The Legal 500

Following the opening of a Hong Kong office in January this year, leading offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has announced that it has opened an office in the British Virgin Islands.

give Keynote Address at Mourant Ozannes' International Trusts and Private Client Conference 2012

Mourant Ozannes is delighted to announce the Chief Justice of the Cayman Islands, the Honourable Anthony Smellie Q.C., J.P. as keynote speaker of Mourant Ozannes' International Trusts & Private Client Conference 2012, taking place in October.  

Bloomberg will be hosting an event on the 26 July where the discussion will be focused on the changing landscape of the hedge fund industry in Hong Kong. Industry leaders and Bloomberg specialists will be speaking at the event, including Mourant Ozannes Hong Kong Partner, Alex Last who will be talking about hedge fund governance.

The Mourant Ozannes property law team is delighted to have sponsored the stunning JEP aerial supplement to coincide with the launch of mourantozannesproperty.com. To view the magnificent aerial photographs taken by Matthew Hotton visit Jersey from the Sky.

Leading offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has launched the first pan-island website dedicated entirely to property matters across Guernsey and Jersey.

Leading offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has successfully represented la Génerale des Carrières et des Mines Sarl (Gécamines), a state-owned mining company based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in an appeal before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Leading offshore firm, Mourant Ozannes, has appointed Tracey Forbes as an Articled Clerk.

A team from leading offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has acted as Jersey legal advisors to the Malaysian consortium in connection with their acquisition of London's landmark Battersea Power Station.

Leading offshore firm, Mourant Ozannes, has appointed Tracey Forbes as an Articled Clerk.

Mourant Ozannes, the leading offshore law firm, has advised long standing client Polyus Gold International Limited on the Jersey legal aspects of its premium listing on the London Stock Exchange.

major conference

Due to the success of last year's inaugural event, international law firm Mourant Ozannes is delighted to announce the date for its second International Trusts & Private Client Conference. The conference will be held on Friday 5 October 2012 at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. 

Leading offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has won the largest award of damages ever made by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. The US$2.5 billion award was granted by the Chief of Justice of the Cayman Islands in a ruling handed down on 12 June 2012.

The Cayman Islands office of Mourant Ozannes moved to a new building at Camana Bay on Monday 21 May 2012.

Mourant Ozannes has maintained its position as the leading offshore law firm, according to one of the world's most respected legal directories.

Leading offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has advised European private equity firm Cinven on the Jersey aspects of its acquisition of the Jersey headquartered patent annuity business, CPA Global.

A group of the world's leading fund directors and litigation lawyers met in London yesterday to hear about the key issues they face in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Mourant Ozannes has been recognised for the role it played in two of the year's biggest corporate deals. The results were announced at the International Financial Law Review (IFLR) 13th Annual European Awards, held at the Dorchester Hotel in London last night.

Leading offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has advised long-standing client WNS (Holdings) Limited on its public offering of American Depositary Shares (ADSs) on the New York Stock Exchange.

Leading offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has acted as Jersey legal adviser to both Hermes Real Estate, as buyer and the Westfield Group, as seller in relation to the acquisition by Hermes of Westfield's half share in a £400 million retail portfolio.

A landmark case that could have a significant impact on the mechanism used to calculate damages in personal injury claims has been won by Mourant Ozannes' litigation team in Guernsey.

Mourant Ozannes has underlined its position as the leading offshore law firm, with more Citywealth Leading Lawyer recommendations than any other offshore firm.

Mourant Ozannes in the Channel Islands has been named in an independent study as a leading offshore law firm in respect of investment funds law and practice.

Leading offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has promoted seven lawyers to the position of Senior Associate: Adam Bathgate, Carly Parrott, Henry Brandts-Giesen, Michelle Tierney, Robbie Grant, Sarah Huelin, and Tim Crook.

Leading offshore law firm Mourant Ozannes has advised on the establishment of a new private equity fund focusing on Nordic business investments.

Leading offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has opened an office in Hong Kong to provide clients and intermediaries with access to the firm's offshore legal services in an Asian time zone.

alternative funds business

The introduction of a new regulatory regime in Jersey will help enhance its position as a centre for international funds business, according to a leading funds lawyer at offshore law firm Mourant Ozannes. 

Leading offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has appointed Advocate Daniel Birtwistle as the Managing Partner of its Jersey office. His appointment will take effect from 1 February 2012.

