Robert C. Searle - Managing Partner, Campbells Hong Kong

Overview

Robert is a partner and heads up our Corporate Department in Hong Kong.

Robert specialises in advice on the establishment and restructure of all investment funds, having spent his entire legal career focusing on collective investment schemes in Cayman, England and Australia. He also assists various institutional managers to list various funds on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange (CSX).

Robert has a particular interest in impact investing where philanthropic outcomes are fused with commercial interests. He joined Campbells in 2003.

Expertise

Investment funds
Corporate finance

Work Highlights

Robert was engaged by Asia Debt Management to work on a number of recent fund launches.
Robert assisted Scotiabank to list various funds on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.
Robert advised Fullerton Fund Management on the ongoing requirements of their Cayman Islands investment funds.
Robert has advised Credit Suisse on investment fund launches relating to investment products.
Robert provides advice to CITIC Securities on Cayman Islands law.

Qualifications and Admissions

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Master of Laws (LLM) – Corporate and Finance Law
Bachelor of Accounting
Solicitor of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (British Virgin Islands), 2012
Solicitor of Supreme Court (England & Wales), 2003 (non-practising)
Attorney at Law Cayman Islands, 2003
Supreme Court of Queensland, 1998

Prior Career History

SJ Berwin (now King & Wood Mallesons), London
McCullough Robertson, Australia

Professional Associations

Registered Foreign Lawyer of the Hong Kong Law Society

Recognition and Awards

Lead lawyer in Offshore: Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds – Chambers Asia Pacific
Leading Individual in Offshore law firm (Hong Kong) – Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Highly Regarded in Investment Funds: Offshore (Hong Kong) – IFLR1000
Offshore Client Choice List – Asia Legal Business
The A List, Offshore’s Top 50 Lawyers – Asia Business Legal Journal

Publications and News

News

Caribbean Regulatory Update – Q4 2024.
The Q4 Regulatory Update provides an overview of the main legal developments in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands from 1 October to 31 December 2024.
Caribbean Regulatory Update - Q3 2024.
The Q3 Regulatory Update provides an overview of the main legal developments in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands from 1 July to 30 September 2024.
Campbells acts for ADM Capital in forming strategic partnership with Seviora Holdings.
Campbells Hong Kong is pleased to have advised ADM Capital, Hong Kong, on forming a strategic partnership with Seviora.
Campbells advised ChinaAMC Selected Bond Fund on its listing on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.
Our Hong Kong office has acted as the Cayman Islands legal counsel of ChinaAMC Selected Bond Fund in connection with the listing of four (4) share classes on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.

Load more +

Articles

Hurricane season: Practical solutions for Cayman Islands funds.
This article discusses how Cayman funds and their investors can manage situations involving sanctioned investors and CIMA notifications following regulatory or other administrative action by foreign regulators.

Client Advisories

Campbells’ Guide to the 2024 BVI Business Companies Act Amendments.
Demonstrating its commitment to ensuring that its financial services industry is aligned with international best practices, the BVI Business Companies (Amendment) Act, 2024 which makes various amendments to the BVI Business Companies Act (as revised), was published in the BVI Gazette on 26 September 2024.
Campbells advised Zhong Ou International Diversified Fund SPC on its CSX listing.
Our Hong Kong office has acted as the Cayman Islands legal counsel of Zhong Ou Dynamic Fixed Income Fund SP I in connection with the listing of its Class A Shares on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.
Changes to the Cayman Islands beneficial ownership regime.
The Beneficial Ownership Transparency Act, 2023 and the Beneficial Ownership Transparency Regulations, 2024 were brought into force on 31 July 2024, with enforcement relating to the new requirements under the Act commencing on 1 January 2025.
Deadline approaching to file the BVI Annual Financial Return.
Every BVI company is required to file with its registered agent an annual financial return within 9 months of either the company’s calendar year or, if the company’s financial year is not a calendar year, the company’s financial year.

Load more +