13 November 2019
Strong endorsements for Carey Olsen's Bermuda, BVI and Cayman Islands practices in Legal 500
Lawyers and teams from across Carey Olsen's Bermuda, British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Cayman Islands offices have been recognised in the 2020 edition of Legal 500 Caribbean. In total, 24 of the firm's lawyers have featured in this year's rankings, including four as 'leading individuals', two as 'next generation partners' and six as 'rising stars'.
A leading directory for the legal industry, Legal 500 grades law firms following a thorough and independent research process, which includes interviews with clients and peers as well as information provided by the firms themselves.
Carey Olsen Bermuda has built impressively on its first set of rankings from last year by entering two further categories for 2020 – namely, banking, finance and capital markets and insurance/reinsurance for a total of five rankings. The firm's trusts and private wealth team is singled out within the directory for its 'excellent legal and client care skills', while the dispute resolution practice 'has depth of talent throughout the team but the key difference between it and other firms is its strategic thinking and work product'. The newly ranked insurance practice is described as 'very responsive' with 'experienced senior leaders supported by a strong bench of associates'.
Partner Keith Robinson, who is ranked as a leading individual in both the dispute resolution and trusts/private client categories, is described as 'the best private client lawyer with contentious expertise that I have come across in Bermuda' by one commentator, while managing partner Michael Hanson 'has become the gold standard in Bermuda with regard to employment law matters'. Corporate partner Mary Ward is seen as 'a commercial thinker and trusted adviser'. In addition, counsels Adam Bathgate (banking, finance and capital markets), Ashley Fife (trusts/private client) and Henry Tucker (dispute resolution) are all ranked as rising stars.
For the BVI, Carey Olsen's dispute resolution team is described as 'highly professional and motivated… providing rapid responses and commercial solutions in a joined up manner', with head of the department Ben Mays ranked as a leading individual and praised for being 'exceptionally hardworking' and 'technically streets ahead of anyone else'. The firm is also ranked in both banking, finance and capital markets; and corporate and commercial, with counsel Elizabeth Killeen ranked as a rising star and described as someone with an 'excellent understanding of business and a never-say-die approach to problem solving'.
Carey Olsen's Cayman Islands office is now ranked in five categories after entering the trusts/private client category for the first time, with the team's 'close link between contentious and non-contentious work' singled out as its 'most valuable characteristic'. It has also moved up a tier for banking, finance and capital markets, while maintaining its rankings for corporate and commercial, dispute resolution and investment funds. Sources interviewed by Legal 500 describe the Cayman Islands banking and finance team as 'excellent, responsive and easy-to-work with', while the dispute resolution team's 'strengths are responsiveness and flexibility' and it is seen as 'the younger, more vibrant, keener firm in town, with top-tier standards and greater service and focus'.
Cayman Islands partners Jarrod Farley (investment funds) and Jan Golaszewski (dispute resolution) are both ranked as leading individuals, while fellow partners Peter Sherwood (dispute resolution) and Bernadette Carey (trusts/private client) are ranked as next generation partners. In addition, counsels Dylan Wiltermuth (banking, finance and capital markets) and Graham Stoute (trusts/private client) are ranked as rising stars.
A full breakdown of Carey Olsen's rankings is available via the firm's respective Bermuda, BVI and Cayman Islands profiles on the Legal 500 website.
Carey Olsen Bermuda Limited is a company limited by shares incorporated in Bermuda and approved and recognised under the Bermuda Bar (Professional Companies) Rules 2009. The use of the title “Partner” is merely to denote seniority. Services are provided on the basis of our current terms of business, which can be viewed at: www.careyolsen.com/terms-business.