Jersey

This year Walkers is celebrating 25 years of Walkers operating in Europe – a milestone the firm is proud to mark, reflecting its commitment to the European market and to its ever-expanding European client base. The firm's European story began with the opening of its London office in March 2001, as Walkers’ first international office, establishing a presence in one of the world’s most important financial centres. This laid the foundations for the integrated European platform the firm has today, advising on the laws of the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Jersey, Guernsey and Ireland. Since 2001, and in particular during the past ten years, the firm has invested significantly into its London, Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey businesses. This investment has been combined with a consistent focus on bringing together market leading lawyers and professionals across all of its disciplines who believe in providing clients with top tier service in a responsive, coordinated and jurisdictionally agnostic manner. The growth in scale of the firm's European business has been phenomenal. The firm's four European offices are now home to over 600 legal and professional services personnel, delivering specialist, integrated advice relating to all aspects of asset management & investment funds, private capital & trusts, banking & finance, corporate, dispute resolution, insolvency & restructuring, employment and regulatory matters, across its six laws, as well as specialist Irish tax advice. The firm is delighted to see that the market leading strength of its European offering, and the coordinated approach it takes to client service, are consistently recognised by its clients as well as the legal directories. In addition to marking 25 years in Europe, this year also sees key milestones across each of the firm's European businesses, including 20 years in Jersey, 10 years in Guernsey and 10 years of Walkers Professional Services in Ireland. Together, these reflect the depth of the firm's long-term investment in Europe and the strength of its integrated offering. Commenting on the milestones, Hughie Wong, managing partner of Walkers' London office, said: 'Celebrating 25 years in Europe is a proud moment for all of us. London was our first step outside the Caribbean and it set the tone for how we operate internationally: operating in the same time zone as our clients, collaborating across offices and focusing on delivering consistently strong outcomes.' 'As we look ahead, we will continue to invest in our people and our platform so we can support clients at the most complex end of the market.' Fraser Hern, head of Walkers' Channel Islands business, added: ‘This year is particularly meaningful for our Channel Islands practice as we mark 20 years in Jersey and 10 years in Guernsey. Our Channel Islands offices form a crucial part of our European platform, supporting clients on complex multi-jurisdictional matters while remaining closely connected to the wider Walkers network. These milestones reflect not only the strength of our local teams, but the benefits of operating as part of an integrated European business.’ Jonathan Sheehan, managing partner of Walkers' Ireland office, said: ‘As we celebrate the milestone anniversaries across our European business, it is a timely opportunity to reflect on the depth of the commitment of our Ireland office to the region. Ireland has become a vital hub within our European offering, and our continued growth here is closely linked to the strength of the platform we have built across the region.’ The firm will recognise these milestones throughout the year, including hosting a client event to celebrate the relationships that have shaped its European journey and continue to drive its success. As the firm moves into the next chapter, it remains focused on strengthening its European offering and continuing to play a leading role in supporting clients with sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional advice.

Grand Cayman, March 25, 2026 – Leading offshore law firm Baker & Partners is pleased to announce the appointment of Natascha Steiner-Smith as Partner.  Natascha’s arrival further reinforces the firm’s reputation in the Cayman Islands for independent, conflict-free advice and advocacy in complex, cross-border disputes, and marks another significant step in its growth story in the Caribbean. Natascha joins Partners Jennifer Colegate, Fleur O’Driscoll and Robert Jones in the Cayman Islands. Natascha is a highly accomplished lawyer in commercial litigation and international arbitration.  Her practice encompasses complex multi-jurisdictional disputes arising out of commercial contracts and shareholders’ agreements, as well as strategically significant disputes involving financial institutions and high net worth individuals. She specialises in the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards and she regularly advises shareholders, insolvency practitioners, banks and energy companies in cross-border proceedings. Natascha also has extensive experience acting in Section 238 merger appraisal proceedings. She trained and practised at DLA Piper and has subsequently held roles at leading international firms including Akin Gump, Maples & Calder and Collas Crill. Originally from Austria, educated in the UK and North America and having practised in the UK and the Cayman Islands, Natascha offers a genuinely international perspective, both academically and professionally. This breadth of experience enhances the firm’s ability to navigate the legal, commercial and sometimes political complexities in cross-border disputes. Natascha is among a very small cohort of practitioners in the Cayman Islands with significant experience in international arbitration.   Her experience advising clients across arbitral regimes and enforcement actions positions her at the forefront of growing demand for this specialism in the Cayman Islands. Baker & Partners Global Managing Partner, Stephen Baker, commented: “Natascha’s appointment is a significant addition to the firm.  Her exceptional credentials, Cayman knowledge and international experience support our strategic direction in the Cayman Islands, pan-Caribbean and internationally. We warmly welcome Natascha to the team.” Natascha added: “I am delighted to be joining a firm with such an established name for handling complex high-stakes disputes, and a committed and capable Cayman Islands practice. Baker & Partners’ ethos aligns perfectly with my core values and I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continuing growth.”   Natascha Steiner-Smith, Partner, Baker & Partners   Media Contact: Cherith Fothergill E: [email protected]   About Baker & Partners Baker & Partners is a specialist independent offshore litigation and dispute resolution law firm, headquartered in Jersey, Channel Islands with offices in the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and London. Since 2003, Baker & Partners has been at the forefront of some of the most complex and high value offshore commercial, trust, and asset recovery litigation.    

