Melanie Crinis Telephone:  345 914 5865 Fax:  345 949 8613 E.mail:  mcrinis@campbells.com.ky Melanie Crinis graduated with a Bachelor of Laws Degree (with Honours) and a Masters Degree with Distinction (specialising in commercial litigation) from QUT University in Australia. She was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1998 and subsequently to the High Court of Australia. Melanie was also admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales and as an attorney in the Cayman Islands in 2003. During her time in Australia, Melanie worked for one of Australia’s leading law firms, Freehills where she specialised in commercial and trusts litigation and insolvency. In 2001, Melanie moved to London where she spent approximately 2 years working for Davies Arnold Cooper specialising in large commercial disputes and in particular, was primarily running a US$100 million, multi party piece of commercial litigation. In 2003 Melanie moved to Campbells where she continues to specialise in commercial litigation with particular emphasis on trust and funds litigation, shareholder disputes and insolvency. Notably, Melanie has been involved in a number of large, multi-party, international trust disputes which frequently contain difficult and complicated issues at the cutting edge of the law ranging from suits involving the removal of trustees and/or the trust protector, construction of trust deeds, handover issues including former trustees’ entitlement to an indemnity and entitlement to withhold assets, Hastings Bass proceedings to claims for breach of trust. Melanie has also been involved in a number of insolvencies, working closely with major insolvency practitioners. She has particular experience in advising on the recovery of assets and actions against directors for breaches of fiduciary position, insolvent trading and fraud. Melanie regularly appears as both lead and second counsel in the Grand Court and the Court of Appeal and has been involved in a number of reported decisions in the Cayman Islands. Melanie also regularly publishes articles and speaks at seminars on various topics of interest. [ top ]
		Lisa Parsons Telephone:  345 949 2648 Fax:  345 949 8613 E.mail:  lparsons@campbells.com.ky Lisa was born in Grand Cayman and received her secondary education at the Cayman Islands High School. Prior to joining Campbells, Lisa was employed by the Cayman Islands Government for a total of 13 years, holding positions in the Lands & Survey Department and the National Archive. She worked with Lands & Survey Department for 2 years as Secretary to the Director of Lands & Survey and then transferred to the Cayman Islands National Archive to take up the post of Records Officer, responsible for the implementation of the automated Records Management System throughout Government departments. Lisa held this position for 11 years. In 2001 Lisa obtained her LLb. (Hons) degree from the Cayman Islands Law School. Lisa commenced employment with Campbells in September 2002 and that same year, enrolled in the Professional Practice Course at C.I. Law School. She graduated in 2003 with a Certificate in Cayman Law. Having completed her period of articles with Campbells Lisa joined the firm's busy real estate practice acting in relation to the purchase and sale of real estate, real estate development, secured lending and planning matters. Clients include major developers, hotels, condominium associations, investors and banks. [ top ]
		Guy Manning Telephone:  345 949 2648 Fax:  345 949 8613 E.mail:  gmanning@campbells.com.ky Guy was born, educated and trained in England, where he was admitted as a solicitor in 1999 (now non-practising). In 2005 he joined Campbells as a senior associate in our contentious insolvency team, and was admitted as a Cayman Islands attorney. Guy advises liquidators, financial institutions, creditors, investors, managers, directors, administrators and other service providers in relation to a broad range of pre and post liquidation disputes. His practice principally involves distressed and failed investment funds, but he also deals with a variety of high value commercial disputes. Since his arrival Guy has acted in relation to many of the most high profile liquidations and fund disputes in the Islands. He regularly appears before the Grand Court and the Court of Appeal. Prior to joining the firm, Guy spent the first 8 years of his career working in Denton Wilde Sapte’s London and Tokyo offices as a member of their highly respected insolvency litigation group. The 2009 Legal 500 reports that Guy is "praised for being 'sensible and competent".
