Campbells > Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands > Firm Profile

Campbells Offices

Campbells
FLOOR 4, WILLOW HOUSE
CRICKET SQUARE
GRAND CAYMAN KY1-9010
Cayman Islands
Visit website 1 345 949 2648

Campbells > The Legal 500 Rankings

Cayman Islands > Insurance/reinsurance Tier 1

Praised by clients for the depth of knowledge and experience in the market, Campbells‘ cross-practice insurance team acts for a litany of blue-chip clients on the full gamut of contentious and non-contentious matters. The team is jointly chaired by corporate head Alan Craig, a regular adviser to reinsurers and foreign insurers regarding capital market products, and litigator Mark Goodman, whose recent engagements include remediation advisory and regulatory reviews. Paul Kennedy advises a host of clients on matters at the intersections of insurance and corporate insolvency, while ‘superb‘ senior associate Jeremy Durston is noted for his capabilities in regulatory challenges. Associate Kate Hewitson is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Alan Craig

Other key lawyers:

Paul Kennedy; Mark Goodman; Jeremy Durston; Kate Hewitson

Testimonials

‘Campbells insurance team is one of the most knowledgeable firms for life insurers in the Cayman Islands. They have a vast amount of experience in the insurance business and are key players in the insurance regulatory market.’

‘Alan Craig leads with an enormous amount of experience in the insurance space and creates dialogue among his clients to provide practical solutions to issues facing regulatory and international challenges.’

‘Jeremy Durston is superb. His understanding and guidance through processes stand out as one of the best. I have appreciated the promptness this firm gives to their clients as well as a practical approach to implementing procedures that make common sense.’

‘Alan Craig is very responsive and is always willing to help.’

Key clients

Next Era Energy

Prosperity Life

Argus / Bermuda Life

Advantage Insurance

Western International

Marsh

Athene

Willis Towers Watson

Cooper Gay / Ed Broking

Island Heritage

ICWI (Insurance Company of the West Indies)

Guardian Life

Global Captive Management

Artex Risk Solutions

Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility

Guardian Insurance

Strategic Risk Solutions

Beecher Carlson

Crum & Forster

Cottingham & Butler

United Health Group

Innovative Captive Strategies

Caribbean Alliance

Pan-American Life

Investors Trust

Work highlights

  • Advising NextEra Energy with respect to its Cayman captive insurance subsidiary.
  • Acting as counsel to Pan-American Life with respect to Cayman insurance matters.
  • Working with UnitedHealth Group on insurance structuring matters.

Cayman Islands > Dispute resolution Tier 2

Notably fielding an active restructuring and insolvency practice, Campbells‘ ‘outstanding‘ team is also well regarded for its capabilities in cross-border investment fund litigation, shareholder disputes, judicial review proceedings regarding CIMA fines, and Ponzi scheme lawsuits. The team is headed up by Guy Manning, an experienced litigator who regularly acts in a range of contentious matters before the domestic and foreign courts. Mark Goodman also regularly appears in court acting for various joint provisional liquidators in major restructuring cases. Liam Faulkner concentrates on distressed investment funds and shareholder disputes, while Andrew Pullinger is regarded by clients as ‘an absolute star‘ for his expertise in professional liability matters, international arbitrations, and investment fund litigation. Hamid Khanbhai – who was promoted to partner in April 2022 – is a seasoned barrister with a burgeoning focus on crypto-related disputes. Counsel Guy Cowan is recommended for winding up cases.

Practice head(s):

Guy Manning

Other key lawyers:

Andrew Pullinger; Mark Goodman; Liam Faulkner; Hamid Khanbhai; Guy Cowan

Testimonials

‘The team at Campbells has unrivalled strength in depth at all levels of seniority. It rightly attracts the very best quality work and is recognised as one of the leading practices in the jurisdiction. Its partner-led approach is particularly impressive with partners being fully engaged and pushing cases forward actively.’

‘An outstanding team of highly skilled and commercial lawyers who consistently come through with big wins. The team is well balanced with very technical and strategic litigators who are regularly approached by officeholders and creditors to act on the largest offshore cases.’

‘Andrew Pullinger is an absolute star: bright, knowledgeable and with sound judgment he is a standout litigator. He also has increasing expertise in arbitration work. A pleasure to work with, he forges excellent working relationships with clients and builds effective legal teams.’ 

