Appleby’s property team is recognised as a market leader across luxury resort, commercial, residential, infrastructure, and financing matters, maintaining an impressive client base of developers, high-net-worth individuals, and public sector entities. Head of team Norman Klein focuses exclusively on real estate and finance, acting for leading banks and major developers, while Adam Johnson is noted for innovative structuring on large-scale development projects. Tim Swallow handles a broad spectrum of real estate transactions, including conveyancing, development, leasing, portfolio management, and investment sales.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Appleby's team in Cayman is very strong. We enjoy working with them a great deal.'
‘Adam Johnson is exceptional. An excellent technical lawyer with very good analytical and interpersonal skills. He is a pleasure to work with, as is Tim Swallow. We find them on the other side of many complex transactions, and all such deals are handled very professionally and thoroughly. They take a commercial client-focused approach to deals.'
'A strong team led by Norman Klein.’
‘Norman Klein is smart, easily the best real estate lawyer on the island.’
‘I work with Adam Johnson on a number of matters. I have always found him trustworthy and commercial. Tim Swallow is becoming more involved in the practice and is easy to deal with.'
‘They are very professional and honest. If they cannot do something requested due to being too busy or a conflict, they will recommend someone else who would also be very professional.’

Key clients

Royal Bank of Canada Group
Butterfield Bank Group
First Caribbean International Bank (Cayman) Limited
Scotiabank Group
Cayman National Group
Proven Group
NCB Group
Seafire Residences
Seafire Resorts
Beach Bay Land Ltd
Mandarin Oriental Hotel & Resort
Sterling Mortgage Income Fund, Ltd

Work highlights

Advised The Proprietors, Strata Plan No. 62 (Lacovia) corporation with respect to its redevelopment project, comprising almost 100 new condominiums to be developed over 3 buildings on the site of the former Lacovia condominiums (originally developed in the early 1980s).

Advised Cayman Islands Government in connection with the CI$45M project to construct a new High School in Cayman Brac.

Advised the developer of ONE|GT, a landmark mixed-use project in George Town featuring a boutique hotel, residences, dining, and leisure spaces.