Chris Humphries

Managing Director and Head of Funds

Chris specialises in investment funds, corporate and commercial, insurance, banking, fintech, regulatory and compliance.

Practice Experience

Chris Humphries is the Managing Director of Stuarts and is the head of the specialist investment funds team. He is a leading individual in his field and is recognised as one of the top lawyers in the Cayman Islands for investment funds by Legal 500. Chris has also been ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Fintech, Investment Funds, and Corporate and Commercial by Chambers and Partners for many years, and has earned recognition as a Highly Regarded lawyer by IFLR1000 in Investment Funds and Corporate practice areas. With over 25 years experience, Chris has acquired extensive and unique knowledge in the investment funds industry and has registered close to 1,000 funds in the Cayman Islands. There are few attorneys with the breadth and depth of knowledge and expertise that Chris has acquired.

Chris joined in 2004 as one of the founding directors, from the London office of Kendall Freeman (now Locke Lord LLP), where he specialised in the financial services industry and regulatory related matters. Although Chris was born a British citizen, he has also gained the privilege of Cayman citizenship over the last 20 years.

Chris is a highly experienced independent director and has sat on the board of many registered funds, private equity funds and investment vehicles. He routinely advises on regulatory and compliance issues involving funds, investment managers and fund administrators. He routinely advises on the strategic restructuring of funds, redemption restrictions as well as the use of side pockets or special purpose vehicles for illiquid assets and investor communications and disputes.

Chris establishes investment managers and fund administrators in the Cayman Islands and advises on their respective regulatory regimes. He has extensive experience in all types of fund structures including master-feeder and fund of fund structures as well as the establishment of complex fund platforms using exempted companies and/or partnerships and the use of segregated portfolio companies.

Chris advises on the use of side letters as well as other class rights related issues. As listing agent to the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange ("CSX") Chris has listed many investment funds on the CSX.

Chris chairs the digital, blockchain and fintech working group and advises funds focusing on blockchain technology, bitcoin and other cryptocurrency strategies; and has a wide range of experience with corporate and commercial transactions for private and listed clients, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate finance, commercial agreements and insurance securitisations.

Admissions

Grand Court of the Cayman Islands
Supreme Court of the British Virgin Islands (non-practising)
Senior Courts of England and Wales (non-practising)

Education

College of Law
University of London

Professional Associations

The Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association
Blockchain Legal Institute

Recent Recognition

Legal500: Chris Humphries is described by Legal 500 as ‘… an encyclopedia of Cayman funds rules. "Super knowledgeable". "Very responsive". He is recognised as a Leading Partner in Investments Funds and Corporate & Commercial. He is noted as being, "methodical" "commercial" and "experienced". One client notes that Chris is "excellent, responds quickly and knows all aspects of the funds industry." He has also been described as, "a superstar. One of the premier crypto fund attorneys, having worked in the space for many years". Chris is further recognised as a Recommended Lawyer in Banking, Finance & Capital Markets.
IFLR1000: Chris Humphries is recognised as a Highly Regarded Lawyer in the Investments Funds and Financial & Corporate practice areas by IFLR1000.
Chambers & Partners: Chris is ranked as a Leading Individual by Chambers & Partners in the Investment Funds and FinTech practice areas, and a Notable Practitioner in Corporate and Finance. Chris has extensive experience of commercial and financial legal work. A source notes that: “Chris Humphries provides a level of sophistication, business awareness and accessibility that is almost unparalleled in the Cayman Islands.” He is quoted as “… a fantastic leader. He is rock solid on any issue and super-responsive”. Chris Humphries is further described as "..a superb attorney. "He gives us quick and effective responses to any structural or tax questions - this instils a great sense of confidence in the client."

