Prior to joining Walkers, Jonathan worked in the banking and finance practice of Clifford Chance and SJ Berwin’s private equity group in London. He also previous worked at another offshore law firm in Bermuda.

Admitted In:
Bermuda
England & Wales (not practising)

Qualifications:
Postgraduate Certificate in Sports Law, University of London, UK
Legal Practice Course, College of Law, London, UK
Common Professional Examination, College of Law, London, UK
BSc (Hons), Banking and Finance, Loughborough University, UK

2022 Chambers Global Guide - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance - "Jonathan has guided us through the ins and outs of Bermuda corporate law for many years. He has a great working knowledge of the law and is always very practical in its analysis and application."

2022 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Corporate & Commercial - '…has a strong reputation for local infrastructure transactions in the renewable energy, hotel and leisure, and insurance sectors.'

2022 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Banking, Finance & Capital Markets

2021 IFLR 1000 - Market Leader

2021 Chambers Global Guide - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance - "He is very detail-minded," [and] is a "fine attorney" with a "good standing and name in the market."

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

2021 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Corporate & Commercial

2020 IFLR 1000 - Highly Regarded

2020 Chambers Global Guide - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance - "a go-to lawyer in Bermuda." Also praised by commentators as "very responsive."

2020 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Banking, Finance & Capital Markets

2020 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Corporate & Commercial

2020 IFLR 1000 - Market Leader

2019 Chambers and Partners - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance - "One client said they valued his "very helpful and timely advice and his deep involvement in our transaction."

2019 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Banking, Finance & Capital Markets

2019 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Corporate & Commercial

2019 IFLR 1000 - Market Leader

2018 Chambers Global Guide - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance

2018 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Corporate & Commercial

2018 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Banking, Finance & Capital Markets

​2018 IFLR 1000 - Market Leader - “Diligent, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. I have great trust in his advice and ability to think proactively about my legal needs in Bermuda.”

2017 Chambers Global Guide - Notable Practitioner - Corporate & Finance - "Clients acknowledge his resourcefulness, describing him as 'a problem solver' and 'someone who can make things happen'."

2017 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer

2016 Chambers Global Guide - Leading Lawyer - "Jonathan Betts has significant experience acting for natural resources companies on a range of issues, including restructurings and capital markets. Sources praise his responsiveness and commerciality."

2016 IFLR 1000 - Leading Lawyer - "Jonathan Betts has made a name for himself in the offshore legal realm and beyond through his role in many of the most important deals. A client gives the following assessment: 'Jonathan Betts is a very good lawyer, he’s highly practical and commercial'."

2015 Chambers Global Guide - Ranked Lawyer - "Jonathan Betts has established a distinguished reputation for his expertise in funds-related work, as well as corporate and finance matters."

2015 IFLR 1000 - Leading Lawyer - "Jonathan Betts is described by a client at a global company as meticulous, thoughtful and a go-to guy for a lot of companies and onshore firms."

2014 Chambers Global Guide - Ranked Lawyer

2013 IFLR 1000 - Leading Lawyer - "Jonathan Betts is praised by clients and competitors for good business and legal sense."

2013 Chambers Global Guide - Ranked Lawyer

2013 IFLR 1000 - Leading Lawyer

2012 Chambers Global Guide - Ranked Lawyer - "Jonathan Betts is well known for giving sound commercial advice and has a pragmatic and forward-looking approach."

2012 IFLR 1000 - Leading Lawyer

Jonathan is a member of the Asset Management Committee of the Bermuda Business Development Association.

He is a regular contributor to legal and business publications and has published articles in The Lawyer, HFM Week, Captive Review and Bermuda Re + ILS. He has also contributed the Bermuda chapter of multiple Practical Law Company guides and the International Legal Guide to Alternative Investment Funds.

Jonathan is also a director of the Bermuda asthma charity, Open Airways.

ADVISORY

• Bermuda Insights: Trends and Opportunities 2022 - As part of our five year anniversary celebrations of our law firm opening in Bermuda, we put togethe...
  
• Bermuda – An Ideal Location for International Business - This briefing explains Bermuda’s adoption of rigorous international tax and regulatory standards, ...
  
• Update on the EU AML List - Limited Impact for the Cayman Islands - In January we published an advisory which provided an update on the European Commission’s delegate...
  
• CLO Migration from the Cayman Islands to Bermuda - The Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda (the “Companies Act”) permits a body corporate incorporated as...
  
• Update on EU AML List – Limited Impact for Cayman Islands - Last March we published an advisory on the Cayman Islands inclusion on the Financial Action Task For...
  
