Across the commercial, residential, infrastructure, luxury resort, and property financing sub-sectors of the Cayman Islands real estate market, Appleby continues to distinguish itself as the foremost choice of counsel. It has a strong recent history acting for all major lenders in some of the market’s most significant financing transactions, while also maintaining an impressive client base of large developers, HNWIs, utility providers, and the Cayman Islands government. Highly rated by clients, with one singling him out as ‘the best real estate attorney on the islands‘, senior figure Norman Klein oversees the practice and is also the firm’s Cayman Islands managing partner. ‘Proactive, knowledgeable and excellent to work with‘. Adam Johnson is a leading name in the practice area and especially stands out for tourism, large scale development and infrastructure projects. Tim Swallow is a further key name recommended by clients, building a strong and broad transactional real estate practice.

The ‘deep expertise, client-centric approach, and innovative practices‘ of Bedell Cristin‘s real estate offering is appreciated by its client roster of household name banks, high-net-worth investors, and institutional lenders that operate in the Cayman market. Ian Jamieson leads a department that is regularly seen on high-profile property transactions and developments, across both commercial and residential projects and he is especially experienced with hotel developments. Michael Sharvin assists with commercial leasing, residential and commercial acquisitions and disposals, investment, development and real estate finance work, while Richard Parry lends his expertise to real estate disputes. Daniel Altneu‘s expertise in immigration, residency and estate planning matters adds breadth to the practice’s offering.

Commercial and residential real estate and development projects are the focus of Carey Olsen‘s real estate practice, which is counsel of choice to developers, lenders, landlords, and purchasers across the market. Infrastructure projects and construction law also continue to develop at the firm. Practice head Richard Sykes is a key figure for complex real estate transactions and structuring work, while on the financing side Richard Munden is a name to note, also assisting with hotel projects and and array of M&A transactions. Hospitality project expert Nick Bullmore is a further key contacts. In December 2023, Harriet Mills joined the practice, adding strong experience in sizeable retail projects.

'Efficient and knowledgeable' practice head Gina Berry leads the real estate department at Collas Crill, which excels in land transformation and infrastructure projects and is well versed in matters involving government liaison. The practice is also a strong choice in private client residential acquisitions. Berry is experienced in complex security transactions and has an impressive client list of banks and financial institutions. Alistair Wade has strength in property litigation, and also adds experience when it comes to acting for some of the major commercial landlords.

Residential projects are a strong focus of the real estate group at Ogier, which has a notable client base of HNWIs. Transactions ranging from permanent residences, developments, large infrastructure assets, residential land, commercial buildings and condominiums are all within the wheelhouse of the practice. James Bergstrom heads the team and is vastly experienced in an array of transactional issues across real estate in the jurisdiction. He is ably supported by Cline Glidden, who is strong on securitisation of funding, conveyancing of large residential and commercial developments, and licensing requirements. Jon Hughes joined the practice as counsel in May 2024.

An experienced real estate team at Priestleys is a familiar figure in development projects on the islands, while also recently acting in a number of cryptocurrency transactions in the property space. Clients include an array of the major developers operating in the Cayman Islands. Practice head and founder of the firm Daniel Priestley is well versed in major commercial developments in Cayman, including infrastructure projects. He is supported by Nick Hemus, who has a considerable role and engages with clients across the full scope of the practice's workload.

Praised for its 'depth of understanding of the local market', Campbells' real estate team assists with a variety of financing in the area, as well as on local developments. Security loans, developers' joint ventures, and sale and purchase agreements are among the regular instructions brought to the practice, which is led by corporate partner Lily Lee. She is supported by Tyanna Jan; the two 'work seamlessly together'.

Buck Grizzel leads the real estate work at Stuarts Humphries and as the firm's head of local legal services has broad, complementary skills across corporate, commercial, probate and immigration law. The practice is frequently counsel to banks and other lenders, property owners, purchasers, developers, real estate brokers, and agents, and assists with hotels, large commercial buildings and multi-unit residential developments. The other key contact alongside Grizzel is banking and regulatory practice head Jonathan McLean.