Walkers Retains Top Marks in Chambers & Partners Fintech Directory
The Cayman Islands and Bermuda offices of international law firm Walkers have received Band 1 rankings in the third annual Chambers and Partners fintech directory.
With Chambers changing its “Offshore Fintech” section into standalone jurisdictions this year, Walkers’ Cayman Islands, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Ireland, and Jersey offices are all included in the 2023 rankings for fintech legal services.
Walkers formally formed its Global Fintech Group in 2017, though it has been supporting financial technology clients for many years in what is believed to be the longest established fintech practice advising on offshore jurisdictions. The firm has fintech specialists across its 10 offices spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Four Walkers lawyer are ranked in the guide. Cayman Islands partner Melissa Lim receives a Band 1 lawyer ranking for her practice for the second consecutive year, and fellow Cayman partner Lucy Frew is also ranked. Bermuda partner Natalie Neto receives a Band 1 lawyer ranking and Ireland partner Niall Esler is ranked in the guide for his work in the Irish fintech market.
Melissa Lim, Cayman Islands partner and co-head of the Global Fintech Group, celebrated the rankings. She stated: “We are delighted to retain our Band 1 ranking yet again in this year’s iteration of the Chambers and Partners Fintech Guide. Across the globe, Walkers represents some of the brightest minds in the sector, each of whom offer a breadth of knowledge and expertise. This year we have demonstrated path finding innovation and look ahead to 2023 and the opportunities ahead.”
Walkers’ Global Fintech Group is diverse in both the make-up of the team and in the type of Fintech work it does and the clients it represents. The market-leading team is an integral member of the Blockchain Association of the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands Fintech legislative drafting committee, the Bermuda Business Development Agency’s Technology Sub-committee, the Jersey Digital Assets Working Group and other governmental steering groups in the Channel Islands, Bermuda and the BVI.
Walkers’ unique vantage point allows it to combine industry experience in Fintech’s core sectors with a specialist legal expertise, to create an offshore market-leading Fintech team. With experts from Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, Walkers understands that innovative businesses think beyond borders.
Natalie Neto, Bermuda partner and co-head of the Global Fintech Group, noted: “We are elated to receive Band 1 rankings for the second year in a row in the Chambers and Partners Fintech Guide. This demonstrates the tight coordination and knowledge share across the Americas.”
Dilmun Leach, group partner in Walkers’ Jersey Investment Funds & Corporate group, added: “We are delighted to receive a Band 2 ranking in the first Jersey Fintech Guide. The rankings for the Walkers’ team demonstrate how strong our international practice is – this is an area that sees frequent collaboration between our jurisdictions of law and offices, and that is part of our offering that resonates with clients seeking a jurisdiction-agnostic approach from advisers.”