‘Particularly good in transnational insolvency cases. The team is solid and has experience in complex matters.’

Key clients

Maso Capital Investments ltd

HSBC Securities Services (Luxembourg)

Carlos Magno Nery e Medeiros Sociedade de Advogados

Kroll

Grant Thornton

FFP

BDO Cayman

Valley Health System

Waystone

BDO/Ardent

Work highlights

  • Acting for the JPLs (i.e. restructuring officers) of Luckin Coffee, Inc., which is a holding company for a group owning and running coffee shops throughout the People’s Republic of China.
  • Acting for a group of dissenters in 58.com, which is the largest litigation (by value) in the Cayman Islands to date under section 238 of the Companies Act (appraisal rights litigation).
  • Acting for the HSBC entities in claims brought against them in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands by Primeo Fund (In Official Liquidation), which placed substantially all of its assets with Bernard Madoff.

Cayman Islands > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3

Chaired by highly experienced fund finance specialist Alan Craig, Campbells is regularly engaged on a broad array of banking, finance, and capital markets work, ranging from big-ticket listings to facility agreements, debt restructurings, and securities offerings. Richard Spencer‘s far-reaching capabilities are most notably concentrated in the technology sector, where he works with a mix of fast-growth and established companies on structuring and fundraising issues. Charlie Pywell routinely advises on debt finance and equity finance matters, while Damien Magee focuses on secured lending and asset finance work, specifically in the offshore and shipping sectors. Senior associate Jennifer Reilly is also recommended for shipping and aviation matters.

Practice head(s):

Alan Craig

Other key lawyers:

Richard Spencer; Charlie Pywell; Damien Magee; Jennifer Reilly

Testimonials

‘Proactive and responsive, and also sensible on fees.’

‘Damien Magee is very knowledgeable on marine finance and quick to respond with practical advice’.

Key clients

Nubank

JHD Technologies

2TM Holding Company

Recon Technology

McN Investments Ltd

Work highlights

  • Advised on the listing of Nubank’s Class A Ordinary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, and related listing of Brazilian Depositary Receipts in Brazil.
  • Advised Creditas on its $260m Series F financing round.
  • Assisted Avianca with the Cayman aspects of its US Chapter 11 restructuring.

Cayman Islands > Corporate and commercial Tier 3

Campbells is regularly engaged by various fintech, proptech, insurance, and e-commerce companies for assistance with the full scope of transactional and advisory work. Practice head Alan Craig is a seasoned cross-border M&A adviser, while Simon Thomas specialises in venture capital related matters. Richard Spencer works with a mix of technology companies – both emerging and established – on a range of corporate and commercial matters, while the ‘tremendous‘ Charlie Pywell notably focuses on multi-jurisdictional deals and capital markets transactions. Damien Magee draws superlative praise from clients for his ‘proactive commercial approach‘ on M&A, joint ventures, and restructurings. Senior associate Kristy-Anne Leith is recommended for private M&A and joint ventures.

Practice head(s):

Alan Craig

Other key lawyers:

Richard Spencer; Damien Magee; Kristy-Anne Leith; Simon Thomas; Charlie Pywell

Testimonials

‘Damien Magee is one of the best transactional lawyers I have ever worked with. Fully understand both the legal and commercial world and brings a really proactive commercial approach to any deal or problem that needs solving.’

‘Charlie Pywell is a tremendous partner that scaled side by side with our business and enhanced our ability to move forward.’

Key clients

Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z)

Internet Financial

Elo 7, Ltd

Work highlights

  • Advised QuintoAndar on its acquisition of Navent Group.
  • Working with Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z) on fintech matters.
  • Advised Elo 7, Ltd. in connection with its acquisition by Etsy.

Cayman Islands > Investment funds Tier 3

Roundly praised by clients for its ‘top-notch practical advice‘, Campbells is particularly well-versed in venture capital fund formations, ranging from technology and emerging economy-focused entities to fintech and crypto-asset funds. Practice chair Alan Craig advises various funds on a host of corporate and financing transactions, while Simon Thomas‘ expertise lies in the establishment of private equity funds and related investment vehicles. Richard Spencer, who heads up the firm’s fintech and blockchain practice, variously advises on the launch of crypto hedge funds and other tokenised investment fund products. Senior associate Jennifer Reilly is praised by clients for her ‘smart, responsive, and creative‘ approach to fund formation and restructuring matters, and fellow senior associate Aoife Tuohy is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Alan Craig

Other key lawyers:

Richard Spencer; Simon Thomas; Robert Searle; Aoife Tuohy; Jennifer Reilly

Testimonials

‘The investment funds team is easy to work with, quite responsive and provides practical business solutions for clients.’

