Cains

Matt is a Senior Associate in our top tier Corporate and Commercial team and, since joining Cains in 2014, has been involved in many of the most notable cross-border instructions to come to the Isle of Man.  He has a diverse practice and advises on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters including, mergers and acquisitions (including the sale and purchase of financial services businesses), joint ventures and complex corporate restructurings (including company redomiciliations and court sanctioned asset transfer schemes).  Whilst the majority of his instructions are cross-border in nature, Matt also regularly assists local clients with corporate and regulatory compliance advice, in particular clients involved in the financial services and e-gaming sectors.  Matt also has experience in assisting with high value debt and equity financing transactions and regularly acts for both lenders and borrowers. Matt has been recognised on numerous occasions as a ‘Rising Star’, a ‘Next Generation Lawyer' and an 'Associate to Watch' by The Legal 500 UK with clients citing (amongst other things):  "Matthew is very easy to work with: no Manx problem is too difficult to be dealt with”.  "Matthew Wilkinson is very responsive and easy to work with. He is excellent at spotting the commercial issues and is on top of the local law requirements to make sure that the deal gets through the line – operates above his pay grade and definitely an associate to watch."

Kirsten is a Senior Associate within our Corporate and Commercial practice, having joined in early 2019. Kirsten qualified as a Manx Advocate in 2016 and is a Commissioner for Oaths. She has more than 8 years’ experience advising on broad range of multi-jurisdictional corporate, commercial and regulatory work including corporate acquisitions and sales, banking and finance transactions and shipping and insolvency matters. From a regulatory perspective, Kirsten has significant experience advising clients on their legal obligations under financial services legislation and anti-money laundering legislation. Kirsten also specialises in employment law. As a key member of our Employment team, she regularly advises both employers and employees in contentious and non-contentious matters, including contracts of employments, policies and procedures, redundancy and office closures, share incentive schemes, immigration, discrimination claims and settlement agreements.  Her clients include global and local corporate companies within various sectors, including banking, insurance, e-gaming, telecommunications and transport. Kirsten has been recognised as having “excellent client relationship skills and able to easily and consistently deliver high quality work to her clients in a timely manner.” Clients describe Kirsten as “responsive, concise and commercial minded” with another client remarking that she was “prompt in providing thorough and easily comprehensible responses.  The work was done within the fee cap agreed as the start of the matter.”

Tristan is a Director and joint head of our top tier Corporate and Commercial team. He is one of the Isle of Man’s leading corporate lawyers and has over 20 years’ experience of advising on complex corporate, commercial and finance transactions. In addition to advising on domestic and cross-border corporate finance transactions including initial public offerings, rights issues and public/private bond issues, Tristan has extensive experience advising on local and multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions primarily involving financial services businesses. He also regularly advises on corporate restructurings, banking and finance transactions, captive insurance structuring matters and joint venture arrangements. Together with Lindsey Bermingham, Tristan co-leads our Regulatory team which provides contentious and non-contentious advice on all Isle of Man regulatory matters. Tristan is ranked as a ‘Leading Individual’ in both the Banking, Finance and Capital Markets and Corporate and Commercial categories by The Legal 500 UK 2021.  Clients praise Tristan for providing a high calibre of work and being extremely responsive, knowledgeable and personable. He is also praised by clients for his strong attention to detail, integrity and commitment.

  Scott is a Director and joint head of Cains’ top tier Corporate and Commercial team and has over 20 years’ experience in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and public and private securities offerings.  He works across a wide range of sectors that includes a strong focus on technology, gaming and the financial services and payments industries. Scott has extensive experience in advising shareholders, investors and companies from early stage through to venture capital and private equity fundraisings, M&A, exits and international listings, as well as advising boards of directors on their internal governance issues.  In addition to advising on corporate and commercial matters Scott advises within the Banking and Finance sectors, including real estate finance, refinancing and restructurings and financial services regulation.  He practiced in London, both as a partner in private practice and as in-house general counsel, before joining Cains in 2015. Scott is ranked as a ‘Leading Individual’ by The Legal 500, both for Corporate and Commercial as well as Banking and Finance and was described as a “world-class commercial lawyer” in client feedback.  

Stephanie is a Managing Associate with more than 10 years’ experience advising on Isle of Man law within Cains' top tier Banking and Finance practice and Corporate and Commercial practice. Stephanie regularly acts for financial institutions (including alternative lenders) and borrowers across a variety of sectors on high-value, multi-jurisdictional financing (and refinancing) transactions and has significant experience advising on real estate financings (acquisition and development facilities), syndicated lending and senior/mezzanine facilities.   Stephanie also has experience advising on corporate and commercial transactions including complex group restructurings and corporate acquisitions and disposals (either by way of shares or assets). She is ranked as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ by The Legal 500, for the practice areas of Banking and Finance, as well as Corporate and Commercial, and is described by clients as “very impressive” and “a great contact – she gives thorough and timely advice, and is friendly and approachable”.