Bio
Garry Manley is Corporate Local Practice Group Head in the Isle of Man, where he also leads the Funds and Investment Services team. One of the leading corporate and regulatory lawyers in the Isle of Man, he has extensive experience of advising on a wide range of corporate matters, including mergers & acquisitions, venture capital/private equity investments, debt financing transactions, investment fund formation & operation, corporate restructurings and debt/equity capital markets.
In addition to his general corporate practice, Garry is one of the Isle of Man’s pre-eminent regulatory lawyers, with a particular focus on insurance companies, banks & corporate service providers and on the formation and operation of investment funds. His insurance work sees him advising many of the Isle of Man’s leading insurance groups and managers on the full spectrum of matters including M&A transactions, portfolio transfers, new authorisations, change of control applications, transfers of domicile and ongoing business regulation, including solvency issues.
Garry also advises on a range of novel and developing regulated industries, including payment services and cryptoassets. He is a thought-leader in respect of the regulated cannabis sector on the Isle of Man and is also distinguished in the area of economic substance, having been the only lawyer on the Isle of Man government’s public-private working group since 2019. He is experienced at supporting clients in contentious regulatory matters, from inspection all the way to enforcement proceedings and settlement with the regulator, working where necessary alongside colleagues in Appleby’s market-leading disputes team.
Garry has a first-class law degree from Oxford University, and before joining Appleby he practised for almost a decade in the London, Hong Kong and New York offices of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.
In addition to his advisory work, Garry frequently provides input into legislative developments across a broad range of topics. He was closely involved in the development of the Isle of Man’s merger control regime, and he has also been consulted about legislative developments in the areas of company law, cannabis regulation, economic substance and beneficial ownership.
Bio
Garry Manley is Corporate Local Practice Group Head in the Isle of Man, where he also leads the Funds and Investment Services team. One of the leading corporate and regulatory lawyers in the Isle of Man, he has extensive experience of advising on a wide range of corporate matters, including mergers & acquisitions, venture capital/private equity investments, debt financing transactions, investment fund formation & operation, corporate restructurings and debt/equity capital markets.
In addition to his general corporate practice, Garry is one of the Isle of Man’s pre-eminent regulatory lawyers, with a particular focus on insurance companies, banks & corporate service providers and on the formation and operation of investment funds. His insurance work sees him advising many of the Isle of Man’s leading insurance groups and managers on the full spectrum of matters including M&A transactions, portfolio transfers, new authorisations, change of control applications, transfers of domicile and ongoing business regulation, including solvency issues.
Garry also advises on a range of novel and developing regulated industries, including payment services and cryptoassets. He is a thought-leader in respect of the regulated cannabis sector on the Isle of Man and is also distinguished in the area of economic substance, having been the only lawyer on the Isle of Man government’s public-private working group since 2019. He is experienced at supporting clients in contentious regulatory matters, from inspection all the way to enforcement proceedings and settlement with the regulator, working where necessary alongside colleagues in Appleby’s market-leading disputes team.
Garry has a first-class law degree from Oxford University, and before joining Appleby he practised for almost a decade in the London, Hong Kong and New York offices of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.
In addition to his advisory work, Garry frequently provides input into legislative developments across a broad range of topics. He was closely involved in the development of the Isle of Man’s merger control regime, and he has also been consulted about legislative developments in the areas of company law, cannabis regulation, economic substance and beneficial ownership.
Work Highlights
CORPORATE/M&A
- Advising Blackstone on the €21 billion recapitalisation of Mileway, the largest private real estate transaction ever.
- Advising SBTech (Global) Limited on its $3.3 billion three-way merger with DraftKings Inc. and Diamond Eagle Acquisition Corp.
- Advising London-listed British American Tobacco Plc (BAT) on £1.5 billion block trade.
- Advising Grant Thornton Advisors LLC on its combination with Grant Thornton Ireland/Isle of Man.
- Advising on the establishment of Erso Capital PCC Limited, a $1 billion litigation financing vehicle.
- Advising Tesco Stores Limited on its acquisition of the Isle of Man’s largest supermarket chain.
