Conyers > Hamilton, Bermuda > Firm Profile
Conyers Offices
PO BOX HM666
CLARENDON HOUSE, 2 CHURCH STREET
HAMILTON HM CX
Bermuda
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Conyers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Bermuda > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 1
Renowned as ‘industry leaders’, Conyers‘ expansive team provides invaluable assistance to major banks, insurers, and asset managers in corporate restructuring, IPOs and securitisation matters. Marcello Ausenda leads the corporate practice, specialising in securities and financing work with a particular emphasis on issues involving public companies. Jason Piney complements this with his extensive experience in various asset finance and corporate transactions, spanning both domestic and international landscapes. Victor Richards spearheads the firm’s shipping and aircraft group, offering expert guidance on high-value registrations, transactional matters, restructurings and IPOs. The team also benefits from the contributions of associate Alexis Haynes, who lends support across a wide spectrum of multi-jurisdictional matters, including corporate finance issues, relocations, and work within the fintech and regulatory spheres.Practice head(s):
Marcello Ausenda
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Conyers’ team works with the clients proactively. They are industry leaders, respective of diversity and inclusion in the market.’Â
Key clients
Carnival Corporation
Digicel Group
Seadrill Limited
Valaris Limited
Bacardi Limited
Aircastle Limited
Aecon Group Inc.
Liberty Global
Bunge Limited
Shelf Drilling (North Sea) Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advised on the Bermuda law aspects of Valaris Limited’s private placement of $700m in aggregate principal amount of 8.375% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2030 and a $375m senior secured revolving credit facility provided to Valaris Limited.
- Advised Hafnia Limited on a completed private placement of new shares.
- Provided Bermuda law advice and acted as listing sponsor to Aircastle Funding DAC, on the admission of its $976m unsecured A notes and $304m unsecured B notes to the Official List of the Bermuda Stock Exchange.
Bermuda > Corporate and commercial Tier 1
Fielding a team of seasoned professionals, Conyers‘ corporate and finance practice provides counsel on a wide spectrum of IPOs, M&A, insurance issues, securitisations and high-profile restructurings, acting for a variety of multinational corporations. With comprehensive expertise encompassing all facets of corporate work, including a strong emphasis on public company deals and corporate relocations, Marcello Ausenda leads the practice. Jennifer Panchaud spearheads the firm’s corporate reorganisation and securitisation work, offering guidance on transactions for local and exempted companies, while Chiara Nannini further bolsters the practice with her proficiency in debt and equity offerings, IPOs and private placements. Other key contacts at the firm include Edward Rance, a specialist in insolvencies and restructurings, and counsel David Stubbs who handles a wide array of corporate affairs, including insolvencies and bond issuances, as well as private placements.Practice head(s):
Marcello Ausenda
Other key lawyers:
Jennifer Panchaud; Edward Rance; David Stubbs; Elizabeth Denman; Chiara Nannini
Testimonials
‘Elizabeth Denman has been professional, responsive and has delivered high quality work. It has been a pleasure working with her.’
Key clients
Carnival Corporation
Digicel Group
Seadrill Limited
Valaris Limited
Bacardi Limited
Aircastle Limited
Aecon Group Inc.
Liberty Global
Bunge Limited
Shelf Drilling (North Sea) Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advised on the Bermuda law aspects of the sale of Goshawk Management Limited and its subsidiaries and associated assets from NWS Holdings Limited and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited to SMBC Aviation Capital Limited (SMBC AC) for an enterprise value of $6.7bn.
- Advised Digicel Group Holdings Limited on its sale of Digicel Pacific Limited to Telstra Corp Ltd.
- Advised Seadrill Limited on the Bermuda law aspects of its acquisition of Aquadrill LLC, formerly known as Seadrill Partners, which was affected by way of a Marshall Islands reverse triangular merger and resulted in Aquadrill becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Seadrill.
Bermuda > Dispute resolution Tier 1
With a ‘pre-eminent position in the marketplace,’ the team at Conyers has an experienced and comprehensive litigation practice, which handles high-profile, multi-national commercial litigation, trust disputes and insolvency matters. Practice chair Christian Luthi offers ‘high-quality legal advice and practical applications’, particularly regarding appraisals, insolvencies, insurance claims and commercial matters. Ben Adamson, a recognised leader in trust litigation, further adds to the team, alongside the ‘masterful, unflappable and strategic ’ Jeffrey Elkinson, who has expertise in trust, insurance and construction litigation. Other key contacts within the firm include insolvency expert and director Rhys Williams, and counsel Jonathan O’Mahony, alongside senior associate Britt Smith, and the ‘super bright’ Judith Roche.Practice head(s):
Christian Luthi
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Conyers is probably the best firm in Bermuda for commercial and chancery type disputes involving companies and trusts.’
