Conyers Dill & Pearman announced last week it is expanding its practice to include litigation services in the Cayman Islands.
Two litigation attorneys, Nigel Meeson, QC, and Fraser Hughes joined the firm over the last two weeks.
At a cocktail reception held last Wednesday at the Grand Old House to celebrate CD&P's new offices and new practice areas, Managing Partner Rick Finlay gave some details of the expansion.
Mr. Meeson, a senior English barrister from London, will head up the new litigation practice, with support from Mr. Hughes, who comes from Toronto.
"They will focus on corporate and trust litigation with an emphasis on insolvency and restructuring," Mr. Finlay said.
CD&P was formed in 1928 in Bermuda. The firm remains headquartered in Bermuda but now has operations in Guernsey, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dubai Hong Kong, London, Singapore and the Cayman Islands.
Prior to becoming known as Conyers Dill & Pearman here, the firm operated as Codan Trust Company, which is wholly owned by the firm.
Mr. Finlay joined the firm in July 2003 to establish a staffed legal presence in the Cayman Islands.
"The office started with approximately half a dozen staff and over the course of time since July 2003 has grown to a present complement of 45 staff including 11 attorneys and an articling student," Mr. Finlay said.
"After keeping a relatively low profile for the past four years, CD&P recently decided to expand its presence in the Cayman Islands and in relation to our areas of practice.
"To that end, we have recently added a number of staff and lawyers and have relocated to new premises in the Boundary Hall Building in Cricket Square, where we occupy the entire second floor with a capacity for 60 people."
Mr. Finlay said corporate and commercial work remains the main focus of the firm.
"In particular we offer legal services to investment funds," he said, adding that Gene DaCosta heads up that area of the practice.
Mr. Finlay said the firm also offers services to establish and maintain securitization and insurance products, which are headed up by partner Kevin Butler.
In addition, CD&P provides general corporate and commercial advice including banking and finance work, which primarily is primarily under the responsibility of Mr. Finlay.
Going forward, the firm will expand to other practice areas.
"Notably, we will now offer services to the real estate, property development and finance sectors here in the Cayman Islands," he said. "We will also have trust and private client capabilities