Collas Crill > Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands > Firm Profile
Collas Crill Offices
Floor 2, Willow House Cricket Square
PO Box 709
Grand Cayman KY1-1107
Cayman Islands
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Collas Crill > The Legal 500 Rankings
Cayman Islands > Dispute resolution Tier 2
Collas Crill‘s ‘wonderful‘ dispute resolution team continues to concentrate its position in the Cayman Islands, advising a strong mix of international corporate clients and asset managers on cross-border restructurings, s.238 cases, and fraud and asset tracing matters, particularly for and regarding Chinese entities. Office managing partner Stephen Leontsinis‘ recent engagements include arbitral award enforcement proceedings and big-ticket insurance disputes, while Matthew Dors is particularly noted for his cross-border insolvency capabilities. Rocco Cecere is widely regarded for the depth of his shareholder merger appraisal litigation practice, routinely handling high-stakes cases before the Court of Appeal. Jennifer Colegate is praised for her proficiency in insolvent restructuring matters and, increasingly, on matters arising from the Middle East. Counsel Natascha Steiner-Smith is recommended for commercial contract disputes and financial services sector matters.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The Collas Crill dispute resolution team are wonderful to work with. The team are very professional, flexible, approachable, responsive with excellent attention to detail.’
‘Great responsiveness, willingness to be flexible on costs within reason, great technical knowledge and a talented and diverse team.’
‘Jennifer Colegate is able to set out complex issues in a clear and thoughtful manner. Clearly dedicated to her clients and in achieving the best results possible. Very responsive.’
Key clients
Kalo Advisors
FTI Consulting
Sentinel Reinsurance
FourWorld Capital Management
R&H Restructuring (Cayman) Limited
Bank of New York Mellon
Development Specialists Inc,
Athos Capital Limited
Alpine Global Management
Quadre Investments LLV
Cooley LLP
Quantuma
Work highlights
- Representing Sentinel Reinsurance in a dispute between UBS and Highland Capital Management, defending claims made under an ATE Policy relating to a $1bn judgment.
- Advising the SEC Receiver and Joint Official Liquidators of Direct Lending Income Feeder Fund, Ltd. placed in receivership in the US following a 2019 SEC complaint, alleging sustained overvaluation of underlying assets on the part of the former CEO.
- Advising a group of private equity funds in a dispute with leading Chinese online game developer and operator Changyou, following its $590m take-private deal and delisting from NASDAQ.
Cayman Islands > Real estate Tier 2
The ‘exceptional‘ team at Collas Crill is engaged by a number of leading banks and high-net-worth individuals for its capabilities in high-value commercial and residential matters. ‘Premier‘ practice head Gina Berry, who is widely regarded for her ‘experienced, knowledgeable and solution-oriented‘ practice, is the preferred adviser for a significant proportion of Cayman Class A banks and foreign investors, with recent highlights including multi-million-dollar sales and financing transactions.Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The Collas Crill team are exceptional. Their level of responsiveness is unrivalled by competitors, and even when instructions are given at late hours, they respond immediately.’
‘Gina Berry is a premier lawyer in real estate. She is very experienced, knowledgeable and solution oriented. She meets impossible deadlines without compromising accuracy.’
‘Gina Berry has exceptional industry knowledge, accessible to discuss matters and has an extremely efficient support team.’
‘They are my preferred practice and seldom do I recommend anyone else.’
‘The team meet impossible deadlines without compromising accuracy. I find them to be knowledgeable and solution-oriented as well as extremely user-friendly. They have a stellar reputation as real estate lawyers and I trust them with all my largest deals.’
‘Gina Berry has been our main point of contact for many years and has always proven to be professional, up to date on current law, and a pleasure to work with.’
‘You can always rely on Gina Berry and her team to do an exceptional job at short notice.’
Key clients
Cayman National Bank
Cricket Square Group
Scotiabank Group
Royal Bank of Canada Group
Butterfield Bank
Work highlights
- Advised the Cricket Square Group on a wide range of matters relevant to its commercial leases and associated amenities.
- Advised Cayman National Bank Ltd. on the commercial lending elements of a number of Cayman Islands real estate developments, including the financing of high-profile developments 61 West and Botanica, among others, in matters totalling over $40m.
- Acted as local counsel for a high-net-worth individual on the $24.5m sale of an undeveloped property, including advice on providing for road access.
