--- title: Highwater Cayman - Alternative Investment Funds description: HighWater has made its mark in the alternative investment funds industry as a boutique provider of corporate governance services by providing personal, high-quality director services to a select number of premium hedge funds and investment managers. image: https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/sample.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://www.highwater.ky#main-content) [![HighWater Logo](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/highwater-w.svg)](https://www.highwater.ky/../?hsLang=en) ![mav icon](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/nav.svg) ![close mav icon](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/close.svg) - [HOME](https://www.highwater.ky) - [ABOUT](https://www.highwater.ky/about?hsLang=en) - SERVICES - [DIRECTOR SERVICES](https://www.highwater.ky/director-services?hsLang=en) - [DISTRESSED FUNDS](https://www.highwater.ky/distressed-funds?hsLang=en) - [INVESTMENT MANAGERS](https://www.highwater.ky/investment-managers?hsLang=en) - [ANCILLARY SERVICES](https://www.highwater.ky/ancillary-services?hsLang=en) - THE TEAM - [DIRECTORS](https://www.highwater.ky/theteam?hsLang=en) - [SUPPORT TEAM](https://www.highwater.ky/support-team?hsLang=en) - [CORPORATE GOVERNANCE](https://www.highwater.ky/corporate-governance?hsLang=en) - [CONTACT US](https://www.highwater.ky/contact?hsLang=en) # Contemporary insight, Exceptional foresight HighWater independent directors have decades of relevant and diverse industry experience. Experience breeds foresight. [Find out more](https://www.highwater.ky/about?hsLang=en) ![sample](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/sample.jpg) ## How comfortable are you with your independent director? Highwater independent directors have made their mark in the alternative investment funds industry by providing personal, high-quality director services to a select number of premium hedge funds and investment managers. Our independent directors serve on boards covering a variety of investment strategies, including multi-strategy, credit, long/short equity, global macro, relative value, distressed debt, emerging markets, commodities, systematic, fixed income, event driven and other single manager strategies, as well as some significant fund of hedge fund relationships. They also act for certain private equity and infrastructure funds, as well as family offices. [Find out more](https://www.highwater.ky/about?hsLang=en) ###### Highwater Independent Directors ## Meet the Directors [View our full team](https://www.highwater.ky/theteam?hsLang=en) HighWater independent directors bring the necessary diverse management and advisory experience gained from decades of work in the trenches – including finance, due diligence, investment management, fund administration, legal, audit and fund regulation backgrounds. All of the directors have held senior and high profile roles in the fund industry. ![Gary Linford](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/directors/director-1.jpg) **Gary Linford Founder** ![Yolanda Banks McCoy of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Yolanda-1.jpeg) **Yolanda Banks McCoy Partner** ![Stacey Kirkconnell of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Stacey-1.jpeg) **Stacey Kirkconnell Partner** ![Mark Fagan of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Mark-1-1.jpeg) **Mark Fagan Partner** ![Nick Tappin of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/directors/director-9.jpg) **Nick Tappin Director** ![Matt Auriemma](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/directors/director-8.jpg) **Matt Auriemma Director** ![Todd Groome of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/directors/director-6.jpg) **Todd Groome Director** ![John Lewis](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/directors/director-4.jpg) **John Lewis Director** ![Mike Anderson](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Mike%20Anderson.png) **Mike Anderson** ![Steve Ali of HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/1W8A9039-1-1.jpeg) **Steve Ali** ![Sandra ](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/1W8A8961%20Sandy-1.jpeg) **Sandra "Sandy" Cram** ###### Background ## High Quality Director Services for Cayman-Domiciled Funds HighWater was established in 2007. We provide administrative services to independent professional directors in the alternative investment funds industry. Our independent directors provide guidance and expertise to alternative funds, including hedge funds, fund of funds, private equity funds and investment managers. With a broader focus on Cayman-domiciled funds and investment managers, HighWater independent directors provide high quality director services to a select number of clients. At HighWater, the independent directors perform all key functions and responsibilities