Helen E. Cooper

Overview

Helen E. Cooper is a Director in the Private Client & Trust department in the Bermuda office of Conyers Dill & Pearman. Helen joined Conyers in 2001 and became partner in 2009. Helen’s practice covers all aspects of trust and private client law with specialist expertise in private trust company structures, trust reorganisations and international and local estate planning arrangements, as well as providing advice to private banks, charities, beneficiaries and protectors on a variety of trust related matters.

Experience

Recent Experience

Establishing a Bermuda private trust company for a Monaco resident client involving complex family and corporate governance issues
Advising on the complicated reorganisation of a Bermuda law trust structure to facilitate the sale of a substantial UK retail business for a high profile client, where confidentiality and privacy issues were paramount
Advising on the complex reorganisation of a Bermuda law trust with South American beneficiaries which facilitated the sale of the trust’s interest in a large family business, leading to a successful application to the Bermuda Court approving the reorganisation
Advising a trustee on the reorganisation of a large Bermuda law trust structure for a Russian family and working closely with a US legal team on the restructuring of investments across multiple jurisdictions
Advising the Trustees on the reorganisation of a Bermuda law trust with Italian resident beneficiaries, which involved substantive cross-jurisdictional issues, including forced heirship and succession issues

Qualifications

Professional Background

Barrister, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Chambers

Education

Inns of Court School of Law, 1994
Columbia University, NY, NY, 1988

Bar Admissions

England & Wales, Solicitor, 1994 (not currently practising)
Bermuda, Barrister & Attorney, 1997

Awards & Accolades

Recognised in the 2021 edition of Legal 500 Caribbean (trust/private client)
Recognised in the 2020 edition (and 2019) of Chambers HNW (offshore: trusts)
Recognised in the 2020 edition (and since 2011) of Legal 500 Caribbean (trusts/private client)
Recognised in the 2018 edition (and since 2013) of Who's Who Legal (private client)
Recognised as one of CityWealth IFC's Top 200 Power Woman for 2017 (and since 2014)
Recognised in the 2017 edition of the CityWealth Leaders List (private client)
Recognised in the 2015 edition of Legal Media Groups' Expert Guides (trusts and estates)

Associations

Lincoln’s Inn London
International Bar Association
Bermuda Bar Association

Publications

Private Client & Trust Bulletin April 2021

Private Client & Trust Bulletin April 2020

Private Wealth 2019, Chambers and Partners

Bermuda Private Client & Trust Bulletin, June 2016

Area(s) of Expertise

Legal Services

Private Client & Trust

Featured Content

Welcome to the fourth edition of our Private Client Bulletin, bringing you the latest private client and trust news and insights from Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, BVI and Asia.

As spring returns we are seeing signs of new life, despite how the pandemic continues to disrupt. These challenging times have led many HNW families and individuals to take a fresh look at their wealth structures and long-term plans, and in some cases where they are based.

Director