Cayman Islands > Trusts/private client Tier 3
A number of corporate clients, law firms and trusts turn to Collas Crill for its balanced capabilities in contentious private client matters and trust formation work. Practice chair Andrew Peedom is a seasoned offshore adviser whose expertise spans commercial advisory work and litigation before the Privy Council. Senior associate Sally Peedom is a key port of call for a number of institutional trustees and high-net-worth individuals on both sides of the Atlantic. David Cooney has left the practice.Practice head(s):
Andrew Peedom
Other key lawyers:
Work highlights
- Advising a Russian billionaire and family members in respect of a $572m claim asserted against Cayman trust assets of which they are the settlor and beneficiaries, allegations of fraud and joinder of the trustee to English High Court proceedings brought by two Russian banks.
- Advising the trustee of a Cayman STAR trust settled by the late founder of a major resort group with regard to attempts to remove a private trust company in the structure as trustee of underlying Bahamian trusts on grounds of conflict of interest.
- Advising on the restructuring of a $50m Cayman trust with US-domiciled beneficiaries, including constituting a Family Committee and underlying corporate entities for the two branches of the family.
Cayman Islands > Corporate and commercial Tier 4
Collas Crill‘s corporate, finance, and funds team has made a number of new associate-level hires, most notably senior associate Jo Hossack – an ESG specialist who joined the team from Foot Anstey in April 2022. Practice head Alan de Saram is recommended for his far-reaching capabilities in commercial transactions and fintech matters, while Natalie Bell is a key contact for the firm’s investment fund clients, who turn to her for her expertise in structuring, formation and corporate governance work.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Tristar Acquisition I Corp
Chanos & Partners
Everipedia Inc.
Albaugh Inc
Tweebaa
Mediterraneo Vida
weDoctor
Work highlights
- Advised Albaugh on its $300m acquisition and take-private by way of statutory merger of Rotam Global AgroSciences Limited.
- Advising a Spanish insurance company on a restructure required by its Spanish regulators following its acquisition by a large US fund.
- Acting as Cayman counsel in relation to Everipedia Inc’s Cayman company, which carried out the initial coin offering for Everipedia and develops blockchain applications for users like Everipedia’s article editing software.
Cayman Islands > Investment funds Tier 5
Collas Crill‘s interdisciplinary corporate, finance and funds team handles an accordingly broad array of fund sector matters, ranging from new formations to restructurings and regulatory reviews. Practice head Alan De Saram is noted for his expertise in investor-side advice, working with a mix of high-profile sovereign wealth funds and major institutional players on a litany of corporate and commercial matters. Various financial institutions turn to Natalie Bell for her capabilities in licensing and regulatory obligations, including anti-money laundering compliance and sanctions regimes. Associate Laura Oseland possesses key experience in corporate governance matters.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Mission Capital Management Services LP
IP Investment Management
Chanos & Company L.P
Harvest Private Wealth Thematic Fund SPC
HDH Master Fund
ARIA Fund Services (ARIA)
Apeira Capital Fund I GP, LLC
Work highlights
- Acting as Cayman Counsel to Axiom Asia’s investment management business, Mission Capital Management Services L.P., on the establishment and launch of three new closed-end funds.
- Advising Hong Kong and Singapore-based IP Investment Management on a restructure of its existing SPC fund structure, and moving the Cayman Segregated Portfolios.
- Acting for Chanos & Company L.P to advise on consolidation of its group structure and operation of its Cayman funds.
Collas Crill > Firm Profile
Collas Crill is an offshore firm with offices in BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, Jersey and London. With 38 partners and directors, and 80 other lawyers and legal professionals, Collas Crill delivers a comprehensive range of legal services to clients locally and around the globe.
Clients include some of the world’s leading financial institutions, international businesses, trusts and funds, as well as HNW individuals and families, alongside an established network of independent and trusted partners.
The firm is committed to the local communities in which it operates and to the wellbeing of their people, and seeks to build and develop a reflective CSR programme.
Practice areas
Banking and finance: Collas Crill’s banking and finance teams in Guernsey, Jersey, BVI and Cayman act on both borrower and lender side for banks, funds, institutional and private investors, government linked organisations and global development corporations. They are on the panel of and work for leading retail banks including RBS, HSBC, Santander as well as private banks such as Investec, Coutts, Rothschild and Arbuthnot Latham and Islamic banks (namely ABC, BLME, ADIB, QIB, Gatehouse and Al Rayan Bank).
The firm has particular expertise in –
- (a) real estate finance (in financing investment in office buildings, luxury apartments, warehouses, co-living and co-working accommodation, and leisure facilities to name a few)
- (b) Islamic finance transactions
- (c) acquisition and leveraged finance
- (d) structured finance, note issues
- (e) fund finance
- (f) debt restructuring
It is able to advise on BVI and Cayman finance matters from the Channel Islands in a UK time zone.
