Appleby, a provider of offshore legal, fiduciary and administration services, has appointed Cayman litigator, Christopher Russell, as partner in the firm’s Cayman Islands office from 1 May 2012. 

Russell joins Appleby from Ogier’s Cayman office where, until recently, he led the firm’s litigation group. He is extremely well known in the Cayman Islands where he is regarded by peers as being one of the best lawyers on the island.

Appleby’s Global Practice Group Head for Litigation and Insolvency, Andrew Bolton (pictured) says: “It is excellent news that Chris is joining us. We are already well known in our market for having high calibre teams of people working for clients across all our locations.  Chris is a great addition to this offering. He will bring to Appleby his extensive Cayman and international litigation and insolvency experience, and of course his excellent reputation.”

Jeremy Walton, head of Litigation and Insolvency for the Cayman Islands, says: “I have known and respected Chris as one of the very best lawyers in the Cayman Islands for many years, and have often referred instructions to him where Appleby has been unable to act, knowing that the work will be done to the highest standard.  I am greatly looking forward to working with him.” 

Russell specialises in heavy insolvency, commercial and trust matters. He is a contributing author to International Asset Tracing in Insolvency (Oxford University Press, 2010). He has published numerous articles on corporate and trusts law and litigation-related topics. He is ranked as a leading lawyer for dispute resolution in the Cayman Islands by Chambers Global directory 2012, where he is described as being “a consummate professional and an excellent negotiator”. Lawyer Monthly recently named Christopher as one of the top 100 lawyers in the world.

Before relocating to Cayman, Christopher had a distinguished career at the London Bar spanning more than 30 years.  The greater and more recent part of that period was as a member of New Square Chambers in Lincoln’s Inn, a highly regarded set of chambers known for its members’ work in the commercial chancery field.

This is the second announcement of the recruitment of a senior litigator to Appleby’s Cayman office in the space of a month: the firm recently recruited Peter McMaster QC of Serle Court Chambers who will join the firm on 2 April.