Conyers Grows Global Private Client Practice with BVI launch, Cayman Expansion

Bernadette Carey, Sara Collins, Raymond Davern, David Pytches • Posted 07/04/2010 • Under Press Releases

Conyers Dill & Pearman has significantly expanded its global Private Client offering with the launch of a dedicated practice physically in the British Virgin Islands and the hire of attorney David Pytches to its Cayman Islands practice.

Conyers' new BVI practice will provide specialist advice on all aspects of BVI trust law to BVI licensed trustees and clients, including HNW individuals worldwide. English barrister Raymond Davern has been appointed head of Private Client in BVI and will work with Alec Anderson, Global Head of Trust & Private Client, to oversee the growth and development of the new practice. Raymond has more than 10 years' experience of Chancery litigation and advisory work, and another 10 as Lecturer in Law at King's College in London (where he worked closely with Professor David Hayton) specializing in the law of trusts. Prior to joining Conyers, Raymond was part of the Private Client team at one of Cayman's oldest law firms.

In a separate move, Conyers has hired highly respected trusts lawyer David Pytches to its recently launched Trust & Private Client practice in Cayman. David has over 10 years' experience in trusts and succession law and will focus on all aspects of private client advisory services and trust law, including the establishment of trusts for planning purposes, advising trustees, preparing wills and advising on cross border succession matters. David also advises on the employment of trusts structures in commercial transactions.

David's hire follows the successful launch of Conyers' Cayman Trust & Private Client practice in September 2009. The practice is led by Caymanian partner Sara Collins. Sara is widely regarded as one of the leading dispute resolution lawyers in the jurisdiction, and has over 15 years' experience as a contentious trusts practitioner in Cayman. She specializes in private and commercial trusts, distressed funds, partnerships, and disputes involving fiduciaries, trusts and trust company work. Prior to joining Conyers, Sara was Head of Maitland's Cayman office and Head of the Trusts Disputes Group of another large Cayman firm.

Since launch Sara has actively developed business for Codan Trust Company (Cayman) Limited, Conyers' affiliated trust company, working with Bernadette Carey, an attorney specializing in trust litigation. Codan Trust Company (Cayman) Limited is headed by Sharon Pierson, a well-known Cayman lawyer who joined the firm in 2007 having spent 10 years as partner at Maples and Calder.

Alec Anderson commented: "As competition for top talent remains fierce, the recruitment of each of these lawyers is a strong endorsement of our position as a leading provider of trust and private client services in our offshore offices. The progressive introduction of our Cayman and BVI practices marks a notable step in our growing presence in these jurisdictions and reinforces our international reputation for superior legal advice in the private client field."

Commenting on his move to Conyers, Raymond Davern said: "Conyers has one of the largest and most experienced trust & private client and trust litigation teams in the offshore arena. As developments in BVI law increase demand from international private clients and companies for sophisticated cross-border structures in the BVI, this is an exciting time to be launching a practice there."

David Pytches added: "The Cayman Islands is a leading jurisdiction for the establishment of private and commercial trusts. I was attracted to Conyers because of its widely recognised and internationally respected trust practice, and look forward to being a part its burgeoning Cayman Islands practice."

Raymond holds the Paton Scholarship from Balliol College, a first class honours degree from Oxford University (Jurisprudence). He is a member and a Megarry Scholar of Lincoln's Inn (1987) and admitted to practice in Cayman.

Sara holds an LLB (Hons) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London and was awarded the University of London prize in Company Law and is admitted as an attorney in Cayman and BVI.

David holds a first class honours degree from the University of St Andrews, and obtained a Diploma in Law with commendation and completed his LPC at the College of Law with distinction. He is a member of STEP and admitted to practice in Cayman.

Bernadette holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Waikato and an LLB from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, both in New Zealand. She is admitted to the bars of New Zealand, New South Wales, Australia and Cayman Islands.

Conyers will host its 2nd Annual Trust Forum in London on May 13, where lawyers from each of the leading jurisdictions of Bermuda, BVI, and Cayman will deliver a series of talks on multi-jurisdictional options for the international private client market. Trust lawyer Edward Stone is based in Conyers' London office, and is ideally positioned to advise clients in Europe, the Middle East and Asia on the laws of each of these jurisdictions.