Mourant Ozannes lawyers Ben Robins and Kirsten Faichnie have advised on the Jersey legal aspects of the establishment of a new English limited partnership, Accent Equity 2012 LP, which is managed by a Jersey general partner and advised by a Swedish advisor, Accent Equity Partners AB.

Mourant Ozannes advises more FTSE-listed companies than any other offshore law firm, according to the latest set of ratings published this month.

LLeading offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has announced the appointment of Simon Dickson and Helen Ruelle as partners, with effect from 1 February 2012.

Mourant Ozannes acted for Damille Investments II Limited, a new Guernsey-domiciled closed-ended fund. The company raised £74 million pursuant to the company's placing of 74 million new ordinary shares at an issue price of 100 pence each.

Law firm Mourant Ozannes is the only offshore firm to be named in a recently published list of the leading international legal advisers for Russian M&A deals.

The challenges and opportunities for businesses of a constantly evolving social media landscape will be explored at a seminar hosted by the IoD Guernsey later this month.

Mourant Ozannes has once again emerged as the Channel Islands' leading law firm, according to newly released figures from Chambers UK 2012, a leading legal directory that ranks law firms based on technical expertise and client service excellence.

Mourant Ozannes has been named 'Best Offshore Law Firm - Client Service' at the HFMWeek US Hedge Fund Services Awards 2011. This follows the firm winning the same client service accolade at the HFMWeek European Hedge Fund Services Awards earlier this year.

Mourant Ozannes has won the inaugural Law Cup at the 2011 Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon by being the first law firm to finish the relay race.

Newly published figures from Legal 500 UK confirm Mourant Ozannes' position as the leading law firm in the Channel Islands.

The 2011 legal directory rankings, which include feedback from clients and peers as well as independent research, show that Mourant Ozannes:

Mourant Ozannes' litigation partner and regulatory law expert, Beverley Lacey, recently chaired and addressed a packed audience at the Royal Yacht Hotel on important recent legislative developments of concern to company directors offshore.

Mourant Ozannes is delighted to announce London-based Robert Hunter as keynote speaker at the inaugural Mourant Ozannes' International Trusts Conference. 

Mourant Ozannes has acted as Guernsey legal adviser to Photoways Inc on its £120m acquisition of Moonpig.com Ltd, the online retailer of personalised greeting cards and gifts.

Mourant Ozannes has advised Nexar Capital Group, a global fund investment manager, on its recent acquisition of the Jersey-based fund management group Ermitage.

Mourant Ozannes acted as sole Guernsey legal counsel to Sanglier Pte. Ltd in respect of its 1.42 billion yen acquisition of the entire issued share capitals of two Guernsey companies from Japan Leisure Hotels Limited, a closed-ended investment company listed on the Alternative Investment Market.

A funds specialist at Mourant Ozannes was the only offshore lawyer to be shortlisted in the Women in Business Law Awards 2011.

Mourant Ozannes has advised Vallares plc, a Jersey company, on its flotation on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.

Mourant Ozannes has acted as sole Jersey legal adviser to KazakhGold Group Limited and OJSC Polyus Gold in the combination of the two companies.

The combination consisted of a reverse takeover of Polyus Gold by KazakhGold, with KazakhGold subsequently being renamed Polyus Gold International Limited.

Douglas Close, widely recognised as one of the top London barristers for international trusts work, has left the bar to join leading offshore law firm Mourant Ozannes as Global Head of a new International Private Client practice, encompassing both contentious and non-contentious trust and private client work. 

International law firm Mourant Ozannes has promoted two associates to Senior Associate level in the Cayman Islands.

Mourant Ozannes was named 'Offshore Law Firm of the Year' at The Lawyer Awards 2011 on Tuesday 21 June.

Mourant Ozannes has been named 'Best Offshore Law Firm - Client Service' at the HFMWeek European Hedge Fund Services Awards 2011.

Mourant Ozannes has advised on the sale of Indian Motorcycles, the iconic American motorcycle business.

The Mourant Ozannes International Trusts Conference will take place on Friday 14 October at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Grand Cayman, and will bring together a number of renowned guest speakers and Mourant Ozannes’ own expert trusts lawyers from the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, and Jersey.

Mourant Ozannes has been named 'Offshore Law Firm of the Year’ at the Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence 2011.

Mourant Ozannes is delighted to announce the addition of John Carrell to its Trusts team to further strengthen its offshore islands legal capability. This follows his retirement as a partner at Farrer & Co where he headed up their tax team for twelve years.

