Jonathon Milne
Partner
Jonathon Milne is a Partner in the Litigation and Restructuring department in the Cayman Islands office of Conyers. Jonathon has extensive experience of complex litigation, insolvency and restructuring matters.
Prior to joining Conyers, Jonathon practised at other top-tier law firms in the Cayman Islands, New Zealand, Ireland and the UK. He also spent time on secondment to one of the world’s largest financial institutions.
Jonathon is highly rated and recommended for litigation, restructuring and insolvency matters in the major legal directories. For example, independent sources for Legal 500 describe Jonathon as an “exceptional lawyer with impressive analytical and writing skills and deep knowledge and understanding of commercial law issues” and independent sources for Chambers Global say that “he is a superb communicator”, “incredibly professional, highly technically competent” and that “he inspires confidence.” Jonathon is a keen and accomplished courtroom advocate, with Higher Rights of Audience in the UK and having completed the Advanced International Advocacy Course at Keble College, Oxford University. Feedback from the Cayman Islands judiciary in a recent public judgment is that Jonathon “displayed first class written and oral advocacy skills.”
Jonathon is a Fellow of INSOL International. He was recognised as a “rising star” by Global Restructuring Review as part of their 40 under 40 global research process. In 2022, he was named as one of 40 practitioners to watch by INSOL International as part of their 40 year anniversary celebrations. Jonathon is the author of many articles and other publications on matters of Cayman Islands law, and he is regularly invited to speak at industry conferences in relation to his areas of expertise.
Jurisdiction
Experience
- Acting and appearing on behalf a multi-national solar energy company (formerly listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange) in successfully discharging a Mareva injunction and removing receivers, and striking out a creditor’s winding up petition. See: Hudson Capital Solar Infrastructure v Sky Solar Holdings Ltd (unreported 27 August 2020); and Re Sky Solar Holdings Ltd (unreported 12 October 2020)
- Advising the liquidators of a large Madoff feeder fund in relation to a US$2 billion claim against former service providers to the fund, including briefing expert and factual witnesses, managing electronic discovery, drafting submissions, appearing at a four month first instance trial and a 10 day appeal dealing with issues of limitation, reflective loss, causation and contributory negligence. See: Primeo v Bank of Bermuda [2017] (2) CILR 334; and Primeo v Bank of Bermuda [2019] (2) CILR 1
- Advising the liquidators of a large Madoff feeder fund in relation to novel privilege issues, which resulted in a successful outcome at Cayman Islands Court of Appeal level. See: Primeo v Bank of Bermuda [2016] (2) CILR 353
- Advising the liquidators of a large Madoff feeder fund in relation to delivery up of documents under ss. 103 and 138 of the Companies Act at Cayman Islands Court of Appeal level. See: Primeo v Bank of Bermuda [2016] (2) CILR 386
- Acting for a major Nigerian retail bank in relation to successful fraud and tracing claims against a former CEO and founder of the bank, culminating in a £700 million damages award, including appearing at a two month long trial held between Lagos and London. See: Access Bank plc v Akingbola [2012] EWHC 2148 (Comm)
- Acting and appearing for the Joint Provisional Liquidators of a Cayman-domiciled purchasing entity as part of the multi-billion dollar Tailored Brands Inc. US Chapter 11 restructuring. See: Re Tailored Brands Worldwide Purchasing Co. (FSD 178 of 2020)
- Appearing on behalf of directors, companies, creditors and contributories in relation to all manner of contested winding-up proceedings. See, for example: Re Matrix Inc, Re Virginia Solution SPC Ltd, Re China Resources and Transportation Group Ltd., Grafton Resource Investments Limited, and Re Guoan International Ltd.
Qualifications
Professional Background
- Mourant (Cayman)
- Russell McVeagh (Auckland)
- Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (London)
- Secondee to Royal Bank of Scotland (London)
- Philip Lee (Dublin)
Education
- Global Insolvency Practice Course, INSOL Fellow
- South Eastern Circuit advanced advocacy programme at Oxford University
- College of Law (New Zealand) advanced litigation skills programme
- Victoria University of Wellington – conjoint LLB and BA (majoring in criminology and political science)
- Awarded a Russell McVeagh scholarship for the study of law
Bar Admissions
- Cayman Islands, Attorney-at-Law
- England and Wales, Higher Rights of Audience
- Ireland, Solicitor (not currently practising)
- New South Wales, Australia, Barrister and Solicitor (not currently practising)
- New Zealand, Barrister and Solicitor (not currently practising)
Awards & Accolades
- Recognised in the 2023 edition of Legal 500 Caribbean as “Next Generation Partner” (and generally recognised since 2020) (dispute resolution)
- Recognised as “up and coming” in the 2022 edition of Chambers Global (dispute resolution)
- Described by clients as an ‘exceptional’ lawyer ‘with impressive analytical and writing skills and deep knowledge and understanding of commercial law issues’: Legal 500 Caribbean, 2019.
- Recommended by clients as ‘highly rated’ in dispute resolution: Legal 500 Caribbean, 2018.
Associations
- Cayman Islands Law Society, New Zealand Law Society, Law Society of Ireland, INSOL International, RISA