Kim Paiva

Kim is a Group Partner* in Walkers' Guernsey Banking & Finance Practice Group and has a broad range of experience on banking matters.

She specialises in acquisition finance, leveraged finance, corporate finance, real estate finance, asset finance and group restructuring transactions. Her clients include a range of financial institutions, alternative lenders and corporates. Kim is part of our Global Aviation Group and she advises both owners, leasing companies and financiers on transactions involving aircraft on 2-REG (Guernsey’s aircraft registry). Having spent five years in South Africa’s largest law firm, Kim also works with partners and senior counsel across Walkers offices to develop relationships with South African clients and intermediaries.

Kim has over 17 years’ experience in private practice both on and offshore and is recognised by Legal 500 as a next generation partner and as a rising star partner in IFLR 1000.

*not admitted in Guernsey and not a member of Walkers (Guernsey) LLP

Kim Paiva at Walkers has assembled a wonderful team that is approachable yet driven to provide the best service for their clients. Kim in particular has the ability to perform her role as Group Partner yet manage each transaction with the oversight and knowledge required.

Legal 500

Experience and recent work

Before joining Walkers in 2010, Kim was in the Business and Trust Law team at another leading offshore firm. Before relocating to Guernsey in 2009, she was a corporate and commercial attorney at one of South Africa’s largest law firms, Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs. She worked in the Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions teams.

Qualifications

Admitted in:

South Africa (not practising)

Education:

BA (History and Politics), University of Cape Town, South Africa
LLB, University of Cape Town, South Africa

A member of the Law Society of South Africa

2025 Legal 500 – Next Generation Partner – Banking & Finance – "I was in a pickle - up against a deadline needing Guernsey legal support with 3 days to go from scratch - Kim Paiva and the Walkers support teams delivered the goods with time to spare. With extensive aircraft finance experience, they dealt with all the issues efficiently and effortlessly - a true Rolls-Royce service."

2025 Legal 500 – Next Generation Partner – Banking & Finance – "Kim Paiva is warm, personable and always available and helpful - very important when closing a deal and needing local counsel input often on short notice and with unreasonable deadlines."

2025 Chambers UK - Offshore: Banking & Finance - "Kim applies a thoughtful and reassuring approach to every situation and is always quick to respond."

2025 Chambers UK - Offshore: Banking & Finance - "Kim is very knowledgeable, super-responsive and has a good relationship with the Guernsey operators."

2024 Legal 500 - Next Generation Partner - Banking & Finance

2022 Legal 500 - Banking & Finance - Next Generation Partner - "Kim Paiva at Walkers has assembled a wonderful team that is approachable yet driven to provide the best service for their clients. Kim in particular has the ability to perform her role as Group Partner yet manage each transaction with the oversight and knowledge required."

2021 Legal 500 - Banking and Finance - Next Generation Partner - Guernsey - "Kim Paiva is my go-to lawyer in Guernsey for aviation finance or lease-related matters."

2020 Legal 500 - (Banking and Finance) Rising Star - Guernsey - "Manages expectations well and delivers under pressure’ "

2020 IFLR 1000 - Rising Star

2019 IFLR 1000 - Rising Star

2018 Legal 500 - (Investment Funds) Recommended Lawyer - Guernsey - "Kim Paiva for her ‘ability to process things urgently on short notice’ "

2018 Legal 500 - (Corporate and M&A) Recommended Lawyer - Guernsey - "Kim Paiva, 'manages expectations well and delivers under pressure’ "

2018 Legal 500 - (Banking and finance) Recommended Lawyer - Guernsey - " Kim Paiva is a 'responsive and capable’ senior counsel"

2017 Legal 500 - (Banking and finance) Recommended Lawyer - Guernsey - "Kim Paiva is ‘very responsive, and capable of providing effective solutions to issues posed by the nature and circumstances of the financing to be provided’."

2014, Chambers UK and Chambers Global - “Accessible, proactive with technical expertise and commercially aware”

2013, Chambers Europe, Chambers Global and Chambers UK - "leading associate Kim Paiva is praised for her "unfailing patience" and "willingness to go the extra mile”.’

Team Members