Leading law firm Mourant Ozannes is the sole adviser to Glencore International AG on the Jersey legal aspects of what is expected to be London's biggest ever flotation.

Leading international law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has appointed Morven McMillan and Julian Fletcher as Partners.

Mourant Ozannes acted as Jersey legal counsel to Gatwick Funding Limited in the recent £600 million bond issue made in connection with the £1.2 billion refinancing of Gatwick Airport.

A version of this briefing features in The STEP Journal, 2 February 2011, published by Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

The Cayman Islands did not undergo the fundamental reform of their mental health legislation that occurred in England and Wales with the passing of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (the MCA), nor do the Islands have an equivalent to the English Court of Protection.

A judgment handed down by the Guernsey Court of Appeal last week could have significant implications for the way in which investigations into cases of suspected financial crime are conducted in Guernsey, according to a leading lawyer.

A Mourant Ozannes team consisting of Guernsey litigation partner Christopher Edwards and associates Michaela Ryan and Rocco Cecere, have had another significant success for their client Garnet Investments Limited ("Garnet") by successfully quashing a decision of the Financial Intelligence Service (the "FIS") to refuse consent to a Guernsey bank to transfer funds held by Garnet.

Mourant Ozannes has advised on the first Jersey company listing of shares on the US-based NASDAQ Global Market.

Mourant Ozannes partner and head of funds in Jersey, Ben Robins, will be speaking on the panel session, AIFM Directive: The Benefits of Running Funds Outside the EU, moderated by Jersey Finance on Wednesday 2nd March. 

Mourant Ozannes and DLA Piper advises Velti plc on the first ever direct NASDAQ listing by a Jersey company

The Taxation (Land Transactions) (Jersey) Law 2009 (the "Land Transactions Law"), came into effect on 1 January 2010.

International law firm Mourant Ozannes has boosted its highly-ranked Cayman investment funds team with the recruitment of Simon Palmer, Robert Duggan and Caroline Spottiswoode.

Husband and wife lawyers, Matthew and Rachel Guthrie, have joined Mourant Ozannes.Husband and wife team join Mourant Ozannes

Law firm Mourant Ozannes has advised on the set up of a new Guernsey investment company, Doric Nimrod Air One Limited, by London-based financial advisers Nimrod Capital and Doric Asset Finance, which is listed on the LSE Specialist Fund Market (SFM) and the Channel Islands Stock Exchange (CISX).

Law firm Mourant Ozannes has advised on a unique US$150 million Guernsey-domiciled fund that will invest in rare and classic cars.

FTSE listed AEA Technology Group plc, an environment and climate change consulting firm, was advised by Mourant Ozannes on its recent corporate restructuring and incorporation in Jersey.

Mourant Ozannes acted as a sole legal counsel to this existing client, an open-ended class B collective investment scheme with respect to the contested removal, by shareholder vote at an extraordinary general meeting, of the scheme’s principal manager and promoter and the appointment of alternative service providers to the scheme as part of a wider restructuring.

International law firm Mourant Ozannes has expanded its award-winning Cayman Islands investment funds team with the appointment of Associate Adam Bathgate.

FTSE listed AEA Technology Group plc, an environment and climate change consulting firm, was advised by Mourant Ozannes on its recent corporate restructuring and incorporation in Jersey.

FTSE-listed AEA Technology Group plc, an environment and climate change consulting firm, was advised by Mourant Ozannes on its recent corporate restructuring and incorporation in Jersey.

International law firm Mourant Ozannes has expanded its litigation team in the Cayman Islands with the appointments of Senior Associate Tim Richards and Associate Nicholas Fox.

Mourant Ozannes advises more funds across the Channel Islands than any other law firm, according to independent figures in the latest Jersey and Guernsey fund encyclopaedias.

Partner Ben Robins is featured in November 2010's edition of The Lawyer Offshore Report:

Mourant Ozannes has been described as a "cut above the rest" in the latest legal directory rankings.

The annual Mourant Ozannes ArtPrize 2010 is now officially open for entries. We're once again offering a top prize of £1,000 and a chance for the 12 finalists to showcase their work at Guernsey Airport over the Christmas period.

Mourant Ozannes’ Guernsey and Jersey offices have achieved the highest honours in the latest International Financial Law Review (IFLR) 1000 rankings.

