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Maitland attracts ex-Walkers partner to establish Cayman presence

Posted: 25 June 2008

Maitland, the offshore wealth firm, announced the launch of a new office in the Cayman Islands and the appointment of former Walkers partner Sara Collins to head the operation.

The office, which opens September 2008, will extend Maitland to 12 offices worldwide, boosting the firm's reputation in cross-border work.

With 13 years experience as a leading litigation and contentious trusts practitioner in the Cayman Islands, Sara Collins will establish a Cayman presence for Maitland, offering legal services initially with the intention of growing the business to offer private client, investment funds and trust and corporate services. She will be looking to recruit and build the Cayman team in the coming months, becoming the principal liaison with local and other regulatory bodies.

Maitland plans also to establish a fund services offering in Cayman and provide client relationship services to investment funds administered from Maitland's low-cost back office operation in Cape Town.

Maitland MD Steve Georgala said: "Unlike many offshore firms, Maitland is not jurisdictionally bound. We focus on cross-border solutions which are increasingly sought after by international private clients and companies. Having a presence in Cayman broadens our international operation - it offers significant business opportunities, as many of our international private and corporate clients and fund managers require sophisticated solutions in this jurisdiction."

He added: "The recruitment of Sara Collins is a real coup for Maitland, given the intense competition for skilled senior lawyers worldwide. We will continue to invest in establishing a presence in Cayman, developing to a full service operation and Sara brings the required skills, experience and contacts."

Commenting on her move to Maitland Sara Collins said: "My decision to join Maitland is motivated by the firm's transparency, quality of clients and range of cross-border services. I relish the challenge to develop Maitland's presence in Cayman and grow the full service range we can offer to both private and corporate clients."

Cayman continues to be the main offshore jurisdiction for hedge fund formation and administration, offshore private equity structures and private and commercial trusts. It demonstrates the robustness of the industry even in the face of recent global economic stresses, with recent record setting months for fund registration. In addition, the reputation of the jurisdiction for high quality dispute resolution continues to be enhanced - a key factor in supporting the platform of services offered.

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