Bio
Juan Thornley is a partner in the Corporate department with a broad corporate practice. He has extensive experience in M&A, restructuring and regulatory matters, with particular focus on the financial services sector.
He heads the Isle of Man Regulatory and Insurance & Pensions teams. He also has a wealth of experience acting on public M&A transactions.
He is rated in Legal 500 as a ‘Leading Individual’ for Corporate and Commercial and referred to as a “stand-out individual”, “recommended for his speed of response, accuracy and being good to work with” and “naturally commercial, extremely client friendly and translates complex regulatory issues into business speak effectively … my go to for Isle of Man regulatory advice.’
Bio
Juan Thornley is a partner in the Corporate department with a broad corporate practice. He has extensive experience in M&A, restructuring and regulatory matters, with particular focus on the financial services sector.
He heads the Isle of Man Regulatory and Insurance & Pensions teams. He also has a wealth of experience acting on public M&A transactions.
He is rated in Legal 500 as a ‘Leading Individual’ for Corporate and Commercial and referred to as a “stand-out individual”, “recommended for his speed of response, accuracy and being good to work with” and “naturally commercial, extremely client friendly and translates complex regulatory issues into business speak effectively … my go to for Isle of Man regulatory advice.’
Work Highlights
- Acting for Apex Group on its acquisition of fund administration software business Pacific Fund Systems.
- Acting for Horizon Capital on the Isle of Man aspects of its majority investment in fiduciary services business Boston Multi Family Office.
- Acting for Zurich International Life Limited on the sale of its closed book of long term life insurance business carried on by its Singapore branch to Monument Group.
- Acting as Isle of Man counsel to Quilter plc on the sale of its international life insurance business to Utmost.
- Advising an S&P500 real estate logistics trust on the sale of a logistics and warehouses portfolio.
- Acting for the multi-billion pound infrastructure, transport and real estate investment group The Peel Group on a range of corporate matters.
- Advising on the sale of an Isle of Man based captive insurance company.
- Acting as lead adviser to The Royal Bank of Scotland International Limited on the transfer of the Isle of Man Bank deposit-taking, lending, investment and insurance intermediary business to RBSI, by way of court-sanctioned transfer scheme.
- Advising Santander on the transfer of its deposit-taking and mortgage businesses in the Isle of Man for ring-fencing purposes, pursuant to a court-sanctioned scheme.
- Acting for the Barclays group on the transfer of the business of Barclays Private Clients International Limited to Barclays Bank plc.
- Advising CVC and Blackstone in relation to Isle of Man aspects of its £3 billion acquisition of FTSE 250 company Paysafe plc.
- Acting for Apex Group on its acquisition of fund administration software business Pacific Fund Systems.
- Acting for Horizon Capital on the Isle of Man aspects of its majority investment in fiduciary services business Boston Multi Family Office.
- Acting for Zurich International Life Limited on the sale of its closed book of long term life insurance business carried on by its Singapore branch to Monument Group.
- Acting as Isle of Man counsel to Quilter plc on the sale of its international life insurance business to Utmost.
- Advising an S&P500 real estate logistics trust on the sale of a logistics and warehouses portfolio.
- Acting for the multi-billion pound infrastructure, transport and real estate investment group The Peel Group on a range of corporate matters.
- Advising on the sale of an Isle of Man based captive insurance company.
- Acting as lead adviser to The Royal Bank of Scotland International Limited on the transfer of the Isle of Man Bank deposit-taking, lending, investment and insurance intermediary business to RBSI, by way of court-sanctioned transfer scheme.
- Advising Santander on the transfer of its deposit-taking and mortgage businesses in the Isle of Man for ring-fencing purposes, pursuant to a court-sanctioned scheme.
- Acting for the Barclays group on the transfer of the business of Barclays Private Clients International Limited to Barclays Bank plc.
- Advising CVC and Blackstone in relation to Isle of Man aspects of its £3 billion acquisition of FTSE 250 company Paysafe plc.
Recognition
Juan is ranked within the Legal 500 UK 2025 as a ‘Leading Partner’ in the ‘Corporate and Commercial’ and ‘Insurance and Pensions’ practice areas. Client testimonials describe Juan as “outstanding”. Previous Legal 500 editions referred to Juan as a “stand-out individual” and “recommended for his speed of response, accuracy and being good to work with”.
Chambers and Partners UK 2025 also individually recognise Juan within ‘Corporate and Finance’. Clients praised Juan as “an excellent resource”, that he “assists with complex matters and demonstrates both clarity and pragmatism” and is “excellent to work with, very responsive and knowledgeable”. Previous recognition described Juan as “not afraid of challenging perceived orthodoxy in tricky areas”.
The IFLR1000 ranks Juan as a ‘Highly Regarded’ lawyer for financial services, regulatory, restructuring and M&A.
Juan is ranked within the Legal 500 UK 2025 as a ‘Leading Partner’ in the ‘Corporate and Commercial’ and ‘Insurance and Pensions’ practice areas. Client testimonials describe Juan as “outstanding”. Previous Legal 500 editions referred to Juan as a “stand-out individual” and “recommended for his speed of response, accuracy and being good to work with”.
Chambers and Partners UK 2025 also individually recognise Juan within ‘Corporate and Finance’. Clients praised Juan as “an excellent resource”, that he “assists with complex matters and demonstrates both clarity and pragmatism” and is “excellent to work with, very responsive and knowledgeable”. Previous recognition described Juan as “not afraid of challenging perceived orthodoxy in tricky areas”.
The IFLR1000 ranks Juan as a ‘Highly Regarded’ lawyer for financial services, regulatory, restructuring and M&A.
Qualifications & Education
Juan is an Isle of Man Advocate, BVI Attorney and a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales (non-practising).
- College of Law, London (England)
- University of Nottingham (England)
Juan is an Isle of Man Advocate, BVI Attorney and a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales (non-practising).
- College of Law, London (England)
- University of Nottingham (England)
“excellent to work with, very responsive and knowledgeable”