‘Simon Thomas has consistently provided quality practical advice to our mutual Cayman clients. He has been a go-to Cayman funds attorney for us for several years now.’

‘Top-notch practical advice.’

‘Super responsive, good coordination, and very collaborative.’

‘Jennifer Reilly is smart, responsive, attentive and creative.’

Key clients

Shunwei Capital

Addition

Ribbit Capital

Bullfrog Capital

Kaszek Ventures

Aleph Ventures

Magnetic Capital

Sierra Climate Fund

Avalanche Ecosystem

Long Run Capital

Cross Coin

Tiger Global Management

Work highlights

  • Acting as Cayman Islands legal counsel in respect of the establishment of the $11bn fund, Tiger Global Private Investment Partners XV, L.P.
  • Represented Ribbit Capital in connection with the formation of fintech-focused Ribbit Capital VII, L.P. which secured $1.15bn in commitments.
  • Worked with Ava Labs on the launch of Blizzard, a $200m fund focused on development and innovation on the Avalanche ecosystem.

Cayman Islands > Real estate Tier 3

Roundly praised for its efficiency and ‘exceptional knowledge‘, Campbells regularly works on a range of commercial and residential matters, including lease negotiations, big-ticket conveyances, and portfolio disputes. Practice chair Lily Lee is a prolific adviser who routinely acts for an array of commercial property developers, hoteliers, private investors and other lenders.

Practice head(s):

Lily Lee

Testimonials

‘Our experience with Lily Lee was great. She is very capable lawyer with remarkable attention to detail.’

‘Very efficient and competent team.’

‘Quick responses and exceptional knowledge.’

Key clients

FirstCaribbean International Bank (Cayman) Limited

FS Inc.

Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Limited

Mango Villas Development

Invicta Construction Ltd./Surebuilt Construction Ltd.

Cayman National Bank Ltd.

Work highlights

  • Acting as primary counsel to FirstCaribbean in numerous lending and refinancing matters related to Cayman Islands property and involving both residential and commercial property matters.
  • Acting for J. Prentice, a local Cayman development company which recently completed Phase I of a 12-unit residential development located in West Bay with Phase II commencing shortly.
  • Acting as regular counsel to Butterfield Bank Cayman on numerous lending and refinancing issues related to properties which range from residential to commercial property matters.

Cayman Islands > Regulatory and compliance Tier 3

Campbells‘ ‘experienced and knowledgeable‘ team operates on a cross-practice basis, jointly steered by disputes head Guy Manning and corporate chair Alan Craig. Paul Kennedy advises a number of auditors, shipowners and investment funds on economic sanctions regimes. Counsel James Austin-Smith underpins the team’s contentious offering, appearing before the courts in various judicial review proceedings. Praised for his ‘pragmatic and extremely professional‘ approach, counsel Jeremy Durston specialises in regulatory action challenges, ranging from warning notices to administrative fines. Associates Sam Keogh and Katie Logan are also noted.

Practice head(s):

Guy Manning; Alan Craig

Other key lawyers:

James Austin-Smith; Paul Kennedy; Jeremy Durston; Sam Keogh; Katie Logan

Testimonials

‘Jeremy Durston provides first-class and timely responses to his clients, and offers a range of solutions to the issues at hand. Very pragmatic and always extremely professional.’

‘Alan Craig has been the key resource in the insurance industry for many years in the Cayman Islands. He is well-versed in all the specific laws and regulations required to become a licensed insurer in the Cayman Islands.’

‘An experienced and knowledgeable team that provides practical advice in a timely manner.’

‘James Austin-Smith is always available and responsive, and understands when matters are urgent. His advice is consistently pragmatic and clear and he works alongside our legal and compliance teams to ensure matters are addressed in a timely and professional manner.’

‘The Campbells team is very strong, with significant regulatory expertise and a commercial outlook.’

