The Cayman Islands accounted for the largest share of law firm and lawyer rankings in the Caribbean in the 2027 edition of the Legal 500 guide.
The rankings follow an independent research programme conducted throughout 2026 which covered more than 300 law firms and almost 700 lawyers across the region.
For Cayman, the guide, published on 4 November, recorded 116 law firm rankings and 241 individual lawyer entries.
Meanwhile, the British Virgin Islands recorded 67 firm rankings and 122 individual entries, while Bermuda had 42 firm rankings and 111 individual entries.
Carey Olsen topped the firm rankings with 21 entries, followed by Walkers and Conyers with 19 each, and Appleby with 18.
Walkers recorded the highest number of individual lawyer ranking entries at 71, while Carey Olsen had the most leading partner rankings, with 32.
In a press release, Carey Olsen’s Cayman Islands managing partner Hayden Isbister attributed the firm’s rankings to the work of its local team and wider international network.
“These rankings are a testament to the expertise, dedication and collaborative approach of our Cayman team, not only on the island but across our wider international network,” he said.
“We are proud to support clients on some of the most significant matters in the market, and it’s especially meaningful to see so many of our talented lawyers recognised individually.”
Walkers Global managing partner Ingrid Pierce said the results reflected the firm’s presence across the region and the number of lawyers recognised in the guide.
“The independent market recognition that comes from these rankings reflects the strength, depth and consistency of our teams across the region,” she said.
“We are particularly proud to see so many of our lawyers recognised at the highest levels of the guide and to celebrate those newly ranked this year.”
Conyers director and chair Christian Luthi said the firm received 51 individual rankings, including three new Hall of Fame inductees.
“The Legal 500 is a leading legal directory in our space and my colleagues and I are pleased that they have once again recognised our expertise across our offices and practice areas,” he said.
“To achieve 51 individual rankings, including three new Hall of Fame inductees is gratifying.”
“The rankings reflect the confidence our clients have in us, and I would like to thank them for their continued support. We will endeavour to continue to provide exceptional service across every jurisdiction in which we operate.”
Appleby Group managing partner Malcolm Moller said the results reflected the firm’s teams and client relationships across its three main Caribbean and Atlantic jurisdictions.
“The progress we continue to make across our practices is testament to the quality of our teams, the relationships they build with our clients and the consistently high standards they deliver,” he said.
“We are very proud of what they have achieved and look forward to building on that momentum in 2027.”
Maples Global managing partner Jonathan Green said the rankings recognised the firm’s Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands practices.
“We are grateful to our clients for their continued trust and support, and to our colleagues whose expertise, dedication and collaborative approach continue to contribute to the success of our firm,” he said.
“These rankings reflect the exceptional talent across our Cayman Islands and BVI practices and our unwavering commitment to helping clients navigate their most important matters.”
Meanwhile, Ogier’s Cayman Islands practice partner James Bergstrom said the rankings reflected the firm’s work across its local practice, including investment funds.
“It is particularly pleasing to see our Investment Funds team recognised at the highest level, alongside such strong results across the practice,” he said.
“Most importantly, it’s great to see such positive feedback from our clients about the team and the service we provide.”
The latest edition also follows changes to Legal 500’s research operations introduced during 2026, including a new submission portal, additional tools giving law firms greater insight into the research process and a range of data analytics products.
These include the Client Experience Index (CXI), which is designed to help law firms assess how their services are perceived in the market and inform their client strategies.
Legal 500 said the developments form part of its investment in research transparency and data-driven resources for firms operating across competitive legal markets.
