'Dynamic, collaborative and experts in their field', the dispute resolution practice at Collas Crill acts in a range of contentious matters, standing out particularly for s.238 merger appraisal litigation, an area in which one client contends it 'has the leading practice'. Cross-border insolvency and fraud cases are further strengths. Stephen Leontsinis co-leads the practice group and acts for a broad client base. Alongside him, Rocco Cecere oversees insolvency, corporate disputes, and merger appraisal litigation subgroups. Matthew Dors is strong in cases involving Cayman and US concurrent insolvency, bankruptcy and receivership proceedings, while Zachary Hoskin is another merger appraisal litigation expert to note. Annalisa Shibli is an up and coming figure in commercial litigation, insolvency and restructuring. Jennifer Colegate departed the firm in June 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Work Department
Insolvency and Corporate Disputes
Position
Stephen is Managing Partner in the Cayman Islands and the Global Head of the Insolvency and Corporate Disputes team. He has a demonstrated history of advocacy in the practice of corporate and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on offshore insolvency and restructuring of companies.
Stephen's practice has a strong focus on company law including corporate insolvency; schemes of arrangements; capital reductions; shareholder disputes; director's liability; international asset tracing; the enforcement of foreign judgments; worldwide Mareva injunctions, Anton Piller orders, and Norwich Pharmacal orders.
Stephen has significant contentious litigation experience arising from the representation of both liquidators, shareholders and creditors of companies and hedge funds including the claw back of fraudulent conveyances and undue preferences, allegations of investment fraud and investment manager disputes.
Since he began heading up our team of Cayman litigators, Stephen has grown the team from two to eight lawyers, all with a strong background in insolvency and restructuring matters. Prior to joining the firm Stephen spent two and a half years in Miami as a member of a boutique litigation firm in the United States which focused on cross border insolvency and trust disputes.
Career
Group One Advocates, 2003-2008, South Africa
Conyers, Dill & Pearman, 2009-2012, Cayman
Kobre & Kim LLP, 2012-2015, Miami
Collas Crill, 2015-present
Stephen was called as an advocate of the High Court of South Africa in 2003 and has subsequently qualified as a solicitor-advocate of the High Court of England and Wales and a solicitor-advocate of the Supreme Court of the Eastern Caribbean.
Stephen was called to the Cayman Islands Bar in January 2009 and the BVI Bar in 2013.
Stephen has been ranked in Chambers and Partners since 2018 and recognised as a Leading Individual in Legal 500 since 2021.
Education
University of Stellenbosch, BA Law (LLB) 1995-2002
Content supplied by Collas Crill
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Professional, responsive and good value.’
‘Stephen Leonstinis and Kirsten Bailey are knowledgeable and user friendly.’
‘The standout litigation team in Cayman. Great strength in depth lead by the superb Stephen Leontsinis who is legally and commercially astute, allied to great people skills and commercialism.’
‘Stephen Leontsinis is absolutely brilliant. A go-to litigator.’
‘The team are dynamic, collaborative and experts in their field. The case team seem to have a huge respect for each other and work very well together.’
‘Matthew Dors is an excellent operator and on my "go-to's" in the restructuring and insolvency sector.'
- 'Rocco Cecere is an expert within his field and very likeable.'
‘Collas Crill has the leading practice in s. 238 proceedings. Their team is top notch.’
Key clients
- The Armand Hammer Foundation
- Quantuma
- Palliser Capital
- Kite Lake Capital
- Whitefort Capital
- Genesis Investment Management
- Brookfield Asset Management
- Mineworkers' Pension Scheme
- Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho
- The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio
- British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme
- Brunel Pension Partnership Limited
- Holdun Family Office (Bahamas) / Holt Fund SPC
- HBK Fund
- Interpath (formerly Kalo Advisors)
- FTI Consulting
- Ernst & Young
- FourWorld Capital Management
- RH Restructuring (Cayman) Limited
- Elliott Advisors
- Millennium Management LLC
- Bank of New York Mellon
- Athos Capital Limited
- Cooley LLP
- Alpine Partners
- Corbin Capital
- QVT Family Office
- Boothbay Capital
- Citadel
- Development Specialists Inc,
- Chris Johnson Associates
- FFP (Cayman)
Work highlights
Advising Interpath, joint receivers of Port Link GP Ltd and the assets of The Port Fund L.P, on breach of fiduciary and unlawful means conspiracy claims brought by 2 Kuwaiti State owned entities.
Advising the Armand Hammer Foundation on a directors dispute and matters of corporate governance, attempts to recover assets of $100m and the impact of (purported) US bankruptcy (chapter 11) proceedings.
Advising a group of private equity funds in a dispute with WinTrix DC Group to obtain fair value for their shares following a $3.16bn take private deal.