International law firm Mourant Ozannes has bolstered its growing trust practice in the Cayman Islands with the addition of Morven McMillan to its award-winning litigation team. The appointment comes as Mourant Ozannes officially celebrates its recent merger to create one of the largest offshore law firms in the world.

International law firm Mourant Ozannes has bolstered its growing trust practice in the Cayman Islands with the addition of Morven McMillan to its award-winning litigation team.  

Just over a year since they were launched, Jersey Foundation structures are continuing to receive a steady flow of interest, according to Giles Corbin, partner, Mourant Ozannes.

Offshore law firm Mourant Ozannes has awarded legal scholarships to three Caymanian students.

Helen Wyatt, a senior associate in Mourant Ozannes’ Guernsey office, will join the London team later this month.

Mourant Ozannes has advised Vallar plc, a Jersey company, on its flotation on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.

The litigation team at law firm Mourant Ozannes has advised in a case in Guernsey’s Court of Appeal this week that resulted in the claimant being awarded the largest sum ever granted in a personal injury case in the UK.

Mourant Ozannes’ Jersey and Guernsey offices have excelled in the latest Legal 500 UK rankings, published last week.

A lawyer from Guernsey has been profiled in The Times this week following his involvement in a recent landmark court case.

Mourant and Ozannes, two of the leading offshore law firms, have merged to create Mourant Ozannes.

Several lawyers from Mourant Ozannes have been included in the 2010 Guide to the World’s Leading Investment Funds Lawyers, published this month by the Legal Media Group.

Mourant and Ozannes, two of the leading offshore law firms, have merged to create Mourant Ozannes.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune lawyers Kate Story and Lionel Woodward have been promoted to senior associate with immediate effect.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune has been voted the Best Offshore Legal Firm by readers of Hedgeweek, one of the hedge fund industry’s leading publications.

Two lawyers from law firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune have passed their Jersey advocacy exams. Thomas Morgan, who graduated from the University of Warwick and Nottingham Law School, joined Mourant du Feu & Jeune’s trusts practice in 2006 and now undertakes a wide variety of trusts work including private client trusts, charitable trusts, purpose trusts, and foundations. Thomas passed all six exams in the first sitting and, at just 26, is one of the youngest lawyers ever to have done so.

Ben Robins and Sophie Travis advised Aerium in relation to the acquisition of an office block in Hardman Street, Spinningfields, Manchester, for £183.5 million.

Jersey Foundation structures have received a steady flow of interest in the six months since they were introduced and their appeal is expected to grow during the coming year, according to an offshore legal expert.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune, one of the leading offshore law firms, has further strengthened its Litigation practice with the promotion of three senior associates to partner.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune and Ozannes, two of the leading law firms in the Channel Islands, have announced their intention to merge.

Law firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune has promoted two Jersey Advocates, Mathew Cook and Craig Swart, to the position of senior associate.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune partner and trusts and foundations specialist, Giles Corbin, has been selected as one of the top 50 private client advisors by Private Client Practitioner, a leading industry journal.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune partner and trusts and foundations specialist, Giles Corbin, has been selected as one of the top 50 private client advisors by Private Client Practitioner, a leading industry journal.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune, one of the leading offshore law firms, has announced the appointment of four new Jersey-based partners

Mourant du Feu & Jeune, one of the leading offshore law firms, has announced a significant new partner hire in the Cayman Islands.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune, a leading offshore law firm, has relocated its London office to the former Stock Exchange building on Old Broad Street.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune is the only Jersey law firm to receive a top tier ranking for the Investment Funds and Financial & Corporate categories in the 2010 edition of IFLR1000, which ranks the world’s leading financial law firms.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune partner James Ruane has been named in the International Who’s Who of Banking Lawyers 2010, published by Who’s Who Legal.

Law firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune is celebrating ten years as the number one legal adviser to funds in Jersey. According to the Jersey Funds Encyclopaedia, an independent research publication from Thomson Reuters, Mourant is the leading provider of legal advice to Jersey funds for the tenth consecutive year.

