Appleby Promotes Partners, Counsel

Appleby, one of the world’s largest offshore providers of legal, fiduciary and administration services, has announced the promotion of three lawyers to the partnership, and the appointment of five lawyers to the position of Counsel. 

Appleby Group Managing Partner, Michael O’Connell said: “These appointments support our strategy and our positioning as a leading offshore firm, delivering integrated advice cross-border by assembling the right team with the necessary expertise and experience to work on our clients’ projects. 

“Corporate and Litigation are two of our core legal service lines.  Last year we added several lateral hires to these teams, and we are continuing to bolster the strength of these practices by promoting three new partners and five Counsel in these areas, in our annual promotion round.  I very much look forward to continuing to work with these talented individuals as we focus on our strategic priorities and building our business in 2013.”

Appleby Group Chairman, Frances Woo, added: “These promotions come at an exciting time in our development when we are focused on our international growth, greater depth of our teams and maintenance of our presence as one of the leading offshore legal and fiduciary groups.”

Appleby’s new appointments are effective 1 April 2013 and include:

Partner Promotions

Jeremy Berchem is a member of the corporate and commercial team in Guernsey.  He joined Appleby as Counsel in October 2012 and has practised in the Channel Islands since 2006. Prior to this, Jeremy worked in the banking departments of Travers Smith in London and Dickinson Dees in Newcastle.

Jeremy has extensive experience of all areas of banking and finance work. In addition, he has a broad corporate and commercial practice and advises on general corporate matters.  Jeremy's expertise includes: advising lenders and borrowers in relation to all aspects of banking, property finance and asset finance transactions;  the issuance of bonds and other debt instruments and their listing on the CISX; the sale and purchase of companies; corporate governance matters; and the restructuring of corporate and debt structures.

James Bodi is a member of the banking and asset finance team within the corporate and commercial team in Bermuda.  He joined Appleby in November 1999 and rejoined the firm in November 2004.  James has extensive experience in corporate finance and capital markets, with particular emphasis on the shipping, aviation and natural resource sectors.

Andrew Willins is a barrister, and Appleby’s Practice Group Head of the litigation and insolvency department in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).  He qualified in July 2000 and joined Appleby in 2008.  Andrew has particular experience in insolvency litigation, shareholders' disputes and in complex commercial litigation, including professional negligence and cross-border fraud and asset tracing claims.  He appears regularly in the Commercial Division, before the High Court of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, and before the Court of Appeal.

Counsel Promotions

Marc Guillaume joined Appleby in 2009 and practises in the private client and trusts team in Jersey.  A qualified Jersey Advocate, Marc provides contentious and non-contentious trust services to high net worth individuals, international private banks and trust companies.  He advises on all aspects of trust law, particularly specialising in foundations, pensions, employee benefits and charities.  Marc acts for a wide range of professional trustees and both private and corporate settlors.  He also has considerable knowledge in the establishment and operation of offshore structures for private clients.

Michelle Hotchkiss is a member of Appleby’s corporate and commercial department in the Isle of Man, having joined the firm in 2002.  She has experience in a broad range of corporate and commercial matters arising in the corporate finance, banking and asset finance, insurance and financial services sectors.  Michelle acts for many international financial institutions, law firms, insurance companies and corporate service providers, advising on a full range of the key and complex legal issues that affect both their own businesses and those of their clients.

Nadia Menezes joined Appleby in 2011 in the corporate and commercial practice group in the BVI.  She specialises in investment funds and regulatory work and multi-jurisdictional corporate and finance transactions.  Nadia has long-standing offshore experience, having practiced in the BVI for more than seven years, and regularly represents Appleby and the BVI on initiatives with the BVI's International Finance Center to promote the BVI as a premier offshore jurisdiction.

Kyle Sutherland is a member of Appleby’s corporate and commercial department in the Isle of Man, joining in August 2010.  He is qualified to advise on both the laws of the BVI and Isle of Man, and specialises in a broad range of banking and finance and corporate and commercial disciplines in those jurisdictions, ranging from joint venture work, restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, asset finance transactions, private placement and listing work.

Matthew Wrigley is a member of the corporate and commercial team in Guersey. Matthew qualified in 2001 and joined Appleby in early 2013, having most recently been a senior associate at Baker & McKenzie in Sydney, Australia.

Matthew has specialist experience in the creation and management of investment funds, having previously served as General Counsel for a fund management company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, as well as Chief Operating Officer of a real estate investment trust listed on the Singapore Securities Exchange.  Matthew has established and listed funds in Australia, Singapore and the United States, and provides advice to both general partners and limited partners on their global investment programs, including a number of funds with assets in Europe. Matthew has experience across a range of asset classes, including private equity, venture capital, infrastructure and real estate.