Cayman Islands

Ogier in Cayman focuses principally on investment funds - both hedge funds and private equity funds - as well as commercial dispute resolution, corporate and commercial, banking and finance transactions, high value corporate matters, restructuring and insolvency, and all aspects of contentious and non-contentious trust and private wealth matters. 

We act for leading global financial institutions, investment managers and corporate entities and are routinely chosen as Cayman offshore counsel of choice by leading international law firms, boutique advisors and other intermediaries. We are a registered listing agent for the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange (CSX) and frequently advise Cayman companies listing on other exchanges whether offshore or onshore. Our client base is blue-chip, spanning all significant industry sectors. 

Our Corporate and Fiduciary Services business, Ogier Global, works closely with Ogier's partner-led legal teams in BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Jersey and Luxembourg to incorporate and administer a wide variety of vehicles. 

Ogier provides Cayman legal advice in Europe from our Jersey office and in Asia from our Hong Kong office. 

Active in the Cayman Islands for more than 30 years, our Cayman office was established in 1991 and officially became Ogier following the first ever transatlantic merger in the offshore world in 2004.

Ogier in the Cayman Islands

Our track record 

We regularly advise on the most significant and high-value cases and deals in the Cayman Islands. Our work includes: 

• Establishment of a listed $500 million sukuk trust certificate programme for a prominent global investment bank 

• Establishment of the first Bitcoin fund registered with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority 

• The first Cayman case to consider the effect of the Trusts Law Foreign Element Provisions in relation to an attempt to enforce foreign matrimonial orders purporting to vary a Cayman trust 

• The first in the series of decisions which prompted a change in legislation to give the Cayman Court jurisdiction to grant free standing injunctive relief in support of foreign proceedings 

• The first appointment of a Court appointed receiver over a portfolio of a Cayman SPC 

• Advised on the restructuring of Ocean Rig – Cayman's largest ever successful restructuring 

• Acted as Cayman legal counsel on corporate and debt finance matters to an investor consortium comprising DCP Capital Partners, Ocean Link Partners Limited and Rick Yan, in the proposed US$5.7 billion take-private of the company of US listed company 51job Inc. 

Our leading Latin American practice 

Our well-established Latin American practice is led from our Cayman office with Ogier being independently recognised as the clear leader for private wealth, fund formation and banking and finance work in the region, particularly Brazil. 

Why the Cayman Islands? 

Cayman has established itself as a mature, sophisticated international financial services centre. 

The Cayman Islands’ competitive strength lies in its ability to provide an effective and cost-efficient tax-neutral platform for international capital flows. Cayman offers a one-stop-shop for clients, supported by an excellent professional infrastructure in an environment of economic and political stability. 

This stability is also underpinned by the Cayman Islands’ diligence in ensuring adherence to recognised and relevant international standards in regulation, tax information exchange and prevention of financial crime under the leadership of the country’s principal financial regulator, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.  

Renowned as the leading jurisdiction for the formation of investment funds and structured finance issuers, Cayman companies are listed on stock exchanges worldwide. Ogier is an authorised listing agent for the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange (CSX). We frequently advise Cayman companies listing on other leading exchanges. 

Cayman has an established and highly regarded judiciary, with a dedicated Financial Services Division to handle complex commercial disputes. 

Cayman has regularly demonstrated its proactive adoption of international initiatives including its early negotiation and extension of Model 1 Intergovernmental Agreements with the US and UK to implement FATCA in Cayman. 

Useful links  

Working at Ogier in the Cayman Islands 
Cayman Local Legal Services  
Relocating to the Cayman Islands  
Cayman Islands Monetary Authority – the islands' financial services regulator 
Cayman Finance – the promotional agency for the islands' financial services sector