, and Jonathan Green 'knows Cayman law issues'. Henry Smith, David Brooks, Iain McMurdo, Nicholas Butcher, Paul Lumsden and Tim Frawley are also rated practitioners.

Within Real estate , Maples and Calder is a second tier firm,

Maples and Calder is known for its expertise in property financing, strata title law, and construction. The team represented Vista del Mar Development in relation to the formation of a legal structure for the various phases of a prestigious, gated waterway community in the Cayman Islands; and advised a lender in relation to the transfer of a $120m-plus loan over the Westin Hotel in the Cayman Islands. George Loutas leads the group.

Within Trusts/private client, Maples and Calder is a first tier firm,

Maples and Calder advises on a range of private client, trust litigation, unit trust and other commercial trust matters, acting for global financial institutions, foreign governments, other financial centres, and some of the world's wealthiest individuals - including heads of state - on Cayman Islands private wealth structures. The practice has acted for financial institutions on their standard trust precedents and related contractual documentation, including their standard terms of business. Justin Appleyard is the recommended team head. Nigel Porteous advises on all aspects of trusts law including those concerning private trusts, public trusts, and trusts used for commercial purposes, in particular unit trusts.