PRESS RELEASE: 5 February 2026 In Jersey, Tom Hall joins from Ogier. He is recognised in the Legal 500 2026 for “the clarity of his advice” and was described in the Legal 500 2025 as “an excellent senior associate, responsive and with real expertise in sanctions and regulatory matters”. Tom is experienced in advising on high-value, multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes, notably those involving fraud and asset recovery, contentious regulatory and white-collar crime matters, and complex trust and fund disputes. Olena Golovtchouk has joined the firm’s British Virgin Islands office, bringing extensive experience in commercial litigation and international arbitration, having previously worked at Gateley Legal and Osborne Clarke. Olena has advised on complex international disputes and regulatory matters and has particular experience acting in cross-border proceedings. Tom and Olena’s appointments follow the recent arrival of Owen Vanstone-Hallam, who joined the firm’s London office in September. Owen qualified at Slaughter and May before working as a consultant solicitor, and specialises in complex cross-border commercial disputes, insolvency, fraud and asset recovery matters. He has acted on a number of high-profile multi-jurisdictional matters and advises clients across a range of sectors. Working across different jurisdictions, Tom, Olena and Owen will focus on offshore and multi-jurisdictional dispute resolution work, reinforcing Baker & Partners’ collaborative approach and capabilities across its international offices. Commenting on the appointments, Managing Partner Stephen Baker said: “Tom, Owen and Olena each bring valuable experience from leading firms, strengthening our ability to support clients across multiple jurisdictions. I’m delighted to welcome them all to Baker & Partners.”

Mourant, an international professional services firm, has acted as Cayman Islands legal counsel to IQM Finland Oy (IQM) on a business combination with the special purpose acquisition company, Real Estate Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: RAAQ). The transaction values IQM at approximately US$1.8 billion and makes it the first European quantum company to go public. The deal is subject to certain closing conditions. IQM is a global leader in building quantum computers. The transaction provides funding with the aim to accelerate IQM's technology and commercial development towards fault-tolerance quantum computing, further strengthening its position in the market. Headquartered in Finland, IQM is also considering a dual listing that would see the trading of IQM’s ordinary shares on the Helsinki stock exchange, which would be expected to take place following the completion of this transaction. Leading the team for Mourant was Partner Andrew Grant, with support from Associate Paris Goode. Andrew commented: "This transaction highlights our continued momentum acting as Cayman Islands counsel on significant business combinations and reinforces our expertise in advising on complex, high value mandates." This is the latest high-value business combination delivered by Mourant's Cayman Corporate team. At the end of last year, they advised Armada Acquisition Corp. II, a publicly listed special purpose acquisition company sponsored by Arrington Capital, on the Cayman Islands law aspects of its US$1 billion business combination with Evernorth Holdings Inc.   For further information please contact: Chloe Whittaker, External Communications and Content Manager: [email protected] About Mourant Mourant is an international professional services firm with over 60 years' experience in the financial services sector. We advise on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg and provide specialist entity management, governance, regulatory and consulting services. We are an international and globally-integrated firm with offices in a number of the world's leading international finance centres, including London, Singapore and Hong Kong. Our business is intrinsically linked to the global economy and the capital flows that support it. We serve the needs of our clients in all major time zones, facilitating responsible cross-border finance and investment, the pooling and protection of capital and the resolution of disputes. Our clients include many of the world's leading financial institutions, international corporations, asset managers and institutional investors. We are routinely instructed to work alongside the world's pre-eminent legal, accounting and financial services firms. We have an outstanding reputation for integrity and professional ethics, underpinned by a strong risk management culture. Find out more: mourant.com