Our People

Colm is an experienced commercial litigator and advocate with specialist expertise in the following: insolvency, contractual, shareholder, and trust disputes, cases involving breach of trust and fiduciary duties, insurance, and the enforcement of judgments. He acts for Claimants and Respondents in a variety of complex commercial disputes before a wide range of tribunals, including arbitration and participation in mediations. Major clients include financial institutions, corporations, and professional firms. Colm has acted in many substantial and high-profile cases, including several multi-million dollar insolvency-related disputes, acting for and against creditors, administrators, and liquidators.

Since joining the firm’s litigation department, upon being admitted as a Cayman Islands attorney-at-law early in 2010, Colm has contributed significantly and added to the firm’s broad experience and expertise in commercial and civil litigation, insolvency, and restructuring. Colm’s ability has been praised by clients and recognized by the judiciary.

Colm was admitted to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2003, and the Bar of Ireland in 2007, and was formally a Registered Lawyer under the FA Football Agents Regulations.

Kate joined Nelsons in January 2022 after 13 years with another local boutique firm. Her practice focuses primarily on insolvency, trusts, and commercial litigation as well as matrimonial finance disputes, where her background in commercial and trust litigation provides high net-worth individuals involved in matrimonial disputes with added value and confidence. She also regularly advises clients in all aspects of property law, including construction, insurance, and strata disputes.

In his civil litigation practice, Nicholas has experience in corporate and commercial matters as well as personal injury claims and medical negligence. Nicholas also undertakes compliance and regulatory work and has experience in employment, immigration, trademark infringement, and civil recovery proceedings pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Law, and administrative law.

In his criminal defense work, Nicholas specialises in trial advocacy and has represented clients suspected of a range of offenses including white-collar and financial crime, money laundering, homicide, firearms offenses, bank robbery, and major drug importation. Nicholas also undertakes appellate work before the Court of Appeal.

Steven graduated from Dundee and Edinburgh Universities where he obtained an LLB and Dip LP. He was admitted as a solicitor in Scotland in 1983 and has practiced as an attorney at law in the Cayman Islands for 30 years.

Steven’s practice includes the licencing and regulation of all types of entities involved in the provision of financial services in the Cayman Islands as well as advising on AML and Economic Substance Issues.

He advises on all forms of corporate commercial law, real estate, banking, the formation of investment funds, partnerships, immigration, and local business licencing and shipping matters.

His practice includes expertise in trusts where he advises onshore legal and tax advisors regarding the establishment of Cayman Islands trusts and their underlying corporate structures. He also advises a number of leading local and international trust companies on a broad range of trust administration issues.

He has represented both beneficiaries and trustees in contentious trust litigation before the Grand Court.

He has considerable experience in dealing with the variety of legal issues that arise when acting for clients with interests in a multiplicity of jurisdictions. He is an experienced legal practitioner with an in-depth knowledge of the issues affecting those who choose to do business in the Cayman Islands.

Laura specialises in corporate governance, corporate / asset acquisitions and disposals and funding arrangements that include various corporate and partnership structures. Laura has a passion for governance, structuring, sustainability, and the environment. She has a track record of successfully working as part of a team with clients and colleagues. Recommended by Legal 500 Caribbean 2022 as possessing key experience in corporate governance matters and Legal 500 Caribbean 2023 as being a clever lawyer with an in-depth knowledge of Cayman regulations. Regulatory advice relates to the licences required to operate in the Cayman Islands, economic substance, data protection and the regulatory measures required by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).

Laura regularly works with investment funds and intermediaries to advise on a variety of legal, corporate, regulatory and funds matters, including funds structured as limited liability companies, segregated portfolio companies and exempted limited partnerships. Laura provides legal advice on the whole fund cycle from incorporation to the wind-down of the fund with CIMA and the Registrar of Companies.

Laura also advises investment managers in their application for registration with CIMA as a securities investment business including all the relevant contracts and policies and procedures. In addition, Laura assists company managers with their whole life cycle. Having key legal experience advising on the day-to-day operational management of a company manager provides invaluable experience when assisting businesses in the Cayman Islands.

Laura’s dedication to client service has glowing reviews by clients such as an institutional pension scheme where a trustee commented that Laura brings ‘real insight’ and ‘add value’ to their investments; and a partner in the creation of a complex joint venture structured as a limited liability partnership stating “It has been really helpful to have [Laura’s] specialist advice for the LLP agreement, she has taken the time to understand our project and ensuring her advice aligns with the other documents. She’s been confident on the negotiations, and I have particularly been impressed by her ability to explain some of the more complicated clauses in the LLP agreement!”.

Laura’s legal career began in 2011 and she has been advising clients on their legal requirements ever since. Laura qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales in 2016 and was admitted to the bar in the Cayman Islands in 2021.

