Estera, a corporate, funds and trust services provider, has launched legal services in Bermuda and Cayman.

The firm was spun off from law firm Appleby in late 2015, having previously been known as Appleby Fiduciary.

Estera will enter a competitive legal services market in practice areas including corporate and commercial, regulatory, insurance and investment funds.

James Maitland, Estera’s regional head of Americas, Bermuda and Caribbean, said: “We also remain dedicated to strengthening our collaborative relationships with our existing partners and intermediaries in the Americas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong.

“This expansion further demonstrates our commitment not only to Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, but to our clients throughout the region.”

In Bermuda, Alison Dyer-Fagundo, a former partner at Appleby who has extensive legal experience, leads the legal team as managing partner of Estera Law (Bermuda) Ltd.

Ms Dyer-Fagundo said: “This is a truly exciting development for our firm as clients now have the option of instructing us for both their legal and fiduciary services.

“We are incredibly flexible and will continue to work with a wide range of other advisers to provide our clients with the services that best suit their requirements.”

In Bermuda, Estera is a major provider of corporate fiduciary services and a key player in Bermuda’s thriving insurance-linked securities market as a registered listing sponsor for the Bermuda Stock Exchange.

In the Cayman Islands, Estera has entered into a business affiliation relationship with U Law Ltd which has been renamed as Estera Law (Cayman) Ltd.

Kendra Foster was the founding partner of U Law Ltd and is leading Estera’s legal team as managing partner.