Bio
Luke is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution Practice Group in the Cayman Islands.
He has extensive Cayman litigation experience, particularly in respect of domestic and cross-border insolvency matters. He also advises on a wide range of commercial disputes – from strategic pre-litigation advice through to trial – including those relating to hedge funds and private equity funds, banking & financial services and instances of fraud/director misconduct. He has a keen interest in alternative dispute resolution, particularly arbitration (including international enforcement).
Luke has experience conducting cases before the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, the Court of Appeal and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
Prior to joining Appleby, Luke spent over 6 years at another dispute resolution practice in the Cayman Islands, before which he practiced at a leading law firm in the UK.
Bio
Luke is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution Practice Group in the Cayman Islands.
He has extensive Cayman litigation experience, particularly in respect of domestic and cross-border insolvency matters. He also advises on a wide range of commercial disputes – from strategic pre-litigation advice through to trial – including those relating to hedge funds and private equity funds, banking & financial services and instances of fraud/director misconduct. He has a keen interest in alternative dispute resolution, particularly arbitration (including international enforcement).
Luke has experience conducting cases before the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, the Court of Appeal and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
Prior to joining Appleby, Luke spent over 6 years at another dispute resolution practice in the Cayman Islands, before which he practiced at a leading law firm in the UK.
Work Highlights
- Primeo Fund v HSBC – acting for the liquidators in their claims against the administrator and custodian for breach of duty in relation to investments lost in the Madoff Ponzi scheme (at least $750m), establishing binding authority (including before the Privy Council on multiple occasions) on issues such as reflective loss, limitation and contributory negligence*.
- General Electric Company – acting in the successful defence of a $220m commercial litigation claim*.
- HRH Princess Deema – obtaining urgent injunctive relief and the appointment of receivers arising from proceedings against a former Linklaters Partner, relating to the misappropriation of a $25m investment fund, resulting in a damages award of $40m*.
- Advising one of the world’s leading crypto-exchanges in judicial review proceedings in respect of international regulatory matters*.
- Acting for the petitioner in just and equitable winding up proceedings arising from a substantial shareholder dispute involving leading healthcare companies across multiple jurisdictions*.
- Appearing for leading insolvency practitioners (including from PwC, Deloitte and Grant Thornton) in various insolvency and receivership related proceedings before the Grand Court*.
*Prior to joining Appleby
- Primeo Fund v HSBC – acting for the liquidators in their claims against the administrator and custodian for breach of duty in relation to investments lost in the Madoff Ponzi scheme (at least $750m), establishing binding authority (including before the Privy Council on multiple occasions) on issues such as reflective loss, limitation and contributory negligence*.
- General Electric Company – acting in the successful defence of a $220m commercial litigation claim*.
- HRH Princess Deema – obtaining urgent injunctive relief and the appointment of receivers arising from proceedings against a former Linklaters Partner, relating to the misappropriation of a $25m investment fund, resulting in a damages award of $40m*.
- Advising one of the world’s leading crypto-exchanges in judicial review proceedings in respect of international regulatory matters*.
- Acting for the petitioner in just and equitable winding up proceedings arising from a substantial shareholder dispute involving leading healthcare companies across multiple jurisdictions*.
- Appearing for leading insolvency practitioners (including from PwC, Deloitte and Grant Thornton) in various insolvency and receivership related proceedings before the Grand Court*.
*Prior to joining Appleby
Recognition
“Highly skilled Cayman counsel” who has “mastered the art of case handling.” The source also praises his “ability to keep [the] client in the know on highly time sensitive matters whilst going above and beyond to meet impossible deadlines.” – Legal 500
“Highly skilled Cayman counsel” who has “mastered the art of case handling.” The source also praises his “ability to keep [the] client in the know on highly time sensitive matters whilst going above and beyond to meet impossible deadlines.” – Legal 500
Qualifications & Education
- INSOL Future Leaders Programme, 2024
- Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (ACIArb), 2022
- Admitted as an attorney-at-law in the Cayman Islands, 2019
- Admitted as a Solicitor in Scotland, 2015
- University of Aberdeen (LLB, First Class Honours); Diploma in Professional Legal Practice
- INSOL Future Leaders Programme, 2024
- Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (ACIArb), 2022
- Admitted as an attorney-at-law in the Cayman Islands, 2019
- Admitted as a Solicitor in Scotland, 2015
- University of Aberdeen (LLB, First Class Honours); Diploma in Professional Legal Practice
Memberships & Associations
- Recovery and Insolvency Specialists Association (RISA Cayman), where he serves as a committee Chairman
- International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals (INSOL)
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
- Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association (CILPA)
- Recovery and Insolvency Specialists Association (RISA Cayman), where he serves as a committee Chairman
- International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals (INSOL)
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
- Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association (CILPA)
