Hamid Khanbhai
Partner
About
Hamid is a partner in our Litigation, Insolvency & Restructuring] group and has extensive experience dealing with large-scale litigation and arbitration, as well as complex cross-border insolvencies and restructurings, particularly in the context of investment funds and digital assets. He has been described in the directories as “a brilliant lawyer for any serious litigation”. Hamid has also given expert evidence on Cayman Islands law, including in the US District Court SDNY.
Having practised as a barrister in a leading commercial set of Chambers in London, written and oral advocacy is an important part of his practice, in addition to advisory work. Hamid regularly advises and acts for directors, shareholders or partners, creditors, investment managers and other professional service providers, in a range of commercial situations. He has significant expertise acting for officeholders and stakeholders in liquidations and restructurings, including high-profile cases such as Luckin Coffee Inc, Ocean Rig, and Abraaj.
A number of his instructions have involved advising and acting for companies (token issuers, investment funds, blockchain ecosystems), directors, and investors in connection with investments in cryptocurrency and other digital assets – including successfully resisting an application for injunctive relief over crypto tokens and contractual rights to tokens.
Hamid has given expert evidence of Cayman Islands law on matters concerning the conflict of laws, arbitration, and contractual interpretation.
Experience
- Commercial Dispute Resolution
- Insolvency and Restructuring
- Digital assets
- Investment Fund Disputes
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Work highlights
Hamid acts for liquidators, creditors, shareholders, directors, managers and other professional service providers in litigation and in relation to a broad range of pre and post liquidation disputes.
A significant part of Hamid’s recent work has included advising and acting for companies (token issuers, investment funds), directors, and investors in connection with investments in digital assets.
- Acting for officeholders appointed for the restructuring of Luckin Coffee Inc.
- Acting for bondholders holding a blocking position in relation to the US$4bn restructuring of Ocean Rig by way of 4 inter-related schemes of arrangement.
- Acting for the company (owning well-known retail assets) in a members’ scheme of arrangement which effected a multi-billion dollar demerger.
- Acting for the official liquidators of the manager of a multi-billion dollar group of private equity funds based in the Middle East (Abraaj).
- Acting for the custodian and administrator in relation to a commercial claim for around US$2bn, which was brought by a fund that had placed its assets for investment with Bernard Madoff.
- Advising on a STAR Trust in connection with the restructuring of a Brazilian company with more than US$1.9bn of debt.
- Various section 238 ‘fair value’ petitions – advising the company or dissenters, including some of the largest cases by value so far in the Cayman Islands (Nord Anglia Education and 58.com).
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Qualifications and admissions
- Attorney at Law Cayman Islands, 2015
- Barrister of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (British Virgin Islands), 2017 (non-practising)
- Barrister admitted to the Bar of England and Wales, 2011 (non-practising)
- Graduate Diploma in Law and Bar Professional Training Course – City University, 2010-2011
- Princeton University – William Alexander Fleet Fellow, 2004-2005
- Magdalen College, University of Oxford
- BA (Hons) Modern Languages (French and Spanish), 2004
- MSt History, 2006
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Professional associations
- The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
- COMBAR (Commercial Bar Association)
- Fellow of INSOL
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Recognition and Awards
Hamid has been recognised in Chambers & Partners (previously ranked for three years) and The Legal 500 (NextGen Partner):
Chambers and Partners, 2024
- “… a pleasure to work with. His deep understanding of the law and ability to navigate complex issues have been instrumental in achieving successful outcomes.”
- “… consistently goes above and beyond to provide thorough and comprehensive advice.”
- “… is able to communicate and articulate his points extremely effectively, which shows he is a careful but incisive and shrewd practitioner. He is a superstar of the future.”
Legal500, 2024
- “Hamid Khanbhai is an amazingly gifted lawyer who is set for a very bright future indeed in the partnership.”
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Publications and news
