• Rocco has consistently exceeded my expectations with his intelligence, his tireless work ethic and his efficacy in tackling complex problems.
    Chambers Global Guide 2022
  • Rocco is a bright star in the Cayman Islands. He is at the forefront of the most significant Section 238 appraisals.
    Chambers Global 2023
  • A bright star in the Cayman Islands.
    Chambers Global 2023
  • Rocco is a very able and experienced Cayman appraisal litigation attorney.
    Chambers Global 2023
  • Rocco Cecere is a thoughtful strategist with good knowledge of Cayman fair value claims.
    Legal 500 2022
  • Rocco Cecere remains unquestionably the go-to litigator for dissenters on Section 238 matters and has built an enviable team to support his flourishing practice.
    Chambers Global Guide 2025
  • Rocco in particular is the most sophisticated lawyer in Cayman for [Section 238 claims] - his service is second to none.
    Chambers Global 2023
  • Rocco is the most knowledgeable lawyer in the Cayman Islands.
    Legal 500 2024
  • Rocco is at the forefront of the most significant [share appraisal claims].
    Legal 500 2024
  • Nobody knows Cayman Islands law better. Rocco always manages to put us several steps ahead of our opponents. He fights incredibly hard and effectively for us, but never loses sight of our commercial goals.
    Chambers Global Guide 2022
  • Very strong technically.
    Legal 500
  • Rocco is our go-to lawyer.
    Chambers Global 2023
  • Rocco is a star – the best in the business.
    Legal 500 2024
  • Rocco's understanding of germane legal precedent is second to none, and his abilities as a litigation tactician are unparalleled.
    Chambers Global 2024
  • He is a leading expert in his field.
    Chambers Global Guide 2025
  • Rocco really understands the shareholder appraisal world. He and his team do a good job of making sure clients are comfortable with what's coming up next and making sure everything works together as seamlessly as possible.
    Chambers Global 2024
  • Rocco is a master of case management and client service.
    Chambers Global Guide 2025
  • Rocco's client service and general level of service, level of sophistication and commercial awareness and vision are all very strong. Rocco is our go-to lawyer in the Cayman Islands.
    Chambers Global 2023
  • He is a very able and experienced Cayman appraisal litigation attorney.
    Chambers Global 2023

Rocco is an experienced offshore commercial litigator, specialising in shareholder disputes, international insolvency and restructuring, and investment fund disputes. He has extensive experience conducting complex cross-border litigation, often involving fraud and asset tracing.

Experience

Rocco leads Collas Crill's market-leading s.238 merger appraisal team and is a highly sought after and trusted advisor to shareholders in merger appraisal disputes. His clients include some of the world's leading investment managers and institutional shareholders.

Rocco has unparalleled experience and expertise in merger appraisal litigation and has acted for shareholders in most of the major cases, including 51job, Inc., New Frontier Health Corporation, SINA Corporation, 58.com Limited, Changyou.com Ltd, eHi Car Services Ltd, Bitauto Holdings Limited, China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc., Nord Anglia Education, iKang Healthcare Group, Qunar Cayman Islands Ltd, Zhaopin Limited, and Kongzhong Corporation. He has also advised shareholders on numerous other Cayman Islands mergers which have not proceeded to litigation.

Rocco regularly advises shareholders of Cayman Islands companies on a range of matters including disputes against investment funds, derivative actions, and just and equitable winding ups involving minority oppression. Rocco also regularly acts as Cayman Islands counsel in respect of United States securities actions brought by shareholders against Cayman Islands companies.

In addition to his shareholder disputes practice, Rocco has a busy insolvency and commercial litigation practice. He acts for creditors, Cayman Islands liquidators and US SEC-appointed receivers.

Background

Prior to joining Collas Crill in 2019, Rocco worked at another leading law firm in the Cayman Islands. Before this, he gained valuable practical investment fund experience acting as European Head of Legal Affairs for one of the world’s largest hedge fund service providers.

Rocco is ranked in Band 4 in Chambers and Partners and is recognised by Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner.

Memberships

  • Cayman Islands Law Society
  • RISA Cayman
  • INSOL International

 

Legal 500: Caribbean Next Gen Partner
Chambers Global
Senior Legal Secretary
Kathleen Gillam  
My services
Insolvency
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For financially distressed companies in need of restructuring and reorganisation, or for those where the opportunity to do so has passed or failed, we work to achieve the most beneficial outcome in these difficult situations. 

At whatever stage we are engaged, our involvement will assist in identifying the ongoing risks facing a client and to enable that client to continue to identify and effectively manage deteriorating relationships with creditors, financiers, investors or other interested parties.

