Our People

Marco Martins

martinsmarco@martinsadvisory.com

Marco is the founder and managing partner of m•advisory.

He has been a lawyer for nearly 30 years, having worked in Europe, North America, Asia and for the past 15 years in the Cayman Islands.

Marco has significant experience and expertise in the following areas:

•  Corporate and Commercial
•  Capital and Debt Markets
•  Banking and Finance
•  Investment Funds
•  Regulatory and Compliance

Background and Qualiffications:

Shearman & Sterling (7 years), as a senior associate, he conducted transactions of high complexity and importance, from privatizations of European state-owned companies listed in the USA, as well as carrying out high yield debt offerings for telcos (telecom) and debt offerings for technology companies like Amazon.

At Norton Rose (4 years), working in the technology department, he advised the company to implement new cutting-edge technologies aimed at global clients and startups. Already at Harneys (14 years), he was founder and General Manager LATAM, running the offices in São Paulo and Montevideo, in addition to acting as Manager Partner of the Cayman office for 10 years. Furthermore, he advised the company on the launch of the office in Shanghai, China.

Other highlights

• Graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse Law School and editor of the Law Review
• Qualified as a lawyer: NY, England and Wales, BVI and Cayman Islands
• Shearman & Sterling – London and Palo Alto 1994-2001
• Norton Rose Fulbright – London 2004-2007
• Harneys – BVI and Cayman 2008-2020
• Intertrust Law – 2020-2022
• Lead Partner in several IPOs on Nasdaq, NYSE, LSE, HKSE and CSX
• Chief Partner of several clients in Latin America, such as: Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Banco Santander
• Cayman counsel on digitial banking services including MyAccount (Banco Bradesco) and Select Global Account (Banco Santander)
• Chief Partner in the first license extended by CIMA to a new class B bank, not affiliated with a banking parent company
• Lead partner for a number of startups, including StoneCo, Vtex, Teya, Darwin, Trinus
• Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and English

Nicole Pineda

pinedanicole@martinsadvisory.com

Nicole is a partner and senior advisor of m•advisory’s Cayman based legal practice.

She is a leading finance and corporate lawyer with 20 years’ experience at international law firms (onshore and offshore) advising clients globally on complex cross-border transactions.

Nicole has significant experience and expertise in the following areas:

• Banking and Finance
• Corporate and Commercial
• Investment Funds
• Regulatory Compliance
• Structured Finance and Debt Capital Markets

Background and Qualifications

Nicole began her legal career at Clifford Chance in London, qualifying into the securitisation group before moving to Allen & Overy to work on a number of first-time pathfinder pan-European securitisation transactions. In 2006, she moved to the Cayman Islands to join Walkers, where she went on to become a partner and lead the creation and development of the Global Latin American Group, as well as the Regulatory Banking practice. Nicole subsequently launched and led Travers Thorp Alberga’s Finance Practice for the Americas, as well as Harneys’ Cayman Structured Finance and Debt Capital Markets Practice, where she also acted as Head of the Cayman Banking and Finance practice generally.

Other highlights

• Oxford University (Pembroke College) law graduate – completed three year degree (BA; MA Jurisprudence) in two years

• Summa cum laude graduate of George Washington University Honors College, Washington D.C. (BA International Economics)

• Consistently recognised as a leading lawyer by IFLR1000, Chambers and Partners, and Legal 500 (“Nicole Pineda simply makes things happen.”)

• Consistently ranked as one of the Top 50 Banking and Capital Markets Lawyers of Latin America and one of the Top 100 Female Lawyers of Latin America, respectively, by Latinvex

• The only Cayman Islands lawyer to have been endorsed as a leading lawyer in IFLR’s Global Energy and Infrastructure Guide: “Pineda’s reputation precedes her” quoting one client who told the Guide “Nicole is outstanding and by far the best of offshore lawyers in the Latin American market.  She has the highest technical skills, profound industry knowledge, is very entrepreneurial and business minded.  She is a real business partner and absolutely key to the development of our business.” 

• Nicole’s interviews and articles have been published in Creditflux, SCI (Structured Credit Investor), the Global Banking & Finance Review, Intercontinental Finance, LexLatin and Getting the Deal Through

• Qualified to practice law in:  England and Wales, BVI and Cayman Islands

• As a dual (USA/Spain) national, Nicole is a native English and Spanish speaker, and is fluent in Portuguese (FAAP, São Paulo)

Susan Parsons

susanparsons@martinsadvisory.com

Susan Arch Parsons brings to m•advisory, in her role as Partner and Immigration Lawyer, her 30 years of knowledge and experience as a CEO, lawyer and opinion leader in the Cayman community.

Furthermore, for over 10 years, Susan has served as a member and provided services to the Cayman Islands Immigration Appeals Court, which provides her a differentiated 360 view on the topic.

