Taylors Firm “Exceeds Expectations” In Bermuda
As law firm Taylors approaches its first anniversary, Bermudian Managing Partner Kevin Taylor is “delighted” with how quickly the firm has made its mark and says that the firm has “plenty more in store.”
Mr. Taylor said, “I am delighted that we have already exceeded our expectations in terms of growth, number of mandates and, above all, the response of local lawyers. I am pleased and excited with the quality of the team we have assembled.”
A spokesperson said, “One of Taylors’ goals is to attract more business to Bermuda. To further this goal, Kevin Taylor [Head of the Insolvency and Dispute Resolution Group], Jonathan Betts [Partner and Head of the Corporate, Finance and Funds Group] and their respective teams have presented in Dubai, Dublin, New York, Toronto, London, Singapore and Hong Kong on the benefits of using Bermuda.
“The feedback from clients and onshore firms alike has been overwhelmingly positive. Kevin Taylor believes that more competition in the Bermuda legal market will contribute to the island being a more attractive jurisdiction in which to conduct business.
“Offering a full service commercial practice, Taylors has grown to seven lawyers in just nine months. Taylors’ most recent recruits include Ariane West, who joins as a partner in the Corporate, Finance and Funds Group, and Phelecia Barnett, who joins as an associate, also in the Corporate, Finance and Funds Group. Further recruitment is expected in the coming months.”
“We are pleased to welcome Ariane and Phelecia to our growing team. Both are significant hires and are well known and respected professionals in the Bermuda legal community,” said Jonathan Betts.
“The four core product areas of the firm are corporate, funds, finance law and insolvency and dispute resolution and the team has already worked on a number of high-profile deals for institutional clients, regularly advising alongside onshore magic circle firms.
“These deals have included a significant capital call financing for a Bermuda fund, a multi-jurisdictional acquisition financing for a property portfolio and a take-private transaction. Key to Taylors’ philosophy is to attract top Bermudian lawyers.”
“We want to be able to offer Bermudian lawyers the opportunity to have an interesting and stimulating career with a law firm that has a strong international focus and reach,” said Mr. Betts.
“Over time we intend to create overseas secondment opportunities for Bermudian lawyers. We see this as both beneficial to the individual, in terms of exposure to markets such as London, Hong Kong and Singapore, and for Bermuda, as a jurisdiction, via increased representation in major financial centres.”
“Looking to the future, Taylors has initiated a scholarship support programme and recently made its first grant to William Finnerty, a former pupil of Saltus Grammar, who, supported by a Taylors’ grant of $7,500, is now studying law at the University of Exeter. Taylors intends to develop further its scholarship, internship and pupillage programmes.”
“We want to make Taylors a young, dynamic and successful firm that enhances the position of Bermuda as an offshore jurisdiction of high quality and integrity. With a high-performance culture and a friendly environment, the firm is investing in, and promoting, the next generation of Bermudian lawyers,” said Mr. Taylor.