Maples Group > Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands > Firm Profile

Maples Group > The Legal 500 Rankings

Cayman Islands > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 1

Fielding one of the largest teams in the Cayman Islands, Maples Group routinely advises on a considerable volume of big-ticket matters for a myriad of market-leading banks and asset managers. The team is jointly chaired by global finance head Scott Macdonald, who is an expert in CLOs and other structured finance transactions, and Cayman finance lead Tina Meigh, an ‘extremely dedicated and responsive‘ practitioner who also spearheads the firm’s fund finance desk. Repackaging specialist Wanda Ebanks regularly works with European and Latin American export credit agencies on the establishment of various SPVs, most notably in the aviation and shipping sectors. Asset finance co-chair Jonathon Meloy is especially noted for his capabilities in aviation portfolio securitisations and commercial aircraft leasing arrangements, an area in which debt capital markets specialist Anthony Philp is also a key name to note. Amanda Lazier anchors the team’s CSX-listing practice, while James Reeve‘s expertise is concentrated on CLO transactions, risk retention structures and catastrophe bonds. Shari Howell is also recommended for her wide-ranging asset finance acumen.

Cayman Islands > Corporate and commercial Tier 1

Fielding one of the largest teams in the jurisdiction, Maples Group‘s sizeable practice advises on a wide array of big-ticket deals for a host of TMT, energy, healthcare, and investment management companies. Practice chair Matthew Gardner is a highly experienced practitioner whose wide-ranging corporate capabilities encompass public and private M&A, joint ventures, and restructurings. Dual-qualified (Cayman and BVI) Kieran Walsh co-heads the firm’s Latin America practice group, where he advises on multi-billion-dollar inbound and outbound transactions, particularly in the banking sector. Suzanne Correy, who is another key member of the Latam group, is noted for her capabilities in high-value cross-border M&A and de-SPAC transactions, most recently in the renewable energy space. Michael Johns is especially noted for his SPAC expertise, while Daniel Lee‘s corporate capabilities are keenly concentrated on public takeovers and private equity transactions. Shari Seymour and Sophia Scott, noted for their respective focus on investment fund and Latam matters, also come recommended.

Cayman Islands > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Lauded for its thorough attention to detail and ‘client focused, imaginative approach‘, Maples Group fields an almost unparalleled offering in big-ticket, cross-border litigation, representing clients in high-profile insolvencies, fair value appraisal proceedings, and investment fund disputes. The sizeable team is jointly led by James Eldridge, a ‘master tactician’ who specialises in insolvency issues and distressed funds work, and Caroline Moran, a seasoned litigator who has most recently handled a number of s.238 cases and cross-border Chapter 11 restructurings. Noted for his capabilities in private equity focused disputes and asset tracing, Luke Stockdale has been engaged on cases concerning the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, including appeals to the Privy Council. Promoted to partner in January 2022, Nick Herrod focuses on cross-border insolvency and schemes of arrangement while the ‘first-class’ Adam Huckle, another recently promoted partner, specialises in international trusts disputes and contentious regulatory proceedings.

Cayman Islands > Investment funds Tier 1

With the largest practice in the Cayman Islands, Maples Group maintains an accordingly strong market share, advising a myriad of world-leading private equity funds and single-manager hedge funds on a considerable volume of new fund registrations, downstream-spend deals, and capital market transactions. The group is headed up by newly-appointed global head Michael Richardson, a trusted adviser to numerous investment managers and financial institutions on big-ticket establishments and restructurings. Global managing partner Jonathan Green specialises in trust structures and hedge fund formations, while global private equity chair Iain McMurdo focuses on all manner of fund matters and resulting downstream transactions, an area in which Sheryl Dean is also a key port of call for some of the firm’s largest clients. Gwyneth Rees is a seasoned practitioner who serves as the global relationship client for some of the biggest asset managers in the market, advising on a steady stream of high-value fund launches. Christina Gordon, who was promoted to partner in December 2021, is recommended for the breadth of her expertise spanning registered mutual funds, hedge funds and private equity funds. Other key names to note include Jeremy Bomford, Tim Coak, Lee Davis and Stephen Watler. Jon Fowler and Philip Millward have retired.

Cayman Islands > Regulatory and compliance Tier 1

A stellar lineup of market-leading banks, investment funds, trusts and virtual asset companies turn to Maples Group‘s regulatory and financial services team for its capabilities in a host of contentious and non-contentious matters, ranging from FATCA and CRS advice to anti-money laundering work. Practice chair Christopher Capewell‘s recent engagements include a number of CIMA inspections, AML compliance reviews, and beneficial ownership regime reviews. Tim Dawson‘s broad practice encompasses licensing, prudential and conduct of business requirements, while Patrick Head focuses on regulatory requirements facing investment funds, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. The ‘clever and conscientious’ Adam Huckle specialises in enforcements and appeals.

Cayman Islands > Insurance/reinsurance Tier 3

Maples Group‘s cross-disciplinary insurance practice is sought out by a number of public and private sector clients for assistance with the full range of transactional and general advisory matters. Tim Frawley regularly handles a diverse array of work, including new company formations, regulatory reviews, and insurance-linked securities. Abraham Thoppil is noted for his expertise in insurtech and insurance legislation, while John Dykstra is well regarded on account of his active catastrophe bond transaction practice.

Cayman Islands > Trusts/private client Tier 3

Foreign-based expertise > Leading firms

Maples Group‘s ‘good depth of knowledge and solution-focused pragmatic advice‘ extends across the UK, Asia Pacific and the Middle East with practitioners in London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai contributing the firm’s Caribbean expertise. The team acts for a broad range of global clients on corporate, banking, finance and fund work involving Cayman and BVI law. For more information on specific regions, please click on the tabs below