Maples Group specialises in advising banks, multinationals, investment firms and asset managers on the laws of the BVI and Cayman Islands. Other areas of focus includes fund administration, fiduciary and company formation. Manuela Belmontes has a broad capital markets and finance practice and has a particular focus on aircraft finance transactions. Philip Ireland has significant expertise advising on private equity funds, real estate funds, Shari'ah-compliant funds and hedge funds. Of counsels Gurminder Sanghera and Oliver Simpson are also noted.
Offshore in United Arab Emirates
Maples Group
Practice head(s):
Manuela Belmontes; Philip Ireland
Other key lawyers:
Gurminder Sanghera; Oliver Simpson
Testimonials
‘Very strong technically, and excellent customer service’
‘Manuela Belmontes is an excellent lawyer, and is always able to offer practical, commercially sound advice. Gurminder Sanghera is technically strong and always very responsive’
‘Good knowledge of our business as well as pragmatic legal advice’
Key clients
Standard Chartered Bank
HSBC
Etihad Airways
Boubyan Bank
Dubai Islamic Bank
Kuwait International Bank
Arab National Bank
Kuveyt Turk Katilim Bankasi
DP World PLC
Masraf Al Rayan
Qatar Islamic Bank
Department of Finance, Government of Dubai
Dubizzle
Careem
Kuwait Financial Centre K.P.S.C. (Markaz)
BECO Capital Ltd
Global Ventures
Standard Chartered Bank
HSBC
Etihad Airways
Boubyan Bank
Dubai Islamic Bank
Kuwait International Bank
Arab National Bank
Kuveyt Turk Katilim Bankasi
DP World PLC
Masraf Al Rayan
Qatar Islamic Bank
Department of Finance, Government of Dubai
Dubizzle
Careem
Kuwait Financial Centre K.P.S.C. (Markaz)
BECO Capital Ltd
Global Ventures
Walkers
Walkers has a sizeable practice and offers Cayman Island, BVI and Jersey legal services covering the full spectrum of banking and finance law. The practice has particular expertise in Islamic finance and advises clients on a number of different structures. Managing partner Daniel Wood heads the firm's Middle East offering. Banking and finance practice head Ciaran Bohnacker focuses on Islamic finance, aviation finance and structured finance work. Tom Cochrane leads the investment funds and corporate team. Cate Barbour, Johanna Hendry, Luke Petith were promoted to senior counsel in 2021.
Practice head(s):
Daniel Wood; Ciaran Bohnacker; Tom Cochrane
Other key lawyers:
Barnaby Gowrie; Cate Barbour, Johanna Hendry, Luke Petith; Carly Kilshaw; Terry-Ann Arch
Testimonials
‘Excellent team.’
‘Dan, Ciaran and Terri-Ann are the usual individuals. Great to deal with.’
‘The Walkers team in Dubai are hands down the best Cayman and BVI law firm I have ever worked with and I recommend Dan and Tom and Ciaran to every client that needs good offshore counsel. They are exceptional.’
‘The Walkers team are very responsive and very commercial.’
‘Ciaran Bohnacker is a stand-out partner at Walkers, always willing to go above and beyond – available at all times of the night.’
‘Dan Wood – Dan is an excellent funds lawyer and provides top notch advice. He is extremely responsive. The advice he provides is clear and practical. Tom Cochrane – Tom is a great funds lawyer. He gives clear practical advice. I enjoy working with him. Ciaran Bohnacker – strong on corporate matters, provides practical advice.‘
Key clients
GFH Financial Group
Standard Chartered Bank
International Airfinance Corporation
HSBC
Gulf Capital
Abu Dhabi Financial Group
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
Emirates NBD
National Oil and Gas Holding Company (Bahrain)
SHUAA Capital psc
Work highlights
- Advised leading global payment processor Checkout.com on its $110m Series A financing for Saudi payments firm Tamara.
- Advised the Ministry of Finance (Government of the Maldives) on its $1bn Trust Certificate Issuance Programme and its debut sovereign $200m Sukuk issuance thereunder, issued through a Cayman incorporated issuer and trustee SPV.
- Acted as Cayman Islands counsel to SHUAA Capital on the establishment of $200m SHUAA Financing Opportunities Fund.