Ranked in 2 Practice Areas
1

Band 1

Offshore: Trusts

Cayman Islands

10 Years Ranked

Expertise Based Abroad

Offshore: Trusts

British Virgin Islands

3 Years Ranked

About

Provided by Carlos de Serpa Pimentel

High Net Worth

Practice Areas

Carlos de Serpa Pimentel is a Partner and Practice Group Head in the Private Client and Trusts department of the Appleby Group.

Carlos specialises in all aspects of Cayman Islands trust law advice and trust litigation. He regularly advises trustees and ultra-high net worth individuals on the establishment, restructuring and administration of trusts, and the use of private trust companies as well as providing advice to Protectors and beneficiaries on a variety of trust related matters. He also advises on estate planning and administration of estate issues for high net worth individuals. Carlos has substantial experience in relation to Cayman Islands and BVI trust litigation matters, acting on behalf of trustees, beneficiaries and Protectors in Court proceedings. He regularly appears in Court on their behalf as counsel.

Career

Carlos was called to the Bar of England and Wales (now non-practising) in 1990, and practised at the Chancery Bar in London for approximately ten years in the Chambers of G.C. Vos QC, 3 Stone Buildings, Lincoln´s Inn. He worked for two years at Maples and Calder in the Cayman Islands, and then joined Appleby in 2003. He became a partner of Appleby in 2006.

Professional Memberships

Carlos is a member of the International Bar Association. He is a member of STEP and served as Chairman of STEP Cayman Islands from 2009 to 2012 and prior to that as Secretary from 2006 to 2009. He is also a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists, the ITPA, and the Cayman Islands Law Society.

Publications

Foundation Companies Guide 2025 - Part 1

The 150 Year Rule Falls - Cayman Perpetuities Act Changes

A New 'Star' is Born

Work Highlights

Even Wahr-Hansen et al v Compass Trust Co Limited et al; acting for thirteen defendants to a substantial breach of trust/ constructive trust claim brought by the estate of one of the wealthiest Norwegian ship owners.

Grupo Torras S.A. v Bank of Butterfield International (Cayman) Limited; the Cayman Islands proceedings related to the lengthy Esteem Settlement litigation brought by Grupo Torras S.A. in Jersey (the Esteem Settlement decision, Jersey Royal Court, 13 June 2003).

Acted on behalf of numerous trustees, beneficiaries and guardians ad litem before the Grand Court, most recently in several notable applications for Court approved variations.

Acted on behalf of one of the beneficiaries at various stages in the Circle Trust litigation.

Currently acting on behalf of the Guardian ad Litem of the minor beneficiaries in a substantial restructuring of a Cayman Islands trust pursuant to Section 63 of the Trusts Law.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Cayman Islands

British Virgin Islands

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers High Net Worth

Offshore: Trusts - Cayman Islands

1
Band 1
Individual Editorial
Carlos de Serpa Pimentel has extensive experience in offshore private client matters, and handles non-contentious matters as well as disputes. He is highly regarded in both the BVI and Cayman markets.

Offshore: Trusts - British Virgin Islands

British Virgin Islands, expertise based abroad in Cayman Islands
Individual Editorial
Carlos de Serpa Pimentel is based in Appleby's Cayman office. In addition to Cayman law matters, he advises clients with interests in the BVI on a range of contentious and non-contentious trusts issues.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

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