Jon is a Partner and Head of the Banking and Regulatory Practice Groups at Stuarts Humphries. Jon is also a member of the Specialist Investment Funds, Fintech and Local Practice Groups.
Jon has an extensive practice and advises clients on all banking, finance, licensing, regulatory, funds, fintech, corporate and commercial matters across a broad range of sectors. He also has substantial experience in local matters having advised on many aviation, real estate and shipping matters as well as major infrastructure projects in the Cayman Islands.
Jon regularly represents clients on a broad range of finance and corporate transactions including joint ventures, restructurings, public listings, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, credit facilitates, secured lending, debt finance, securitisations and structured products, initial public offerings, corporate finance, capital market and other transactional work.
Jon’s regulatory practice includes advising on licencing and registration, economic substance, data protection, anti-money laundering, beneficial ownership and FATCA and CRS requirements. He also regularly advises fund sponsors, fintech start-ups and other stakeholders on the structuring and formation of hedge and private equity funds and security token offerings and initial coin offerings; the day-to-day administration of funds from a Cayman Islands law perspective (including, for example, corporate governance and fiduciary duties, investor issues, matters pertaining to illiquid portfolios and portfolio transactions); the restructuring, wind-down and liquidation of funds and other entities; and the regulatory framework governing banks, trusts, virtual asset service providers, funds and their managers in the Cayman Islands.
Jon’s clients include major banks and trusts, financial institutions, publicly listed and private entities, investment houses, administrators, high-net-worth individuals, fintech companies and international law firms.
Jon joined the firm in 2019 having previously worked for Kirkland and Ellis in London and other international law firms.
Jon has been recognised as a Leading Individual by Chambers FinTech and a Highly Regarded lawyer for corporate & finance and investment funds by IFLR1000. Jon is also a notary public in the Cayman Islands.
The term "Partner" is a title reflecting seniority in the Stuarts group of companies, it does not imply that there is a partnership in existence.
Jonathan McLean Testimonials
Jonathan is an integral part of the Stuarts' Investment Funds and Corporate teams which are ranked in the Chambers Global Guide. He is ranked a Leading Individual in the Chambers FinTech Guide. Publication Recognition
"Jon McLean is good at framing what the client needs to do and how to do it. He's built up a lot of practical knowledge about crypto and has helped construct the regulatory environment for it." Fintech Client Testimonial
"Jonathan provided well-reasoned insight into complex VASP questions." Fintech Client Testimonial
"Jonathan McLean leads the Banking, Finance & Capital Markets team and his work in this area has a focus on cryptocurrency funds and digital asset-related entities." Legal 500 Publication Recognition
"Jonathan McLean has vast experience in corporate structures and navigation of regulatory issues." Legal 500 Publication Recognition
"Jonathan McLean is recognised as a Highly Regarded Lawyer for Investments Funds and Financial and Corporate work." Publication Recognition
"Very good and very responsive." Client Testimonial
News
Read all insights
CIMA Introduces Prudential Survey for SIBA Registered Persons
The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (“ CIMA ”) has issued an advisory introducing a new reporting requirement for entities registered as Registered Persons under the securities investment business regime. All Registered Persons are required to...
The Companies (Amendment) Act, 2024 (the “ Act ”) came into force on 1 January 2026, implementing a series of reforms aimed at modernising and streamlining the operation of companies incorporated in the Cayman Islands. One change of particular...
...
Search site
Contact our office
Make an enquiry