		Kirsten Houghton Telephone:  345 914 5854 Fax:  345 949 8613 E.mail:  khoughton@campbells.com.ky Kirsten graduated from St. John's College, Cambridge with a BA Honours degree in Law. Subsequently, she practised at the Bar in London for over 15 years in two leading sets of commercial Chambers, appearing regularly as an advocate in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Kirsten's practice and experience covers a wide range of commercial disputes. In addition to commercial contractual and tortious matters, she has particular expertise in insurance and reinsurance, company and shareholder disputes, construction and property related matters, information technology, pre-emptive remedies including freezing orders, search orders and enforcement of employees' restrictive covenants, data protection and freedom of information and all aspects of commercial professional negligence. More recently, Kirsten has qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and become a chartered arbitrator. In 2004, she won the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators' President's Prize for arbitration award writing. She is an experienced mediator and construction industry adjudicator and a member of the Nominet UK panel of experts for deciding .co.uk cybersquatting disputes. Kirsten studied insurance law as part of her degree and has a particular interest in this area of the law. She was heavily involved in the "Lloyd's litigation" in the 1990's, acting for underwriters and members' agents in the Commercial Court and in the Lloyd's Arbitration Scheme. She has acted in numerous policy interpretation and coverage disputes, and has also acted for and against brokers alleged to have acted in breach of instructions or negligently. Kirsten has advised and represented corporate and private clients in connection with disputes concerning breach of director's duties, breach of warranty of authority, minority shareholder applications, breach of share sale agreements (warranties and restrictive covenants) and exercise of shareholders' rights of pre-emption and transfer. The Chambers 2009 Guide reports that “Peers are keen to keep on eye out for Kirsten Houghton, “an experienced and well-prepared” former UK barrister who is quickly making a name for herself in the area ” Chambers 2010 Guide confirms that Kirsten is described by others in the local bar as "straight, professional and pleasant to deal with," and have high hopes for her future. [ top ]
		Tony Pearson-Smith Telephone:  345 949 2648 Fax:  345 949 8613 E.mail:  apearson-smith@campbells.com.ky Tony was born and educated in England, graduating from University College, London in 1991 and completing his law conversion training in 1994. He trained with Richards Butler in London and qualified there as a solicitor in 1998. Tony continued to practice at Richards Butler until 2006, when he joined Campbells and was admitted as an attorney in the Cayman Islands. Tony's practice covers all aspects of commercial and residential real estate acquisition and development. He advises a range of clients including developers, investors, lenders, landlords and tenants on a variety of issues including: Acquisitions and disposals for investment purposes of multi-let industrial, retail and office premises Acquisitions of bare development land both for development. Disposals of development land both to house builders and by way of leasebacks to the original owner Development agreements, options and warranties Management of various portfolios All aspects of commercial leasing from both the landlord's and the tenant's perspective Taking security over development and investment premises. [ top ]
		Ian Dillon Telephone:  345 914 5866 Fax:  345 949 8613 E.mail:  idillon@campbells.com.ky Ian was born and educated in Ireland. Prior to becoming a solicitor, Ian worked in financial services first as a trainee underwriter and administrator and then with Fortis Fund Services in Dublin’s International Financial Services Centre. After graduating with an honours LL.B., Ian trained as a solicitor with William Fry Solicitors, one of Dublin’s leading commercial law firms. On qualification as a Solicitor in 2002 he joined William Fry’s Asset Management and Investment Funds and their Insurance groups. In 2004 Ian joined Pioneer Investments in Dublin as legal counsel in charge of their International Division products and corporate governance, and oversaw the conversion to UCITS III of Pioneer’s primary European UCITS Fund, the euro60 Billion Pioneer Funds. Ian was admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales in June 2006 and joined Campbells and was admitted as an Attorney-at-Law in the Cayman Islands in September 2006 where he specializes in the areas of investment funds, corporate law and governance, asset management and insurance law. [ top ]
		Sylvia Howie Telephone:  345 914 5853 Fax:  345 949 8613 E.mail:  showie@campbells.com.ky Sylvia Howie graduated with a BA (Hons) in Law & Criminology and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Sheffield before training at City firm Watson, Farley & Williams, spending time in their Singapore and Thailand offices and qualifying into the corporate department in London in 2000. In 2002, Sylvia moved to boutique shipping firm Shaw and Croft in London where she specialized in super-yacht finance transactions acting for private lenders, banks and borrowers in multi-million dollar mortgage based yacht finance transactions. Sylvia moved to Genoa in 2004 to take a position with Italian shipping specialists Studio Legale Rollandi where she continued to develop her ship finance experience and contacts with yacht builders and brokers in Italy and the South of France. In 2005, Sylvia returned to her native Edinburgh as an Associate in the corporate department of leading Scottish firm McClure Naismith where she mainly focused on general corporate matters but also specialized in commercial ship finance transactions before moving to Campbells in 2007 when she was admitted as a Cayman attorney. Sylvia specializes in the sale, purchase, registration and finance of super-yachts and general corporate matters. Her recent experience includes acting for: an Isle of Man subsidiary of a New Zealand listed telecommunications company in its proposed AIM listing (market capitalization on admission expected to be GBP100m) the holding company of an international resort company in its introduction to AIM with a market capitalization on admission of GBP39m; a property development company in its corporate restructure and GBP100m joint venture investment with a major Scottish bank; an Irish company in its US$10m acquisition of a business and assets of a Czech aircraft manufacturer and in its subsequent US$40m finance and acquisition of 15 Russian M-15 spy planes; an international resort company in drafting and negotiating contracts for its proposed US$30m developments in Qingdau, China and Monaco; an Isle of Man Shipping Company in its US$10m joint venture with a Japanese shipping company; a Scottish ferry company in its purchase of a newbuild GBP6m ro-ro catamaran from Philippine yard; a Scottish bank in relation to its client’s purchase of a newbuild passenger ferry from Australian yard; and the management of a marine engineering company in its GBP1m share purchase of the UK company and its sister company. [ top ]
