Dentons to Absorb HSM Chambers and Buy George Town Office

Dentons will acquire the legal practice of HSM Chambers and buy its offices at 68 Fort Street in George Town, making the property its Cayman Islands headquarters in a deal expected to close before the end of 2026.

The transaction brings HSM's lawyers and legal support professionals into Dentons and expands the firm's ability to advise international businesses, investment funds and financial institutions operating through the Cayman Islands, the firm announced. The territory functions as a significant international financial center, with established legal and professional services backing investment funds, private equity transactions, corporate structures, financing arrangements and other cross-border activity.

Huw St. J. Moses, OBE, Managing Partner of HSM Chambers, will join Dentons as senior counsel. HSM brings experience across investment funds, private equity, banking and finance, corporate and commercial matters, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, insolvency, litigation, trusts, estate planning, real estate and immigration — capabilities Dentons says complement its existing Cayman Islands practice.

What does the deal include?

The agreement covers the legal practice and HSM's longtime George Town office property, which Dentons frames as a commitment to a permanent presence in the market. It does not cover the whole HSM brand. HSM Corporate Services Ltd. and HSM IP Ltd. will remain independently owned and continue operating separately from Dentons.

HSM's clients keep their local advisers while gaining access to Dentons' international network. The combined operation will continue providing Cayman Islands legal advice and will coordinate with lawyers in other countries when client matters need international expertise.

"This is much more than an expansion of our practice," said David Dinner, Managing and Founding Partner of Dentons' Cayman Islands office and Interim CEO for Latin America and the Caribbean. "It represents a substantial investment in the Cayman Islands and in the future of our clients. The acquisition of HSM reflects our commitment to maintaining a significant presence in the heart of George Town while continuing to attract exceptional legal talent to deliver world-class service from Cayman and across the region."

Who stays in control?

Dentons emphasized that its Cayman Islands office will remain a wholly Caymanian-owned and controlled law practice. The structure is designed to preserve local independence, decision-making and existing client relationships while the organization draws on the firm's global resources.

"While HSM and their clients will gain access to the global Dentons platform, our Cayman office remains a 100% Caymanian-owned and controlled law practice and will continue both firms' longstanding support of Caymanians' in the legal sector," said Randall Foster Martin, Founding Partner of Dentons' Cayman Islands office. "That local ownership and decision-making means we retain the independence, responsiveness and Cayman-focused perspective clients expect, while drawing on Dentons' global resources whenever it benefits a client matter."

Moses framed the move as growth without disruption for his clients. "This combination is about creating new opportunities for our clients while preserving what has made our practice successful," he said. "By joining Dentons, our clients gain access to a truly global platform, deeper sector expertise and enhanced resources, while continuing to receive the responsive Cayman Islands advice and personal service they value."

Why the jurisdiction matters

Both Dentons' existing Cayman Islands office and HSM Chambers have been recognized by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 across multiple practice areas. The combination merges two established legal teams serving businesses, private capital sponsors, investment managers and individuals needing Cayman Islands legal services.

For Dentons, the deal expands regional capability and strengthens its position in a market tightly linked to international investment structures and cross-border financial transactions. Dinner identified the combination as a significant investment in the jurisdiction, and the acquisition gives Dentons a chance to pair HSM's established local practice with its own international client relationships and specialist resources.

Once the transaction closes before the end of 2026, Dentons will operate from Fort Street with an enlarged team — and a legal market long dominated by independent Caymanian firms will have one fewer standalone name in its ranks.