Capital markets: Collas Crill’s global capital markets team acts on a broad range of debt, equity and derivative capital markets transactions on all of the major exchanges in the UK, Europe and the US. We are typically instructed by an array of issuers, banks, brokers, underwriters, sponsors and other advisors in respect of initial applications, secondaries, M&A transactions (including by scheme of arrangement), warrant and option programmes, EBTs and general continuing obligations, and we have significant experience in acting for activist shareholders. Through our in house listing agents, we also provide a comprehensive legal and advisory service to international companies listing securities on The International Stock Exchange and the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.
Commercial and residential property: Collas Crill’s full service property team in the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey is recognised by clients for its responsive, friendly and commercially aware approach. The firm’s property specialists have the local knowledge and expertise to not only offer top quality advice on all residential and commercial property transactions, but to give meaningful opinions and anticipate challenges and opportunities at every stage of the process. The firm is consistently recognised as a leader across the Channels Islands and the Cayman Islands.
The firm acts for landlords and tenants, private individuals, banks, corporates and investments funds and works with the islands’ largest property developers of both residential and commercial property. Across the jurisdictions, the firm is known for advising on complex real estate transactions, boasting one of the largest and most experienced property teams.
In the Channel Islands, the firm also established a UK real estate and real estate finance team advising international clients investing in and financing UK real estate.
In the Cayman Islands, the firm has secured highly-coveted panel positions as preferred attorneys for most of the Class A Banks.
The team routinely is involved with negotiations with government authorities with respect to acquisitions, commercial activities, licencing and all regulatory matters.
Corporate and commercial: With offices in Guernsey, Jersey, BVI and Cayman, Collas Crill’s corporate team advises a broad range of banks, trust companies, private equity, listed and unlisted corporates, HNWs and families, their directors, and shareholders, with particular expertise in the energy, utilities, digital assets, medical, transport, licensed premises and real estate sectors. Work includes –
- (a) complex international M&A, especially in relation to regulated parties
- (b) corporate structuring, joint ventures, PE investment and fund vehicles, SPVs, SPACs and associated listing of vehicles on TISE
- (c) IPOs, secondary offerings and structured products
- (d) a top regulatory practice advising clients on a host of risk and regulation issues including investigations and disciplinary hearings, aspects of corporate governance, directors duties, AML, data protection, competition law and economic substance
- (e) restructuring, insolvency and migration of corporate vehicles
- (f) commercial agreements, distribution, outsourcing, technology and licensing contracts . The team also works closely with its top ranking litigation teams in each jurisdiction in relation to complex insolvencies and shareholder disputes.
Dispute resolution: One of the largest and most experienced teams in the Channel Islands, the Cayman Islands and the BVI, we handle –
- (1) commercial and financial services litigation including complex shareholder disputes and activism, Section 238 fair value proceedings, professional indemnity claims, contractual and investment fund disputes, fraud, asset tracing, enforcement actions and freezing injunctions
- (2) insolvency and restructuring, advising voluntary, provisional and official liquidators, liquidation committees, directors, creditors and investors, companies and shareholders in relation to liquidations, schemes of arrangement and compromise, restructuring strategies, and reduction of share capital petitions
- (3) contentious trusts and probate, acting for trustees, beneficiaries, settlors and protectors as well as parties to divorce proceedings impacting on offshore trusts and,
- (4) regulatory disputes, claims and investigations, including utilities regulation, TIEAs, enforcement action and breaches of sanctions, AML, data protection and money laundering laws and financial crime.
Investment funds: Collas Crill’s fund specialists offer advice on all aspects relating to the establishment, authorisation and structuring of funds and related investment vehicles. The firm has particular expertise acting for emerging managers who are building their business and acting for institutional investors, including acting for private equity funds and sovereign wealth funds on joint venture and fund investments, as well as planning their internal corporate structures.
International private client and trusts: We work with wealthy individuals, family controlled businesses and entrepreneurs to manage and protect wealth across generations, and to succession plan. We represent trustees, settlors, protectors and beneficiaries and have extensive experience of private wealth structuring including pensions, foundations and trusts, and we have particular experience of shariah compliant structuring. We work closely with our corporate and litigation teams in respect of corporate structures within family trusts, trust issues arising from divorce or family disputes, and contentious and semi-contentious trusts matters including mistake applications, and variations.