Corporate disputes
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Our dispute resolution specialists collaborate seamlessly with our corporate advisory and banking teams across jurisdictions to advise multinational corporations, trust companies, banks, funds, insurers, governments and directors.

We provide a global perspective, working closely with our clients to ensure that they are best placed to respond to customer issues, fraud risks, rapidly changing market conditions and regulatory demands.

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Merger appraisal disputes
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Collas Crill’s Cayman Islands appraisal practice is headed by Partner Rocco Cecere, who is recognised as a leading practitioner in the field. Rocco’s team has significant experience in appraisal litigation.

Rocco is a member of the Grand Court’s users committee which drafted the procedural rules governing appraisals matters. The Cayman Islands merger regime is a relatively new and evolving law. Our cross-border team acts on dissenter and company side, from pre-merger stage all the way through to trial and any appeals.

Middle East and North Africa
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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing regions in the world. With diversifying markets and governments keen to enact strategies and legislation to bring further innovation, MENA is primed for further transformation and growth.

The demand for professional advisers who understand this rapidly changing environment and the opportunities and challenges it brings has never been higher or more important.

Regional clients with worldwide investments as well as international clients conducting business in the area trust Collas Crill to guide them through their business dealings and wealth planning, with expertise in Shariah-compliant products allied with decades of experience using traditional structures to meet the needs of clients wherever their focus lies.

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Dispute resolution
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We live in an increasingly contentious world. When your business is involved in any kind of legal dispute it's crucial to work with lawyers who are hands-on, cost-effective and flexible enough to respond quickly and intuitively to your unique situation and needs.

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Insolvency and restructuring
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Our multi-jurisdictional team brings a wealth of experience from a range of diverse backgrounds to give quick, accurate, commercial advice. We work across dispute resolution, restructuring, recovery and insolvency matters to ensure that clients get the full benefit of our know-how and experience across the world.

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Fraud and asset tracing
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We are used to working as part of a multi-jurisdictional team, capable of reacting and responding quickly to urgent requests for assistance with locating and freezing assets.

As sophisticated defendants become more adept at dissipating assets, we've been involved in cases that created new law in the Channel Islands in relation to a party's ability to trace assets and recover their losses. With their ability to deal with complex issues, the team deliver clear, commercial advice on the availability and likely success of recovery methods.

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Contentious regulatory
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In regulatory disputes there are often fine lines between the usual wrangling with the regulator and something more serious – by matching our mix of experienced contentious and non-contentious lawyers to the particular problem at hand, we achieve better and more efficient outcomes.

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Contentious banking and finance
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Our dispute resolution specialists collaborate seamlessly with our corporate, banking and finance teams across jurisdictions to advise on litigation, restructuring and risk and regulatory matters. We provide a global perspective, working closely with our clients to ensure that they are best placed to respond to customer issues, fraud risks, rapidly changing market conditions and regulatory demands.

17 Mar 2025

Tianrui v China Shanshui: is it time for Foss v Harbottle to go?

This article was first published in issue 20 of ThoughtLeaders4 FIRE Magazine. To read the full publication click here. The recent Privy Council decision of Tianrui (International) Holding Company Ltd v China Shanshui Cement Group Ltd [2024] UKPC 36 will...

11 Mar 2025

Landmark judgment: Privy Council confirms minority shareholders have dissent rights in short-form mergers

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) has delivered a landmark judgment in Changyou.com Ltd v FourWorld Global Opportunities Fund Ltd & Others,[1] conclusively determining that minority shareholders are entitled to dissent from a 'short-...

14 Feb 2025

Chambers Global Guide 2025

All practice areas in BVI and Cayman have maintained their rankings in the 2025 Chambers Global Guide. Congratulations to Alistair Wade who features in the Real Estate rankings for the first time as an "associate to watch". A summary of the client feedba...

11 Dec 2024

GRR 100 2024

Collas Crill has once again been included in the 2024 Global Restructuring Review (GRR) 100 - an annual guide to the world's leading law firms for cross-border restructuring and insolvency matters.  Firms listed in the guide have been vetted for the...

15 Nov 2024

Legal 500 Caribbean 2025

Collas Crill's teams in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Cayman Islands have received another strong set of rankings in the 2025 Legal 500 Caribbean directory. The firm is consistently ranked across all of its key practice areas, having moved up from...

29 May 2024

Enforcement and asset recovery in the Cayman Islands

There are likely to be very few claimants who would argue with the proposition that the real value in bringing proceedings is in the judgment obtained actually being satisfied. Delinquent, or worse - fraudulent - counterparties against whom a creditor ha...

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