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.

With nearly two decades of experience in complex corporate and commercial litigation, Kate specializes in property and trust disputes, insolvency matters, and other high-value commercial disputes. She regularly represents both individual and corporate clients in high-stakes litigation, including matrimonial finance disputes, where her background in commercial and trust litigation provides high-net-worth individuals with added value and confidence.

Kate has appeared before all levels of court in the Cayman Islands, from administrative tribunals to the Court of Appeal, and has acted as lead counsel in several precedent-setting cases. Her experience includes representing claimants and respondents in high-profile compulsory purchase and compensation matters, acting as counsel in landmark constructive trust dispute, and construction contracts claim as well and advising clients on large-scale insolvency proceedings, including cross-border asset recovery and fund liquidations.

Her recent work in high-profile administrative law cases has attracted positive media attention and the published client comments in Chambers & Partners show she is well regarded in the public arena and by her clients.

Kate also advises clients on all aspects of property and estate disputes, including construction, insurance, and strata matters. She has also represented major financial institutions, corporate entities, and high-net-worth individuals in asset protection, recovery, and security issues.

Kate joined Nelsons in 2022 after over a decade at another boutique firm in the Cayman Islands. She graduated from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts. She was called as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2005 and admitted as an Attorney-at-Law in the Cayman Islands in 2009. She is a member of the Cayman Islands Law Society, the Cayman Islands Family Law Bar Association, and the New Zealand Law Society (non-practicing).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Janaya is the friendly and welcoming face of Nelsons Legal, serving as an experienced Receptionist. Janaya is focused on providing excellent customer service, ensuring all clients and visitors feel comfortable and supported from the moment they arrive. She is a skilled communicator with a positive attitude and plays a key role in maintaining smooth office and administrative functions. With a commitment to professionalism and efficiency, Janaya is dedicated to making every interaction at Nelsons Legal a pleasant experience and looks forward to growing with the company.

Joss is an experienced attorney working across a wide range of investment funds, corporate and finance matters for over 25 years. He trained, qualified in 2001, and worked as a solicitor with Linklaters in London and Central & Eastern Europe from 1999 to 2006, and was admitted as an attorney in the Cayman Islands in 2006. He has been consistently ranked by the major legal directories, including Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, across corporate, finance and investment funds matters, being recognised for his responsiveness, acumen, commercial outlook and personal touch, as well as his ability to work and communicate with stakeholders across the globe on cross-border transactions.

Joss advises across all types of regulated (with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority) and non-regulated investment fund and venture capital structures, including fund structuring, fund formation, secondary transfers, fund finance, fund restructurings and transactional portfolio matters, as well as advising on specific regulatory and corporate governance requirements.

Joss also has particular expertise advising family offices and institutional investors, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, endowments, foundations and insurance companies, with Chambers & Partners (2025) stating, “Joss Morris is efficient and commercial and has the mentality of approaching matters from the investor side. As such, investors have a great deal of confidence in him.” With his holistic approach and broad experience covering corporate and finance transactions, Joss also regularly advises institutional investor and family office clients on the Cayman Islands law corporate and finance aspects of M&A transactions and associated financing.

Joss’s wider corporate and finance practice covers M&A, shareholder matters, corporate finance, joint ventures and redomiciliations, as well as a wide range of finance transactions, including real estate finance, acquisition finance, venture series financing and fund finance. He acts for private equity firms, individuals, family offices, corporates, banks and other financial institutions. He also advises on digital and blockchain-related matters, including token issuance structures and virtual asset service provider regulatory registration.

Jeremy is an experienced commercial litigator with over 18 years' experience. He has particular expertise in disputes involving fraud, fiduciary duties, insolvency, asset recovery and regulatory matters. His Cayman practice also includes complex contract, shareholder and employment disputes, together with regulatory, licensing and related commercial advisory work. Jeremy provides practical, commercially focused advice to help clients navigate complex legal issues efficiently.

Jeremy’s experience includes defending a large international audit firm against claims arising from an alleged US$345 million overvaluation and successfully challenging a CIMA fit and proper determination connected with an alleged international corruption and bribery scandal.

Jeremy regularly advises independent directors on issues arising from the collapse of complex fund structures and redemption-related disputes, including their statutory and fiduciary duties, potential liability arising from third-party fraud, the scope and operation of indemnities, and the appointment of controllers, receivers, or examiners. He also advises on interactions with local and international regulatory authorities, including the SEC, and regularly works alongside liquidators in contentious and regulatory matters.

He is regularly instructed in contentious winding-up proceedings, international fraud and money laundering matters, cyber-fraud disputes, challenges to cross-jurisdictional treaty requests and judicial review proceedings concerning governmental decisions.

Jeremy was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2008 and practised from a leading set of chambers. He appeared regularly before the courts, including the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, and developed extensive advocacy experience across a broad range of complex disputes.

In 2014 Jeremy relocated to the Cayman Islands and was admitted as an Attorney-at-Law. Since then, he has appeared in a wide range of proceedings before the Cayman Islands courts, including the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal. Jeremy was also admitted as a Barrister of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the British Virgin Islands in 2020.

Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management from Royal Roads University and a First Class LLB from the University of Liverpool. He completed the Bar Vocational Course at BPP Law School and is a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and the Recovery and Insolvency Specialists Association.

James Murray is the founder of Velo Financial Solutions Ltd. ("Velo"), which works alongside Nelsons Legal to provide accounting, financial reporting, treasury and cash management services.

James is a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and holds a Master of Management and Professional Accounting from the University of Toronto. He has more than 20 years of experience across public practice, real estate, offshore financial services and corporate accounting, having relocated to the Cayman Islands in 2005. He has in-depth experience delivering financial services and operational accounting solutions, with a strong understanding of investment funds, fiduciary structures, private equity, structured finance vehicles, corporate service providers, law firms and privately held businesses.

Prior to establishing Velo, James served as Director of Accounting and Fiduciary Services, advising a diverse portfolio of international and local clients on accounting, governance and fiduciary services across a broad range of corporate and investment structures. Earlier in his career, he gained experience working with commercial and residential real estate clients.

Velo works collaboratively with the Nelsons finance team to assist with the financial aspects of corporate matters, including financial reporting, payroll and treasury management.

Helen Haddleton is Practice Manager at Nelsons Attorneys-at-Law, overseeing the firm's operations, governance, compliance, human resources, and financial administration.

Helen brings extensive experience in financial management, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, and operational leadership gained across the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, and the British Virgin Islands.

Before joining Nelsons, Helen served as a Director of a regulated services provider in the Cayman Islands, where she was responsible for finance, reporting, human resources, systems oversight, and operational governance. She has also held senior compliance and management roles within international trust and corporate services businesses.

Helen is a Notary Public in the Cayman Islands and provides valuable operational, financial, and governance support to the firm, helping ensure the highest standards of professionalism and regulatory compliance.