James Bergstrom
Partner | Legal
Cayman Islands
Partner
Cayman Islands
Big things are happening at Ogier. Change is embedded in everything we do. It is redefining our talent, our ways of working, our platforms of delivery, our culture.
Services
We have the expertise to handle the most demanding transactions. Our commercial understanding and experience of working with leading financial institutions, professional advisers and regulatory bodies means we add real value to clients’ businesses.
Sectors
Our sector approach relies on smart collaboration between teams who have a deep understanding of related businesses and industry dynamics. The specific combination of our highly informed experts helps our clients to see around corners.
We have the expertise to handle the most demanding transactions. Our commercial understanding and experience of working with leading financial institutions, professional advisers and regulatory bodies means we add real value to clients’ businesses.
Legal
Corporate and Fiduciary
Consulting
Banking and Finance
Corporate
Dispute Resolution
Employment law
Intellectual Property
Investment Funds
Listing services
Local Legal Services
Private Wealth
Property law
Regulatory
Restructuring and Insolvency
Tax
Banking and Finance overview
Asset Finance
CAYLUX Fund Finance
Debt Capital Markets
Derivatives
Fund Finance
Islamic Finance
Leveraged Finance
Listing services
Real Estate Finance
Regulatory
Restructuring and Insolvency
Structured Finance
Sustainable Finance
Corporate overview
Economic Substance
EIIS Services in Ireland
Equity Capital Markets
Insurance and Reinsurance
Listing services
Mergers and Acquisitions
Private Equity
Real Estate Structuring, Acquisitions and Disposals
Regulatory
Technology and Web3
Dispute Resolution overview
Banking Disputes
Corporate and Financial Services Disputes
Crypto Disputes
Enforcement of Judgments and Awards
Fraud and Asset Tracing
Funds Disputes
Insurance Disputes
International Arbitration
Regulatory
Restructuring and Insolvency
Section 238 Shareholder Appraisal Rights
Shareholder and Valuation Disputes
Trusts Disputes and Applications
Investment Funds overview
Hedge Funds
Managers and Sponsors
Private Equity
Real Estate, Infrastructure and Energy Funds
Regulatory
Sustainable Investing and Impact Funds
Technology and Web3
Local Legal Services overview
Cayman Local Legal Services
Channel Islands Local Legal Services
Ireland Local Legal Services
Employment law
Estate Planning, Wills and Probate
Expat services
Family Office
Intellectual Property
Make your Guernsey will online
Make your Jersey lasting power of attorney online
Make your Jersey will online
Notary public services
Relocating your business
Relocating your family
Property law
Accounting and Financial Reporting Services - Ogier Global
Cayman Islands AML/CFT training - Ogier Global
Corporate Services - Ogier Global
Debt Capital Markets - Ogier Global
Fund Services - Ogier Global
Governance Services - Ogier Global
Investor Services - Ogier Global
Ogier Connect - Ogier Global
Private Wealth Services - Ogier Global
Real Estate Services - Ogier Global
Regulatory and Compliance Services - Ogier Global
Our sector approach relies on smart collaboration between teams who have a deep understanding of related businesses and industry dynamics. The specific combination of our highly informed experts helps our clients to see around corners.
Ogier provides practical advice on BVI, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Irish, Jersey and Luxembourg law through our global network of offices across the Asian, Caribbean and European timezones. Ogier is the only firm to advise on this unique combination of laws.
Keep up to date with industry insights, analysis and reviews. Find out about the work of our expert teams and subscribe to receive our newsletters straight to your inbox.
Fresh thinking, sharper opinion.
We get straight to the point, managing complexity to get to the essentials. Our global network of offices covers every time zone.
No Content Set
Exception:
Website.Models.ViewModels.Components.General.Banners.BannerComponentVm
Insight
18 November 2021
Cayman Islands
3 min read
This article first appeared in Hedgeweek following Ogier's selection as winner of the Best Offshore Law Firm category at the Hedgeweek Americas Awards 2021.
The continued growth in scope of global financial regulation has had an impact on every aspect of the investment funds industry, across all jurisdictions, including the Cayman Islands.
