Conyers > Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands > Firm Profile
Conyers Offices

SIX, 2ND FLOOR, CRICKET SQUARE
PO BOX 2681
GRAND CAYMAN, KY1-1111
Cayman Islands
Conyers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Cayman Islands > Insurance/reinsurance Tier 1
Conyers draws superlative praise from a myriad of high-profile clients for the ‘quality of service and professionalism‘ of its dedicated (re)insurance practice. Steered by Derek Stenson – ‘a highly respected lawyer who consistently delivers results above and beyond expectations‘ – the team is consistently engaged on a mix of big-ticket transactions, disputes, regulatory reviews and investigative actions. Senior associate Philippa Gilkes is praised by clients for her ‘fantastic industry knowledge and expertise’, ranging from handling the establishment and licensing of new companies to multi-billion-dollar reinsurance transactions. Associate Sarah Farquhar is also recommended for regulatory and compliance matters. Counsel Rob Humphries left the practice in April 2022.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Philippa Gilkes is incredibly responsive. I’m always confident clients are in good hands when working with her.’
‘All-round superb offering with unmatched on-shore and offshore knowledge and hands-on expertise. There is no other insurance/reinsurance team on island that matches them in terms of the quality of service, quick turnaround and the professionalism that they deliver, time and time again on each and every assignment.’
‘Derek Stenson is an extremely attentive, knowledgeable, diligent, and highly respected lawyer who consistently delivers results above and beyond expectations.’
‘Philippa Gilkes is a highly competent lawyer with fantastic industry knowledge and expertise.’
‘Sarah Farquhar is highly competent with a proven, well-deserved track record of excellence and an impressive work ethic.’
‘Derek Stenson and his team are an asset to the industry. They are quick to respond and are very knowledgeable.’
Key clients
AIG
Aon
Aran Re
Artex
Athene Holding Ltd.
Ascension Health
Assurant Inc.
Aran Re
Axar Re
Baptist Health
Barents Re
BlackStone
Berkshire Hathaway
BOLT Reinsurance SPC
Boston Medical Center Insurance Company, Ltd.
CIBC Reinsurance
CIGNA
Comerica Bank
Crestline Re
FWD Re
Global Atlantic Financial Group
Heritage Life Insurance Company
Island Heritage Insurance Company, Ltd.
Jackson National
KKR
Knighthead Annuity
Liberty Mutual
Longtail Re
MetLife
Prudential plc
Nirvana Tech, Inc,
Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings Ltd.
Root Inc.
Royal Bank of Canada Insurance Company Limited
Sixth Street
Sompo
Tokio Marine
Topsail Re
United Insurance Company
Work highlights
- Acted for Sixth Street on the establishment and licensing of Talcott Life & Annuity Re, Ltd. and provided legal and regulatory advice in respect of its entry into of a reinsurance transaction with Principal Financial Group pursuant to which it reinsured approximately $25bn of liabilities.
- Acted as Cayman Islands counsel with regards to the establishment of Ivy Co-Investment Vehicle II LLC, designed to co-invest approximately $1bn with Global Atlantic and its subsidiaries in qualifying reinsurance transactions.
- Advising a member of Augusta Healthcare, Inc. in relation to a quasi-partnership dispute involving a captive insurance company incorporated in the Cayman Islands to provide insurance solutions for not-for-profit healthcare systems.
Cayman Islands > Dispute resolution Tier 2
Noted for its experience with in-house advocacy and a strong Asia focus – underpinned by close collaborative ties with the firm’s Hong Kong office – the team at Conyers acts for a diverse mix of international clients on high-value, multi-jurisdictional disputes before the Grand Court and appeals before the Privy Council. Since rejoining the firm as practice head, Alex Potts KC has appeared before the various domestic courts in trials and applications, with recent highlights including big-ticket asset recovery proceedings. In addition to working closely with Potts on a number of matters, Erik Bodden maintains a keen focus on Section 238 dissenting shareholder appraisal cases, where he is equally adept acting for both sides. Noted for his expertise in liquidation proceedings, Jonathon Milne is a key port of call for the many of the firm’s banking and financial services clients. Counsels Spencer Vickers and Alecia Johns are also recommended for their wide-ranging civil and commercial capabilities. Ben Hobden has left the practice.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘I have had the pleasure of working with the Conyers Cayman team for a number years now and have always found them to have great strength in depth from partners through to associates. They are joined up with their other offices in the network and I have recently seen the benefits of this in action dealing with Cayman / Hong Kong matters.’
