About
Stuarts Humphries (“Stuarts”) is a leading offshore law firm in the Cayman Islands advising international law firms, major financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies and high-net worth individuals on their most complex business challenges. The firm is recognised by it's clients for offering responsive, effective and up-to-date commercial advice. Stuarts is also a listing agent for the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.
Banking & Asset Finance: The Banking Team advises on all aspects of banking and asset finance including; asset sales, the establishment and licensing of banks and other financial institutions, securitisations, financing structures and the financing and registration of aircrafts and vessels. Stuarts continues to provide one of the world’s largest banks with regular and comprehensive advice in connection with the provision of products and services to customers in the Cayman Islands on a cross-border basis.
Capital Markets & Structured Finance: The Capital Markets Team advises on public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, bond issues and derivative transactions, commercial paper programmes, securitisations and other structured products. Most notably in 2021, the team advised on the refinancing of a multi-million-dollar credit facility and granting security for a hospital.
Commercial Disputes & Litigation: Headed by Richard Annette, the Commercial Disputes & Litigation Team advises companies, funds, insurance institutions and high net worth individuals on a variety of commercial, company and insurance disputes as well as insolvency related matters, fraud and asset tracing. The team has particular expertise in corporate governance issues, directors’ duties and dealing with disputes concerning redemptions and suspensions as well as insurance related matters.
Corporate & Commercial: The Corporate & Commercial Team is regularly involved in complex corporate transactions involving Cayman Islands companies and regularly advises clients on corporate restructurings, takeovers, mergers and acquisitions, schemes of arrangement, joint ventures and statutory mergers. The firm continues to advise large global banks on M&A's, expert Cayman legal advice and regulatory matters. The firm also advises global brands in the retail, medicare and agricultural industries.
Cryptocurrency, Blockchain & Fintech: Headed by Chris Humphries, the Fintech team advises on a wide range of legal issues in connection with cryptocurrency and blockchain technology usage with expertise in; STOs, crypto funds, digital asset and Web3 projects, formation of Cayman Islands companies to hold cryptocurrencies as well as AML and regulatory/compliance matters. Over the last 5 years, Stuarts has launched hundreds of virtual asset vehicles out of the Cayman Islands and work with some of the industry's largest names such as LBank, BullionFX, Kinesis and Fantom.
Distressed Funds Services: Headed by Chris Humphries, the Distressed Funds Team has been instructed in connection with many of the largest fund insolvency events in the Cayman Islands, in recent years and the services offered include; advising funds and their directors on the winding down and restructuring of the funds’ affairs and the use of side pockets, the deregistration and liquidation of investment funds, disputes between funds and investors, and fund managers on their directors’ duties in connection with liquidity pressures and the merits and weaknesses of potential solutions.
Fund Launch Services: Headed by Chris Humphries, the Investment Funds Team advises fund managers on the set-up and establishment of a broad range of investment funds, private funds, master feeder funds and limited investor funds in the Cayman Islands, including; development of a fund’s legal structure and formation issues, coordination with legal counsel and regulators, advising clients who utilise a wide variety of investment strategies and listing investment funds on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange. We also advise funds focusing on blockchain technology, bitcoin or other cryptocurrency strategies and managers on their compliance with the economic substance requirements. The firm also advises on a number of Shari'a compliant fund investments for Islamic products.
Insurance: The Insurance Team can assist in all aspects of establishment, licensing, structuring, regulation and operation of insurance and reinsurance companies and captives as well as in respect of all forms of insurance related disputes. The firm continues to advise leading US insurance managers on their Cayman Islands entities as well as multiple domestic and regional insurance companies on a variety of complex claims and policy disputes.
Private Client & Trusts: The Private Client & Trusts Team regularly advises high net worth individuals and family offices on their trusts, investment structures and ancillary matters regarding their Cayman interests. In addition, we advise settlors and trustees in connection with the establishment, administration, restructuring and winding-up of private, charitable, purpose and commercial trusts. We also advise on the acquisition, registration and mortgaging of Cayman Islands vessels and aircraft.
Private Equity: The Private Equity Team advises on all types of private equity fund structuring, transactions and exits for large institutional banks, leading US and global investment managers, global retail brands and domestic aviation companies. Recently, the Firm has established several new private equity partnerships to act as access funds for a large investment bank.
Ranked Offices
Provided by Stuarts Humphries
- Grand CaymanKensington House 69 Dr Roy’s Drive PO Box 2510 , Grand Cayman, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, KY1-1104
- Web: www.stuartslaw.com
- Tel: +345 949 3344
- Fax: +345 949 2888
- View ranked office
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Latest contributions provided by Stuarts Humphries
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Articles, highlights and press releases
14 items provided by Stuarts Humphries
Economic Substance Requirements for Fund Managers
This Guidance Note summarises the main elements of the Economic Substance Act as it relates to investment funds, fund managers and other entities registered as registered persons under the Securities Investment Business Act (Revised) (the “SIBA”).
AML Officers in the Cayman Islands
The Cayman AML Regime requires that Cayman Islands Financial Service Providers (“FSPs”) appoint AML Officers and each of those persons to comply with specific roles and responsibilities. This article summarises the four (4) AML roles required and their obligations.
Anti-Money Laundering Obligations for Cayman Islands Funds
The principal legislation in the Cayman Islands which seeks to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism is The Proceeds of Crime Act (2020 Revision) (the “PCA”) and The Anti-Money Laundering Regulations (as amended) (the “Regulations”).