‘Christian Luthi, Jonathan O’Mahony and Rhys Williams – Very high-quality legal advice and practical application. Bags of experience, real skill in advocacy, both written and oral. All three are highly recommended.’
‘The Conyers team has a pre-eminent position in the marketplace. It is highly responsive, knowledgeable and practical, with an excellent perspective on developing issues in the offshore world.’
‘Christian Luthi is accessible and insightful. He is highly responsive and engaged on client assignments.’
‘Rhys Williams is developing into a market leader in the restructuring space.’
‘Britt Smith is outstanding, exceptionally hard-working, with a meticulous attention to detail, always delivers.’
‘Ben Adamson – a leader in trust litigation.’
‘Judith Roche – a great litigator and a grafter. Super bright and super reliable.’
Key clients
Seadrill Limited
HSBC
The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited
KPMG
E&Y
Viking Cruises
American International Company Limited (AIG)
Bacardi International
Chubb Limited
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd
Bermuda Monetary Authority
Work highlights
- Acting for Seadrill Limited in relation to the restructuring of the third-largest global offshore drilling concern, which entered into Chapter 11 proceedings in the US and initiated parallel winding up proceedings in Bermuda.
Bermuda > Insurance/reinsurance Tier 1
The insurance team at Conyers utilises its ‘outstanding command of Bermuda regulation’ to sustain its position in the Bermudian market, advising a large client base of commercial insurers and reinsurers, special purpose insurers and captive insurers. Practice head Charles Collis has specialist expertise in corporate and regulatory matters, with over 30 years’ experience advising clients on IPO, regulatory, licensing and capital raising activities. Seasoned legal director Sophia Greaves is noted for her knowledge of the life insurance sector, and has experience in advising on regulatory transactions for both local and exempt companies. Other key contacts at the firm include Alexandra Macdonald, who is an expert in advising on the establishment and regulation of captive insurers; Jacqueline King, a specialist in the licensing and regulation of commercial insurance companies, and Chris Garrod, who has expertise in fintech and insurtech mandates.Practice head(s):
Charles Collis
Other key lawyers:
Jacqueline King; Alexandra Macdonald; Sophia Greaves; Chris Garrod; Chiara Nannini; Sarah Lusher
Testimonials
‘The team has an outstanding command of Bermuda regulation, both in practice and interpretation as is always on the forefront of market evolution.’
‘Chiara Nannini and Jacqueline King deliver excellent advice related to the BMA, governance, and deal structuring.’
‘Conyers has an excellent insurance and reinsurance legal team with particularly strong capabilities in the insurance-linked securities space.’
‘Alexandra Macdonald is an excellent and collegial lawyer with deep knowledge of the Bermuda insurance/reinsurance regulatory environment. She is commercially minded and resolves issues amicably and with creativity.’
‘I value the ease of access to Sophia Greaves and Sarah Lusher. They both respond timely and comprehensively to the issues on which they are consulted.’
‘Conyers has provided a full service legal team for establishing a Bermuda-based reinsurance company. Their stand-out strength is their experience and relationships with applicable regulators in Bermuda.’
‘Jacqueline King has provided excellent service over the course of our engagement. She has a deep understanding and appreciation of business objectives, and proactively offers advice on how to achieve those objectives.’
Key clients
Conduit Reinsurance Limited
Assured Guaranty Ltd
Talcott
Enstar Group Limited
RiverStone International Limited
Harrington Re Ltd.
Premia Reinsurance Ltd
Martello Re Limited
Resolution Re Ltd
Sirius Reinsurance Company Limited
Work highlights
- Acted as Bermuda counsel to J.P. Morgan to provide funding to Swiss Re via a multi-year stop-loss transaction.
- Advised Somerset on its business combination with Aquarian Holdings LLC.
- Advised Coalition and BDT on the formation and licensing of Ferian Re Ltd., as a Class 3B insurer in Bermuda which launched with approximately $300m of third-party capital.
Bermuda > Trusts/private client Tier 1
Conyers‘ private client and trust team has extensive experience in advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals, including local and multinational clients and is praised by clients as 'the best team in Bermuda'. It's expertise spans matters involving private trust companies, including trust establishments, trust restructurings and the strategic use of trusts in commercial applications. Co-leading the team, Craig MacIntyre specialises in non-contentious matters, while Helen Cooper is an expert in trust company structures, and Ben Adamson is a key name for litigation. Karen Corless is recognised as ‘knowledgeable, dedicated, and hardworking’ with a focus on international and local estate planning arrangements. Directors Scott Pearman and Anna Bruce-Smith are both key contacts alongside senior associate Davina Hargun; between them, they cover the full spectrum of private client and trust issues concerning legal and administrative trust matters.Practice head(s):
Craig MacIntyre; Helen Cooper; Ben Adamson
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They have strength in depth in private client law and a strong trust administration and contentious offering too. They are the best team in Bermuda.’