‘Jonathon Milne is a diligent and commercially astute litigator who I have worked with on a number of contentious cross boarder contentious matters.’
‘This is a really great team that is a class outfit and consistently provides excellent results.’
‘Erik Bodden is a great partner.’
Key clients
PJSC National Bank Trust
Ernst & Young as Joint Provisional Liquidators of Seahawk China Dynamic Fund
Augusta Health, Inc
Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc
State of Kuwait
GTI Holdings Limited
Colours Caribbean
FTI
Changyou.com Limited
Golden Wheel Tiandi Holdings Company Limited
Work highlights
- Representing Colours Caribbean in a Constitutional challenge regarding the Cayman Islands’ Civil Partnership legislation.
- Representing Augusta Healthcare Inc in a Just and Equitable winding up petition of a Cayman Islands captive insurance company.
- Representing PJSC National Bank Trust in a jurisdictional and forum dispute relating to claims involving a substantial Cayman Islands trust.
Cayman Islands > Trusts/private client Tier 2
Helmed by the ‘highly experienced and very responsive‘ Robert Lindley, Conyers works with a strong mix of high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and corporates on the full scope of non-contentious and trusts disputes work. The team’s cross-border capabilities are notably concentrated in the Latin American markets, advising a number of Brazilian and Argentine entities on high-value matters. Associate Wesley O’Brien advises widely on trusts and succession planning matters.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Great team. High quality of service and pragmatic, solution-oriented, client-friendly approach. They are on top of things and my number one in Cayman to go to.’
‘Robert Lindley is highly experienced and very responsive. Analytical, solution oriented, and a pleasure to deal with.’
‘The team is very client focused and approachable. It is easy to make introductions to clients and be able to trust the team’s way of speaking to clients at a level that is suitable to each client. Their knowledge is very up-to-date and relevant.’
‘A helpful and very responsive private client trust team whom provide practical solutions to challenging trustee issues. A good team to work with, and I would happily recommend them to clients and other trustees looking for Cayman counsel.’
Key clients
Colours Caribbean
Work highlights
- Advised beneficiaries in respect of applications before the Cayman Courts and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council concerning the trustee’s funding arrangements.
- Advised the trustee of a significantly valued philanthropic trust structure in relation to structuring, regulatory and governance issues.
- Advised and represented Colours Caribbean in the context of a constitutional challenge to the legal validity of the Cayman Islands Civil Partnership Act.
Cayman Islands > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3
Noted for its niche expertise in Brazilian market matters, Conyers has a broad practice encompassing multi-jurisdictional asset finance, structured finance, and fund finance work. Practice chair Matthew Stocker specialises in aircraft, vessel, and other equipment financings, in addition to capital markets transactions and acquisition financings. Cora Miller is noted for her expertise in DCM work, while counsel Barnabas Finnigan – who divides his time between the firm’s London and Cayman offices – is widely praised by clients for his aviation finance acumen. Fellow counsel Alex Davies‘ recent engagements include a number of IPOs and SPAC-related transactions. Fund finance specialist Anna-Lise Wisdom joined the team from Appleby in February 2022.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Cora Miller; Barnabas Finnigan; Alex Davies; Anna Lise-Wisdom
Testimonials
‘Clearly experienced in dealing with cross-border matters and very knowledgeable and extremely responsive and helpful with all queries.’
‘Their knowledge of both Canadian and local legal systems, practices, and laws is a real asset.’
‘Barnabas Finnigan has always been super responsive and very helpful.’
‘The team is knowledgeable on all aspects of Cayman law. They are also extremely responsive which is critical on our time sensitive matters. There is great coverage, even when the key contact is on leave, with a complete handover and continuity.’
‘Barnabas Finnigan in particular is a delight to work with. He is responsive and diligent and takes great care and attention with each piece of work or review. Barnabas is the reason I send my work to Conyers.’
Key clients
ALSP Orchid Acquisition Corp I
Citigroup
Financial Acquisitions Corp.
Global Internet of People Inc.