We also have a specialized team to assist in all aspects of wills, estate planning and administration, succession planning, probate, guardianship and powers of attorney.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Managing Partner | Jason Romer | jason.romer@collascrill.com | +44 1534 601696 |
| Partner; Head of corporate and commercial | Ellie Crespi | Ellie.Crespi@collascrill.com | +1 284 852 6335 |
| Partner; Head of dispute resolution | David Harby | david.harby@collascrill.com | +1 284 852 6327 |
| Partner | Michael Adkins | michael.adkins@collascrill.com | +1 284 852 6300 |
| Managing Partner; Head of dispute resolution | Stephen Leontsinis | stephen.leontsinis@collascrill.com | +1 345 914 9605 |
| Partner; Head of corporate and commercial | Alan De Saram | alan.desaram@collascrill.com | +1 345 914 9604 |
| Of Counsel | Christian Hidalgo | christian.hidalgo@collascrill.com | +1 284 852 6312 |
| Senior Associate | Natalie Bell | natalie.bell@collascrill.com | +1 345 914 9621 |
| Senior Associate | Daisy Bovingdon | daisy.bovingdon@collascrill.com | +1 284 852 6305 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Janeen Aljadir | Associate. Janeen has more than 15 years of experience in the financial… | View Profile |
 | Kirsten Bailey | Associate. Kirsten is an Associate and currently on secondment from our Jersey… | View Profile |
 | Natalie Bell | Partner. Natalie advises on all aspects of Cayman corporate and commercial law… | View Profile |
 | Gina Berry | Partner and Head of the Property Team in Cayman. Gina’s breadth of… | View Profile |
 | Mark Burrows | Senior Associate. Mark has a broad practice covering all aspects of civil and… | View Profile |
 | Rocco Cecere | Partner. Rocco is an experienced offshore commercial litigator, specialising in international insolvency… | View Profile |
 | Jennifer Colegate | Partner. Jennifer is a commercial litigator specialising in cross-border insolvency and restructuring .… | View Profile |
 | Matthew Dors | Partner. Matthew is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution department in the… | View Profile |
 | Zachary Hoskin | Counsel. Zachary is an experienced offshore litigator with significant experience in trusts… | View Profile |
 | Jo Hossack | Senior Associate. Jo has a wide range of experience in several jurisdictions,… | View Profile |
 | Stephen Leontsinis | Stephen is Managing Partner and head of the Dispute Resolution department in… | View Profile |
 | Dawn Major | Associate. Dawn is an Associate in the Dispute Resolution team in Cayman,… | View Profile |
 | Ronan O'Doherty | Associate. Ronan is an Associate in the Dispute Resolution department specialising in… | View Profile |
 | Laura Oseland | Associate. Laura assists clients in developing their business when it comes to… | View Profile |
 | Andrew Peedom | Counsel. Andrew has a broad range of commercial litigation experience and frequently… | View Profile |
 | Sally Peedom | Senior Associate. Sally specialises in both contentious and non-contentious international trusts and… | View Profile |
 | Annalisa Shibli | Senior Associate. Annalisa has a broad practice covering commercial litigation, cross boarder… | View Profile |
 | Natascha Steiner-Smith | Counsel. Natascha has a wide range of experience in commercial litigation and… | View Profile |
 | Alistair Wade | Senior Associate. Alistair is a real estate solicitor providing both commercial and… | View Profile |
 | Charlotte Walker | Senior Associate. Charlotte is a commercial litigator, specialising in cross-border commercial litigation… | View Profile |
 | Alan de Saram | Partner. Alan is the Partner that heads up the Corporate, Finance and… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Partners : 5 Other legal staff : 14Disputes Yearbook 2020
Briefing
After a busy year in offshore litigation, what
lies ahead in 2020? (https://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/analysis/disputes-yearbook-2020/sponsored-briefing-after-a-busy-year-in-offshore-litigation-what-lies-ahead-in-2020/)
Christian Hay gives an overview of Collas Crill’s disputes work in 2019 and discusses the challenges and trends that can be expected over the next year
Diversity
We continually strive to make Collas Crill a firm where brilliant people are proud to work. Key to this is creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong, feels valued and can work to their full potential, regardless of their background, identity and circumstances. Achieving this not only creates a more supportive and stimulating workplace, it’s also good for business – it allows us to make more rounded, inclusive business decisions and better represent our clients.
Over the last year, we have delivered diversity and inclusion (D&I) awareness training to everyone within the firm. The training sessions explored different types of bias and outlined practical steps to help build and reinforce a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Strategy Board and business leaders received more in-depth training on managing D&I in the business and we put D&I champions in place to support our initiatives and activity as well as being local contact points for colleagues. We will be rolling out further training in 2023 to support behavioural change.
We have made some tangible changes to our people processes, including updating our promotions criteria to make things more objective and transparent, and improving our recruitment processes to ensure we are attracting a range of candidates, eg avoiding stereotyping in our use of images, ensuring a diverse interview panel and trialling anonymisation of applications for work experience.
We are also developing local work experience initiatives in some of our jurisdictions that help those from diverse backgrounds gain experience of working in professional services.