Six Appleby lawyers have been promoted in the Bermuda office, three of whom began their legal careers as trainees with the firm.

Lalita Vaswani has been made partner.

She joined Appleby in 2017 and brings extensive experience advising on complex cross-border restructuring and insolvency matters. Ms Vaswani regularly acts for distressed companies, creditors, regulators and investors across a wide range of sectors, including energy, insurance, real estate and finance. She leads the firm’s Bermuda voluntary liquidation practice and is frequently involved in mergers and acquisitions, particularly schemes of arrangement.

Jane Walker has been promoted to counsel. Admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1999, Ms Walker previously worked in Appleby’s Bermuda office between 2008 and 2011 before rejoining in 2023. She has broad experience in corporate and commercial law, including banking, asset and project finance, aviation finance and registration, as well as mergers and acquisitions and regulatory matters related to insurance and digital asset business.

Four lawyers have been promoted to senior associate, all of whom have strong local ties and bring varied expertise.

Arielle DeSilva joined Appleby in 2020 as a trainee and was Called to the Bermuda Bar in 2021. She advises on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, with notable experience in fund structures, cross-border transactions and large reorganisations. She has been recognised by Legal 500 as a "leading associate“ in banking, finance and capital markets for being “very hard-working and tenacious”.

Melinda Mayne, Called to the Bermuda Bar in 2017, joined Appleby in 2022 and focuses on corporate law, including insurance, finance and regulatory compliance. Before joining Appleby, she worked in-house at an international investment bank in London and has also practised litigation locally.

Luisa Olander, promoted within the dispute resolution department, joined as a trainee in 2018 and has handled high-value trust, banking and corporate disputes. She has appeared before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal as junior counsel on several major cases.

Ojeda Smith, admitted in 2021, joined Appleby in 2022 and specialises in insurance and reinsurance law. She advises on catastrophe bonds, life securitisations and mergers and acquisitions, and provides regulatory guidance to clients across the industry.

Brad Adderley, managing partner and head of the corporate practice, said the promotions represent “exceptional lawyers whose talent, professionalism and dedication are widely recognised”, adding that each promotion demonstrates the firm’s commitment to celebrating Bermuda’s finest legal minds.

John Wasty, head of dispute resolution, said: “Your expertise, judgment and commitment to excellence have earned you the trust of clients and the respect of peers. Your promotions are a testament to your professional achievements and high standards.”