We offer the most seasoned and comprehensive litigation practice in Bermuda. Conyers has been ranked Band 1 as a litigation practice for the last eight years by Chambers & Partners. We are frequently involved in leading commercial litigation work in Bermuda, and have acted on many of the reported cases before the Commercial Court, the Court of Appeal and the Privy Council. Conyers’ long standing exemplary status in Bermuda is reflected in the distinguished track record of advising on high profile disputes. We have acted for parties in some of the most significant international commercial disputes coming before the Bermuda Courts and arbitral tribunals and some of the most complex of international and local restructurings, liquidations and receiverships in Bermuda.
Our client base spans the globe and includes foreign states, financial institutions, FTSE 100 and Fortune 100 companies, multinationals, private equity and hedge funds, trust companies, insolvency practitioners, accountancy firms and high-net-worth individuals. Through our demonstrated experience in many of Bermuda’s leading cases, our clients continue to turn to us for our timely strategic advice in their complex cross-border matters involving commercial litigation, shareholder disputes and trust disputes.
Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Conyers’ attorneys have a stellar reputation for representation in the most sensitive and complex litigation and arbitration cases. We offer seamless service across our network of offices for both local and cross-border disputes and investigations. With attorneys placed around the world with an understanding of their local legal system, we are best placed to assist you with our comprehensive understanding of the interplay between jurisdictions.
Our aim is to help clients avoid litigation wherever possible. However, where litigation is unavoidable we are adept at focusing on the commercial objectives and providing pragmatic advice on the legal, commercial and reputational risks.
Our experiences in the offshore world have left us just as familiar with arbitration as with litigation. We can handle any matter whether it involves mediation, adjudication or expert determination.
General Civil & Commercial Litigation
Conyers has acted in numerous leading commercial litigation matters involving insurance and reinsurance companies, banks, listed and private companies and individuals. We regularly advise on insurance/reinsurance, banking, contractual disputes and professional negligence.
Trust Litigation
Conyers has acted in many prominent trust disputes and leading cases in the field and regularly receives major instructions on contentious trust and probate matters. Through our network of international offices and our long-standing contacts with leading intermediaries worldwide, our Bermuda team advises the world’s wealthiest families, institutional trustees and their advisers, banks and high net worth individuals.
We regularly advise on the following:
- Variation of trusts
- Breach of trusts
- Removal of trustees
- Rights of beneficiaries/creditors
- Constructive trust claims
- Multi-jurisdictional disputes involving trustees
Shareholder & Corporate Disputes
Our lawyers advise on highly complex shareholder disputes, particularly those arising out of breach of shareholder agreements, takeovers and minority oppression situations. We also regularly advise clients in respect of contentious shareholder meetings. Our experience also covers disputes arising in respect of partnerships.
Insurance & Reinsurance Disputes
We have extensive experience acting as counsel for insurers and reinsurers in arbitration proceedings in Bermuda and in ancillary court proceedings for the appointment of arbitrators and enforcement of awards.
Arbitration & Mediation
The Litigation team in Bermuda has extensive knowledge and experience in the resolution of international and domestic disputes through arbitration and mediation. Members of our team have appeared in arbitrations either held under the auspices of some of the major international arbitration institutions, including the ICC, LCIA, AAA as well as ad hoc arbitrations under UNCITRAL and other rules. Our team has represented insurance and reinsurance companies, companies in commercial disputes and individuals. Several of Conyers Bermuda lawyers are trained arbitrators and sit as arbitrators, either as part of a panel or as sole arbitrator. Many are also trained as mediators, and with the increase in mediation as a dispute resolution process, participate in mediations as advocates for clients.
Regulatory Practice
Conyers has considerable experience in providing advice on a broad range of issues arising out of the regulatory framework in Bermuda. We advise clients on managing, resolving and avoiding disputes and regulatory action. We advise clients in a number of ways, from regulatory enforcement actions, investigations (to include information requests) and formal disciplinary cases, through to commercial disputes and large-scale litigation. Our experience includes advising on data protection, money laundering and anti-terrorism legislation.
With the advent of Tax Information Exchange Agreements (“TIEAs”) entered into by Bermuda with over 60 jurisdictions, our team has developed expertise in addressing a number of the issues that arise for persons served with Notices in Bermuda and have appeared before the Bermuda Courts in several leading cases.
Employment Law
Conyers Bermuda works with a wide range of industry sectors assisting not only global businesses but medium and smaller companies to address local, international and cross-border employment issues. We are also consulted on employment issues arising out of corporate mergers and acquisitions, including company relocations.
Our practice provides advice on recruitment, termination, redundancy, labour relations and retirement. Our lawyers frequently appear before the Bermuda Courts, Employment Tribunals and Human Rights Tribunals.
Public Law
The expertise offered by Conyers spans the full ambit of public law, and cases are undertaken for clients including individuals, government departments, corporate entities and regulatory bodies. Conyers is regularly appointed to act for and against public bodies in the areas of telecommunications, environmental law, financial regulation and human rights.
Intellectual Property
We handle disputes involving a wide range of intellectual property, such as trademarks, unfair competition, passing off, copyright, designs, software infringements and broader protection of confidential information.
We regularly advise a range of businesses and individuals on issues involving the enforcement of intellectual property rights as well as defending their validity. We have particular experience in obtaining urgent injunctive relief to protect your confidential information, copyright, designs and trademarks.
Insolvency & Restructuring
Our extensive insolvency & restructuring practice is pre-eminent in Bermuda. We investigate, pursue and defend claims for and against insolvent companies and directors and advise on all issues arising in insolvency proceedings. Where possible, we work with our clients to affect a restructuring of financially troubled companies.
Conyers Bermuda has advised on numerous matters involving the collapse of international companies, groups of companies with a presence in Bermuda and local companies. We provide advice to directors and officers, creditors, debtors, liquidators and receivers. We frequently appear before the Bermuda Courts in relation to disputes arising in insolvent liquidations.
Our team has acted on some of the largest and most high-profile receiverships in Bermuda and frequently advise on the appointment of receivers both by the Court and under contractual documentation.
We have prepared and implemented many of the schemes of arrangements (both creditor and shareholder) which have been effected.
Conyers Bermuda also provides administrative and legal services relating to solvent voluntary liquidations, including acting as liquidators.