Alice is a commercial and general civil litigator and advocate. She has expertise in insolvency matters, acting often for creditors and shareholders, and she has represented the Liquidation Committee for a US-based mutual fund with multi-jurisdictional assets. Alice is experienced in complex trust and probate disputes including the rectification of trust deeds based on mistakes. Alice has acted in several complex commercial disputes including international disputes on behalf of companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Alice accepts instructions in all aspects of general civil litigation including family law. She acts for both insurers and claimants in personal injury matters, advises on employment issues including investigations by the Department of Labour and Pensions, and regularly advises and represents stratas in a range of strata issues including challenges to the bye-laws, compliance with legislation and the recovery of overdue strata fees.

Alice joined Nelsons in early 2019 after practicing in the Cayman Islands since 2015. Previously, Alice was a barrister practicing in England and Wales. During her time in Cayman, Alice has been praised by judges for going above and beyond for her clients and for the assistance she has provided to the Courts.

John is an experienced commercial litigator with specialist expertise in insolvency and restructuring, financial services, shareholder and trust disputes, and cross-border litigation. He has experience of conducting litigation at all levels, up to the Supreme Court, on behalf of corporations, financial institutions, and officers or stakeholders in insolvency proceedings. John has acted in many high-profile and ultra-high-value cases, including multi-jurisdictional insolvencies.

John is recommended by the current editions of the Legal 500, Chambers Global, and Who’s Who Legal professional directories. He was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1996 and as an attorney in the Cayman Islands in 2010.

John previously served a 5 year term on the Council of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands as Legal Officer, and is currently the deputy chair of the Refugee Protection Appeals Tribunal.

Amanda has practiced family law in the Cayman Islands since 2021. She litigates high-value financial remedy disputes and associated children matter. Amanda remains a Door Tenant at 1 Crown Office Row Chambers.

Amanda is described in Legal 500 as a “tenacious advocate” with an “acute attention to detail” and as being both “an excellent advocate on her feet” and a “tier 1 Leading Junior” in the Regional and South East Bar. Amanda was co-opted to the Family Law Bar Association committee in both 2010 and 2018 and regularly presented seminars and workshops to other practitioners, including at the Resolution National Conference in 2021. Amanda regularly represents clients in mediation and at all levels of the Cayman Islands Court system.

Laura is the Practice Manager at Nelsons overseeing all the administrative and operational aspects of the firm. Laura worked for over 20 years in various London law firms in the United Kingdom before moving to the Cayman Islands in 2007. She has a wealth of experience in various practice areas and prides herself on her responsiveness to clients and attention to detail.

Jonathan Fitzgibbons specialises in investment funds, corporate and partnership law, transactional matters, regulatory compliance, banking and finance, and exchange listings. He regularly advises hedge fund managers and private equity fund managers on the structuring, formation, and operation of Cayman Islands investment fund structures.

Jonathan was first admitted to the Cayman Bar in 2006 and is also admitted to practice in England and Wales and New Zealand. Jonathan has been recommended by Chambers, IFLR and other legal directories.

Afton joined Nelsons in October 2022 as a legal assistant. Prior to joining Nelsons, Afton received her Paralegal Certificate from an ABA approved program in the United States of America. She has experience assisting clients with probate matters and the preparation of their Wills, commercial and residential property conveyance and a corporate transaction. Afton is dedicated to providing top-notch client service and an effective advocate for clients in their interactions with government.

Zara Hydes began her professional career with Nelsons Legal and is proficient in the areas of onboarding and office administration. Having an enthusiastic approach to her workload and a keen interest in professional development, Zara is looking forward to growing with Nelsons.

Jamie is an experienced commercial litigator with specialist expertise in insolvency and restructuring, financial services, shareholder and cross-border litigation and complex trust disputes. Jamie also has particular experience in acting in employment, family (predominantly high net worth ancillary relief proceedings) and immigration matters.

Jamie regularly receives instructions to act on behalf of corporations, financial institutions, officers or stakeholders, trustees and high net worth individuals and has acted in many high profile and ultra high value cases, including contentious just and equitable winding-up applications, worldwide freezing and disclosure injunctions, multi-jurisdictional insolvencies and contested trust applications.

Jamie was admitted as an attorney-at-law in the Cayman Islands in 2015. Jamie is also a full member of STEP, holding the official TEP designation and sits on the Social and Entertainment sub-committee of Recovery and Insolvency Specialists Association.

He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation.

Mary Powell joined Nelsons with the goal of expanding her knowledge and gaining experience in preparation for her eventual career as a paralegal.

Jennifer joined Nelsons in August 2024 as an Executive Legal Secretary for the litigation team. With over 20 years of experience in the investment banking sector, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. Jennifer has lived in the Cayman Islands for five years, where she recently gained three years of experience as an administrator in Family Law. Her diverse background and extensive experience make her a valuable asset to the Nelsons team.

Sara qualified as a Northern Irish Solicitor at Queens University Belfast in October 2020. Upon qualification, Sara worked at a large defence insurance litigation firm in Belfast, before relocating to Jersey in the Channel Islands in 2021, where she worked for just over two years as part of a wider dispute resolution team. Sara’s experience covers a wide range of dispute resolution matters with a particular focus on defence insurance litigation.

Sara was admitted to the Cayman Islands Bar as an Attorney in April 2024 and since joining Nelsons Legal continues to act for insurance companies in Grand Court matters, growing our litigation department.