Jonathon Milne

Partner, Co-Head of Cayman Islands Litigation & Restructuring

Cayman Islands | T +1 345 814 7797 | M +1 345 925 2952
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Jonathon Milne is a Partner and Co-Head of the Cayman Islands Litigation and Restructuring practice. Jonathon has extensive experience of complex litigation, insolvency and restructuring matters. Jonathon is a Fellow of INSOL International and was named as one of 40 practitioners to watch globally by INSOL International as part of their 40 year anniversary celebrations.

Jonathon is highly rated and recommended for litigation, restructuring and insolvency matters in the major peer-reviewed and client-backed legal directories.

Independent sources for Legal 500 describe Jonathon as follows:

  • “exceptional lawyer with impressive analytical and writing skills and deep knowledge and understanding of commercial law issues.”
  • “incredible work ethic coupled with a sharp legal mind.”
  • “a very intelligent and diligent practitioner.”
  • “first-class lawyer” who provides “timely, commercial legal advice.’

Independent sources for Chambers Global say that Jonathon is:

  • “an extremely competent litigator with a wealth of restructuring and insolvency experience in the Cayman Islands.”
  • “a superb communicator.”
  • “incredibly professional, highly technically competent” and that “he inspires confidence.”

Jurisdiction

Experience

  • Acting and appearing for officeholders and companies in relation to various cross-border restructuring matters (see, for example, Cineworld, Tailored Brands, Dexin, Atlas Financial Holdings, Silver Base, GTI Holdings, Sun Cheong, China Bozza, Differ Auto, Golden Wheel and CAA Resources)
  • Advising in relation to complex and high-profile shareholder disputes (see, for example, Virginia Solution SPC Ltd and Seahawk)
  • Appearing as lead advocate 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 and Re Sky Solar Holdings Ltd)
  • Appearing on behalf of officeholders, directors, managers, companies and creditors in relation to all manner of contested proceedings (see, for example, RBH Holdings, Spectra, Ayers Alliance, LinkSure, Stanford International, Barents Re, Avivo Group, BB Shares, Apollomics, Touradji Private Equity, Matrix Inc, China Resources and Transportation Group Ltd., Grafton Resources, TCA Global and Guoan International Ltd)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • Engaged as an expert on Cayman Islands law before various foreign tribunals

Qualifications

Professional Background

  • Mourant (Cayman)
  • Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (London)
  • Philip Lee (Dublin)
  • Russell McVeagh (Auckland)

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 2024 edition of The Legal 500 Caribbean as “Next Generation Partner” (since 2023 and generally recognised since 2020) (Dispute Resolution)
  • Recognised as “Up and Coming” in the 2022 and 2023 editions of Chambers Global Guide (Dispute Resolution)

Associations

  • Cayman Islands Law Practitioners Association, INSOL International, RISA, American Brankruptcy Institute