- Advising the Hollywood studio, STX Entertainment, on its merger with New York-listed Eros International.
- Advising Starwood on its £467.9 million recommended cash offer for London-listed RDI REIT P.L.C.
- Advising Basalt Infrastructure Partners on its recommended takeover of London-listed Manx Telecom plc for approximately £255.9 million.
- Advising TISE-listed Atlantic Leaf Properties, as part of a pan-Crown Dependency Appleby team, on the sale of its UK logistics portfolio for £242.1 million.
- Advising LeoVegas on its acquisition of a majority stake in games developer Push Gaming, through its LeoVentures investment arm.
- Advising IPS-Integrated Project Services, a portfolio company of Alleghany Capital, on its acquisition of Anchorbuoy Limited, the parent company of Linesight, a global consultancy firm.
- Advising on the sale of GW Holdings Ltd, a pre-eminent Isle of Man advisory and insolvency firm to FRP Advisory Group plc, a business advisory firm listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.
- Advising Pension SuperFund Capital on the recommended takeover of STM Group PLC by Jambo SRC Limited for total consideration of up to £39.8 million.
- Advising KKR & Co. on its acquisition of Prometic Bioseparations Ltd from Liminal BioSciences Inc.
- Advising BGF on its $17.2 million investment in Myzone.
INSURANCE
- Advising Utmost International, as part of a pan-Crown Dependency Appleby team, on a court-sanctioned long-term insurance business transfer.
- Advising International Financial Group Limited on the sale of a majority shareholding by Vitruvian Partners to Cinven.
- Advising International Financial Group Limited on its acquisition of a 76% interest in Friends Provident International Limited for £259 million.
- Advising International Financial Group Limited on its acquisition of Isle of Man Assurance Limited’s wealth book of business pursuant to a court-sanctioned transfer scheme.
- Advising Monument Re on its acquisition of LCLI International Life Assurance Company Limited and Charles Taylor Group’s other Isle of Man operations.
- Advising Monument Re on a cross-border court-sanctioned transfer of long-term insurance business from a Guernsey insurer to an Isle of Man insurer.
- Advising on the establishment of the Isle of Man’s first insurance special purpose vehicle.
- Advising on the redomiciliation of an insurance company from Bermuda to the Isle of Man.
REGULATORY & FUNDS
- Advising AlTi Tiedemann Global on the sale of LJ Fiduciary and Alvarium Private Office to Zedra.
- Advising Thomas Miller Investment (Isle of Man) Limited on the sale of its offshore private client investment management business to Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management.
- Advising W.H. Ireland Group plc on the sale of W H Ireland (IOM) Limited to Ravenscroft Holdings.
- Providing corporate and regulatory advice to Blackfridge, the issuer of the first regulated GBP stablecoin to be issued in the British Isles.
- Advising multiple financial services licenceholders on regulatory enforcement situations, including the terms of related settlements with the regulator.
- Advising a financial services licenceholder on the implications for its business of a number of its key persons becoming subject to prohibition orders.
- Advising multiple financial services licenceholders on their preparation for regulatory inspections and subsequent correspondence with the regulator.
- Advising on the formation and operation of multiple regulated collective investment schemes.
- Advising multiple leading global alternative investment management firms on the promotion of their funds to Isle of Man persons.
BANKING, FINANCE, RESTRUCTURING AND DERIVATIVES
- Advising on a major property group’s €10 billion Euro MTN Programme.
- Advising on the hedging arrangements relating to the financing of the construction of two cruise ships with a total build cost of approx. $3.6 billion.
- Advising on the restructuring of a €700 million loan portfolio.
- Advising Athena Topco LP, an entity owned by Coupang, Inc., and funds managed and/or advised by Greenoaks Capital Partners LLC, on the entry into a $500 million bridge loan facility with Farfetch Holdings plc and certain of its subsidiaries.
- Advising an American alternative investment management firm on the financing of its acquisition of an international trust and corporate services provider headquartered in the Isle of Man.
- Advising a consortium of international banks on the assignment of a $75 million ship financing loan.
