Capital Union Offshore (“CUB”) announces the appointment of Michael Paton as Chief Executive Officer effective May 1st, 2025. Michael, a longstanding board member of CUB brings his extensive legal and financial services’ expertise to the role. Patrick Zbinden will continue as a board member, while taking on new leadership responsibilities as CEO of UCAP Group & CEO of UCAP Bahamas.
Nassau, April 16th, 2025
Capital Union Offshore (“CUB”) is pleased to announce that Michael Paton has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as of May 1st, 2025; succeeding Patrick Zbinden, who will take on new leadership responsibilities within the UCAP Group.
Michael Paton (left), a highly respected legal and financial expert, has been a member of Capital Union Offshore’s Board of Directors since 2022 and served as the company’s external legal advisor. His extensive experience in financial services, governance, and regulatory affairs positions him well to lead the company into its next phase of growth.
Patrick Zbinden (right) has been instrumental in strengthening the company’s position and advancing its strategic vision and will remain involved as a Board Member of Capital Union Offshore. As of May 1st, 2025, he will assume the roles of CEO of UCAP Group and CEO of UCAP Bahamas.
Speaking on the transition, Mr. Lawrence “Lonnie” Howell, Co-Founder & Chairman stated:
“I would like to thank Patrick Zbinden for his tenure as CEO of Capital Union Offshore during a period of unprecedented growth and offer him best wishes in his new roles.
I am thrilled to welcome Michael Paton as CUB’s new CEO. With his proven track record of transforming Lennox Paton into the leading law firm in The Bahamas, Michael brings unmatched regulatory and legal expertise, along with a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, making him exceptionally well-suited to build on the accomplishments of his predecessors.”
This leadership transition marks an exciting new chapter for Capital Union Offshore as it continues to evolve and strengthen its position in the international financial sector – while maintaining a commitment to excellence, innovation, and client service.
More information on our leadership team can be found here.
Michael Paton
Michael is the incoming Chief Executive Officer of Capital Union Offshore Ltd. He founded and served as Managing Partner of the leading Nassau-based law firm, Lennox Paton. At Lennox Paton, he assumed the roles of Head of Corporate and Commercial, Investment Funds and Banking and Finance Groups. He is consistently recommended in the legal directories and has been ranked in Band 1 for Chambers Global for many years, including 2025 and Chambers High Net Worth Guide since inception in 2022. Michael is former chairman of the Bahamas Financial Services Board (2002-2004), and a former commissioner of the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (2017-2024). Michael is also a qualified Certified Public Accountant (non-practicing) in the United States. He is called to the Bars of England and Wales, and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas since 1991.
Patrick Zbinden
Patrick Zbinden joined Union Capital Group in September 2021 as CEO of Capital Union Offshore Ltd. As of May 1st, 2025, Patrick serves as UCAP Group CEO and CEO of UCAP Bahamas. Prior to joining UCAP, Patrick was the Global Co-Head of EFG Asset Management, which he co-founded in 2010, with oversight responsibility for over $30bn of assets under management, and was also the CEO of EFG Asset Management (Switzerland) SA, based in Geneva. Prior to this, he was in charge of worldwide M&A Integration activities for EFG International, which he joined in 2002. He holds a MSc in Economics from the University of Lausanne, HEC, is a CFA Charter holder as well as a certified Financial Risk Manager from the Global Association of Risk Professionals.
About Capital Union Offshore
Capital Union Offshore Ltd (“CUB”) is incorporated and headquartered in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and is the private banking arm of the UCAP Group. Founded in 2013 by a group of renowned financiers and entrepreneurs, CUB was built on a commitment to providing first-class, innovative solutions to the capital markets and wealth management industry. CUB serves a global network of high-net-worth clients, family offices and institutional investors delivering bespoke financial solutions tailored to their unique needs. Today, the Bank services 2’000 clients worldwide with offices in North America (Nassau) and the Middle East (Abu Dhabi).
About UCAP Group
Union Capital Group (“UCAP Group”), established in 2011 by co-founders Lawrence D. Howell and Clement Ducasse, is a network of financial services companies specializing in Banking, Wealth Management, Asset Management, Capital Markets, and Wealth Planning. Its 300 professionals operate across Nassau, Miami, Bermuda, London, Geneva, Zurich, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. UCAP Group is in alliance with Spirit Asset Management in Luxembourg, Union Securities Switzerland and Lake Geneva Investment Partners in Geneva, as well as Isles of Knight and Premium Life Insurance in Nassau.
About UCAP Bahamas
UCAP Bahamas Ltd (“UCAP Bahamas”), was established in 2014 as the investment arm of the UCAP Group. UCAP Bahamas is a licensed asset management, investment advisor and broker-dealer company incorporated in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and oversees over $5bn of assets under management.
