Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands has seen a significant rise in the establishment of alternative investment funds and digital assets.

The Cayman Islands has seen a significant rise in the establishment of alternative investment funds and digital assets.

Maples and Calder, the Maples Group's law firm, is pleased to have advised a subsidiary of global investment and technology group, Prosus N.V. ("Prosus"), on its US$1.7 billion acquisition of Despegar.com, Corp ("Despegar"), Latin America's leading online travel agency. The transaction was completed on 15 May 2025. Following the take-private, Despegar, which was originally listed on the New York Stock Exchange, was delisted through a BVI statutory merger and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Prosus. Ruairi Bourke, co-head of the BVI Corporate, Finance and Funds & Investment Management teams, and associate Elliot Ruffle provided BVI counsel to Prosus on the acquisition. They worked along Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, US Counsel to Prosus "We are pleased to have advised Prosus on this strategic acquisition and we look forward to seeing the future advancements that result from this collaboration," Ruairi commented. "This transaction serves as a testament to our team's understanding of the Latin America market and unparalleled expertise in high-value M&A deals in the jurisdiction. Our experience in these deals allowed us to assist our client in navigating the complexities of this transaction with precision and confidence."  

Maples and Calder, the Maples Group's law firm, is pleased to announce that its British Virgin Islands ("BVI") and Cayman Islands practices have received high rankings in The Legal 500 2025 Caribbean Guide. The firm earned eight Tier 1 placements, with clients endorsing the practices as having '"a global presence and as a result have the ability to address multi-jurisdictional matters that we have encountered/partnered with them on." The firm's Cayman Islands Regulatory & Compliance practice retained its Tier 1 status, earning praise for its experienced lawyers and exceptional offering, "We enjoy working with them because they are very accessible, responsible and provide creative solutions" with clients describing the team as having "strong industry connections and experience not only in regulatory issues but also in investment funds so have practical knowledge about fund operations." Maintaining its Tier 1 status, the firm's Cayman Islands Corporate & Commercial practice was described as "being equipped to advise on the full spectrum of advisory and transactional matters" and "routinely engaged in some of the market's most significant and high-valued deals'". Clients praised the team for consistently providing "high-quality service" and that "it becomes very clear that Maples is a top-tier firm, with top-tier professionals". The Cayman Islands Dispute Resolution & Insolvency practice, retaining its Tier 1 status, was described as "pre-eminent in Cayman" with its lawyers labelled "absolute stand out experts in their field" and that the practice is "at the forefront of developments in insolvency and restructuring, involved in the largest cases." Similarly, the Cayman Islands Funds & Investment management team was praised by clients for being an "absolute pleasure to deal with on CIMA issues, fund formation issues, and regulatory issues in the funds space" with the practitioners who are "very competent and responsive". The practice was also noted as being a "very strong private funds practice and clearly the leading practice in the Cayman Islands". The Cayman Islands Banking, Finance and Capital Markets practice was described as "a stellar choice across the spectrum of work in banking, finance and capital markets" with a team who "responds fast and offers various services for the Cayman companies". The firm's BVI Banking, Finance and Capital Markets, Corporate and Commercial and Investment Funds practices maintained their Tier 1 statuses. The BVI Banking, Finance and Capital Markets practice was described as a "reliable high-end choice in general banking matters, equity and debt capital markets, deals with private equity backing, cross-border restructurings, and asset and project financing". While the BVI Corporate and Commercial team was commended as being "a top choice for corporate advisory issues, M&A, private equity matters, and restructurings." Meanwhile, the BVI Investment Funds practice was lauded for its "comprehensive knowledge of the licensing and regulatory law requirements for the gamut of funds operating in the jurisdiction." The BVI Dispute Resolution & Insolvency practice was also ranked. The practice was praised by clients for being "very approachable" and providing "pragmatic, easy to understand advice", being the "go-to firm" for any matters that require legal services involving BVI law. Clients also noted that they are "always aware of the latest advances in the market and industry, and provide great advice." In addition to the practice rankings, there were several lawyers who received recognition this year, with 57 lawyers ranked across the various categories. In the Guide, 27 Partners received the 'Leading Individual' accolade, and 12 Partners were recognised in the 'Next Generation Partner' category. Malachi Sweetman, Matthew St-Amour, Jeremy Bomford and Stuart Rau entered the 'Next Generation Partners' category this year. Furthermore, the firm secured 5 'New Individual Rankings,' with 4 lawyers achieving 'Improved Individual Rankings'. Commenting on the rankings, Global Managing Partner Jonathan Green said, "We are delighted to once again be so highly recognised by Legal 500. We are extremely grateful to our clients and industry colleagues for their trust and kind endorsements. I extend my congratulations to our Cayman Islands and BVI practices and lawyers on this well-deserved recognition, reflecting their unwavering commitment to delivering the best legal advice and highest levels of service to our clients.' For over 30 years, The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme that is revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. Its research is based on submissions from law firms, interviews with leading private practice lawyers and feedback from over 300,000 clients worldwide. An extract of some of the testimonials received can be found below. "The Maples team are very approachable and provide pragmatic, easy to understand advice. They are always aware of the latest advances in the market and industry and provide great advice." "Good team. With younger, energetic partners. Well-resourced." "Maples' team responds fast and offers various services for the Cayman companies." "The team is knowledgeable and thoroughly reviews documents." "Maples & Calder Cayman has a great Corporate and Commercial practice. We have been working together for more than 15 years, and the results are exceptional. The overall availability of the partners and associates is fantastic." "When compared to other law firms in Cayman, it becomes very clear that Maples is a top-tier firm, with top-tier professionals." "They have a global presence and as a result have the ability to address multi-jurisdictional matters that we have encountered/partnered with them on." "Maples BVI is our go-to firm whenever we have any matters which require legal services involving BVI law. Having worked with Maples for about a decade on two highly contentious matters, I am happy to say that they have been consistently reliable and efficient in responding to whatever queries and legal issues put to them with intelligent, sound and practical advice and solutions for our mutual clients. Their fees are reasonable given the quality of their work and prompt response. We are very comfortable working with Maples as we know they will render advice that best protect and advance our clients' interests". "Flexibility, practical solution, good knowledge and experience." About The Maples Group The Maples Group, through its leading international law firm, Maples and Calder, advises global financial, institutional, business and private clients on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, Jersey and Luxembourg. With offices in key jurisdictions around the world, the Maples Group has specific strengths in areas of corporate commercial, finance, investment funds, litigation and trusts. Maintaining relationships with leading legal counsel, the Group leverages this local expertise to deliver an integrated service offering for global business initiatives. For more information, please visit: maples.com/services/legal-services. Contact Rachel Yates Senior Communications Executive, Caribbean +1 345 814 5197 [email protected]