Empowering Web3 Expansion through Innovative Legislation
innovative legislation is pushing the boundaries of possibilities for Web3, DAO and De-Fi (more generally termed as, "virtual assets"). Managing Director, Chris Humphries and Partner, Jonathan McLean take a look at how the Cayman Islands has emerged as a leader in this digital revolution.
Cayman Islands Duty of Full and Frank Disclosure
Stuarts' Partner and Head of Litigation, Richard Annette and Senior Associate, Adam Russell-Knee discuss the duty of full and frank disclosure in the Cayman Islands courts.
Registration of a Foreign Company in the Cayman Islands
The Companies Law (as Revised) (the “Companies Law”) provides for the registration of foreign companies in the Cayman Islands.
Fund Registration in the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands has become the leading offshore jurisdiction for the establishment of mutual funds and private funds. This article highlights the key things to know about registering a fund in the Cayman Islands.
Cayman Structures for Crypto, Web3 and Blockchain Entities
This article examines the common structures used for Crypto, Blockchain and Web3 entities seen in the current marketplace in the Cayman Islands.
Using Side Letters in Private Equity
Side letters allow for the private equity fund to provide key investors with special contractual rights or privileges.
Powers of the Founder of Cayman Foundation Companies
Founders of a Foundation Company also have distinct powers unique to this kind of structure. In this article, we will discuss the Foundation Companies in the Cayman Islands and the specific rights and powers that the Founders have under the Act.
The Private Funds (Amendment) Law 2020
On 7 July 2020, the Government of the Cayman Islands passed the Private Funds (Amendment) Law, 2020.
New Regulatory Regime for Exempted Funds and Private Funds
On 8 January 2020, the Government of the Cayman Islands published a draft Private Funds Bill, 2020 (the “Private Funds Bill”) and simultaneously a draft Mutual Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (the “Mutual Funds Bill” and together with the Private Funds Bill the "Bills").
The International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Law, 2018
On 1 January 2019, the Cayman Islands introduced The International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Law, 2018 (the “Law”). The Law has been issued in response to the Cayman Islands’ commitment to the global initiative to combat base erosion and profit shifting.
Data Protection Law, 2017 In Effect
The Cayman Islands Data Protection Law, 2017 (the "DPL"), came into effect on 30 September 2019.
Economic Substance Requirements for Fund Managers
This Guidance Note summarises the main elements of the Economic Substance Act as it relates to investment funds, fund managers and other entities registered as registered persons under the Securities Investment Business Act (Revised) (the “SIBA”).
AML Officers in the Cayman Islands
The Cayman AML Regime requires that Cayman Islands Financial Service Providers (“FSPs”) appoint AML Officers and each of those persons to comply with specific roles and responsibilities. This article summarises the four (4) AML roles required and their obligations.
Anti-Money Laundering Obligations for Cayman Islands Funds
The principal legislation in the Cayman Islands which seeks to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism is The Proceeds of Crime Act (2020 Revision) (the “PCA”) and The Anti-Money Laundering Regulations (as amended) (the “Regulations”).
Empowering Web3 Expansion through Innovative Legislation
innovative legislation is pushing the boundaries of possibilities for Web3, DAO and De-Fi (more generally termed as, "virtual assets"). Managing Director, Chris Humphries and Partner, Jonathan McLean take a look at how the Cayman Islands has emerged as a leader in this digital revolution.
Cayman Islands Duty of Full and Frank Disclosure
Stuarts' Partner and Head of Litigation, Richard Annette and Senior Associate, Adam Russell-Knee discuss the duty of full and frank disclosure in the Cayman Islands courts.
Registration of a Foreign Company in the Cayman Islands
The Companies Law (as Revised) (the “Companies Law”) provides for the registration of foreign companies in the Cayman Islands.
Fund Registration in the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands has become the leading offshore jurisdiction for the establishment of mutual funds and private funds. This article highlights the key things to know about registering a fund in the Cayman Islands.
Cayman Structures for Crypto, Web3 and Blockchain Entities
This article examines the common structures used for Crypto, Blockchain and Web3 entities seen in the current marketplace in the Cayman Islands.
Using Side Letters in Private Equity
Side letters allow for the private equity fund to provide key investors with special contractual rights or privileges.
Powers of the Founder of Cayman Foundation Companies
Founders of a Foundation Company also have distinct powers unique to this kind of structure. In this article, we will discuss the Foundation Companies in the Cayman Islands and the specific rights and powers that the Founders have under the Act.
The Private Funds (Amendment) Law 2020
On 7 July 2020, the Government of the Cayman Islands passed the Private Funds (Amendment) Law, 2020.
New Regulatory Regime for Exempted Funds and Private Funds
On 8 January 2020, the Government of the Cayman Islands published a draft Private Funds Bill, 2020 (the “Private Funds Bill”) and simultaneously a draft Mutual Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (the “Mutual Funds Bill” and together with the Private Funds Bill the "Bills").
The International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Law, 2018
On 1 January 2019, the Cayman Islands introduced The International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Law, 2018 (the “Law”). The Law has been issued in response to the Cayman Islands’ commitment to the global initiative to combat base erosion and profit shifting.
Data Protection Law, 2017 In Effect
The Cayman Islands Data Protection Law, 2017 (the "DPL"), came into effect on 30 September 2019.