Walkers > Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands > Firm Profile

Walkers > The Legal 500 Rankings

Cayman Islands > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 1

Walkers‘ cross-disciplinary finance and corporate practice acts for a wide range of financial services heavyweights, which turn to the sizeable team for its capabilities in high-value financing and derivatives transactions, senior note offerings, SPV formations, and securitisation matters. DCM specialist James Burch possesses considerable experience in CLOs and secured note programme structurings, acting for a range of financial services companies and aviation sector operators. Rob Jackson‘s broad practice encompasses projects finance transactions and large-scale financial restructurings, while structured finance expert Philip Paschalides has played a critical role in a number of loyalty financing transactions executed by major US airlines. Following her promotion to partner in July 2021, Sarah Humpleby has continued to work with a global roster of clients on various aviation finance transactions. Joanne Ziegler – another recently promoted partner – maintains a broad practice spanning structured finance transactions and capital market listings. Other key names to note at practice management level include Hugh Anderson, a specialist in subscription and hedge fund finance; David Collins, whose expertise encompasses bilateral and syndicated lending; and Justin Hart, who advises on all manner of fund finance transactions. Senior counsel Olga Sologub is also recommended.

Cayman Islands > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Cayman Islands > Investment funds Tier 1

Walkers‘ sizeable investment funds practice is routinely engaged by a stellar roster of blue-chip asset managers, which turn to the team for its eminent capabilities in big-ticket financings, listings, SPAC launches, and other fund formations. Global managing partner Ingrid Pierce is particularly noted for her niche expertise in advising funds on managing distress in volatile markets. Cayman managing partner Tim Buckley‘s recent highlights include multi-billion-dollar business combinations and SPAC IPOs, while Caroline Williams‘ diverse work encompasses private equity fund formation and portfolio investment deals. Rolf Lindsay is noted for his expertise in alternative investment funds and all associated transactions, while Melissa Lim is experienced in a diverse range of investment fund structures, including technology and venture capital funds, cryptocurrency funds, and unit trusts. Other key figures in the practice include cross-border M&A specialist Jason Allison, capital markets-focused Andrew Barker, PE fund specialist Theo Lefkos, and private funds expert Bicrom Das. Senior counsels Christine Ballantyne-Drewe and Matt Bernardo are also recommended. Caroline Heal has left the practice, while Ed Pearson has relocated to the firm’s London office.

Cayman Islands > Regulatory and compliance Tier 1

Noted for the depth of its standalone regulatory practice, Walkers is engaged by a significant number of leading merchant banks, investment banks and asset managers for assistance with a range of high-profile, multi-jurisdictional projects. The Cayman team is headed up by the firm’s global regulatory and risk advisory chief Lucy Frew, a veteran adviser whose client base ranges from household name banks and insurers to emergent fintech and virtual asset companies. Tony De Quintal, who was promoted to partner in July 2021, is a specialist in financial services regulatory law whose expertise is most keenly concentrated on CIMA matters, including change of control and license applications. Promoted to partner in July 2022, Andrew Howarth is another key name to note for financial services regulation with a far-reaching practice that encompasses anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and global sanctions compliance matters. Senior counsel Juliana Tang, a highly experienced adviser in financial services (particularly insurance sector) regulation, is notably strong in matters regarding investigations, remuneration disclosure, and financial crime. Associate Benjamin Twidle is recommended for his knowledge of international tax regulation, including OECD initiatives such as BEPS, CRS, and CbCB. Counsel Colm Dawson has relocated to the firm’s Hong Kong office.

Cayman Islands > Trusts/private client Tier 1

Walkers possesses a deep bench of specialist private capital and private client lawyers, whose capabilities encompass Cayman relocations, family office formations, and cross-border trust litigation. The practice is jointly headed up by several lawyers: the dual-qualified (Cayman and BVI) David Pytches; the ‘exceptionally bright and unflappable‘ Philip Paschalides; the ‘fantastic‘ Monique Bhullar; and Shelley White, who runs the trusts disputes team. Senior counsel Lucy Diggle variously handles international trusts and private client work across the contentious and non-contentious arenas, with recent engagements including multi-billion-dollar estate structurings. Associate Daisy Boulter is recommended for contentious trusts work. Clive Thomas has left the practice.

