The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Appleby is a first tier firm,

Appleby saw a continued upswing in restructuring and refinancing instructions involving insolvency advice, as well as renewed activity in property, shipping and private jet financing. Faye Moffett is ‘responsive and organised’.

Within Commercial, Appleby is a first tier firm,

Appleby ‘can put any issue into a wider local and international context’. The team advised HgCapital and CPS Partners in the acquisition of Manx Telecom. Nick Verardi is ‘hardworking and determined’; John Melia is ‘very good’; and Simon Cain is also recommended.

Within Commercial property, Appleby is a second tier firm,

Appleby recently acted on the acquisition of two major office developments in the Isle of Man, including the preparation of occupational leases for two institutional tenants. Beth Greenhalgh and John Turner are key contacts.

Within Dispute resolution, Appleby is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Employment, Appleby is a first tier firm,

Appleby’s ‘advice is of a high quality and decent value for money’. The team successfully represented the Isle of Man government’s Civil Service Commission in defending an unfair dismissal claim. Caren Hyde is ‘an excellent source of advice in all employment law matters’.

Within Insurance and pensions, Appleby is a second tier firm,

Appleby advised Royal London 360 and Scottish Provident International on their merger in the Isle of Man courts. Simon Harding is ‘responsive and professional’; John Melia’s ‘experience benefits the client’; John Rimmer is ‘respected by his peers’; and Nick Verardi is ‘strategic in his thinking’.

Within Investment funds and capital markets, Appleby is a first tier firm,

Appleby advised on the establishment of the first regulated fund to be approved by the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission under new regulations, and was Isle of Man counsel for Seanergy Maritime Holdings on the issue of shares on Nasdaq. Simon Harding is ‘level headed and practical in his approach’.

Within Regional review,

In 2010, there were no major mergers on the island to match global offshore firm Appleby’s 2009 union with Isle of Man firm Dickinson Cruickshank, seen by many as a positive step both for the Isle of Man legal market and its business community.

Within Private client and trusts, Appleby is a first tier firm,

Appleby saw an increase in instructions from trust companies, involving advising trustees in the exercise of their powers, trust restructurings and document drafting; and pensions instructions have also been on the rise. John Rimmer heads the team, and managing partner Sean Dowling is also a key contact. Annemarie Hughes left for Dougherty Quinn.