Helen E. Cooper

Director, Co-Head of Bermuda Private Client and Trust

Bermuda | T +1 441 299 4956
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Helen E. Cooper is a Director and Co-Head of the Bermuda Private Client & Trust practice. Helen joined Conyers in 2001 and became partner in 2009.

Her practice covers all aspects of trust and private client law with specialist expertise in private trust company structures, trust reorganisations and international and local estate planning arrangements, as well as providing advice to private banks, charities, beneficiaries and protectors on a variety of trust related matters.

Jurisdiction

Experience

  • Establishing a Bermuda private trust company for a Monaco resident client involving complex family and corporate governance issues
  • Advising on the complicated reorganisation of a Bermuda law trust structure to facilitate the sale of a substantial UK retail business for a high profile client, where confidentiality and privacy issues were paramount
  • Advising on the complex reorganisation of a Bermuda law trust with South American beneficiaries which facilitated the sale of the trust’s interest in a large family business, leading to a successful application to the Bermuda Court approving the reorganisation
  • Advising a trustee on the reorganisation of a large Bermuda law trust structure for a Russian family and working closely with a US legal team on the restructuring of investments across multiple jurisdictions
  • Advising the Trustees on the reorganisation of a Bermuda law trust with Italian resident beneficiaries, which involved substantive cross-jurisdictional issues, including forced heirship and succession issues

Qualifications

Professional Background

  • Barrister, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Chambers

Education

  • Inns of Court School of Law, 1994
  • Columbia University, NY, NY, 1988

Bar Admissions

  • England & Wales, Solicitor, 1994 (not currently practising)
  • Bermuda, Barrister & Attorney, 1997

Awards & Accolades

  • Recognised in the 2021 edition (and since 2019) of Chambers HNW (offshore: trusts)
  • Recognised in the 2024 edition of Legal 500 Caribbean (trust/private client)
  • Recognised in the 2020 edition (and since 2011) of Legal 500 Caribbean (trusts/private client)
  • Recognised in the 2018 edition (and since 2013) of Who’s Who Legal (private client)
  • Recognised as one of CityWealth IFC’s Top 200 Power Woman for 2017 (and since 2014)
  • Recognised in the 2017 edition of the CityWealth Leaders List (private client)
  • Recognised in the 2015 edition of Legal Media Groups’ Expert Guides (trusts and estates)

Associations

  • Lincoln’s Inn London
  • International Bar Association
  • Bermuda Bar Association