Catherine Pham

Overview

I’m a Partner and the Practice Leader of our Corporate team in our Cayman Islands office and I specialise in investment funds.

I regularly advise private equity sponsors, investment banks and investment managers on the structuring, formation, regulation and governance of investment fund structures (across a broad range of asset classes), their downstream transactions (including finance transactions) and exit mechanisms.

I also advise institutional, strategic and seed investors in connection with their investments into investment funds.

I’m regularly involved in the structuring and implementation of a wide range of corporate transactions, including SPACs, joint venture arrangements, acquisitions and corporate restructurings.

Prior to joining Mourant, I worked both offshore and onshore, notably at Fraser Milner Casgrain in Toronto.

Professional qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, Canada, 2002
• Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, the University of Windsor in Canada, 1999

Memberships

• The Law Society of Upper Canada
• Attorney in the Cayman Islands
• 100 Women in Finance, Cayman (Main Committee Member and Peer Engagement Committee Co-Chair)
• Women in Fund Finance
• Hedge Funds Care, Cayman (Committee of Hearts)

Work highlights

• Acting as Cayman Islands counsel to Premier Gold Mines Limited in connection with its acquisition of the Mercedes Mine in Mexico from Yamana Gold Inc. and related $122.5 million financing arrangement with Orion Mine Finance
• Acting as Cayman Islands counsel to consumer-focused private equity firm Catterton in connection with its US$925 million acquisition of spa services provider Steiner Leisure Limited
• Acting as Cayman Islands counsel to Embassy Investments Limited and Grand Cayman Beach Suites Limited in connection with the sale of the assets of the Grand Cayman Beach Suites and the former Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman to the Dart group, a local developer

What the directories say

In Chambers and Partners Global 2024, Catherine is individually ranked in Investment Funds. A source comments: "Catherine Pham is fantastic because she is smart, commercial, very responsive and will find solutions."

In Legal 500 Caribbean 2024, Catherine is ranked as a Leading Indivdual in Investment Funds, with a source commenting: "Catherine Pham offers the perfect mix of being excellent technically, super responsive and very personable and relatable. She is a pleasure to work with." Catherine is also named as a Recommended Lawyer in Corporate and Commercial and Banking, Finance and Capital Markets. 

Catherine is recognised as a Women Leader and Market leader in Investment Funds in IFLR1000 2023.

In Chambers and Partners Global 2023, Catherine is individually ranked in Investment Funds. A source in the guide says: "Catherine is outstanding. She's amazing with clients and has real market intelligence."

In Legal 500 Caribbean 2023, Catherine is a Recommended Lawyer in Corporate and Commercial, and named as a Next Generation Partner in Investment Funds. She is described as being "a well-kept secret – a lawyer’s lawyer and commercial to boot. A class act." 

Catherine was the only Cayman-based lawyer recognised by the Hedge Fund Journal in their Top 50 Women in Hedge Funds report for 2022.

Catherine is Highly Regarded in IFLR1000 in 2022.

"She is technically very good as well as being very commercially aware and easy to work with." "She is very responsive and has strong attention to detail. She is well versed in matters of Cayman fund legislation and can provide appropriate and timely feedback to her clients on any questions they have." Chambers Global, 2022.

Chambers and Partners Global 2021 states that: "Catherine delivers top-notch service," offering "practical solutions" and "value-added input." The directory adds: "She is technically excellent and clients love working with her."

Sources say she is a "great attorney to work with," noting: "She is experienced and responsive." Chambers and Partners, 2020. 

Chambers Global, 2019 states that "she is extremely responsive and has a real in-depth understanding of fund issues." Another commentator added: "She is very good and making a strong name for herself."

Legal 500 Caribbean, 2019 states Catherine is "diligent and practical."

Catherine is "very responsive, sharp and produces good-quality work." Chambers Global, 2017.

Catherine is ranked as a Rising Star in Investment Funds IFLR1000, 2016.