Philip Paschalides

Philip Paschalides is based in Walkers' Cayman Islands office and is a partner in the firm's Insurance Group and also in the Private Capital & Trusts Group.

Philip Paschalides has been a pre-eminent structured finance lawyer in the Cayman Islands for over two decades and for some years has been redeploying that knowledge and experience within the insurance sector, particularly in relation to life and annuity business and longevity-related issues. As a structured finance lawyer, Philip acted on a number of "pathfinder" transactions, developing legal technology which has since become market standard. In the insurance context, Philip has been instrumental in developing innovative and precedent-setting insurance and reinsurance structures and has worked closely with clients, onshore lawyers and other advisors to develop structures which satisfy regulatory capital and other requirements while also optimising risk transfer strategies in terms of commercial returns.

Philip is also a member of the multi-disciplinary Private Capital & Trusts Group, where he represents private clients and family offices on the financial aspects of cross-border transactions in which they participate. Philip leads a unique, specialist team which structures and establishes single family offices in the Cayman Islands and assists with the deployment of private capital in acquisitions and other commercial transactions.

Philip has received the "Leading Individual" ranking in Banking, Finance & Capital Market in the Legal 500 Caribbean directory since 2018.

Exceptionally smart, not just on a relative level to those in his jurisdiction, but relative to international practitioners.

Legal 500

Experience and recent work

Previously Philip worked at Sidley Austin in London, spending four years in their Securitisation and Structured Finance team. He advised arrangers, issuers, credit enhancers, monoline insurance companies and trustees on structured finance transactions. He also represented financial institutions on cross-border lending transactions. While here, he was also seconded for a short time to the legal department of a specialist emerging markets bank. He started his career at 3 Verulam Buildings, a specialist banking and finance chambers in London.

Qualifications

Admitted in:

Cayman Islands
England and Wales (not practising)

Education:

Double First in English & Theology, University of St. Andrews, Scotland, UK
Diploma in Law/CPE (Commendation), City University in London, UK
Certification in Investment Migration, Investment Migration Council

Philip is an Associate Member of the Investment Migration Council.

2023 IFLR 1000 - Market Leader

2023 Chambers Global - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance

2023 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Banking, Finance & Capital Market

2022 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Banking

2022 Chambers Global - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance - "He is very smart and has a keen insight on legal matters." "He is immensely capable and intelligent. Nothing gets past him."

2022 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Banking, Finance & Capital Market - ‘Exceptionally smart, not just on a relative level to those in his jurisdiction, but relative to international practitioners.'

2022 Legal 500 - Recommended - Insurance & Reinsurance - "Philip Paschalides has extensive structuring and deal expertise that helps guide clients through the process and reach their desired strategic objectives."

2022 Legal 500 - Recommended - Trusts & Private Client

2021 IFLR 1000 - Market Leader

2021 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Capital Markets: Debt & Equity

2021 Chambers and Partners - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance - "One of the top Cayman lawyers I have dealt with. [He is] extremely sharp." Sources enthuse that "he is very experienced and very good at explaining difficult concepts."

2021 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Banking & Finance

2021 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Banking, Finance & Capital Market

2020 Who's Who Legal - Global Leader - Banking & Finance

2020 Chambers and Partners - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance - "One source described him as a "dean" of the legal community, elaborating: "He has a long track record of representing top investment banks and hedge funds. He knows the market and the relevant issues well. We place great trust in his experience."

2018-2020 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Banking, Finance & Capital Markets - "Philip Paschalides is 'smart, responsive and creative'"

2016-2020 IFLR 1000 - Market Leader - "Philip Paschalides is 'great, commercial and has deep knowledge of the fund finance world'."

2019 Who's Who Legal - Global Leader - Capital Markets - Debt & Equity

2014-2019 Chambers and Partners - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance - "Philip is a "star lawyer" in the Cayman Islands. His clients value him as "a very reliable lawyer - responsive, intellectual and capable of deep thinking." His specialist areas include debt capital market issuances, securitisation, CLOs and insurance-linked securities."

2016-2019 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Corporate & Commercial - "Philip Paschalides is ‘very knowledgeable and understands the commercial issues at hand’."

2018 Who's Who Legal - Banking & Finance

2015 Legal 500 - Highly Rated - Corporate & Commercial

2014 Legal 500 - Insurance - "Philip Paschalides ‘always goes the extra mile, making sure the end-product exceeds expectations and is of the moment’."

2012-2013 Legal 500 - "Philip Paschalides is 'extremely responsive, helpful and technically astute'."

2013 Chambers Global Guide - "Clients say: 'He is really the go-to guy in Cayman and our first port of call for any Cayman Islands-related advice'."

2010-2012 IFLR 1000 - Leading Cayman Islands Lawyer - "Of partner Philip Paschalides, one client remarks: 'He has a very clear understanding of the documents and the law. I trust his analysis and he's very willing to explain things'."

2009-2011 Chambers Global Guide - "Very good - one of the best finance lawyers here."

Team Members