Conyers > Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands > Firm Profile

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’.

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.

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.