Appleby Bermuda Celebrates Six Promotions, Recognising Standout Legal Talent

Cathryn Minors (Partner) has a wide range of experience in corporate and commercial matters, having worked in the Bermuda market for over a decade. Her particular expertise includes advising on insurance and reinsurance matters involving life insurance securitizations, catastrophe bonds, special purpose insurers, and long-term and general business commercial re/insurers. Her practice includes corporate structuring and governance, equity and debt issuances (including regulatory capital), joint ventures, securitizations, mergers and acquisitions, shareholder arrangements, restructuring, regulatory compliance and licensing advice. Prior to joining Appleby, Cathryn worked in the corporate department of two other offshore law firms in Bermuda and Hong Kong. Cathryn’s experience also includes working as legal counsel for a Bermuda-based life re/insurer. Cathryn is recognised as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ by Legal 500 in the Insurance/Reinsurance category.

Katie Blundy (Counsel*) focuses her practice on corporate and commercial transactions, with particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and capital markets transactions. She advises clients on the full range of transactional matters, including public offerings, private placements, and corporate finance transactions. In support of her transactional practice, Katie provides guidance on regulatory considerations arising in corporate deals, including Bermuda economic substance considerations and regularly liaises with Bermuda regulators in connection with complex transactions. Before joining Appleby, Katie practiced as a corporate and securities lawyer at a top tier law firm in Vancouver. She was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 2016. Katie is recognised as a ‘Leading Associate’ by Legal 500 in the Regulatory and Compliance category.

Arielle DeSilva (Counsel) advises on a range of corporate and commercial matters across a comprehensive range of Bermuda entities including private and public companies, partnerships, LLC’s and segregated accounts companies. She has notable experience acting in connection with multi-jurisdictional finance and fund finance transactions; the establishment and development of multiple fund structures, including those investing in ILS; cross-border mergers and acquisitions; and large multi-jurisdictional reorganizations. Arielle is recognised as a ‘Leading Associate’ in the Banking, Finance & Capital Markets category by Legal 500 and as an ‘Associate to Watch’ in the Corporate & Finance category by Chambers Global. Client testimonials describe Arielle as “an excellent lawyer” and “highly responsive and extremely efficient in explaining and clarifying regulatory aspects”.

Hailee Forde (Counsel*) provides strategic advice to both international and local clients on a broad range of high-value corporate and commercial matters. She specialises in complex corporate finance, multi-jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions, and intricate group restructurings, often involving sophisticated cross-border elements. Hailee is also actively involved in advising on Bermuda’s evolving regulatory landscape, including compliance with beneficial ownership and economic substance requirements. Prior to joining Appleby, Hailee practiced at leading New Zealand firms, where she developed deep expertise in property and development finance, acquisition finance, and corporate governance. She is an admitted Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand.

Larissa Dziubenko (Senior Associate*) maintains a broad corporate and commercial practice, advising public and private institutional clients and multinational corporations on sophisticated cross border financing and M&A transactions and helps clients navigate related Bermuda regulatory requirements. Larissa has extensive experience advising on financing and refinancing matters, including secured and unsecured loans, syndicated loans and acquisition financings. She regularly drafts and advises on security packages and intercreditor arrangements involving complex Bermuda structures, including companies, LLCs, and partnerships. Larissa also regularly advises on cross-border mergers/amalgamations, acquisitions, reorganizations and entity formations. Prior to joining Appleby, she practiced at a top tier firm in Vancouver.

Ryan Taylor (Senior Associate*) has broad experience with international arbitration and complex cross-border disputes, with particular expertise in policyholder contentious insurance disputes and high-value financial matters. Ryan has experience supporting arbitration proceedings under various major institutional rules. Prior to joining Appleby, Ryan practised at a leading corporate securities litigation firm in Toronto, where he was involved in a range of complex disputes, including class actions concerning market conduct and shareholder rights. He also gained in-house experience with one of Canada’s largest insurers, working across property & casualty and specialty lines, which informs his practical and commercially focused approach to insurance-related disputes. Ryan was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 2020.

Brad Adderley, Managing Partner and Head of Appleby’s Corporate practice in Bermuda, commented, “These promotions recognise six exceptional lawyers, each making a significant contribution to Appleby and the high standards we set for excellence in our work and client delivery. Through their technical expertise, professionalism and commitment to quality, each consistently delivers outstanding work for our clients while also strengthening their teams through collaboration and collegiality. We are proud to recognise their achievements and look forward to their continued growth and impact.”

*Pending immigration approval