Simon Raftopoulos has replaced Norman Klein as the managing partner of Appleby’s office in the Cayman Islands. Klein, who was with the firm for 25 years, retired on 31 March, with Raftopoulos taking control from 1 April.
Appleby was originally founded in Bermuda in the 1890s, but its 2004 merger with Cayman-based Hunter & Hunter gives it a history in the jurisdiction that can be traced back to 1945. In January, Klein led celebrations for Appleby’s 80 years in Cayman.
“Norman Klein hands over leadership of the Cayman office, having been instrumental in shaping it into one of Appleby’s flagship jurisdictions and a benchmark for excellence in the market during his tenure,” said Malcolm Moller, group managing partner.
The Cayman Islands is one of Appleby’s largest and most established offices, overseeing teams across corporate, finance, funds, dispute resolution and private client work for a global client base. As such, the head of its Cayman office is a key figure in the jurisdiction’s financial services sector. Raftopoulos has built his reputation as one of the leading finance and corporate practitioners in the Cayman Islands.
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“Simon’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for our Cayman office,” said Moller. “He is highly respected across the market and has played a central role in strengthening our corporate and transactional offering. His grounded, collaborative and forward thinking approach will ensure Appleby continues to evolve while remaining true to the values that have shaped our success for decades.”
For Raftopoulos, it’s a big opportunity, albeit with increased scrutiny in the new position. “It is a privilege to lead the Cayman office at a time of continued growth and opportunity,” said Raftopoulos. “We will build on our strong track record to deliver even greater value, at pace, for clients in Cayman and internationally.”
In other moves, Appleby partner Benjamin Woolf will head the firm’s corporate practice. Meanwhile Susan Fallan and Alexandra Low were promoted to partners in the dispute resolution and corporate areas respectively.
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