According to James Bergstrom, Global Head of Investment Funds at Ogier, voted this year’s Best Offshore Law Firm: “The strength of our regulatory expertise remains at the forefront of our offering, as these developments continue to pose challenges for clients.”
In this environment, managers are looking increasingly to law firms, such as Ogier, that can provide multi-jurisdictional support and consistency of client service.
“Often clients don't just need assistance on Cayman Islands regulatory matters, but support from our offices in Luxembourg and the Channel Islands, as well as our BVI and Hong Kong teams,” says James.
“In addition to jurisdictional reach, our institutional clients can also rely on our broader advisory services to complement our investment funds advice, such as in fund finance, corporate restructuring and insolvency matters,” he adds.
The key skills clients want from Ogier are expertise and experience. Ogier’s extensive experience in the funds market gives the firm an ability to provide managers with a more tailored and adaptable approach to fund set-up and structuring. Ogier is therefore able to assist managers in avoiding or better navigating some of the potential challenges that they could face further down the line.
James says: “This is why we will advise a first-time fund manager to give themselves as much flexibility as possible, especially in the fund documents. Don’t be too prescriptive with terms and conditions in the Investment Management Agreement – markets change, and your strategy should have as much flexibility as possible.”
Ogier was quick to recognise the increasing client demand for expertise in the environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment space and was the first offshore law firm to establish a dedicated Sustainable Investing and Impact Funds practice. Since then it has been at the forefront of advising clients which are innovating in response to various ESG related externalities and market pressures.
In November 2020, it launched Sustainable Investment Consulting, an advisory service that works shoulder-to-shoulder with its legal services to provide clients with a breadth of ESG and impact expertise.
Ogier has been well-placed to capitalise on the need for its services and has experienced an outstanding year of growth: “We started 2020 with 570 people and now we have more than 700, as a direct result of client demand,” says James.
“We've been talking for some years about autonomy and flexibility for our workforce and so, from Ogier's perspective, the transition to adapt more flexible working arrangements was a smooth one, and we are proud of the way in which we have continued to support our own people and our clients through the challenges of the past 18 months.”
As the industry evolves away from the pandemic over the next 12-18 months and beyond, James predicts that ESG will be a mainstay.
“Combating climate change will be the first driver, and transparency will be another major one,” he says.
“People will expect others to be accountable and most entrepreneurs and business owners will want to be seen to be accountable.”
As sustainable investing goes from niche to mainstream, there is going to be an increased demand in the hedge fund industry for initiatives and innovation at every level, which Ogier will be well placed to service.
James Bergstrom
Partner | Legal
Cayman Islands
Partner
Cayman Islands
Contact James
Back
Kate Hodson 凯特 ·赫臣
Partner and Head of ESG (Legal) 合伙人 | Legal
Hong Kong
Partner and Head of ESG (Legal) 合伙人
Hong Kong
Contact Kate
Back
Simon Schilder
Partner | Legal
British Virgin Islands
Partner
British Virgin Islands
Contact Simon
Back
Niamh Lalor
Partner | Legal
Jersey
Partner
Jersey
Contact Niamh
Back
Justin Savage
Partner | Legal
Cayman Islands
Partner
Cayman Islands
Contact Justin
Back
Tim Clipstone
Partner | Legal
British Virgin Islands, Guernsey
Partner
British Virgin Islands, Guernsey
Contact Tim
Back
Leonie Kelly
Head of Sustainable Investment Consulting | Consulting
Hong Kong
Head of Sustainable Investment Consulting
Hong Kong
Contact Leonie
Back
Ogier is a professional services firm with the knowledge and expertise to handle the most demanding and complex transactions and provide expert, efficient and cost-effective services to all our clients. We regularly win awards for the quality of our client service, our work and our people.
This client briefing has been prepared for clients and professional associates of Ogier. The information and expressions of opinion which it contains are not intended to be a comprehensive study or to provide legal advice and should not be treated as a substitute for specific advice concerning individual situations.
Regulatory information can be found under Legal Notice
Sign up to receive updates and newsletters from us.
Sign up
No Content Set
Exception:
Website.Models.ViewModels.Blocks.SiteBlocks.CookiePolicySiteBlockVm