Mr de Basto joins from Allen & Overy, where he was a partner for nearly eight years, working in their London, Hong Kong and Amsterdam offices. He has extensive experience in the field of asset, construction and project finance, and specialises in advising clients on major and complex finance transactions.

Based in the Cayman Islands, he will focus on further advancing Mourant du Feu & Jeune’s Cayman Finance practice.

Mr Feargrieve, meanwhile, joins from Maples and Calder, where he was senior associate in the London office, advising on Cayman and BVI investment fund structures for hedge and private equity funds. In his current practice, he works with onshore counsel in the US, EU and MENA on multi-jurisdictional transactions.

From Mourant du Feu & Jeune’s London base (one of the largest offshore law offices in the City), Mr Feargrieve will advise on Cayman law, and build upon the strong reputation of the Cayman Funds practice, the firm announced. He will work alongside the Cayman-based Funds team as headed by Partner and noted investment funds specialist, Neal Lomax.

Stephen Ball, CEO, Mourant du Feu & Jeune, stated that: “We are delighted to welcome Richard and Matthew to Mourant, as they join us on our Cayman offensive: building on the capabilities and strengths of our expanded Cayman practice, following our merger with Cayman firm Quin & Hampson in 2007."