Golden Wheel Tiandi Holdings Company Limited
Goldman Sachs
Harbour Energy plc
JP Morgan
Lindblad Expeditions
Stonegate Pub Company
Sunrise Aircraft Irish HoldCo
Unico (formerly known as Acesso Digital)
Cayman Islands > Corporate and commercial Tier 3
Fielding a sizeable team and robust global network, Conyers is noted for its capabilities in big-ticket M&A, de-SPAC transactions, and corporate restructurings. The group’s cross-border capabilities are most keenly concentrated on Latin American markets, where Nicholas Pattman advises a range of Brazilian companies in particular. Matthew Stocker, who heads up the corporate practice, has most recently advised on big-ticket transactions in the pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and automotive sectors. The highly experienced Cora Miller and SPAC specialist Alex Davies are also recommended.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Agusta Healthcare
Chrysaor
Crescera Capital
Deep Green Metals
Goldman Sachs
Lindblad Expeditions
RBC
Roivant Sciences
Stonegate Pub Company
Cayman Islands > Regulatory and compliance Tier 3
Drawing praise from clients for its ‘all-round excellence‘, Conyers‘ cross-practice team works with both public and private sector clients on a range of regulatory and compliance requirements associated with new fund formations, trust structurings, administrative fines, and remediation measures. Practice co-chair Robert Lindley specialises in trusts and private client concerns, while fellow co-chair Derek Stenson focuses on insurance and reinsurance sector matters. Disputes counsel Róisín Liddy-Murphy specialises in regulatory investigations, most recently for clients in the telecoms sector, and associate Sarah Farquhar, who joined the team from Maples Group in June 2021, is praised for her ‘vast wealth of knowledge in regulatory and compliance matters’.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Roísín Liddy-Murphy; Sarah Farquhar
Testimonials
‘The practice is simply stand-out; all-round excellent in everything that they do. They are an extremely well regarded, driven, highly commercially aware, approachable, responsive, and reliable team with a true dedication and commitment to delivering the best possible service to their clients. They always deliver on-point, carefully thought through, detailed, tailored practical legal guidance and solutions without the legal jargon.’
‘Derek Stenson is an extremely attentive, personable, knowledgeable lawyer with a formidable track record of excellence in all that he does. He is simply unmatchable in his calm demeanour and unique ability to consistently deliver workable and effective results beyond expectations.’
‘Sarah Farquhar is a proficient, highly organised, and conscientious lawyer with a vast wealth of knowledge of regulatory and compliance matters. She is very hardworking, responsive, professional, pragmatic and efficient.’
Key clients
Conyers Trust Company (Cayman) Limited
PwC (Cayman)
Work highlights
- Advised a CIMA licensee with respect to a CIMA Administrative Fines matter.
- Advised a licensed trust company on the FATCA/CRS classifications in respect of multiple trust structures.
- Advised a CIMA licensee on remediation of findings following a CIMA AML and prudential inspection.
Cayman Islands > Investment funds Tier 4
Steered by corporate head Matthew Stocker and office managing partner Kevin Butler, Conyers‘ interdisciplinary funds practice works closely with the firm’s litigation and restructuring teams on a host of high-value contentious and non-contentious matters. Nicholas Pattman‘s broad cross-border capabilities are mostly keenly concentrated on the Latin American jurisdictions, and Brazil in particular. Anna-Lise Wisdom, who joined the team from Appleby in February 2022, specialises in fund finance, and associate Matthew Harkness works with a mix of start-ups, family offices and established fund managers on the full scope of corporate and finance matters. Craig Fulton has left the practice.Practice head(s):
Matthew Stocker; Kevin Butler
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Harbour Energy
ICONIQ Capital
Lazard Asset Management
EIG Global Energy Partners
IFM Global Infrastructure Fund
IVY II Limited
British Virgin Islands > Trusts/private client
Fielding a ‘talented team of lawyers’ that works collaboratively across the offshore territories, the ‘extremely responsive’ group at Conyers is a strong choice for a litany of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices seeking assistance with multi-million-dollar trust administration and structuring matters. Contentious proceedings are also a core workflow for the practice, underpinned by its close interdisciplinary ties with the dispute resolution group. The team is headed up by Robert Lindley, whose experience in both contentious and non-contentious matters sees him working with a sweep of international clients on trust establishments, (re)structurings, and contested estate work. Counsel Matthew Brown is a ‘particularly impressive’ commercial, trusts and insolvency lawyer who regularly appears on behalf of clients in the Commercial Court.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Extremely responsive firm with a talented team of lawyers.’
