Harneys partner hire bolsters Cayman Islands Litigation, Insolvency and Restructuring practice

Harneys has strengthened its Litigation, Insolvency and Restructuring group with the appointment of Ben Hobden, who joins the firm as a partner in its Cayman Islands office. His appointment is effective as of 4 September 2023.

Ben joins the firm from another offshore law firm, having been a partner in the Cayman Islands for six years. His appointment further bolsters Harneys’ dispute resolution practice, adding specialist expertise to meet growing client demand in insolvency and restructuring services.

With over a decade of experience practising in the Cayman Islands, Ben advises financial institutions, directors and corporates across a wide range of commercial litigation matters. He is an expert in restructuring by way of scheme of arrangement, activist shareholder litigation (including those under s.238 of the Companies Act), insurance disputes, all forms of interim relief and general corporate disputes.

Ben regularly acts for insolvency practitioners, debtors and creditors in insolvency and restructuring situations, and has advised on many of the largest restructurings in the Cayman Islands. He has appeared before the Grand Court and Court of Appeal on numerous occasions, and he is also a member of the Recovery and Insolvency Specialists Association’s Legal and Regulatory Committee.

Nick Hoffman, Cayman Islands Managing Partner, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Ben to Harneys. His experience in commercial litigation makes him a great addition to the team and strengthens our offering in the Cayman Islands. With global insolvencies and restructurings on the rise, we are seeing a growing demand for advice in these areas. Ben’s expertise will help us meet our clients’ needs and guide them through the complexities that can arise for companies in distressed situations.”

Ben is ranked by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal. He has also been recognised by Global Restructuring Review’s 40 Under 40 (2021) and Lexology’s Client Choice Awards (2020).

He is the latest partner hire for the firm in the Cayman Islands, with the addition of Regulatory & Tax Partner Juan Pablo Urrutia in August. The development of the Harneys Litigation and Insolvency team in the Cayman Islands is mirrored globally, with 84 team members now in the group.

The firm has long been considered a leader in key offshore jurisdictions, providing a full range of legal services in the areas of banking and finance, corporate, investment funds, litigation and insolvency, restructuring, regulatory and tax, international arbitration, and private wealth.