The Maples Group is proud to announce that one of its Partners, Nick Holland, has been named among eprivateclient's 50 Most Influential 2025. The list recognises the leading practitioners in the private client industry and shows the breadth and depth of talent at the forefront of the private client professions today. Notably, Nick was the only Caribbean-based lawyer to be included in the list. Nick, global head of the Trusts & Private Client team and based in the Group's Cayman Islands office, has a well-established practice, with clients in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. He has extensive experience advising institutional trustees, private clients and other market advisers on complex, multi-jurisdictional matters. A highly experienced lawyer, Nick has worked in the UK, Cayman Islands and Canada. In addition to his practice, Nick is a member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law (TIAETL) and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). He has taught at the University of Western Ontario and University College of the Cayman Islands. Commenting on the accolade, Nick said, "It is a privilege to be included in this prestigious list and to be ranked among other influential leaders in the private client field. I wish to extend my gratitude to eprivateclient for this recognition and to congratulate my fellow recipients on their own ranking." The Group's international Trusts & Private Client team advises on the laws of the BVI and the Cayman Islands, working with some of the world’s largest private businesses, individual private clients, institutional trustees and other fiduciary service providers on matters concerning all types of private wealth trusts, commercial trusts, estate planning structures, trusts and fiduciary arrangements and trust litigation.

We are pleased to announce that IFLR1000 has released its 2024-2025 Hong Kong rankings and Loeb Smith Attorneys’ Hong Kong office is awarded “Recommended Firm 2024” and ranked in two categories: “Investment funds: Offshore" and “Financial and corporate: Offshore”.