Senior Counsel - Insurance - Cayman Islands

Overview of role

The Cayman Islands Insurance team advises global insurers and reinsurers, insurance managers, captive sponsors, P&C and life companies, cedants, insurance-linked securities issuers, and asset managers entering the reinsurance market. The team handles the full lifecycle of insurance regulatory and transactional matters across all licence classes, including SPC and PIC structuring, reinsurance platform formations, and insurance-linked securities transactions.

We seek suitably qualified current or prospective Senior Counsels with a minimum of 8 years post qualification experience, preferably Caymanians or Residents with Employment Rights holders, who are talented and highly motivated to join our dynamic Insurance team, in the Cayman Islands. This is an exceptional opportunity to work on cutting-edge legal matters for high-profile clients and be involved in a wide range of complex and rewarding legal work.

Duties, Responsibilities & Person Specification

Senior Counsels - 8years+ PQE

Insurance, Cayman Islands

Salary Band US$250,000 - US$300,000

• Proactively assist in the expansion and growth of the Cayman office’s Insurance practice, working alongside the Firm’s Insurance practices across Walkers’ offices. This will involve becoming engaged in, and (in time) leading the implementation of, cross-border and cross-practice group initiatives aimed at ensuring the Firm leverages its business across the global business.
• Participating as a senior team member in undertaking insurance cross-jurisdictional analysis and providing holistic solutions, advising regulated businesses on contentious insurance matters.
• Act as a senior advisor and matter leader on complex insurance mandates across M&A, governance, solvency, reinsurance, portfolio transfers, group restructurings, SPC and PIC structuring, insurance-linked securities transactions, and cross-border transactions.
• Provide strategic, high-level advice to boards, global insurers, reinsurers, insurance managers, captive sponsors, pension structures, intermediaries and financial institutions.
• Proactively lead the team in developing and expanding client relationships important to the Firm’s success and at the same time becoming a valued resource to clients. This will involve taking ownership of the development of relationships with core clients, referral of work and cross selling the Insurance practice across the Firm.
• Provide technically sound advice and highly responsive service to clients, and support colleagues, and partners on all client matters.
• Participate as a senior team member in the Insurance team, working alongside the Partners as a key figure within the team by supervising and supporting junior Fee Earners.
• Maintain a strong and sustained record of revenue generation and profitability; adhering to recommended billing rates; manage costs appropriately; ensure personal utilization meets expectations.
• Mentor, train and supervise junior lawyers and legal support staff, ensuring the delivery of consistently high-quality legal services. Proven ability to work in a collaborative environment, a team player and role model, able to empower others to deliver their best work.
• Adhere to Firm’s values and professional ethics and proactively seek resolution of conflicts.
• Lead in the development of the practice’s know-how, share knowledge, and participate in conferences, seminars and internal training.
• Leading on matters important to the Firm and using the global network to build Firm resources.

Education, Skills & Experience

• Qualified in the Cayman Islands or another Commonwealth jurisdiction, with a minimum of 8 years’ post-qualification experience at a top-tier international or leading offshore law firm.
• Strong academic background, preferably a minimum Upper Second-Class (2.1) Honours law degree from a Tier 1 university.
• Ambitious, commercially driven lawyer with strong intellect and experience in an established law firm.
• Excellent legal skills, with a solid understanding of relevant markets, client industries, and financial services sectors (banking, insurance, securities investment business, corporate administration, investment funds, and cross-border investigations).
• Exceptional drafting skills, delivering innovative, tailored legal solutions.
• Highly proficient in written and verbal communication, demonstrating thorough and careful legal analysis.
• Demonstrates enthusiasm for legal practice and ability to align with a Partner on a key market sector for personal business development.
• Proven ability to lead and manage complex transactions, work collaboratively, and independently lead client matters while providing commercially sound advice.
• Strong financial discipline, managing personal performance against targets and contributing to team billing objectives.
• Maintains WIP and AR within firm guidelines and delivers accurate, timely work in a high-performance environment.
• Experienced with legal precedents and law firm systems (timekeeping, billing), consistently achieving or exceeding billing and collection targets.
• Adheres to firm matter administration procedures, including accurate and timely time recording.
• Actively contributes to the growth of the Cayman Islands Insurance practice and the wider global group.
• Demonstrates business development and marketing experience within a top-tier international or offshore firm.
• Builds and services strong client and referrer relationships, creating lasting personal connections.
• Cross-sells across practice groups and offices, and supports client acquisition efforts.
• Takes ownership of billing processes, ensuring timely invoicing, full daily time recording, and proactive matter progression without prompting.
• Leads by example in developing and sharing legal knowledge and best practices within the team.
• Widely regarded as trustworthy and credible internally and with clients.
• Demonstrates leadership, strong communication, respect, and serves as a role model.
• Supports and drives practice group strategy, with a proven record of financial management.
• Maintains excellent risk management and compliance standards.
• Contributes to team knowledge through memos, precedents, templates, training, and insights.
• Develops recognition in legal directories and acts as a key knowledge resource within the team.
• Possesses strong commercial awareness of the international reinsurance market, including trends in insurance–asset management convergence, NAIC Qualified Jurisdiction developments, and insurance-linked investment structures.

Walkers offers a dynamic working environment with opportunities for career progression and an excellent remuneration package, including a discretionary performance-based bonus, pension and fully covered health insurance for employees and 5 weeks' vacation. Remuneration will commensurate with qualifications and experience.

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