Maples Group
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Legal and financial services |
| Predecessor | Maples and Calder |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | Jim MacDonald, John Maples |
| Headquarters | George Town , Cayman Islands |
Area served | Global (Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Ireland, Luxembourg, Jersey, London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore) |
Key people | Jonathan Green (Global Managing Partner) |
| Products | Legal counsel on tax-efficient structures, corporate transactions, business licensing, property law, immigration, employment legislation |
Maples Group (previously known as Maples and Calder) is a legal and financial services firm with operations spanning multiple jurisdictions, headquartered in the Cayman Islands. The firm maintains 17 offices situated in prominent financial hubs, including tax-neutral territories like the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Ireland, Luxembourg, Jersey, as well as London, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. As a recognized member of the offshore magic circle, Maples concentrates on providing counsel related to Cayman Islands, Irish, Luxembourgish, Jersey, and BVI legal frameworks, with a particular emphasis on tax-efficient structures across sectors such as commercial litigation, intellectual property, sports, and finance.
History
Established in 1962 by Jim MacDonald alongside John Maples, the firm later welcomed Douglas Calder as a partner, which resulted in the name Maples and Calder. Currently branded simply as Maples, its main office is located within Ugland House in the Cayman Islands.
The firm's global footprint grew with the launch of its Hong Kong branch in 1995, followed by offices in London (1998), British Virgin Islands (2004), Dubai (2005), Dublin (2006), and Singapore (2012). Jonathan Green holds the position of global managing partner, operating from the Cayman Islands headquarters.
In 2019, to better represent its cohesive international service offerings, the company transitioned from "Maples and Calder" to the "Maples Group" brand.
Practice areas
The firm's primary focus is on tax strategy, including the design and establishment of tax-efficient vehicles and corporate transactions aimed at IP-based and debt-related base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) tactics. Maples Group also delivers tax-centric legal advice for significant infrastructure and real estate development projects situated in offshore jurisdictions. Additionally, it assists clients with setting up physical operations in locations such as the Cayman Islands and Dublin. These offerings encompass areas like business licensing, property law, immigration matters, and employment legislation.
In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama famously referred to Ugland House—Maples Group’s headquarters and the registered office for thousands of U.S. companies—as "either the biggest building in the world or the biggest tax scam in the world," underscoring its role in discussions about international tax planning.
Awards
As the largest law firm based in the Cayman Islands, Maples Group consistently achieves leading rankings across finance, corporate law, investment funds, and litigation categories by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, and Practical Law Company (PLC). It stands out as the sole offshore magic circle member to secure Tier 1 status in every category within the International Financial Law Review (IFLR).
Locations
The Maples Group maintains a broad presence across multiple jurisdictions recognized as offshore tax havens in the Caribbean and Channel Islands regions—including the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Dubai, and Jersey. Following trends among offshore magic circle firms, it has expanded into key corporate tax hubs such as Dublin and Singapore.