Key clients

Willis Towers Watson

Marsh McLennan

Deloitte

Premier Assurance Group SPC

Libyan Investment Authority

Intertrust Corporate Services (Cayman) Limited

Alvarez & Marsal

ABM Wappinger

Work highlights

  • Acting as counsel to the three companies which were the subject of regulatory and enforcement action by the medical regulatory authorities, HM Customs and Excise, and the police.
  • Advising and acting as Cayman counsel for the Libyan sovereign wealth fund and various frozen Cayman subsidiaries in contentious matters.

British Virgin Islands > Dispute resolution

The litigation, insolvency and restructuring BVI group at Campbells shares close ties with the firm’s Cayman office, offering key interoffice support in contentious cross-border matters. Mark Goodman, who is primarily based in Cayman, has assumed managerial responsibility for the BVI office, where Brian Child is the main contact for litigation involving insolvencies, trusts, shareholder disputes and asset trading, enforcement, and crypto-related issues. Child is especially rated for his ability ‘to maintain a balanced view of the case as a whole whilst immersing himself in its detail‘. Laura Gunn, who joined from CMS‘ London office in November 2021, has already begun to develop a strong local profile.

Practice head(s):

Mark Goodman

Other key lawyers:

Brian Child; Laura Gunn

Testimonials

‘Brian Child is a very personable and highly intelligent individual. He manages to maintain a balanced view of the case as a whole whilst immersing himself in its detail.’

Key clients

Albion Energy Limited

LOPAG Trust Reg. and Admintrust Verwaltungsanstalt as trustees of the Lake Cauma Trust

Liquidators of Torque Group Holdings Limited

Fourth Series of Halycon Trading (MI) LLC, HFC Kingate Limited and Venor Capital Master Funds Ltd

RAGOF

Joint Provisional Liquidators of Luckin Coffee Inc.

Flash Lighting (Company) Limited

Cable and Wireless (BVI) Limited (FLOW)

Jive Asset Gestão De Recursos LTDA

Work highlights

  • Acting for the liquidators of Torque Group Holdings Limited, a BVI company running a cryptocurrency trading platform that sustained losses of approximately $165m as a result of alleged unlawful actions by a former officer of the company.

Campbells > Firm Profile

The firm

Campbells is a leading full service offshore law firm established in 1970.  From our offices in the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong we provide comprehensive corporate and litigation advice and services to clients worldwide in relation to Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands law. We are regularly trusted to advise some of the most prominent names in finance, investment and insurance and we are frequently involved in the largest and most complex transactions, disputes and insolvencies in both jurisdictions.

Our legal team is internationally recognised for its expertise by leading directories and trade publications and we are also proud to be actively involved in the development of legislation, sitting on critical government legislative committees. Campbells is a member of the international legal networks Meritas and World Law Group.

Areas of practice

Arbitration & Mediation: Campbells is at the forefront of arbitration and mediation in both the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands. They have a number of attorneys with highly specialised international arbitration and mediation experience gained onshore in major arbitration and mediation centres.

Banking & Structured Finance: Campbells has extensive experience advising on debt, equity, credit-linked and asset backed securities, derivatives and other structured products, working with professional advisors and leading financial institutions worldwide; in addition to advising on syndicated lending and related security structures and advising on the establishment and licensing of financial institutions in the Cayman Islands and their on-going legal and regulatory requirements.

Blockchain & FinTech: Campbells’ blockchain and fintech practice is recognised as holding a leading position in the market. They have advised many high profile and innovative international businesses in this space, including crypto exchanges, token issuers and investment funds.

Compliance & Regulatory: Campbells advises both local and international banks, insurers, company managers, trust companies, investment managers, administrators and directors on regulatory and compliance matters.

Corporate & Commercial: Campbells has considerable experience in all areas of offshore corporate and commercial law and has worked on some of the most important and innovative cross-border transactions undertaken in the Cayman Islands. They have a strong reputation and particular expertise in the following areas: M&A; restructuring; joint ventures; investment funds; insurance and reinsurance, including captives and insurance-linked securities; capital markets; debt and equity listings; banking and structured finance; asset acquisition and finance, including shipping and aircraft finance; vessel and aircraft registration and mining and resources.

