Robert is a partner in our Corporate Department. He 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 has a particular interest in impact investing where philanthropic outcomes are fused with commercial interests. Robert joined Campbells in 2003.
Robert C. Searle
Partner
"Robert is very client-focused and seeks to give practical outcomes to clients. He is always available to discuss issues and is open to feedback."
- Chambers and Partners, 2024
Robert Searle is proactive, responsive, and provides commercially sensible advice.”
-Legal 500, 2023
One source finds him to be "very responsive, very helpful and very commercial," while another notes: "He doesn't only stand from the legal perspective but also from the client's perspective, and gives clear direction."
- Chambers and Partners, 2022
Overview
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, London
- McCullough Robertson, Australia
Professional Associations
- Registered Foreign Lawyer of the Hong Kong Law Society
Recognition and Awards
- Robert is ranked in Chambers & Partners as a Foreign Expert Based Abroad for the Cayman Islands.
- Chambers Global 2017 reported that Robert is “very responsive, very knowledgeable” and able to “provide direct and effective advice.”
Publications and News
News
- 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. - Campbells advised ADM Capital on its convertible loan facility to Square Yards, India’s largest integrated real estate platform.
Campbells acted as British Virgin Islands legal counsel to ADM Capital on its convertible loan facility to Square Yards, India’s largest integrated real estate platform. - Campbells LLP advised on the listing of E Fund (HK) Yield Enhanced Bond Fund I on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.
On 3 June 2021, E Fund (HK) Yield Enhanced Bond Fund I (the “Fund”), an open-ended Cayman Islands fund, was admitted to the Official List of the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange (the “CSX”).
Client Advisories
- Amendments to the Cayman Islands Companies Act.
The purposes of the Amendment Act is to make innovative commercial enhancements to the Companies Act; however, it has been gazetted, but is not yet in force. - Campbells advised E Fund (HK) Strategic Return 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. - New deregistration rules for Cayman Islands regulated funds.
CIMA has recently issued an updated rule and regulatory procedure in respect of the cancellation of licenses or certificates of registration for regulated mutual funds and registered private funds respectively. - Implications of the BVI Data Protection Act for Investment Funds.
The Data Protection Act, 2021 (the “Act”) was brought into force in the BVI with immediate effect on 9 July 2021 and introduces, for the first time in the British Virgin Islands, a legislative framework for data protection based on a set of internationally recognised privacy principles. The Act provides that its objects are to: - safeguard personal data processed by public bodies and private bodies by balancing the necessity of processing the personal data and protecting personal data from unlawful processing; and - promote transparency and accountability in the processing of personal data.