Offshore firms in London in London

Carey Olsen LLP

Noted as the largest offshore firm specialising exclusively in Bermuda, BVI, Cayman Islands, Jersey and Guernsey matters from London, Carey Olsen LLP has recently seen a marked increase in instructions on high-profile global restructuring transactions, M&A deals and litigation matters relating to the BVI and Cayman Islands, as well as instructions on novel Guernsey fund structures. Jasmine Amaria is now registered to practice Bermuda law in London, adding additional expertise to the firm's evolving Bermuda corporate practice; she primarily works on corporate, banking and regulatory matters, particularly on behalf of start-up companies. With a career in international disutes spanning 20 years, Richard Brown focuses on cross-border fraud cases, insolvencies, shareholder disputes and contentious trusts. Matthew Brehaut has particular experience in the structuring and launch of investment funds. Senior associate Nina Clift and counsel Sheba Raza are also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Jasmine Amaria; Richard Brown


Other key lawyers:

Matthew Brehaut; Nina Clift; Sheba Raza


Testimonials

‘They are a really dedicated team that can provide offshore advice in the GMT time zone. We have recommended a number of BVI company clients to them who have moved all business over to them to enjoy an enhanced service from what they had been receiving.’

‘The Carey Olsen team was instrumental in the setup and success of our offshore investment business. The strength is the people, the dedication and the depth.’

‘For an English law practitioner, working with them is easy as they understand not only the Guernsey law overlay, but also how (and why) it differs from English law. They are very user friendly.’

‘Matthew Brehaut is clever, diligent and user friendly.’

‘Good regional coverage in the Caribbean benefitting from the presence of truly excellent partners on the ground in London to service the needs of UK and European clients.’

‘Richard Brown in London is an excellent lawyer, both technically and in his appreciation of the strategy and tactics of offshore litigation.’

‘Sheba Reza provided excellent and highly diligent advice and service. She stood out because she made the very difficult and complex transaction much more accessible and understandable for both in-house lawyers and the parties without a legal background within the organisation. She has our highest praise.’

‘Richard Brown is a class operator with deep knowledge of offshore litigation. He is reliable and passionate.’

Key clients

EQT AB


Stoneway Capital Corporation


PayProp


Leapfrog Investments Group Ltd


JD Sports Gym Ltd – a subsidiary of JD Sports Fashion PLC


Members of PwC as Joint Official Liquidators of Abraaj Holdings


Members of Kroll as Provisional Liquidators of RAGOF


Arrowcrest Limited


The Federal Republic of Nigeria


InterEnergy Holdings Limited


Boris Kaufman


Work highlights


  • Advised EQT AB on the BVI and Cayman regulatory aspects of its €7bn combination with Baring Private Equity Asia in the corporate services sector.
  • Acted for Stoneway Capital on the BVI aspects of its Chapter 11 restructuring.
  • Secured a landmark judgment in the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal for Arrowcrest in Arrowcrest vs VTB Bank.

Harneys

The promotion of Aki Corsoni-Husain to Harneys‘ global head of regulatory and tax, and his relocation to London in 2022, cemented the firms’ position as a dominant offshore firm in the UK. The banking practice is led by Indira Birkwood, a BVI specialist with more than 25 years’ experience. For M&A, restructuring and corporate finance, especially in the real estate, natural resources, and hotel and technology sectors, Rachel Graham is the key contact. Counsel Matthew Howson leads the growing private wealth practice, advising clients on BVI succession planning and trust matters throughout EMEA. From January 2023, William Peake has acted as the global managing partner. John O’Driscoll joined the team from Walkers in November 2023.

Practice head(s):

William Peake; Rachel Graham; Aki Corsoni-Husain


Other key lawyers:

Matthew Howson; Thomas Dugdale; Indira Birkwood; John O’Driscoll


Testimonials

‘An exceptionally talented offshore practice with real bench strength. Always commercial and user-friendly, allied to possessing brilliant strategic and legal skills. A great geographical spread.’

‘Spearheaded by the exceptionally talented and charismatic William Peake. A really international beacon for the firm.’

‘Responsive team.’

Key clients

Delancey


Fertiglobe plc


Life Science REIT


Bradda Head Lithium Limited


Kroll


Virgin Group Holdings Limited


Work highlights


  • Assisted Delancey with its refinancing of Here East, the former Press and Broadcast Centres for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
  • Advised a HNWI on the restructuring of his commercial and residential property portfolios which were held through a large number of BVI companies.
  • Acted for the joint official liquidators of SIFCO5 in a $9.2bn claim involving allegations of fraud arising from a large corporate collapse following the financial crisis.

Maples Group

Maples Group‘s BVI-focused practice is led by finance and corporate specialist Matthew Gilbert, with the support of Heidi de Vries, who advises on both Cayman and BVI law and specialises in the structuring, formation, ongoing maintenance and restructuring of hedge funds and private equity funds. ‘Powerhouse of a lawyerHarjit Kaur is a trusted practitioner for alternative investment funds in the Cayman Islands. Finance and capital markets expert Jonathan Caulton assists both borrowers and large bank syndicates with lending transactions and all types of secured transactions. Joanna Russell, Robert Hughes, Alex Way and Jack Marriott are noted for their expertise in finance, funds, private client and corporate work, respectively.

