Collas Crill’s Cayman office has appointed Rocco Cecere to the role of counsel and promoted Farrah Sbaiti to senior associate within the firm’s dispute resolution team.

The appointments come as Collas Crill looks to capitalise on a strong period of global growth within its litigation and dispute resolution practice.

The announcement also shows the business’ commitment to strengthening and driving forward its core areas of practice and supporting internal development.

Rocco is an experienced offshore commercial litigator who specialises in international insolvency and restructuring, and investment fund disputes. He has extensive experience conducting cross-border litigation, often involving fraud and asset tracing.

He has acted in some of the largest and most significant litigation in the Cayman Islands in recent years, including a series of proceedings involving the Primeo and Herald funds, which established important law in various areas including the availability of foreign avoidance provisions in the Cayman Islands and the priorities of claims and proper distribution methodology in Cayman liquidations. 

Rocco is recognised as a leading practitioner in s.238 “fair value” petitions, and has appeared in numerous leading cases in the area.

He has been recommended by Legal 500 and was named as a ‘Next Generation Lawyer’ in 2018 and 2019. He is also a member of the Cayman Islands Law Society, RISA Cayman and INSOL International.

Discussing his appointment, Rocco said: “I am excited to be joining the Collas Crill team.  It is a dynamic and growing practice and I am looking forward to playing a role in its continuing expansion and development.”

Farrah has extensive experience in appearing at court on a broad range of commercial and corporate litigation and insolvency-related matters, including shareholder disputes, insurance avoidance, professional indemnity and contentious insolvency-related matters.

Prior to joining Collas Crill, Farrah qualified as a barrister in 2009 and worked at a leading UK law firm, during which time she also qualified as a solicitor-advocate.

Farrah was admitted to the Cayman Island’s Bar in January 2016 and worked for another Cayman Islands law firm for more than two years before joining Collas Crill in August 2018.

Speaking of her promotion, Farrah said: “As a keen and experienced advocate, I look forward to contributing further as a senior associate to the growth and expertise of the Cayman Islands’ dispute resolution team.

“In bringing expertise in the commercial insurance field, I also look forward to further expanding our practice area to a broader scope of work, including undertaking advocacy opportunities that this will present. 

I am thoroughly enjoying the high calibre of work that Collas Crill attracts and I am excited to further strengthen the team’s continued growth and success”. 

Stephen Leontsinis, head of dispute resolution, commented: “Rocco’s appointment, together with Farrah’s promotion and the recent recruitment of partner Gerard Clarke in the BVI, is evidence of our continuing commitment, as a firm, to the Caribbean and our increasing strength in the areas of dispute resolution and restructuring globally. The appointment of these talented individuals, from diverse backgrounds, underscores our collaborative work strategy across the Group – which is to constantly seek to serve our clients seamlessly, wherever they do business around the globe.”