Cayman Islands > Corporate and commercial Tier 2

Walkers‘ sizeable cross-practice team is engaged by a varied roster of asset managers, technology companies, payment service providers, advertisers and consumer goods conglomerates, which turn to the team for its capabilities in high-value de-SPAC and M&A transactions. Tim Buckley‘s recent highlights include multi-billion-dollar business combinations in the biotech sector, while Rob Jackson has most recently advised on high-profile corporate restructuring proceedings for major aviation companies. In addition to her role as the firm’s global management partner, Ingrid Pierce is noted for her investment funds practice, where she advises leading asset managers, banks, and trust companies on a host of corporate and commercial matters. David Collins focuses chiefly on corporate finance transactions, while Hugh Anderson‘s recent highlights include big-ticket private equity driven deals. Other key names to note at practice management level include Caroline Williams, a specialist in the sale and purchase of portfolio investments, as well as secondary transactions. Justin Hart and Bicrom Das are recommended for fund finance transactions. Paige Gaston-Thiery has left the practice.

Cayman Islands > Insurance/reinsurance Tier 2

Walkers is reputed for the depth of its expertise in regulatory insurance matters, handling a mix of licensee applications, share deals and restructurings, as well as senior management training initiatives and CIMA remediation compliance reviews. Joint practice chairs Philip Paschalides and Tony De Quintal – who was promoted to partner in July 2021 – are noted for their expertise in big-ticket reinsurance transactions. Global risk and regulatory head Lucy Frew advises various insurers and reinsurers on a host of compliance matters, ranging from insurtech investment opportunities to anti-money laundering obligations. Senior counsel Juliana Tang is well-versed in both cross-border transactions and regulatory reviews. Associate Sarah Dombowsky is also noted.

Employment >

Walkers fields the largest insolvency and dispute resolution practice in the Cayman Islands, praised by for its ‘strength in depth’ and consistently high-quality advice on the full scope of contentious proceedings, including cases taken before the various Caribbean courts. Steered by ‘excellent’ corporate recovery expert Matthew Goucke and cross-border restructuring specialist Neil Lupton, the team routinely appears before the Grand Court in multi-billion-dollar, multi-jurisdictional liquidations, s.238 appraisal proceedings, and trust litigation, as well as in precedent-setting local disputes. Nick Dunne focuses on cross-border fraud and asset recovery cases, regularly litigating before the Grand Court and the Court of Appeal. Barnaby Gowrie‘s contentious expertise is concentrated on international restructurings, while the ‘outstanding’ Shelley White helms many of the most high-stakes trust disputes taking place in the jurisdiction. Rupert Bell‘s broad expertise encompasses appraisal actions and appeals taken before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, as well as fraud and asset tracing matters, and senior counsel Niall Hanna is recommended for his experience in winding up petitions and provisional liquidations. Fellow senior counsel Fiona MacAdam is recommended for debt restructuring matters. Colette Wilkins has relocated to the firm’s Hong Kong office.

Hong Kong > Offshore law firms

Bermuda > Regulatory and compliance

Praised by clients as ‘punctual’ and ‘efficient, professional and available’, the team at Walkers has both onshore and offshore regulatory expertise, advising on highly technical issues across a range of industries including the fintech, investment fund and insurance sectors. Practice co-chair Lucy Frew assists domestic and international financial institutions with full-scale impact assessments, compliance issues and high-profile investigations, while fellow co-chair Natalie Neto specialises in the fintech and insurtech sectors, advising various digital asset entities on regulatory and corporate governance matters. ‘Excellent‘ senior associate Melanie Fullerton advises on data protection work, economic substance matters, licensing applications and change of ownership issues. Another key figure is senior associate Nicholas Howard, who works across both the regulatory and dispute resolution teams.

British Virgin Islands > Trusts/private client

In addition to its structuring and probate capabilities, Walkers BVI is noted for the depth of its contentious trusts offering, representing numerous high-net-worth individuals and family companies in a host of claims and proceedings in a range of court settings. Practice co-chair David Pytches – who divides his time between the firm’s BVI and Cayman offices – possesses decades of experience in wealth and succession planning, with recent highlights including multi-billion-dollar, multi-jurisdictional trust restructuring and estate administration matters. Fellow co-chair Rosalind Nicholson is noted for her niche expertise in company law and corporate litigation, as is Oliver Clifton, who is a seasoned advocate who represents high-net-worth individuals in high-profile claims before the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal.

British Virgin Islands > Regulatory and compliance

Helmed by the Cayman Islands-based Lucy Frew, Walkers BVI is engaged by numerous leading investment banks, fund managers, and private equity houses for its expertise in a host of regulatory matters. The London-based Sara Hall is noted for her expertise in OECD compliance, advising clients on economic substance laws, reporting regimes, and anti-money laundering initiatives. Lodewijk Van Setten has left the practice to an in-house role.