As competition heats up among boutique and midsized law firms in the Cayman Islands, Travers Thorp Alberga has lured an experienced corporate and funds attorney to its offices in George Town.
The recruitment of Louise Freestone, a former partner at Herbert Smith Freehills in London, is the latest step in the expansion of a firm whose strategy differs from that of many competitors the offshore market.
Travers Thorp Alberga employs associates but has emphasized the recruitment and retention of partners. Unlike some firms that overstaff deals with inexperienced junior attorneys, Travers Thorp has senior legal professionals directly oversee complex fund structuring, corporate transactions, and litigation.
Freestone comes to the firm with more than 20 years of experience as a lawyer devoted to numerous transactional areas including fund formation, capital raisings, mergers, demergers, schemes of arrangement, and restructurings. Freestone moved to FourWinds Capital Management as general counsel in July 2008 from Herbert Smith Freehills. She joined in January 1997, making partner in 2002.
In an exclusive interview with IFLR1000, Freestone noted that a great deal of her experience, particularly as general counsel at an investment management firm, has involved Cayman law and Cayman funds.
"I am very familiar with the jurisdiction, the way it operates, and the high standards applied in terms of its legal market. So it was a natural jurisdiction to look to when I was thinking about making an offshore move," Freestone told IFLR1000.
Freestone stated that she enjoyed working in-house as general counsel. After six years, she began to miss the world of private practice, and the dynamic environment of a law firm offering many opportunities for structuring funds and doing deals, Freestone said.
"That's what made me look outward to the Cayman Islands. It is a robust legal jurisdiction, one where I had experience of some high-quality firms, and I knew the work would be interesting and fulfilling," she added.
"I looked at a number of firms here that I knew both from my Herbert Smith days and my time in-house. What I was looking for was something a bit different. At TTA I found a small, tight-knit community of highly experienced partners who have worked in some of the top firms and have come together with a different vision of how to provide legal services. Partners here have been integrally involved in drafting much of the legislation that applies to many of the transactions we advise on. And the clients love the fact that this firm has highly experienced partners giving them dedicated attention," Freestone continued.
Freestone holds an LLB from the University of Sheffield.