Appleby Lawyers recognized in Legal 500 Caribbean Rankings

Legal 500, one of the leading international legal directories, published its Caribbean results earlier this week. Appleby’s Caribbean offices in Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands achieved 17 firm rankings overall, demonstrating the firm’s multijurisdictional capabilities and depth of expertise across many sectors.

The Appleby Cayman office ranked in the Trusts/Private Client, Real Estate, Banking, Finance and Capital Markets, Dispute Resolution, Corporate & Commerical, Investment Funds, and Regulatory & Compliance sectors.

The Cayman Real Estate team maintained a Tier 1 ranking in the directory. The team consists of Managing Partner Norman Klein (ranked as a “Leading Individual”) and Partner Adam Johnson (ranked as a “Next Generation Partner”). Testimonials describe the pair as “very responsive, and very proactive with suggestions and solutions,” as well as praising the team for being “so good at making the last step of [a transaction] seamless.” Mr Klein was noted as the “go-to for any real estate-linked work.”

Appleby Cayman’s Private Client & Trusts team also maintained a Tier 1 ranking this year. Group Head Carlos de Serpa Pimentel is ranked as a “Leading Individual,” and was described as “a very experienced lawyer who consistently provides strong technical advice.” Senior Associate Esmond Brown received a “Rising Star” ranking with one testimonial describing him as “a very strong lawyer who has navigated [his clients] through some very difficult trustee situations,” and going on to say that they “cannot recommend him enough.”

The Cayman Banking, Finance & Capital Markets practice group maintained its high ranking this year. Client testimonials noted that the firm “always provides very rapid and thorough responses and provides a helpful commercial background,” with one praising Partner Benjamin Woolf, ranked as a “Leading Individual,” as “easily the best in the industry.” Local Practice Group Head Simon Raftopoulos was also ranked as a “Leading Individual.” T

he Cayman Dispute Resolution team, led by Partner Peter McMaster QC, who was ranked as a “Leading Individual,” also held on to its ranking, with a client referring to the team as “one of the top white-collar specialists in the Caymans.” Testimonials also noted the ranked “Next Generation Partner” Sebastian Said as “both very responsive/user-friendly, and an extremely thoughtful and considered lawyer.”

Appleby Cayman’s Regulatory & Compliance and Corporate & Commercial practice groups were also ranked this year, with testimonials describing the Regulatory team as “quite strong, particularly in comparison to similar firms,” saying that the lawyers within the practice group are “responsive, business focused and practical in their advice,” finishing by praising the calibre of work as “on par with firms in leading jurisdictions, not just other Caribbean firms.”

“We are incredibly pleased to receive so many rankings across such a wide range of practice areas in this year’s Legal 500 Caribbean directory,” said Cayman office Managing Partner Norman Klein. “Recognition like this is a testament to our firm’s position as a leading international law firm, and our commitment to professionalism, integrity and excellent client service.”

For over 40 years, Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world in well over a hundred jurisdictions, using a comprehensive research programme. The rankings are based on feedback from 250,000 in-house peers, client feedback and independent assessment of law firms’ deals and cases.

In addition to these rankings, Legal 500 Caribbean also recognised 20 lawyers from the Appleby Cayman office, and 50 Appleby lawyers overall including those from Bermuda and BVI. Lawyers were ranked as either ‘Leading Individuals’, ‘Next Generation Partners’ or ‘Rising Stars’ or named on the ‘Recommended’ list, with many lawyers recognised in more than one category.