Caymanian Investment Funds lawyer, Stephen Watler, has recently returned home following a four and a half year secondment in Maples and Calder’s Hong Kong office. Initially planned as a short term opportunity, it was a move of which he was initially anxious, but which turned out to be an experience of a lifetime.

“Although excited to work in a buzzing city like Hong Kong, I wasn’t sure how I would adjust to living in a city half-way across the globe where the people spoke a foreign language,” said Stephen. “My fears were quickly allayed when I arrived at the airport. There were directions in both English and Cantonese, it took less than 30 minutes to get through Immigration and Customs and there was a fast-track train straight into the heart of the city; all signs that Hong Kong was the international hub of Asia.”

Stephen joined Maples and Calder as a trainee in 2005 and qualified as a Cayman Islands attorney-at-law in 2007. In addition to Hong Kong, Stephen has also worked in the firm’s London office and completed a secondment at White & Case LLP (London) in their Banking and Capital Markets team.

Stephen specialises in investment funds and has advised managers and institutional clients based in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, London and New York on a variety of fund structures ranging from stand-alone to umbrella unit trusts, segregated portfolio companies, exempted companies and partnerships. He also has extensive knowledge on Japanese and Cayman Islands regulatory matters involving retail, administered and registered mutual funds, as well as the restructuring of investment funds.

“What really made me fall in love with Hong Kong was the people. I have learned so much during my time there and I owe it mostly to the talented staff and lawyers at Maples and Calder, who were always willing to help and provide guidance and exposure on a wide variety of work. I have formed lasting friendships with many people in and out of the office and, most importantly, I met my wife, who has returned to Cayman with me!”

“We are happy to welcome Stephen back to Cayman,” said Paul Lumsden, Managing Partner of Maples and Calder’s Cayman Islands office. “We are also pleased that he had such a rewarding experience working in Hong Kong, providing him with knowledge and skills which he will no doubt be able to apply throughout his legal career and beyond.”

Maples and Calder is committed to the evolution of Cayman’s legal community through training and promotion of aspiring lawyers, and continues to support secondment opportunities for lawyers in foreign offices within the firm or with clients of the firm. At present, there are three Caymanian lawyers abroad, including Caroline Dell, Christina Gordon and Shari McField, who have been seconded to the firm’s London, Hong Kong and Dubai offices, respectively.

About Maples and Calder

Maples and Calder is a leading international law firm advising financial, institutional and business clients around the world on the laws of the Cayman Islands, Ireland and the British Virgin Islands. Maples and Calder has offices in the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, London and Singapore.

With a reputation as an innovative, entrepreneurial firm, Maples and Calder is known worldwide as a market leader with highly qualified lawyers who are specialists in their respective practice areas.

About MaplesFS

MaplesFS is a leading specialised fiduciary and fund services provider. MaplesFS has offices in the Cayman Islands, Delaware, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Montreal, New York and Singapore.

MaplesFS is led by a team of experienced professionals and is committed to providing a high level of service tailored to specific client requirements.

IMAGE: Caymanian Associate, Stephen Watler