personally, recognising the increasing importance attached to the experience, capacity, attention, availability and credibility of the independent director. There are natural limits to the number of directorships that directors can take on, and the focus is on maintaining a manageable portfolio of quality relationships, where the director can be actively engaged, build mutual trust, add value to the process, represent investor interests and work with investment managers to provide effective oversight and superior corporate governance to the fund. HighWater independent directors’ success has been built on developing strong relationships with investment managers, investors and key service providers of the fund via regular interaction and by working together constructively to ensure the equitable treatment of all stakeholders. They have a diverse portfolio of clients across the Americas, Europe and Asia, covering a wide variety of investment strategies.  The independent professional directors, supported by Highwater’s support team, are experienced professionals who are readily accessible, responsive and who fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities personally. The funds industry is highly contextual, often presenting complex and unique issues which cannot be adequately resolved via a checklist approach. HighWater has a highly qualified and dedicated team of professional support staff, and a robust and secure technology platform, designed to support the directors in providing effective corporate governance. ###### What we do ## Our services [Director Services](https://www.highwater.ky#tab_1) [Distressed Funds](https://www.highwater.ky#tab_2) [Investment Managers](https://www.highwater.ky#tab_3) [Ancillary Services](https://www.highwater.ky#tab_4) ![Highwater Director Services](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Highwater%20(1).png) #### Director Services [Find out more](https://www.highwater.ky/director-services?hsLang=en) Institutional investors should require independent directors who have relevant industry expertise and who will fulfill their fiduciary duties in the best interests of the fund and its investors. In an industry of growing complexity and increased regulation, investors and managers seek directors who will make a genuine contribution and not shy away from difficult decisions. ![highwater-team](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Team%20Photos/highwater-team.jpg) #### Distressed Funds [Find out more](https://www.highwater.ky/distressed-funds?hsLang=en) Distressed funds can find themselves without the appropriate independent board of directors to guide them through a restructuring process, an orderly realisation of assets, or a voluntary liquidation. This is where HighWater excels. ![Team business meeting at HighWater](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/HW-114.jpg) #### Investment Managers [Find out more](https://www.highwater.ky/investment-managers?hsLang=en) As a stepping stone to setting up a permanent office, we assist investment fund managers to establish a physical presence in the Cayman Islands, working closely with onshore legal counsel, tax and regulatory advisors. ![Highwater Cayman](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Team%20Photos/HW-6.jpg) #### Ancillary Services [Find out more](https://www.highwater.ky/ancillary-services?hsLang=en) While focusing on providing independent director services to the alternative investment fund Industry, HighWater also offers a range of ancillary services. ###### experienced funds professionals ## Support Staff The HighWater support team is comprised of experienced funds professionals with backgrounds as former fund administrators, lawyers or professional accountants. [See our Support Staff](https://www.highwater.ky/support-team?hsLang=en) ![HW-82-1](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/Team%20Photos/HW-82-1.jpg) ![highwater-w](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/highwater-w.svg) ###### Address BritCay House, 2nd Floor, 236 Eastern Avenue, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands ###### Services - [Director Services](https://www.highwater.ky/director-services) - [Distressed Funds](https://www.highwater.ky/distressed-funds) - [Investment Managers](https://www.highwater.ky/investment-managers) - [Ancillary Services](https://www.highwater.ky/ancillary-services) ###### Useful Resources - [Meet the Directors](https://www.highwater.ky/theteam) - [Our Director Services](https://www.highwater.ky/director-services) - [Support Team](https://www.highwater.ky/support-team) ###### Contact Us ![phone](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/phone.svg)[1-345-640-2279](tel:+%201%20345%20640%202279) ![email](https://www.highwater.ky/hubfs/august-2023/email.svg)[info@highwater.ky](mailto:info@highwater.ky) © 2026 HighWater. 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