Currently, at m•advisory, Parsons is responsible for a broad scope of services, including:

• All topics relating to Cayman’s immigration laws and employment laws
• Assistance with work permit applications, permanent residency and status applications
• Assistance with Cayman wills, trusts and probate matters
• Recognition of foreign probate
• All aspects related to the establishment and licensing of local businesses in the Cayman Islands
• Assistance with real estate issues, including purchase and financing documentation, statement management and approvals for new developments
• All aspects of compliance, and AML (Anti Money Laundering, such as laws and regulations)

Other highlights

• Lawyer graduated from the Liverpool School of Law and Social Justice
• Member and service provider at the Immigration Appeals Court
• Over 25 years of experience as a CEO in the aviation industry
• Qualified to work in England, Wales and the Cayman Islands
• Associate attorney at W.S. Walkers from 1991-1992

Kobi Dorenbush

dorenbushkobi@martinsadvisory.com

Kobi is a lawyer and business consultant based in Toronto. He has worked internationally in the areas of private equity, financial services and investment funds for more than 20 years. In addition, he has lived and worked in several offshore jurisdictions, having previously managed the legal department of one of the largest offshore fund administrators. Today, Kobi’s practice focuses on corporate finance and “cross-border financial services.”

With deep knowledge and skills from his vast area of activity, Kobi currently focuses on the legal, operational and administrative areas of m.advisory, advising on the following topics:

• Corporate and M&A for private and public companies
• Startups and companies in the most diverse corporate and financial areas
• Regulation and licensing of banking and financial services
• Structured financing and secured loans
• Stock listings, initial and secondary offerings
• Real estate financing and licensing
• Regulation and licensing of financial technology
• Financing and capital management
• Corporate law issues, including mergers, reverse acquisitions, joint ventures
• Investment and private equity funds established and managed in progress
• Compliance and AML standards
• International payments/remittances

Other highlights

• He has served on the board of directors of a Fortune 500 company and currently serves on the boards of several private and listed companies
• Between 2011 and 2017, Kobi was a senior director at several international banks and trust companies
• Between 2017 and 2018, Kobi was Director of Promontory Financial Group, – IBM Company and consulting firm specializing exclusively in the financial services industry
• Certified specialist in money laundering by the ACAMS organization
• He holds a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, graduated summa cum laude from York University and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto
• Lawyer certified in Ontario, Canada and previously admitted in the Cayman Islands

Kristy Calvert

calvertkristy@martinsadvisory.com

Co-founder and Managing Partner, Asia-Pacific, Ms. Calvert has over 20 years of experience in international transactions, including general corporate and commercial law matters, establishing and maintaining investment funds, and structuring complex M&A transactions, joint ventures, private equity, mining and capital markets. Additionally, Ms. Calvert has extensive experience in the digital asset, blockchain and Web 3.0 sectors, having provided services to some of the key players in this space globally, including the world’s top five crypto exchanges. Having served many major Asia-Pacific clients with their offshore structuring, Ms. Calvert has led and resolved many complex shareholder disputes and restructuring issues.

Prior to co-founding the Cayman law firm, Ms. Calvert worked on many high-profile international M&A and capital markets transactions at two leading U.S. international law firms, Weil Gotshal & Manges and Sidley Austin. She also held the position of managing partner in Shanghai and managing director in China at two major international offshore law firms. Prior to this, she also held a senior in-house role in Asia Pacific as General Counsel – China/Asia at Rio Tinto in its Melbourne and Shanghai offices.

In addition, Ms. Calvert has also served as an offshore advisor to global and private equity sponsors and strategic investors in various securities and financing transactions. She frequently assists her corporate clients with their global structuring, including offshore components, regulatory compliance and licensing applications.

In Australia, Ms Calvert also worked as a consultant to the Australian Government’s Federal Treasury on FTA negotiations with ASEAN countries, tax and competition law policies and reforms. She began her legal training in Australia at Freehills in Melbourne. In 2008-2009, Ms Calvert served on the board of directors of the Australia China Business Council, Victorian division.

Kristy is admitted to practice in Australia and in the Cayman Islands

Other highlights

Ms. Calvert is regularly featured and quoted in external publications and has been cited in:

• 2018 China Business Law Journal: Top 50 Elite Foreign Lawyers in China
• The 2011 Asian Legal Business Hot 100 list of prominent lawyers in Asia
• The 2011 Asian Legal Business Hot 40 list of prominent lawyers in Australia and New Zealand
• The 2011 Euromoney Legal Media Group Asia Women in Business Law Awards shortlist
• Ms. Calvert co-founded an association of general counsel for multinational companies working in the PRC. In 2012, she also co-founded a senior women’s network, allowing female leaders to interact with each other in a social forum to share ideas and interests

Ms. Calvert is a native speaker and writer of English, Mandarin and Shanghainese.

