Carey Olsen has been recognised for its growth and innovation in the Cayman Islands and BVI following the publication of the latest International Financial Law Review 1000 (IFLR1000) rankings.

The IFLR1000 is a guide to the world’s leading financial law firms and is based on an extensive independent research process which includes questionnaires and interviews with the featured firms, client and competitor feedback and market analysis from the past 12 months.

Carey Olsen established its Cayman practice in 2012 and this is the first year that the Cayman office has been included in the listings.

The IFLR guide noted Carey Olsen for its potential as an “innovative and effective law firm” in the jurisdiction with an expanding client base. The directory also noted that the firm’s BVI office has “grown significantly since its founding in 2013” and highlighted its position as an advisor “to leading banks and corporations operating confidentially in the jurisdiction”.

Client feedback noted the Cayman office’s early involvement in the Israeli hedge fund industry with Cayman Managing Partner, Jarrod Farley, singled out as “one of the go-to-lawyers for Israeli law firms that are structuring funds” through Cayman with “a strong understanding of the nuances and tax issues” affecting fund formation.

Highlighted deals emphasised the innovative nature of the firm’s transactional work which included advising Westface Capital on the launch of its $600 million West Face Alternative Credit Fund… “a new strategy for its manager” and advising real estate fund manager Samsung SRA Investment Management on the £145 million purchase of a London property, marking the first use of a Cayman Islands unit trust structure to hold real estate in the United Kingdom, parallel to Jersey property unit trust structures.

The directory also marked the African focus of much of the BVI’s office’s transactional work as distinguishing feature of the firm supported by its presence in mainland Africa via its Cape Town office.

Highlighted deals demonstrated the firm’s substantial experience in equity investments, notably for International Capital Partners, including a $150 million equity investment in Pacific Infrastructures, a $15 million equity investment by IFC and Corporacion Andina de Fomento in Avantel Acquisition and a $156 million investment in Afrimax, the largest-ever placement for a greenfield network in Africa.

BVI Managing Partner Clinton Hempel was recognised by the directory as a leading lawyer for financial and corporate work while partner Greg Boyd received praise by a client for his “really thorough work and responsive” approach”. One client said: “I’ve moved all of our corporations over to this law firm “.

Carey Olsen Chairman, John Kelleher, said: “Our BVI and Cayman offices are crucial hubs in Carey Olsen’s global offering and we are seeing impressive growth in our client base and contacts as a result which echoes the sentiment expressed in these rankings.”

About Carey Olsen

Carey Olsen is a market leading offshore law firm. We deliver exceptional services to our clients from the key offshore financial centres of the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey. We also have an established presence in Cape Town and the City of London.

We are consistently the firm of choice for our clients and for advisers who refer work to our jurisdictions. Our firm offers a partner-led service. We employ 300 people and our 42 partners head up a total complement of 185 fee earners.

We provide legal services in relation to all areas of corporate and finance law, investment funds and dispute resolution as well as to private clients.

We work with an extensive range of clients including directors, global financial institutions, investment funds, private equity houses, corporations, trustees, governments and private individuals including entrepreneurs.

We also routinely work with leading legal advisers elsewhere on international transactions and cases involving our jurisdictions.

We have been awarded a number of industry accolades including Offshore Firm of the Year 2014 by the Lawyer Magazine and Offshore Law Firm of the Year at Legal 500 UK Awards. We have also been named as the only firm to gain top tier ranking by Legal 500 across all practice areas in the Channel Islands.

For further information about Carey Olsen visit www.careyolsen.com or email [email protected]