Jonathan Walker, Warren Simmons and Veronica Strande advised the mortgages trustee for Bank of Scotland plc’s ("BoS") £3.975 billion RMBS note issuance. The notes, backed by mortgage loans originated by Halifax plc (and, following the reorganisation of the HBOS plc in September 2007, mortgage loans originated by BoS), were issued through a platform named Permanent. BoS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HBOS plc which in turn is a subsidiary of Lloyds Banking Group plc.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune’s Cayman Islands practice "has witnessed impressive growth" and is regarded as "one to watch", says Legal 500.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune has "arguably the strongest corporate team" in Jersey, according to the latest Legal 500 rankings, due to its market leading work with FTSE 100 companies.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune’s Guernsey practice has been praised for its work advising major insurance companies, according to the latest Legal 500 rankings.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune Litigation Partner Jonathan Speck will be speaking on the NEW CROSS JURISDICTIONAL DEBATE: Contrasting advantages, opportunities and risks of innovative offshore structures at the International Trust and Tax Planning Summit, Miami, 24 September 2009

Mourant recently sponsored the Cayman Islands Financial Services Association dinner. The event addressed perceptions of Cayman in the USA, as well as the challenges facing the financial services industry and some of the strategies to help tackle them.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune has established the first two Foundation structures in Jersey, on the first day the new law came into force in the Island.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune has been named Jersey Law Firm of the Year for the second year in succession in the Who’s Who Legal Awards

Offshore law firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune has established the first two Foundation structures in Jersey, on the first day the new law came into force in the Island.

An investment funds specialist at offshore law firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune has been named amongst the best 25 legal experts in the world in her field.

15th April 2009 - Jersey’s funds industry is set to benefit from the introduction of new legislation this year which will offer more choice for fund promoters in how they structure their investment vehicles, according to funds lawyers, Joel Hernandez and Sophie Travis at Jersey law firm, Mourant du Feu & Jeune. 

14th April 2009 - Leading offshore law firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune has announced a further two promotions to senior associate level as the firm looks to strengthen its funds and trust litigation practice areas. Matt Crill and Damian Evans are to be promoted to senior associate with effect from April.

06/03/2009 - An investment funds specialist at offshore law firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune has been named amongst the best 25 legal experts in the world in her field.

04/03/2009 - Mourant du Feu & Jeune has made a donation of US$30,000 to the Cayman Islands National Recovery Fund.

27/02/2009 - Royal Bank of Canada has completed the acquisition of Mourant Private Wealth, the multi-award winning international private client trust business, with operations in Jersey, Dubai and Cayman, from Mourant, whose group of businesses includes one of the leading offshore law firms, Mourant du Feu & Jeune. The deal closed after receiving regulatory approval.

25/02/2009 - Leading offshore law firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune is pleased to announce a number of senior promotions as it looks to strengthen its finance and funds teams.

04/02/2009 - Leading legal directory Chambers Europe has nominated Mourant du Feu & Jeune for Offshore Law Firm of the Year in its Awards for Excellence 2009.

Leading legal directory Chambers Europe has nominated Mourant du Feu & Jeune for Offshore Law Firm of the Year in its Awards for Excellence 2009.

Jonathan Walker, Brian Scholfield and Jon Woolrich provided Standard Chartered with Jersey legal advice in relation to its £1,779 million (net of expenses) rights issue which involved a Jersey cash box structure.

23/12/2008 - Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has signed an agreement to acquire Mourant Private Wealth (MPW), the 47 strong private client trust business of Mourant.

15/12/2008 - Mourant du Feu & Jeune has been voted "best law firm in Jersey" by readers of FundDomiciles.com, part of International Fund Investment Magazine.

Mourant du Feu & Jeune, part of professional services group Mourant, is the number one legal adviser to funds in Jersey for the ninth consecutive year, advising on almost half of all Jersey funds, according to research by independent market analyst Lipper, a Thompson Reuters subsidiary. (13/11/2008)

Mourant du Feu & Jeune, part of professional services group Mourant, is ranked as one of the top five legal advisers to funds in Guernsey for the second successive year, according to research by independent market analyst Lipper, a Thompson Reuters subsidiary. (13/11/2008)

Widely regarded as a key event in the Guernsey art calendar, today sees the launch of the ’Mourant Prize 08 – Artist of the Year’ competition. (07.11.08)

Mourant du Feu & Jeune, part of Mourant, was involved in one of the "deals of the year" at the recent International Financial Law Review awards, which celebrate legal innovation and the ingenuity of lawyers in Europe

Mourant du Feu & Jeune, part of Mourant, has made a number of senior promotions, including the appointment of new Managing Partner, Jonathan Rigby (pictured below).

Mourant du Feu & Jeune, part of professional services firm Mourant, has been named Jersey Law Firm of the Year 2008 in the Who’s Who Legal Awards.