Maples Group’s investment funds practice is a market leader, advising across private equity, hedge, credit, digital assets, and multi-strategy sectors. The team is known for its expertise in complex hybrid and evergreen structures and is supported by its fiduciary and fund services arm, which provides management, fiduciary, accounting, and administration support. Cayman head Sheryl Dean specialises in private equity fund structures and downstream transactions, while global head Michael Richardson advises on hedge and private equity fund platforms. Jo Cunningham is noted for fund reorganisations, Philip Dickinson and Jeremy Bomford focus on private equity fund formation and transactions, Lee Davis advises from structuring to secondaries, and Stephen Watler acts as lead partner for a range of fund managers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Maples Group's practice is highly professional and delivers excellent service. It has a team that specialises in the needs of clients in our jurisdiction. Maples provides a lot of background data and information and is active in providing it to the clients.’
‘Andrew Keast is our go-to person in Maples. We have worked together for a very long time. Andrew is highly professional, and we are always confident that he will provide excellent service to our clients.’
‘Maples Group is the preeminent firm in the Cayman Islands for financial services. The partners there are always ready to assist in addressing complex issues for clients.’
‘Tim Coak is an expert in setting up private investment funds. He is extremely knowledgeable about US regulations and sensitive to such when assisting on matters for US-registered fund managers.'
‘The Maples Group team has been a wonderful partner for us. We find the Maples team to be particularly strong at delivering highly commercial advice, meeting deadlines, being extremely responsive and being quite detail-oriented. When I ask the Maples Group to provide their insights or opinions, or analysis on any particular legal issue, I know that I am getting top-quality and timely advice. There's never a need to chase or follow up. They are always on it!’
‘Jeremy Bomford is excellent. He is commercial, smart, and quick.’
Key clients
- Ares Management Corp
- Bain Capital
- Blackstone
- BlackRock
- Brookfield
- Citadel
- D. E. Shaw
- Fortress Investment Group
- GCM Grosvenor Capital
- Goldman Sachs
- KKR
- Insight Partners
Work highlights
Advised BlackRock on the acquisition of Global Infrastructure Partners and the acquisition of HPS, providing advice with respect to the acquisition and the requirements related to those funds under management.
Advised on the debut launch of Jain Global. The new multi-strategy manager launched on 1 July 2024 with an initial capital raise of US$5.3 billion, making it the biggest hedge fund launch since 2018.
Advised on the structuring and launch of Ares Senior Debt Lending Fund III, with total equity commitments of US$15 billion and an anticipated total capital base of approximately $34 billion.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Sheryl Dean; Michael Richardson
Other key lawyers
Jo Cunningham; Philip Dickinson; Jeremy Bomford; Lee Davis; Stephen Watler; Julian Ashworth; Gwyneth Rees; Grant Dixon; Patrick Rosenfield; Tim Coak; Andrew Keast