Walkers is delighted to announce that five of its partners from across its Cayman, Guernsey, Ireland and Jersey offices have been included in the recently published IFLR1000 Women Leaders for 2021.

Global Managing Partner Ingrid Pierce and partners Sarah Brehaut, Alexandra Corner, Noeleen Ruddy and Caroline Williams are included in the list of around 750 women who IFLR describe as "an elite group of lawyers with outstanding reputations within their markets who either have expertise and experience of working on complex deals, or who have risen to hold leadership roles with their firms or their practices".

IFLR1000 Women Leaders are the most prominent female lawyers working in the areas of law within their jurisdictions.

Ingrid Pierce, Global Managing Partner, Investment Funds, Cayman Islands

Ingrid has over 20 years' experience and is recognised as one of the world's leading investment funds lawyers. She acts for major institutions, asset managers, insurers, reinsurers, trustees and other fiduciaries. Her clients include many of the Who's Who of asset managers.

Ingrid advises on directors' duties and responsibilities, indemnities, confidentiality laws and issues related to electronic communication. She has particular expertise in advising funds on managing distress in volatile markets and has considerable experience with contentious matters having acted in connection with the acquisition, restructuring and winding down of various high profile funds.

"She is one of the finest lawyers in the world. She's grown up in this industry and understands the issues from the base." - Chambers and Partners

Sarah Brehaut, Partner, Insolvency & Dispute Resolution, Guernsey

Sarah is an experienced court-going Advocate who frequently represents liquidators in respect of contentious and non-contentious matters before Guernsey's Royal Court in relation to compulsory and voluntary winding-up, and holds the BPP Certificate of Proficiency in Corporate Insolvency (for which she received the highest exam result in the country).

Sarah also advises and represents directors of regulated entities in respect of regulatory investigations and disputes. She has significant experience in all aspects of commercial dispute as well as considerable experience of appearing in the Magistrate's Court, Royal Court and Court of Appeal.

"Sarah Brehaut is a highly impressive advocate. Always fully committed to her client's case but never losing the ability to identify the weaknesses as well as the strengths which makes her a formidable mediation advocate." - Legal 500

Alexandra Corner, Partner, Finance & Corporate, Jersey

She is the Practice Group Head for Walkers' Banking & Finance team across Jersey and Guernsey and has been working offshore for more than 20 years. Alexandra has been admitted in Jersey since 2003 and has practised both in the Island and in the City.

Her areas of specialism include complex real estate finance instructions, subscription lines and other fund finance matters and debt capital markets work include note issuances, repackagings, and securitisations.

"Alexandra Corner 'is very professional, responds to queries in a timely fashion and is also extremely approachable,' reports a market source." – Chambers and Partners

Noeleen Ruddy, Partner, Finance & Capital Markets, Ireland

Noeleen advises international financial institutions, investment banks, arrangers, managers, private equity, hedge funds, agents and trustees in relation to a wide range of structured products transactions including securitisations (RMBS, ABS, CMBS), debt offerings, CLOs (whether cash, synthetic or hybrid), CAT bonds and Commercial Paper Programmes.

Noeleen has also advised on combined QIAIF/SPV transactions, distressed, stressed, performing and non-performing debt deals and other bespoke structured product transactions.

"Noeleen Ruddy advises on a comprehensive range of structured finance transactions...Clients say: "She is phenomenal - I wish all lawyers were like her. She understands what we are trying to achieve and is a pleasure to work with." - Chambers and Partners

Caroline Williams, Partner, Investment Funds, Cayman Islands

Caroline has a broad private funds practice specialising in both hedge funds and private equity. Caroline has extensive experience advising private equity fund sponsors on the structuring and formation of funds and co-investment and alternative investment vehicles and the completion of transactions undertaken by them.

Caroline has broad experience advising on the sale and purchase of portfolio investments and advising on secondary transactions. Her practice also encompasses advising on initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations and capital call financing. Caroline acts for leading financial institutions, investment managers, including institutional sponsors of private equity and hedge funds, and also boutique and start-up managers.

A "very highly regarded lawyer" who "has a lot of experience" and is "very thoughtful and commercial." - Chambers and Partners