‘A real powerhouse in the BVI. Consistently involved in the big cases, and capable of deploying a substantial and impressive team in a trusts dispute.’
‘I have found Matthew Brown to be particularly impressive. Brilliant at running a case with real insight into tricky legal points.’
‘Matthew Brown is a future star. Bright and creative in his solutions, and ferociously hard-working.’
Work highlights
- Advised an ultra-high-net-worth family on the establishment of BVI VISTA trusts, which holds various telecoms companies.
- Advised a pension and insurance company on the establishment of multiple trust structures for employee pensions plans.
- Advised a high-net-worth individual in relation to contentious probate proceedings.
Conyers > Firm Profile
Founded in 1928, Conyers is an international law firm with a broad client base including FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies, international finance houses and asset managers. The firm advises on Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands laws, from offices in those jurisdictions and in the key financial centres of London, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The firm’s expertise includes corporate law and finance including investment funds and private equity, equity and debt capital markets, M&A, banking and finance (conventional and Islamic), asset finance including shipping and aircraft finance, restructuring and workouts, the formation of entities including companies and partnerships, corporate governance and insurance and reinsurance.
Main Areas of Practice:
Insurance & Reinsurance:
The firm’s lawyers act for the majority of Bermuda’s insurance and reinsurance companies and are heavily involved in the formation and structuring of new Bermuda insurance companies. They are also integrally involved in the burgeoning Cayman Islands insurance industry, which boasts the second largest domiciliation rate for captives after Bermuda. In addition, they provide insurance advice in the British Virgin Islands, which continues to grow as it shifts in focus to more varied and sophisticated segments of the insurance market. Conyers’ insurance practice is complemented by experienced corporate, trust and litigation lawyers, and its litigators regularly provide expert advice in substantial insurance and reinsurance litigation.
Funds:
The funds team provides advice on fund structures (including Shari’a-compliant funds) and asset classes including hedge funds, private equity funds and property and infrastructure funds. The team advises asset managers and investors on fund formation and structuring (including constitutional and contractual documentation) and assists with incorporation, registered office and secretarial services, regulation and compliance, as well as restructuring, liquidation, insolvency and winding up of funds.
M&A & Joint Venture:
Conyers’ M&A and joint venture practice group advises on significant offshore transactions and financing matters. Conyers is the market leader for offshore IPOs, advising clients listing on all major exchanges. Lawyers provide specialist advice on all stages of the listing process from pre-IPO restructuring, formation of the listing vehicle and listing day.
Air Finance & Shipping:
The firm’s lawyers are at the forefront of offshore airfinance and shipping, representing airlines, leasing companies, shipowners, credit agencies and export-import banks and lenders on cross-border transactions.
Litigation & Restructuring:
Conyers’ litigators appear in leading decisions before the courts and in global, multi-billion dollar disputes. Insolvency and restructuring experience includes corporate bankruptcy, reorganisations and liquidations.
Private Client: Specialising in contentious and non-contentious work, the private client team’s experience includes creation and reorganisation of trusts and corporate structures for preservation of client capital and succession planning of ownership structures for family businesses. Trust litigators support the team in substantial trust litigation, acting for trustees, protectors and beneficiaries.
Client Services:
Conyers also provides a wide range of corporate administration, secretarial, trust, compliance, governance and company management services, and works in partnership with international clients, financial institutions, investment funds, high net worth individuals and others.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Corporate | Kevin Butler | kevin.butler@conyers.com | +1 345 814 7374 |
Litigation | Alex Potts KC | alex.potts@conyers.com | +1 345 814 7394 |
Private Client & Trust | Robert Lindley | robert.lindley@conyers.com | +1 345 814 7360 |
Lawyer Profiles
Languages
English (fluent) Portuguese French Spanish ItalianMemberships
INSOL - International Association of RestructuringComparative Guides
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British Virgin Islands: Litigation
Published: June 2022
Authors: Tameka Davis
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to Litigation laws and regulations that may occur in British Virgin Islands.
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British Virgin Islands: Banking & Finance
Published: February 2023
Authors: Audrey M. Robertson
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to Banking & Finance laws and regulations that may occur in British Virgin Islands.
- Insurance/reinsurance
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution
- Trusts/private client
Firm Rankings
- British Virgin Islands > Trusts/private client