Shannon Lee

leeshannon@martinsadvisory.com

Managing Director of Asia Pacific Consulting, Shannon Lee is a consultant specializing in international business execution strategy, with extensive board-level experience in the industrial services and professional services sectors.

Mr. Lee’s long experience includes many senior executive roles, including:

• Managing Director, China, of Costa Express, a leading B2B coffee automation technology company
• Head of China Commercial for Securitas AB, a global provider of security and risk solutions
• Chief Commercial Officer of ISS China, a world-leading facilities management company
• Director of Industrial Practices at Heidrick and Struggles, a leading global executive search, assessment and leadership development firm
• Head of Greater China Sales for G4S, a global outsourcing company
• Vice President of Strategy for Asia at BlueScope, a multinational construction products manufacturer

Mr. Lee had an extensive strategy consulting career as a management consultant in the offices of L.E.K. Global Management Consulting in Australia and the US, advising Fortune 500 companies on mergers and acquisitions, market entry, product development, valuation, growth strategy, and profitability improvement across a range of sectors including private equity, pharmaceutical, healthcare, retail, resources, manufacturing, insurance, aviation, engineering, tourism and media.

Other highlights

• Shannon has a degree in Law (Hons) and Commerce (Hons – advanced economics) from the University of Melbourne
• He served on the board of directors of the Chinese chapter of ASIS International
• Born and educated in Australia, he has lived in mainland China since 2009

David Kosoy B.A. and J.D. 

kosoydavid@martinsadvisory.com

Partner and founder of m•advisory Bahamas, David is the Executive Chairman, Founder and Director of Sterling Global Financial Group.

At m•advisory Bahamas, David leads a team that provides a wide range of legal, trust, banking, asset management, real estate development and related services.

In his roles to date, David has developed deep expertise and skills spanning diverse legal, real estate, operational and administrative areas, including:

• Leadership and executive roles in publicly listed and private investment companies, mutual funds and all aspects of governance, financial and operational management of complex businesses
• Real estate management, finance and licensing
• Bahamas real estate regulations, including for developers and buyers, including license approval for foreign buyers
• Licensing and registration of commercial and business projects in the Bahamas
• Banking regulations and licensing in the Bahamas
• Bahamas Immigration and Residency Requirements
• Acquisition and implementation of international tax residency
• Acquisition and management of global investment portfolios, including real estate properties and assets such as vessels and aircraft

Other highlights

• With over 50 years of experience in real estate and mortgage lending, David has been the Principal and President of Nassau-based Sterling Global Financial Limited since 2006 – an open-ended mortgage fund and direct lender
• From 2000 to 2007, he served as Co-CEO and Co-President of Sterling Centrecorp Inc., a publicly listed company on the TSX. From 1991 to 2000, he was the founder of Sterling Companies, based in Palm Beach, Florida
• From 1971 to 1991, he was the Principal at Brother Developments in Toronto, Canada. He is currently a Director at Ashton Woods U.S.A., one of the largest home builders in the United States
• David completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Akron on a full football scholarship. He has a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and was an all-star athlete in intercollegiate hockey at York University in Toronto. David practiced law in Toronto, Canada
• He is a full-time resident of the Bahamas

Vanessa Hall

hallvanessa@martinsadvisory.com

Vanessa is a highly skilled Bahamian lawyer with over a decade of experience in real estate transactions, conveyancing, sales, corporate structuring (and in the past civil and commercial litigation) in The Bahamas.  She also has significant experience with financing transactions, title due diligence and representing UHNW individuals and families in real estate transactions. 

Vanessa has significant experience and expertise in the following areas:

• Corporate and Commercial Law
• Real Estate Development

Other highlights

• Bahamas Bar Admission 2012
• Partner and Associate at a leading law firm in The Bahamas, 2012-2024
• Authored ‘Bahamas’ Chapter, Environmental, Social, Governance, THE GLOBAL LEGAL POST (2023) 
• Legal 500 Rising Star (2022) and Next Generation Partner (2023)
• Recognised 40 Influential Professionals under 40 by Professional Services Bahamas
• BFSB Fintech Work Group Member
• Social and Civic Organizations

Julien Martel

marteljulien@martinsadvisory.com

Julien serves as the key client leader for Caystone Luxembourg, m•advisory’s associated company in Luxembourg.

In his roles to date, Julien has developed deep expertise and skills spanning a range of trust and succession structures, corporate and fiduciary administration, operational and administrative areas, including:

• Leadership and executive roles in trust, banking, and trust companies, including serving as COO of a multifamily office
• Cross-border structural planning
• Succession planning involving offshore structures in multiple jurisdictions
• Corporate governance
• Regulatory compliance
• Business development and marketing
• Customer admission

Other highlights

• With over 30 years in the financial services industry, he has worked in Guernsey, the Bahamas, and now Luxembourg
• Executive Director of the Bahamas office of a trust and fiduciary firm with a global presence
• Director of Operations for a multifamily office