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MATTERS

• Walkers Acts for ProKidney on US$597 million Business Combination with Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III - Walkers is pleased to announce it has acted as Cayman Islands and Bermuda counsel to revolutionary c...
  
• Walkers Advises on the Take Private and Delisting of Clear Media Limited - Walkers acted as Bermuda and Cayman Islands counsel in connection with the take private of Clear Med...
  
• Walkers acts as Bermuda counsel to Brooklyn Investment Limited on the privatisation of I.T Limited - Walkers acted as Bermuda counsel to Brooklyn Investment Limited (the "Offeror") on the privatisation...
  
• Walkers Advises On Apex Group's Acquisition of FundRock - Walkers (Bermuda) Limited ("Walkers") is pleased to have acted as Bermuda counsel to Apex Group Ltd ...
  
• Walkers Acts for Onex in Relation to Convex Group’s $1 billion Fundraise - Walkers is pleased to have acted as Bermuda counsel to Onex Corporation and its affiliated funds (th...
  
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NEWS

• Walkers Scoops Top 10 Ranking in Airfinance Journal Legal Survey 2021 - Walkers is pleased to announce that its Global Asset Finance Group has landed a top 10 ranking in th...
  
• Walkers' Global Asset Finance Group Acts on 6 Award Winning Deals - Walkers' global Asset Finance Group was honoured for 6 deals at the recent Airfinance Journal Awards...
  
• WPS Bermuda Boosted with Addition of Fiduciary and Compliance Director, April Thomas - Walkers Professional Services (WPS) Bermuda has welcomed its first recruit of 2022: April Thomas. Ap...
  
• Walkers' Integrated Global Legal, Tax and Professional Services Highlighted in 2021 IFLR1000 Rankings - Walkers reinforces its position as a leading law firm with the most recent IFLR 1000 legal directory...
  
• Walkers Bermuda: The Pillar of Excellence, says 2021 IFLR1000 Rankings - Walkers' Corporate, Finance, Funds & Insurance practice group in Bermuda has maintained its stance a...
  
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ARTICLES

• Chambers Global Practice Guide 2022: Corporate Governance – Bermuda: Law and Practice - Partner Jonathan Betts and senior counsels Rachel Nightingale and Melanie Fullerton have authored th...
  
• 10 Walkers' Lawyers Recognised in Asia Business Law Journal's Top 50 Offshore Lawyers 2022 - Walkers is delighted to announce that 10 of its lawyers from across its Bermuda, Cayman, Hong Kong a...
  
• Chambers Global Practice Guide 2021: Corporate Governance – Bermuda: Law and Practice - Partner Jonathan Betts and Senior Associate Rachel Nightingale have authored the Chambers 2021 Globa...
  
• Bermuda: Testing the Tides of Change - "With the induction of a new government on the island, the time is right to reflect on the evolution...
  
• Alternative Investment Funds 2017 | Bermuda - Taylors' Partners Jonathan Betts and Ariane West have teamed up with Global Legal Group to provide a...
  
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EVENTS

• Walkers Virtual Fundamentals 2021 Seminar - Please join us on Tuesday 9 November for a live broadcast of Walkers Fundamentals where we will expl...
  
• Bermuda Captive Conference: 14-15 June 2021 - Walkers is delighted to support the advancement of Bermuda's captive insurance industry through our ...
  
• Walkers Virtual Fundamentals Seminar - Please join us for pre-event networking, followed by a live broadcast of Walkers Fundamentals a...
  
• ILS Bermuda Convergence 2020 Conference - Walkers is pleased to sponsor this year's ILS Convergence Conference, the networking event...
  
• Bermuda Captive Conference - Join Walkers' Corporate, Finance and Funds partner Sarah Demerling as she moderates the BMA Update a...
  
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MEMO

• (Global) Foundation Regimes in the Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey - The 2017/2018 financial year saw the Cayman Islands join various other jurisdictions within the inte...
  
• (Global) Comparison of Companies - Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Jersey, Guernsey and Ireland - The decision as to where to incorporate an offshore company can only be made based on the specific f...
  
• (Global) Foundation Regimes in the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and United Arab Emirates - The 2017/2018 financial year saw the Cayman Islands and Abu Dhabi Global Market join various other j...
  
• (Bermuda) A Guide to Taking Security - Following execution of the security document(s), the secured party will want to ensure that particul...
  
• (Global) Company Mergers in the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Bermuda - Businesses have been increasingly taking advantage of the statutory provisions relating to mergers i...
  
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