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14 Apr 2009

Offshore Law Pioneers Expand to Brazil

Cayman Islands law firm Conyers Dill & Pearman now has the official approval and licensing permission for a São Paulo partnership by the the Brazilian Bar Association.

As the only offshore firm to have an office in Brazil, the São Paulo practice will initially focus on investment funds, public company listings and holding company incorporations, providing clients with direct access to the key jurisdictions of the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda and Mauritius.

The São Paulo launch solidifies Conyers’ presence in the fast-growing BRIC markets. In March 2008, the firm became the first and only offshore firm to have an office in Russia with the launch of its Moscow office. In October 2008, Conyers established a presence in Mauritius, a preferred jurisdiction for structuring investments in India, and added the provision of Mauritius legal advice to its roster of jurisdictions to service the Indian, Middle Eastern and African markets.

"Even in this challenging economic climate, the prospects for leading Brazilian businesses in global commerce are immense." Conyers Chairman John Collis commented, "The firm’s entry into Brazil and the other major BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) markets is part of our strategy to provide responsive advice to our clients in the world’s key financial centres and reinforces our strength as a leader in the market for offshore legal services."

Established in 1928, Conyers now has over 550 staff and 150 lawyers specialising in the financial laws of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman and Mauritius Islands, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Moscow, Singapore and now São Paulo.

Meridian Fund Advisers Launch With Hedge Fund Specialist as Head

Hedge fund manager Meridian Global Fund Services Group has launched a hedge fund consulting affiliate team with Joyce E. Heinzerling as head.

The affiliate, Meridian Fund Advisers LLC, will provide hedge fund regulatory and corporate governance best practices advice to hedge funds both within and outside of the Meridian Global client base. In this capacity, Heinzerling will work side by side with her extensive network of leaders in the hedge fund legal and accounting fields.

“As President of Meridian Fund Advisers, Ms. Heinzerling will lead the development and delivery of our new hedge fund consulting affiliate, and help bring us to a position of distinction in the hedge fund administration industry in terms of a value add for our clients," said Randy Troy, President of Meridian Fund Services (USA) LLC.

"Meridian Fund Advisers essentially has been established to broaden and strengthen our dedication to clients in an effort to provide the highest level of client service in light of the increasingly complex issues that now arise in the hedge fund industry resulting from the heightened regulatory environment and exposure to litigation," Mr. Troy added.

Heinzerling joins Meridian Fund Advisers after serving nine years as General Counsel, CCO and Head of Operational Due Diligence at Archery Capital LLC, an investment adviser to emerging manager funds of funds. Prior to joining Archery Capital, Ms Heinzerling spent fourteen years in private practice advising hedge funds, venture capital funds, private equity funds, and mutual funds, as Asset Management Counsel at Shearman & Sterling and, before that, Kramer Levin Naftalis.