The Legal 500 > Caribbean > Bermuda > Banking, finance and capital markets

While the team at Conyers is highly regarded for its expertise in IPOs and securitisations, it has also seen an uptick in international asset finance transactions, particularly matters relating to shipping and aircraft financing issues; the group has key expertise in the shipping and offshore energy sectors in Norway, North America and Asia. The practice is spearheaded by Graham Collis, and includes directors Neil Henderson, Sophia Greaves, Marcello Ausenda, Jason Piney and Victor Richards, who has a particular focus on shipping and aircraft matters. In a recent highlight, a team led by Richards advised Carnival on the completion of its $6bn financing via two tranches of notes. Counsel Angela Atherden and associate Edward Rance are key junior members of the practice. David Cooke retired in 2020.

The team at Carey Olsen Bermuda Limited, which attracts praise for being ‘dedicated, knowledgeable, and hardworking’, is jointly led by Mary Ward and Gavin Woods, who both have a significant focus on the insurance and financial sectors. Ward is noted for her expertise in securities law and equity and debt financings for insurers and insurance groups, while Woods has extensive experience in alternative risk financings, capital markets and derivatives matters, insurance-linked securities work, investment fund issues and catastrophe bond structures. Senior counsel Michael Frith, who was previously at Conyers, joined the team in early 2020, whilst Adam Bathgate departed for Walkers.

Cox Hallett Wilkinson Limited has a notably track record in assisting clients with IPOs and public company fund raisings, structured financing matters, and banking and asset financing work, particularly in the aviation and shipping sectors. Managing director Ernest Morrison and senior associates Janice Gutteridge and Kathleen Moniz are the names to note.

Alongside its international equity offering and listing capabilities, MJM Limited has a strong local reputation for asset and ship finance work, most notably in cross-border deals involving Norwegian and Asian shipping and offshore drilling clients. Following the departure of Peter Martin, Jeremy Leese now leads the firm’s corporate and finance department, which also handles a diverse array of international banking and finance mandates, real estate finance work, and corporate borrowing transactions. The experienced Brian Holdipp, who was promoted to counsel in late 2019, is another key practitioner in this space.

As a go-to firm for real estate financing projects in Bermuda, Wakefield Quin fields a banking, finance and capital markets team, which primarily advises clients on banking issues, project finance work and structured finance matters. The practice also has experience assisting with debt and equity offerings, banking and financial services mandates, and secured lending matters. The department's work is primarily handled by director and CEO Erik Gotfredsen, alongside fellow director Ian Stone. Managing partner Nicholas Hoskins also has experience in this area.

At Walkers, the corporate team provides asset finance, banking, capital markets, fund finance and regulatory advice to a range of clients, including leading global financial institutions, private equity funds, sponsors and corporations. The team is led by Jonathan Betts, who has extensive experience in syndicated, bilateral, secured and unsecured finance transactions, particularly in the shipping and aviation spaces. Elsewhere in the team, Natalie Neto has particular expertise in debt and equity capital markets mandates, while Sarah Demerling has a notable track record in insurance-linked securities work. The finance group has been bolstered by the recruitment of Adam Bathgate from Carey Olsen Bermuda Limited, while Paul Nystrom left the team for an in-house role. Senior associate Nathalie West is also highly regarded.