‘Conyers is an international legal firm of distinction with a depth of expertise spanning private and commercial wealth.’
‘Helen Cooper is practical and personable and has provided excellent advice.’
‘They know what they are doing; practical and responsive.’
‘Strongest private client practice in Bermuda. Very strong client base.’
‘Helen Cooper and Anna Bruce-Smith are stand our partners for being both personable, efficient and technically able.’
‘I have worked the most with, and think extremely highly of, Helen Cooper, Craig MacIntyre and Karen Corless. Each is extremely knowledgeable, dedicated and hard-working, sophisticated in his or her practice and displays valuable judgement.’
‘The senior partners of Conyers, who deservedly attract accolades for their legal acumen and the depth of their professional skill, are Helen Cooper and Craig MacIntyre, who work in the private wealth and trust area. They have the ability to handle the most complex legal issues and are complemented by younger partners, notably Karen Corless and Anna Bruce-Smith who advise some of Conyers most prestigious clients.’
Bermuda > Regulatory and compliance Tier 2
Conyers' team serves a mix of public and private sector clients, offering expertise across a diverse range of regulatory needs, including anti-money laundering, sanctions, anti-bribery and data protection, with a particular focus on insurance regulation. Julie McLean stands out for providing ‘first-class advice’ and regularly liasing with the local regulatory bodies. With aviation finance and investment funds among her areas of expertise, she often advises her fund clients on AML/ATF requirements. Ben Adamson, a prominent practitioner in both contentious and non-contentious administrative law, provides valuable support to the practice, frequently representing clients in courts and tribunals, including judicial review proceedings in the Court of Appeal. Other notable figures within the team include Andrew Barnes , Sarah Lusher , and Sarah Blair.Practice head(s):
Julie McLean
Other key lawyers:
Ben Adamson; Andrew Barnes; Sarah Lusher; Sarah Blair
Testimonials
‘Julie McLean is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Her advice is always timely, concise and to the point. She deals well with our particular complexities and accesses the rest of the firm when issues arise outside her area. When providing advice, she factors in commercial as well as legal considerations.’
‘Conyers has a sterling reputation in Bermuda and is large enough to be able to provide excellent services for all areas.’
‘I have worked with Conyers and Julie McLean specifically for many years. Most recently Julie has helped guide us through the myriad of policy requirements and coordinated with the Bermuda Monetary Authority as the relevant regulator. Julie has been able to help me navigate the copious amounts of documentation required for this particular process and challenged and sought clarification from the regulators where necessary. Her advice during this process has been invaluable.’
‘Julie is very professional and I appreciate that she speaks to me in terms that I understand which is crucial for a non-lawyer! It is important to me and my directors that we have total faith and confidence in Julie – she knows and understands our business very well and is always available when I need her.’
‘Sometimes our needs have required extensive research and Julie is very proactive at collaborating with other parties to ensure that we are provided with first class and timely advice. I highly recommend her services.’
Key clients
Soteria Re
Bermuda Hospital
Gencom
Somerset Re
Orbis
Chubb
Bermuda Bar Council
Bermuda Monetary Authority
Fidelis Insurance
Work highlights
- Assisted the Insurance team who worked with Fidelity to incorporate Soteria Reinsurance Limited and apply for and obtain a Class 3 insurance license for the company.
- Advised on the relevant Bermuda economic substance legislation and guidance notes applicable to the Aircastle Group’s Bermuda entities, including an analysis of each Bermuda entity to determine whether such entity is engaged in a relevant activity (or more than one) and in scope of the economic substance requirements.
- Advised Meditor Group Limited as to applicability of changes to the economic substance regulation in relation to “fund management; and amendments to the Investment Business Act to the company.
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.Â
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 | Marcello Ausenda | marcello.ausenda@conyers.com | 1 441 299 4954 |
Private Client | Craig MacIntyre | crag.macintyre@conyers.com | 1 441 299 4907 |
Litigation | Christian Luthi | christian.luthi@conyers.com | 1 441 298 7814 |
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IBA (International Bar Association) INSOL- Banking, finance and capital markets
- Corporate and commercial
- Dispute resolution
- Insurance/reinsurance
- Trusts/private client
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Regulatory and compliance