		Rhonda Laws Telephone:  345 949 2648 Fax:  345 949 8613 E.mail:  rlaws@campbells.com.ky Rhonda graduated from Macquarie University, NSW, with a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Legal Studies and from Sydney University with a Masters in Law. Rhonda was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales December in 1991, to the Supreme Court of Queensland in July 1998 and to High Court of Australia in 1992. Prior to joining Campbells, Rhonda worked for Baker & Mckenzie in Bahrain where she dealt with matters including: Acting for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation in relation to their US$2.2 billion (SAR equivalent) Sukuk issue (dated 2007) which included the drafting and negotiating of the Sukuk document and other ancillary documents and agreements Acting as local counsel for Saad Trading Company in respect of their US$3 billion EMTN program which included commenting on the Saudi Law issues arising in respect of the Base Prospectus and other documents and issuance of the Saudi legal opinion. Acting for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) in connection with the US$3.5 billion financing for the Yanbu National Petrochemical Company (Yansab) project comprising a US$847 million istisnaá and ijara based Islamic facility, a US$1,067 million Public Investment Fund facility, two ECA supported facilities totalling UA$700 million, involving ECGD and SACE, and a commercial term loan and revolving credit facilities totalling US$886 million. The deal was recently awarded project finance deal of the year in the Middle East by Euromoney magazine. Acting for the financing banks and agents in relation to a multi-sourced project financing of approximately US$350 million murabaha facility and an additional Saudi Investment and Development Fund financing. The murabaha facility includes term loan facilities, reducing revolving facility and a bullet repayment revolving facility for the expansion of a petrochemical plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Acting on behalf of the financing banks and agents in respect of drafting and negotiating the Saudi Law security documents required for the US$3.875 million financing to Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily). Advising leading regional bank in relation to the provision of a securitization facility of receivables portfolio (SR100,000,000). Advising leading international bank on Saudi Arabian Law requirements in respect of receivables transactions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Acting as local counsel in providing advice on Saudi Law finance and security documents. Prior to joining Baker & McKenzie, Rhonda worked for firms including Phillips Fox in Brisbane and Dechert in London handling a mixture of corporate and commercial work including financing, M&A and listings. [ top ]
		Peter de Vere Telephone:  345 949 2648 Fax:  345 949 8613 E.mail:  pvere@campbells.com.ky Peter de Vere read Law and Politics at Queen Mary College University of London in the UK and graduated with a B.A. with honours in 2003. He qualified as an attorney in August 2009 and specialises in all aspects of corporate and commercial law and in marine and aviation and asset finance. [ top ]
		Christina McTaggart Telephone:  345 949 2648 Direct:  345 949 5858 Fax:  345 949 8613 E.mail:  cmctaggart@campbells.com.ky Christina qualified as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and also achieved an Associate of Social Sciences degree from the University College of the Cayman Islands before studying law at the University of Liverpool, where she graduated with an LLB (Hons) degree in Law in 2007. She subsequently undertook the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law in London where she was awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Skills in 2008. After being called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2008 (non-practising), Christina trained with Maples and Calder in the Cayman Islands where she gained legal experience in the areas of structured finance, capital markets, mutual and hedge funds. She was additionally involved with cases centred on the company, trust, partnership and insolvency laws of the Cayman Islands. Christina joined Campbells litigation department as an associate following her admission as an Attorney-at-Law in the Cayman Islands in April 2010. In her leisure time, Christina volunteers for "Legal Befrienders", a free legal advice clinic, and well as for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Cayman Islands, of which she is also a past gold award recipient. She is also a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and the Cayman Islands Bar Association. [ top ]
		Damian Juric Telephone:  345 914 2648 Fax:  345 949 8613 E.mail:  djuric@campbells.com.ky Damian graduated from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, with a Bachelor of Laws Degree (1997) and a Master of Laws (Commercial Law) degree (2001) as well as from Cornell University, USA, with a Master of Laws degree (2001). He was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2000 and the New York State Bar in 2004. In 2010, Damian joined Campbells as a senior associate in our corporate team specializing in the areas of investment funds, corporate law and governance and asset management, and was admitted as a Cayman Islands attorney. Prior to joining the firm, Damian worked at Linklaters and Baker & Mckenzie in The Netherlands as well as Kaye Scholer LLP in London, where he specialized in the areas of private investment funds as well as general corporate law. His experience includes advising sponsors, managers, financial institutions and investors in relation to the structuring, formation, negotiation and regulation of a range of private investment funds, including private equity funds, hedge funds and venture capital funds formed in the US, UK and Europe, as well as offshore jurisdictions such as The Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Guernsey, Jersey and Mauritius, involving the drafting of all fund documentation and advising on US and UK regulatory and other requirements related thereto as well as counseling distressed investment funds. [ top ]

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