Law firm Carey Olsen Bermuda has “taken the market somewhat by surprise”, according to the 2020 edition of Legal 500 Caribbean.

A leading directory for the legal industry, Legal 500 said “nobody (was) expecting the quality of the firm to be so high so quickly”.

Carey Olsen, which launched in Bermuda two years ago, said the firm is now ranked in five categories in the Legal 500, up from three a year ago. The new sectors are banking, finance and capital markets — and insurance/reinsurance.

Legal 500 grades law firms following a thorough and independent research process, including interviews with clients and peers as well as information provided by the firms themselves, Carey Olsen said.

The firm’s trusts and private wealth team has been recognised for its “excellent legal and client care skills”, the firm said, while Legal 500 says the dispute resolution practice “has depth of talent throughout the team but the key difference between it and other firms is its strategic thinking and work product”.

The newly-ranked insurance practice is described as “very responsive” with “experienced senior leaders supported by a strong bench of associates”.

Partner Keith Robinson is ranked as a “leading individual” in both the dispute resolution and trusts/private client categories. He is described as “the best private client lawyer with contentious expertise that I have come across in Bermuda” by one commentator, while managing partner Michael Hanson “has become the gold standard in Bermuda with regard to employment law matters”. Corporate partner Mary Ward is seen as “a commercial thinker and trusted adviser”.

Counsels Adam Bathgate (banking, finance and capital markets), Ashley Fife (trusts/private client) and Henry Tucker (dispute resolution) are ranked as “rising stars”.

Others to be featured within Legal 500’s commentary are partner Gavin Woods, counsel Sam Stevens and senior associate Cheri Minors.

Mr Hanson said: “We are delighted with the success reflected in the rankings, particularly as it comes just two years after the launch of Carey Olsen Bermuda and underlines the fact that we have delivered on establishing a highly-respected full service offering as originally envisaged.”

He added: “Legal 500 is a highly respected publication and the strong endorsements we have received across the firm in this year’s directory are the result of the continued commitment and hard work of all our staff in Bermuda and are testament to the team’s ability to deliver excellent client service.”