Conyers hires Bermudian lawyers in Corporate, Litigation practices

FRIDAY, FEB. 10: Conyers Dill & Pearman is pleased to announce the hire of Bermudian Scott Pearman to its Bermuda Litigation team, and to welcome Niel Jones back to the Bermuda Corporate team from Conyers’ Moscow office, where he has worked since 2008.

Scott joins Conyers from Ely Place Chambers in London, where he was a barrister for 13 years specialising in commercial litigation. Scott provides advocacy and advice on all aspects of civil and commercial law, with a focus on dispute resolution relating to business and commerce, insurance and reinsurance, trust and chancery, employment and discrimination, arbitration, and the law relating to media and information.

Scott has particular expertise in financial misselling and professional negligence cases relating to investments, financial advisors and financial institutions.  He has considerable experience in applications for interlocutory and injunctive relief including worldwide freezing orders, search and seizure orders, breach of confidence, breach of restrictive covenants and “springboard” relief arising from business theft and unlawful competition.

Niel joins Conyers’ Bermuda corporate department from the firm’s Moscow office, where he has been based since its launch in 2008, having previously worked in Conyers’ Bermuda office since 2005. Niel’s practice focuses on banking and finance, capital markets, aviation and M&A. His clients include banks, multinational companies and private equity groups on cross border and multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Most recently, Niel led the Conyers team advising the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX) on its US$4.5 billion merger with the Russian Trading System (RTS) stock exchange, which created one of the biggest exchanges in Europe.

John Collis, Chairman of Conyers Dill & Pearman, commented: “We are pleased to welcome Scott, who has significant expertise and will be a great addition to our Litigation team. We are also delighted to welcome Niel back to Bermuda following three years in our Moscow office. Both of these lawyers position us well to build on our existing capabilities as we continue to strengthen our Bermuda offering.”

Scott holds a BVC from Inns of Court School of Law, an MA in Jurisprudence from Oxford University (Merton College), and a BA from Georgetown University. Scott is a CEDR accredited Mediator and he has mediated in the UK and internationally. Niel holds a PgDLP (LPC) from the University of the West of England, an LLB from Durham University, and a BA from McGill University.

The hires follow a string of accolades for Conyers in recent months, including recognition for work in Latin America, where the firm has an active São Paulo office.

Conyers continues to provide international opportunities for Bermudian lawyers, and in October 2010 appointed Bermudian Charles Collis to head the firm’s London office as it continues to build its market-leading offering for clients across London and Europe.