James Bergstrom

James is the principal architect of Ogier’s Cayman funds practice and has operated in this market since 1991, forging strong links with managers and with funds partners at leading law firms in key onshore financial centres. He also has extensive experience in all types of general corporate law including the laws relating to large infrastructure projects in the Cayman Islands.

Background and experience

James is the principal architect of Ogier’s Cayman funds practice and has operated in this market since 1991, forging strong links with managers and with funds partners at leading law firms in key onshore financial centres. He has acted in respect of establishing and structuring:

• Open ended funds (including hedge)
• Closed ended funds (including private equity, infrastructure, real estate, venture capital, publically listed and trade funds)
• Hybrid funds, funds of one and managed accounts
• Special strategy funds (including credit funds,)
• Fund managers and sponsors (including profit sharing between principals employee incentive schemes, carried interest and joint venture arrangements)

He also regularly advises on:

• prospective investors, including LPs on proposed investments in investment funds (including due diligence and legal opinions)
• on seed deals and strategic investor relations (including side letters)
• investment funds on downstream investments
• on fund re-domiciliation (into and out of the jurisdiction)
• operators on corporate governance, fiduciary and regulatory matters
• other service providers to investment funds fund managers and other service providers on contractual, regulatory, licensing requirements, outsourcing and cross border provision of financial services
• on liquidity concerns, restructuring, funds and termination alternatives

James has extensive experience in all types of general corporate law including the laws relating to large infrastructure projects in the Cayman Islands.

James is prominent in the Cayman Islands community and previously held a number of  senior positions including:

• President of the Caymanian Bar Association
• Council member of the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange
• Chairman of the Cayman Islands Special Economic Zone Authority
• Chairman of the Health Appeals Tribunal

He is a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple of England and Wales as well as a Notary Public in the Cayman Islands.

James joined Ogier's Cayman office in 1991 and became a Partner in 1998. James has previously also worked in Ogier's Hong Kong office. He received his Bachelor of Law, with Honours, from the University of London in 1990.

James has also been recognised in the Banking, Finance and Transactional Law Expert Guides, 2017 and 2018, as an Expert in Investment Funds.

Admitted in:
1992 - Cayman Islands
1991 - England and Wales (non-practising)

James is a Registered Foreign Lawyer regulated by the Law Society of Hong Kong