- Advising on the £40 million financing (and subsequent £70 million refinancing) of one of the UK’s largest independent health care providers.
- Isle of Man counsel to ISDA and author of the informal country update on the use of derivatives in the Isle of Man.
- Frequently advising investment banks on the enforceability of netting and collateral provisions in ISDA Master Agreements, GMRAs and bespoke prime brokerage agreements with Isle of Man counterparties.
This list includes offshore representations only and does not include deals completed whilst at Cleary Gottlieb.
CORPORATE/M&A
- Advising Blackstone on the €21 billion recapitalisation of Mileway, the largest private real estate transaction ever.
- Advising SBTech (Global) Limited on its $3.3 billion three-way merger with DraftKings Inc. and Diamond Eagle Acquisition Corp.
- Advising London-listed British American Tobacco Plc (BAT) on £1.5 billion block trade.
- Advising Grant Thornton Advisors LLC on its combination with Grant Thornton Ireland/Isle of Man.
- Advising on the establishment of Erso Capital PCC Limited, a $1 billion litigation financing vehicle.
- Advising Tesco Stores Limited on its acquisition of the Isle of Man’s largest supermarket chain.
- Advising the Hollywood studio, STX Entertainment, on its merger with New York-listed Eros International.
- Advising Starwood on its £467.9 million recommended cash offer for London-listed RDI REIT P.L.C.
- Advising Basalt Infrastructure Partners on its recommended takeover of London-listed Manx Telecom plc for approximately £255.9 million.
- Advising TISE-listed Atlantic Leaf Properties, as part of a pan-Crown Dependency Appleby team, on the sale of its UK logistics portfolio for £242.1 million.
- Advising LeoVegas on its acquisition of a majority stake in games developer Push Gaming, through its LeoVentures investment arm.
- Advising IPS-Integrated Project Services, a portfolio company of Alleghany Capital, on its acquisition of Anchorbuoy Limited, the parent company of Linesight, a global consultancy firm.
- Advising on the sale of GW Holdings Ltd, a pre-eminent Isle of Man advisory and insolvency firm to FRP Advisory Group plc, a business advisory firm listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.
- Advising Pension SuperFund Capital on the recommended takeover of STM Group PLC by Jambo SRC Limited for total consideration of up to £39.8 million.
- Advising KKR & Co. on its acquisition of Prometic Bioseparations Ltd from Liminal BioSciences Inc.
- Advising BGF on its $17.2 million investment in Myzone.
INSURANCE
- Advising Utmost International, as part of a pan-Crown Dependency Appleby team, on a court-sanctioned long-term insurance business transfer.
- Advising International Financial Group Limited on the sale of a majority shareholding by Vitruvian Partners to Cinven.
- Advising International Financial Group Limited on its acquisition of a 76% interest in Friends Provident International Limited for £259 million.
- Advising International Financial Group Limited on its acquisition of Isle of Man Assurance Limited’s wealth book of business pursuant to a court-sanctioned transfer scheme.
- Advising Monument Re on its acquisition of LCLI International Life Assurance Company Limited and Charles Taylor Group’s other Isle of Man operations.
- Advising Monument Re on a cross-border court-sanctioned transfer of long-term insurance business from a Guernsey insurer to an Isle of Man insurer.
- Advising on the establishment of the Isle of Man’s first insurance special purpose vehicle.
- Advising on the redomiciliation of an insurance company from Bermuda to the Isle of Man.
REGULATORY & FUNDS
- Advising AlTi Tiedemann Global on the sale of LJ Fiduciary and Alvarium Private Office to Zedra.
- Advising Thomas Miller Investment (Isle of Man) Limited on the sale of its offshore private client investment management business to Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management.
- Advising W.H. Ireland Group plc on the sale of W H Ireland (IOM) Limited to Ravenscroft Holdings.
- Providing corporate and regulatory advice to Blackfridge, the issuer of the first regulated GBP stablecoin to be issued in the British Isles.
- Advising multiple financial services licenceholders on regulatory enforcement situations, including the terms of related settlements with the regulator.
- Advising a financial services licenceholder on the implications for its business of a number of its key persons becoming subject to prohibition orders.
