Appleby’s Isle of Man office has retained its Tier 1 position in the latest rankings from International Financial Law Review.

The 2016 IFLR1000 ratings for western European financial and corporate lawyers ranks Appleby in the top level, and identifies Partner and Isle of Man Corporate Finance Team leader Simon Cain as a leading lawyer in the field. Hong Kong-based John Melia, who was formerly a partner in the Isle of Man office and practices Manx law, is also listed as a leading lawyer.

IFLR1000 is compiled following extensive independent research, including assessment of transactions and reviews by both peers and clients. First published in 1990, it is a highly regarded guide to financial and corporate lawyers in more than 120 jurisdictions.

In its assessment of the Isle of Man office, IFLR1000 said: “Appleby's international reach is a clear point of distinction in the Manx market, with the firm able to point to offices not only in the other crown dependencies but also in offshore centres around the world.
“A fund client who worked with the firm on a variety of matters says: ‘We have worked with four different lawyers within Appleby, covering areas such as investment fund M&A, loan contract documentation and defending potential litigation and have found them excellent on all counts’.”

The guide adds there was individual praise for Michelle Brook, Counsel in the Corporate department, who a banking referral lawyer described as “a pleasure to work with, knows her stuff and is appropriately commercial”, and Simon Harding, Partner and Isle of Man Team Leader for the Funds & Investment Services team, who a finance client described as “excellent, probably the best in the jurisdiction”.

Listing highlights from Appleby’s work over the past 12 months, IFLR1000 points to Simon Harding's advice to Oldford Group on its sale to Amaya Gaming, Simon Cain advising the Triumph Group on the acquisition of GE Aviation Systems, and Kyle Sutherland acting for Playtech on an issue of convertible bonds.

It also includes Managing Partner Faye Moffett advising Katanga Mining on an amendment to a term loan facility, working alongside US firm Cahill Gordon and Reindel advising the lenders on a loan to Amaya Gaming, and acting alongside Simon Cain for Manx Telecom on its IPO on the London AIM market.

Simon Cain said: “Maintaining our Tier 1 ranking in IFLR1000 is a significant acknowledgment of our high quality of experience and expertise, and the exceptional level of service we deliver to clients. The guide recognises not only the value of Appleby’s extensive global network to our clients, but also identifies the strength in depth of the Isle of Man team, and I’m delighted to see Michelle Brook and Simon Harding receiving individual praise.”

Faye added: “Being the subject of rigorous external scrutiny, through independent research and feedback from peers and clients, ensures a firm receives a genuine measure of its performance. In recent weeks we have received top level ratings for our work and acclaim for our lawyers from IFLR1000, The Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal and the Chambers and Partners UK Guide, which is a real tribute to everyone at the Isle of Man office.”