Practice head(s):

Heidi De Vries; Harjit Kaur; Jonathan Caulton; Jack Marriott; Matthew Gilbert; Alex Way


Other key lawyers:

Joanna Russell; Robert Hughes


Testimonials

‘Market-leading investment funds practice for offshore matters, deep ties with the regulator and the government in the Cayman Islands.’

‘Harjit Kaur – powerhouse of a lawyer. Excellent on the technical front, absolutely charming to deal with. Very precise in delivering her advice and strong understanding of business requirements.’

‘Jack Marriott in the Maples London office is the key source of Cayman law knowledge for us. We’ve built a long and productive relationship with Jack; he’s always commercial but makes sure that we are well protected when it comes to Cayman law and other regulatory matters. His assistance is invaluable.’

Key clients

Linklease Finance plc


Ocean Outdoor Limited


Liberty Costa Rica Secured Finance


Work highlights


  • Acted as Cayman Islands counsel to the issuer Liberty Costa Rica Senior Secured Finance in relation to the $400m sustainability-linked senior secured notes due 2031.
  • Advised Ocean Outdoor on the BVI and Jersey aspects of its $580m takeover by Atairos, a New York-based independent strategic investment company.
  • Advised Linklease Finance, in its capacity as issuer, on the listing of separate series of bonds, including the latest series in the amount of $50m under the medium-term note bond programme on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.

Walkers

With capabilities spanning BVI, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Jersey, Guernsey and Ireland, Walkers‘ is best known for its expertise in Bermuda law and its work with sovereign wealth funds, development finance institutions and high-net-worth individuals. Managing partner Jack Boldarin is an expert in emerging markets transactions. Fraser Hern oversees the insolvency, restructuring and litigation practice. Hughie Wong and Tatziana Paraguacuto co-head the investment funds practice. Neil McDonald and Patrick Ormond​​​​ for corporate M&A transactions, Mark Galazzi and Catherine Overton for banking instructions, and Sara Hall for regulatory matters, are also highly recommended.

Practice head(s):

Jack Boldarin; Hughie Wong; Tatziana Paraguacuto; Neil McDonald; Fraser Hern; Sara Hall


Other key lawyers:

Patrick Ormond; Mark Galazzi; Catherine Overton


Testimonials

‘Depth of expertise across the team. Very commercial in approach. Easy to work with.’

‘Neil McDonald – very easy to work with and has a client-first approach.’

‘A high-quality outfit which provides very good value for money.’

‘Patrick Ormond is a stand-out financing lawyer who is capable of advising across multiple jurisdictions. He’s technically highly proficient whilst also being very commercial.’

‘Walkers has become the go to firm for all of our Cayman work. They have the biggest Cayman practice in London and the best individual Cayman lawyer – Tatziana Paraguacuto – resides in that office.

‘Tatziana Paraguacuto has launched the majority of new hedge funds in London for over a decade and has unparalleled experience in the London market. Every year Tatziana also launches some of the largest hedge funds in the US and Asia giving her a truly global perspective. If it’s been done, she has done it.’

Key clients

Deutsche Bank


BNP Paribas


Goldman Sachs


HSBC


Standard Chartered Bank


Black Rock


Credit Suisse


Carlyle Group


JP Morgan


The Blackstone Group


Work highlights


  • Advised the mezzanine lenders on the restructuring of Stoneway Capital Corporation, consisting of four power generation facilities located in Argentina.
  • Advising Walgreen Boots Alliance on a corporate restructuring in relation to the sale of its pharmaceutical wholesale business to AmerisourceBergen Corporation, with the company deploying proceeds of $6.5bn to reduce debt and accelerate the growth of its core retail pharmacy and healthcare businesses.
  • Acted as Cayman counsel and Jersey counsel, respectively, to BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole CIB on the refinancing of Pharos Energy’s reserve-based lending facility against its producing assets in Vietnam.

Bedell Cristin

Bruce Scott and Tom Davies lead the London-based team at Bedell Cristin, focussing exclusively on Jersey law transactional and advisory matters covering corporate real estate, private equity, M&A, borrower-side finance work, and debt and equity listings. Senior associates Adam Bartels, Daniel McAviney and Nkechi Hokstad are recommended for corporate real estate and financing transactions.

Practice head(s):

Bruce Scott; Tom Davies


Other key lawyers:

Adam Bartels; Nkechi Hokstad; Daniel McAviney


Testimonials

‘A quality team of lawyers with strong real estate experience. The team work extremely well alongside appointed UK lawyers. Collaboration is very strong, bringing the right people to the process at the right times.’

‘We work closely with Bruce Scott – quality lawyer offering clear advice and held in high regard by clients and fund/entity directors.’

‘Tom Davies – experienced lawyer who has navigated many challenging corporate deadlines – keeps parties well informed and goes the extra mile on building positive business relationships.’

‘Bedell Cristin are a strong and reputable outfit on Jersey corporate real estate matters.’