Fraud Litigation & Asset Recovery: Campbells’ specialist fraud and asset recovery team is a market leader in bringing and defending fraud claims and has a wealth of experience in taking urgent steps to identify, preserve and recover assets located within and outside the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and the Marshall Islands. They also have extensive experience in claims and issues arising out of financial fraud, white collar crime, economic sanctions and government corruption involving offshore entities and assets.

Insolvency & Corporate Restructuring: Campbells acts for local and overseas insolvency and restructuring professionals, creditors, investors, minority shareholders, directors, investment managers and other professional service providers in connection with all aspects of the restructuring and winding up of companies, investment funds, limited partnerships and structured finance entities.

Insurance & Reinsurance: Campbells is recognised as holding a leading position among law firms in the insurance/reinsurance sector in the Cayman Islands and heads the market in both contentious and non-contentious insurance matters. Their practice includes corporate and regulatory work for insurers and reinsurers, whether captive or otherwise; advising local insurers on domestic insurance law matters; assisting in dispute resolution; and advising special purpose insurance companies, such as catastrophe bond issuers and finite risk vehicles.

Investment Funds: Campbells’ investment funds practice works with many of the leading onshore attorneys and investment managers on both hedge fund and private equity/venture capital matters, ranging from start-up manager to managers in the >US$1 billion AUM category. They have extensive expertise of all key structures, including master-feeder structures, multi-class funds and segregated portfolio company structures, as well as experience advising on investment fund financing, the use of derivate products and related matters. They have a reputation for being at the forefront of emerging issues and working with advisors in other jurisdictions to devise cutting-edge responses. They are also recognised for their excellent advisory capacity, particularly for fund corporate governance and distress scenarios.

Litigation: Campbells is widely recognised for the strength of its litigation practice. They have one of the largest specialist litigation teams, and routinely act in the most significant, high-value and complex disputes in both the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands. They provide a full suite of litigation and dispute resolution services to a diverse, international client bases from their offices in Cayman, BVI and Hong Kong. Campbells has a wealth of experience spanning a broad range of disputes, with particular expertise in investment fund disputes, trust litigation, asset tracing, shareholder disputes and dissenting shareholder fair value petitions. Their clients range from large international, financial and trading organisations to liquidators and trustees in bankruptcy of international and local entities, participants in investment and trust structures, family offices and government agencies. Litigators at the firm regularly appear before the Grand Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council.

Private Equity & Venture Capital: Campbells has extensive experience advising on the formation of private equity and venture capital funds and all stages of the life-cycle of investments made by such funds, including implementing the investment structures utilised for underlying investments and listing and M&A transactions in respect of portfolio investments. They are regularly involved in the establishment and maintenance of fund vehicles for numerous high profile investment managers and investment/financing transactions related to underlying entities, with a particular focus on investments in information and environmental technology and investment into Brazil, China and India.

Real Estate & Local Practice: Campbells handles all aspects of property transactional work from sales and purchase to conveyance and related residential and commercial financing both for individuals and corporations. They work with developers, financial institutions, relators and property managers from initial stages of purchase, planning, development, financing projects (either for lending institution(s) or developer) to the ultimate completion of the transaction.

Shipping & Aviation: Campbells advises some of the world’s principal shipping companies, airlines, financial institutions and lessors. They have considerable expertise in all areas of asset finance, specialising in securitisation transactions and ship and aircraft financing (involving the establishment of special purpose offshore companies and other vehicles, such as exempted limited partnerships).

Support Services: Campbells Corporate Services Limited (CCSL) holds a trust licence issued by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority and provides a full suite of entity administration, regulatory and trustee services.

Trusts: Campbells has wide ranging experience in all aspects of commercial and private trusts including: trust formation and advising on the regulatory requirements and operational requirements related thereto; trust structures for the purposes of taking security or securitisation; pension trusts; STAR trusts; fixed interest and discretionary trusts; reversed power trusts; removal of trustees; recertification of trusts and the establishment of private trust companies.

Main Contacts

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Corporate Alan Craigacraig@campbellslegal.com+1 345 914 5864
Litigation, Insolvency & Restructuring Guy Manninggmanning@campbellslegal.com+1 345 914 5868

Staff Figures

Number of partners : 15
Number of fee earners : 27

Languages

Afrikaans
Cantonese
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Mandarin
Spanish

Memberships

Meritas
World Law Group (WLG)