Department profile
Harneys

Dispute Resolution

Global Guide 2026 : Cayman Islands


Harneys

Rankings

About

Provided by Harneys

Harneys has the fastest growing litigation and insolvency practice in the Cayman Islands. We are regularly instructed in some of the most high profile and complex matters before the Cayman Islands courts.


Our team has worked on many of the largest and most complex liquidations, shareholder disputes, insolvency proceedings, corporate restructurings and contentious trusts disputes in the Cayman Islands.


We work closely with our funds department to advise managers, administrators, liquidators, prime brokers, investors and onshore counsel of investment funds facing distressed situations. Our lawyers have appeared in nearly all the major hedge fund litigation cases to emerge in the Cayman Islands following market events of the past few years.


Harneys dominates the market for Cayman-based litigation with an Asian element. Our dual offerings in Hong Kong and Cayman provide our Asian clients with an unrivalled combination of immediate real-time litigation and insolvency advice in their own region, with an exceptional and experienced team on the ground in Cayman.

Clients (18)

  • Accident Compensation Corporation (NZ)
  • Allen & Overy LLP
  • BDO
  • Cayman National Bank
  • Citco Trustees
  • Cleary Gottleib Steen & Hamilton
  • Clyde & Co LLP
  • CNO Financial Group
  • Duff & Phelps
  • Ernst & Young
  • Fund Fiduciary Partners
  • Macquarie Investment Management Ltd (Australia)
  • Lion Point Capital
  • Grant Thornton
  • FTI Consulting
  • PwC
  • KPMG
  • Gerald Metals S.A.

Industries (4)

  • Law firms
  • Financial institutions
  • Investment funds
  • Private individuals

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Dispute Resolution - Cayman Islands

Band 4

Band 4


What the Team is Known For
Harneys has a well-rounded Cayman dispute resolution practice and is recognised for its strong capabilities in insolvency work. It also handles restructuring matters, contractual disputes and fair-value petitions. Clients continue to benefit from the Cayman team's enduring close ties with Harneys' Hong Kong office, the two groups regularly working together on behalf of clients based in Greater China.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • A Harneys team comprising lawyers based in the Cayman Islands, the BVI and Hong Kong represented Kaisa Group Holdings in the restructuring of its approximately USD15 billion debt.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The Harneys team is responsive and has good commercial sense.

    Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • The Harneys team is insightful, smart and extraordinarily collegial.

    Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • I have been uniformly impressed with the Harneys partners, counsel and associates. They have all been very smart and effective as well as sincerely collaborative and easy to work with.

    Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • Harneys provides a consistent approach. The team is good to work with and there is no nonsense.

    Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • Harneys is responsive, has good attention to detail and excellent technical knowledge.

    Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 3Ben Hobden
    Band 3Ben Hobden

    Ben Hobden

    Ben Hobden is active on behalf of a long list of clients, including several hailing from Greater China. He is well-versed in insolvency and contentious restructuring, with further experience concerning freezing orders.

    • I think Ben Hobden is outstanding and very commercial.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
    • I had a very positive experience with Ben.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
    • Ben Hobden is always very available and very reliable.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • Band 3Nick Hoffman
    Band 3Nick Hoffman

    Nick Hoffman

    Nick Hoffman is adept at handling insolvency proceedings, commercial fraud claims and investment fund disputes, among other matters. He is Harneys' global head of litigation, insolvency and restructuring.

    • Nick Hoffman is a very good advocate.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
    • Nick Hoffman is an excellent team leader.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • Band 4Jessica Williams
    Band 4Jessica Williams

    Jessica Williams

    Jessica Williams is an experienced litigator who advises clients on insolvency matters, investment fund claims and shareholder and commercial disputes. Her work frequently sees her take on high-value, multi-jurisdictional mandates.
    • Jessica Williams brings a wide range of experience to bear on cross-border contentious matters, including litigation and trust matters.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
    • She is extremely sophisticated and provides useful advice.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
    • Jessica Williams is a terrific lawyer who is diligent and smart.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • Band 5Gráinne King
    Band 5Gráinne King

    Gráinne King

    Gráinne King is active on matters ranging from fair-value assessments to insolvency and investment fund matters. She has notable experience relating to the rights of segregated portfolio companies and also assists with the enforcement of arbitral awards.

    • Gráinne King is extremely practical, knowledgeable and she would be a first choice for me.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
    • Gráinne King is excellent to work with, extremely knowledgeable in her advice and also commercial.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal

Ranked Individuals at Harneys (4)

Cayman Islands

Members

Provided by Harneys

Harneys has rankings in the following guides

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