‘Nkechi Hokstad is a stand-out senior associate for me. Intelligent, personable and pragmatic in equal measure, her advice was extremely valuable and fundamentally helped us deliver the deal!’

‘Tom Davies- very hands on, proactive and leads his team in a positive must do manner.’

‘Daniel McAviney is excellent – clear advice, responsive and a willingness to go above and beyond to assist us and clients in pushing a deal across the line.’

Key clients

Angelo Gordon & Co. L.P.


Aviva Investors


AXA Real Estate


BentallGreenOak


Blackbrook Capital


BlackRock


Blackstone/Blackstone portfolio companies


Boreal IM


BNP Paribas


Cairn Capital


CBPE Capital LLP


Cindat Capital Management


CPP Investments


Deutsche Finance International


Exeter Property Group


Global Student Accommodation


Harrison Street Real Estate Capital


Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company Limited


Lone Star


LXI REIT plc


Magnetar Financial (UK) LLP


M&G Investment Management


Markel


Microsoft Corporation


Node


Nuveen (a Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association company)


Oryx Real Estate Partners


Permodalan Nasional Berhad


PGIM Real Estate


Prologis


Symphony Technology Group


Tishman Speyer


Unite Students / The Unite Group Plc


Urbanest Student Accommodation


Vitruvian Partners LLP


Welltower, Inc.


Work highlights


  • Advised Prologis on the creation of a TISE-listed UK REIT structure formed for the purpose of holding approximately 52 UK logistics assets – valued at €3.6bn – within the client’s flagship European Logistics Fund.
  • Advised Nuveen on its £1bn acquisition of Arcmont Asset Management.
  • Advising Blackstone on over £4bn of corporate real estate acquisitions and sales and accompanying financings and refinancings in relation to its ever evolving £10bn Euro Medium Term Note Programme.

Forbes Hare

Noted for its experience in complex cross-border insolvency and litigation, Forbes Hare ‘clearly knows its market and clients’. Led by Karen Gilbert, the corporate, corporate finance and real estate finance practice is instructed by an impressive roster of major insolvency practitioners, banks and mid-sized corporates and their advisors. ‘First rate‘ Gilbert also a member of the firm's Latin America practice, and is an expert in BVI and Cayman Islands M&A, joint ventures, and private and public equity transactions.

Practice head(s):

Karen Gilbert


Testimonials

‘Karen Gilbert is very pragmatic and takes a proportionate approach – avoiding fee overruns even where there are long delays on a matter.’

‘Sensible, responsive, commercial approach.’

‘Partner led with good commercial and technical ability. The firm clearly knows its market and clients. They take a practical and commercial approach to potential issues. Our go to BVI law firm.’

Key clients

Portage Biotech Inc.


Republic Power Group Limited


Floreat Real Estate Limited


Ernst & Young


Woodstock Inc.


Vox Valor Limited


National Bank of Anguilla


8i Acquisition 2 Corp


Global Engine Group Limited


Galaxy Payroll Group Limited


Work highlights


  • Acted as Cayman counsel to Vox Valor on its reverse takeover of Vox Capital, resulting in the client acquiring a London-based technology and marketing group and the re-admission of its shares to the Standard Segment of the Official List and trading on the Main Market.
  • Representing the Floreat Group in investment funds litigation in the BVI and Cayman Islands.
  • Acted as BVI counsel to the lender with respect to a £74m refinancing by a London branch of a Singapore bank, to a BVI borrower, with a BVI shareholder.

Conyers

Conyers‘ London office is headed by Eric Flaye, who specialises in the laws of Bermuda, the BVI and the Cayman Islands. Flaye is a member of the firm's growing fintech practice and has an interest in private investment funds, M&A, and joint ventures.

Practice head(s):

Eric Flaye


Testimonials

‘Eric Flaye is technically strong and very quick to respond.’

‘Since day one, they have offered a complete service, giving the appropriate follow up when needed.’

‘Very responsive, agile, client-oriented to resolve the matters quickly.’

Key clients

Freightos Limited


Air T, Inc./Sunrise Aircraft Irish HoldCo Designated Activity Company


Lindblad Expeditions, LLC


Kamaroopin


Seadrill Limited


3i Infrastructure plc


Fidelis Insurance Holdings Limited


Linden Capital Partners


Mercuria Energy Group


International Finance Corporation (IFC)


Otonomos


Structure Financial Inc.


Work highlights


  • Provided Cayman Islands legal advice to Freightos on the completion of its business combination with Gesher I Acquisition, a Cayman Islands special purpose acquisition company.
  • Created bespoke security packages for a global multi-office financial services and brokerage platform which provides liquidity, market access and infrastructure services to clients in the energy, commodities and financial markets, and which had issued margin calls to multiple entities who could not fund the calls at the time but offered to provide security over shares held in certain BVI entities.
  • Advised Bermuda parent company Seadrill and certain of its Bermuda subsidiaries on a reorganisation pursuant to a Chapter 11 plan of reorganisation in the US Bankruptcy Court, parallel insolvency proceedings in the Bermuda Supreme Court, and subsequent listings on the Euronext Expand in Norway and on the New York Stock Exchange.