Morris and Dyer hired as Butterfield’s new legal team

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Butterfield Bank has hired a new legal team.

The bank announced that Shaun Morris will join as general counsel and group chief legal officer and Benjamin Dyer will join as deputy general counsel.

Mr Morris has served as a non-executive director on the bank’s Board since 2007. He will retire as a director concurrently with the commencement of his role as general counsel.

Brendan McDonagh, Butterfield’s executive chairman, said of the hires: “On behalf of the Board and senior management, we are delighted that Shaun and Ben are joining our team. They will be talented additions to the company.”

The new hires will become effective on August 13, 2012.

On July 31 2012, Mr Morris will retire from Appleby, an offshore law and fiduciary group, where he spent his entire professional career and is currently a partner in the Banking and Asset Finance team in Bermuda. In that role, he practices corporate and commercial law, specialising in shipping, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and project finance. From 2005 to 2012, Mr Morris also served as Appleby’s Bermuda Office managing partner.

Mr Morris holds an MA (Economics) from Dalhousie University in Canada and a Bachelor of Laws from the London School of Economics & Political Science. He is currently a member of the Bermuda Bar Association.

Mr Dyer spent more than ten years with offshore law firm, Conyers Dill & Pearman, where he practised Bermuda corporate and commercial law, specialising in Bermuda insurance regulation and capital markets transactions. In 2005, Mr Dyer transferred from Bermuda to Conyers Dill & Pearman’s Hong Kong office. In 2008, he was promoted to partner and was part of the team that opened Conyers Dill & Pearman’s office in São Paulo, Brazil. Whilst with Conyers Dill & Pearman, Mr Dyer also acted as a legislative consultant to the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

Mr Dyer received his undergraduate education at Emory University in the United States, where he earned a BA in Biology and History. He completed his professional law qualifications in the United Kingdom before returning to Bermuda to complete a pupillage with Conyers Dill & Pearman. He was admitted to the Bermuda Bar in 2000.

Bradford Kopp, Butterfield’s CEO, said: “As a multi-jurisdictional bank, Butterfield will benefit from the international experience that both Shaun and Ben bring to their new roles. As a complement to their international perspectives, as Bermudians, both men have long-term connections with the bank and a deep appreciation of Butterfield’s place in the Bermuda community.”

Last night, Appleby issued a statement, confirming Mr Morris’s departure from the firm.

Kiernan Bell, Appleby’s Bermuda Office managing partner, said: “On behalf of all the partners at Appleby, we are delighted for Shaun as he embarks on the next stage of his professional career. We wish him every success in his new role and of course, we look forward to continuing our relationship with him in his new role at the bank.”

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