By Michael Washbum From IFLR1000

Offshore law firm Appleby, which has suffered the defection of funds lawyers in the Cayman Islands recently, has taken a step toward restoring bench strength with the addition of a former Appleby attorney who spent the past three years at competitor Harneys.

Sailaja Alla, who practiced law at Appleby in the Caymans and in Hong Kong from 2000 to 2007, is now a partner in the firm’s Grand Cayman office. Alla advises clients on fund formation and restructurings, and has expert knowledge of unit trust structures. Alla’s fund formation work had a strong Cayman focus during her secondments in Hong Kong.

Alla returns to Appleby from the very firm that recently poached some of Appleby’s top talent. In June 2015, the firm lost the head of its funds practice, Ian Gobin, along with counsel Matthew Taber and senior associate Jonathan Bernstein, to Harneys. The departures came just weeks before Appleby announced the sale – a management buyout – of its fiduciary services affiliate, with support from private equity firm Bridgepoint.

An article published on the website of Cayman Finance at the time of Alla’s move back to the Caribbean, “Cayman Islands Law School graduate returns home,” quotes Alla speaking highly of her experience working in Hong Kong and encouraging others to follow suit. “It is an opportunity that can help develop your confidence and broaden your world view, which not only aids personal and professional growth but can also benefit the wider Cayman community,” Alla states.

Alla holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Cayman Islands Law School and a Master of Laws from the University of Sheffield.

For more on this story go to: http://www.iflr1000.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Appleby-snags-funds-partner-from-Harneys-in-Cayman-Islands/Index/4278

IMAGE: Photo Credit: Sailaja Alla, Senior Associate, Harneys

See also iNews Cayman story published October 22 2014 “Cayman Islands Law School graduate returns home” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/cayman-islands-law-school-graduate-returns-home/