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Stuarts Humphries Legal500 2022

Chris Humphries Testimonials

Chambers & Partners

"Chris Humphries provides a level of sophistication, business awareness and accessibility that is almost unparalleled in the Cayman Islands." Funds Client Testimonial

"Chris is a fantastic leader. He is rock solid on any issue and super-responsive." Corporate Client Testimonial

"Chris gives us quick and effective responses to any structural or tax questions - this instils a great sense of confidence in the client." Corporate Client Testimonial

"Chris Humphries is a superb attorney. He gives us quick and effective responses to any structural or tax questions - this instils a great sense of confidence in the client." Funds Client Testimonial

"Very responsive and has extensive knowledge of Cayman Islands investment funds." Funds Client Testimonial

"Chris Humphries has been a respected presence on the island for a long time." Funds Client Testimonial

"Christopher is deeply experienced and offers solid, well-considered advice. He is well connected within the Cayman business community and maintains a high level of awareness of developments within the relevant industries." Fintech Client Testimonial

"Chris is a trusted adviser and an essential part of our legal service team. His counsel is always on-point and practical, and his responsiveness is always impressive." Funds Client Testimonial

"Chris Humphries is highly knowledgeable, effective and efficient; he cuts to the core of what the client is looking for." Corporate Client Testimonial

"Chris is a sophisticated, responsive and intelligent problem solver." Corporate Client Testimonial

"Christopher Humphries is considered a "thorough" and "excellent" lawyer by his clients. He is well versed in a range of fund structures, including master-feeder and fund-of-funds, and also frequently advises on restructuring and regulatory compliance issues." Corporate Publication Recognition

"Chris is incredibly responsive and a top-notch problem solvers." Corporate Client Testimonial

"Chris' level of responsiveness is very high and his business acumen is excellent. He provides good advice with a solid business perspective." Corporate Client Testimonial

"Very responsive and tremendously accessible." Funds Client Testimonial

"Chris understands how to navigate the regulatory bodies very well. He came up with a very creative solution and is very good at communicating with other counsels, external auditors and regulators." Fintech Client Testimonial

"He is one of the most reliable, pragmatic guys I've worked with. He's built a team demonstrating a high level of client service; I feel very comfortable trusting them to do the work well and promptly." Funds Client Testimonial

"He is very responsive and he knows the market very well. He is able to answer tough questions and is practical in addressing any issues." Funds Client Testimonial

"Chris is an excellent lawyer who is always commercial in his feedback. His availability and responsiveness are very, very strong." Funds Client Testimonial

Legal 500

"Chris Humphries is excellent. Super responsive and knows the answer to nearly every issue." Legal 500, Funds Client

"Chris Humphries - methodical, experienced." Legal 500, Corporate Client

"Very commercial. Very responsive. He knows all aspects of the Cayman Islands law." Legal 500, Capital Markets Client

"Chris Humphries...offers great insight, experience and knowledge. " Legal 500, Corporate Client

"Chris Humphries is an encyclopedia of Cayman funds rules. Super knowledgeable. Very responsive." Legal 500, Funds Client Testimonial

"Very responsive and lots of experience forming Cayman funds." Funds Client Testimonial

"Chris Humphries is a superstar. One of the premier crypto fund attorneys, having worked in the space for many years." Corporate Client Testimonial

"Chris Humphries is incredibly responsive to all client matters, regardless of the size or perceived importance of an issue." Corporate Client Testimonial

"Chris Humphries is a very experienced and knowledgeable adviser with a consistently helpful and pleasant disposition. Chris is always prepared to prioritise urgent client requests and meet tight deadlines on short notice. His advice is always bespoke, accurate and commercially sensitive." Corporate Client Testimonial

"Chris Humphries is an encyclopedia of Cayman funds rules. Super knowledgeable. Very responsive." Funds Client Testimonial

"Chris Humphries is excellent. Very commercial. Very responsive. He knows all aspects of Cayman Islands law." Funds Client Testimonial

"Chris Humphries - methodical, experienced." Corporate Client Testimonial

"I have been working with Chris Humphries for over 15 years and he has always been very knowledgeable, very professional and very responsive." Banking Finance & Capital Markets Client

IFLR 1000