- Advising multiple financial services licenceholders on their preparation for regulatory inspections and subsequent correspondence with the regulator.
- Advising on the formation and operation of multiple regulated collective investment schemes.
- Advising multiple leading global alternative investment management firms on the promotion of their funds to Isle of Man persons.
BANKING, FINANCE, RESTRUCTURING AND DERIVATIVES
- Advising on a major property group’s €10 billion Euro MTN Programme.
- Advising on the hedging arrangements relating to the financing of the construction of two cruise ships with a total build cost of approx. $3.6 billion.
- Advising on the restructuring of a €700 million loan portfolio.
- Advising Athena Topco LP, an entity owned by Coupang, Inc., and funds managed and/or advised by Greenoaks Capital Partners LLC, on the entry into a $500 million bridge loan facility with Farfetch Holdings plc and certain of its subsidiaries.
- Advising an American alternative investment management firm on the financing of its acquisition of an international trust and corporate services provider headquartered in the Isle of Man.
- Advising a consortium of international banks on the assignment of a $75 million ship financing loan.
- Advising on the £40 million financing (and subsequent £70 million refinancing) of one of the UK’s largest independent health care providers.
- Isle of Man counsel to ISDA and author of the informal country update on the use of derivatives in the Isle of Man.
- Frequently advising investment banks on the enforceability of netting and collateral provisions in ISDA Master Agreements, GMRAs and bespoke prime brokerage agreements with Isle of Man counterparties.
This list includes offshore representations only and does not include deals completed whilst at Cleary Gottlieb.
Recognition
Legal 500 UK recognises Garry as a “Leading Partner” within the “Corporate & Commercial”, “Insurance & Pensions” and “Commercial Property” practice areas. Clients describe him as “exceptional”, noting that he “is confident in his subject matter and through his understanding of the IOM insurance regulations, he provides proactive and innovative solutions.” Previous editions praised his responsiveness and ability to explain complex legal principles in layman’s terms and singled out his strong understanding of insurance law.
Chambers and Partners UK and Chambers Global individually recognise Garry within the “Corporate & Finance” practice area, and IFLR1000 ranks Garry as a Notable Practitioner in the Isle of Man and British Virgin Islands editions.
Spear’s 500 also recognises Garry, where he is the only Isle of Man lawyer recommended in the “Corporate, Litigation & Disputes Lawyers” category.
Legal 500 UK recognises Garry as a “Leading Partner” within the “Corporate & Commercial”, “Insurance & Pensions” and “Commercial Property” practice areas. Clients describe him as “exceptional”, noting that he “is confident in his subject matter and through his understanding of the IOM insurance regulations, he provides proactive and innovative solutions.” Previous editions praised his responsiveness and ability to explain complex legal principles in layman’s terms and singled out his strong understanding of insurance law.
Chambers and Partners UK and Chambers Global individually recognise Garry within the “Corporate & Finance” practice area, and IFLR1000 ranks Garry as a Notable Practitioner in the Isle of Man and British Virgin Islands editions.
Spear’s 500 also recognises Garry, where he is the only Isle of Man lawyer recommended in the “Corporate, Litigation & Disputes Lawyers” category.
Qualifications & Education
Garry is an Isle of Man advocate and a solicitor in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (British Virgin Islands) and is also a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales (non practising).
He received a first-class law degree from Oxford University, where he placed in the top 10 in his year and received numerous academic awards, including the Quadrant Chambers Prize for obtaining the highest mark in the university in one of his papers.
- Oxford University (University College)
Garry is an Isle of Man advocate and a solicitor in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (British Virgin Islands) and is also a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales (non practising).
He received a first-class law degree from Oxford University, where he placed in the top 10 in his year and received numerous academic awards, including the Quadrant Chambers Prize for obtaining the highest mark in the university in one of his papers.
- Oxford University (University College)
‘I would single out Garry Manley. Garry is the complete package; first class academics, terrific international experience at a blue chip US firm, excellent technical skills, commercial (on both sides of the coin), very personable and has an acute sense of ESG responsibility both locally and beyond.’