Firm Profile > Baker & Partners > St Helier , Jersey

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Baker & Partners > Firm Profile

Baker & Partners is a specialist litigation and dispute resolution practice based in Jersey.

The firm: Baker & Partners was founded in 2003 and has grown to become one of the largest litigation-centric practices in Jersey. The firm has been at the forefront of some of the most complex and high-value litigation in Jersey. It takes the view that no legal problem is unsolvable. Every step it takes is directed to protect and advance its clients’ interests. The firm’s advice is always straightforward, objective and independent. It remains conflict-free by not operating an associated trust company or financial services business. Its lawyers have extensive practical experience in the courts of not only Jersey but also England and Wales. Their skills, both inside and outside the courtroom, allow Baker & Partners to achieve its clients’ aims in an efficient and cost-effective way.

Types of work undertaken: Trust disputes: Baker & Partners acts for beneficiaries, trustees and other fiduciaries on a range of contentious trust matters including acting in long-running litigation relating to the administration of a substantial family charitable trust which resulted in orders for the removal of the corporate trustee. The firm currently acts for BNP Paribas Jersey Trust Corporation in Crociani v Crociani, one of the biggest trust disputes in Jersey in recent years. The firm acts for the plaintiff in a £30m claim for breach of fiduciary duty of a former director of a Kenyan company and against a major Jersey financial services provider for its role in dishonestly assisting in a fraud that lasted over 30 years. The firm regularly advises and acts for trustees and beneficiaries in respect of breach of trust claims; asset tracing and constructive trust claims; trustee applications for directions; disputes over trust administration and the exercise of powers; and the removal and/or substitution of trustees.

Civil and commercial litigation: Baker & Partners has a leading reputation for resolving high-value, and often complex, civil and commercial disputes. The firm acts for local and international businesses, banks and financial institutions as well as consumers in a range of actions including shareholder disputes; banking litigation; civil fraud claims; breach of contract/covenant claims; injunctions and disclosure orders; conflict of laws and jurisdiction disputes and financial product mis-selling claims.

Fraud, asset tracing and recovery: Baker & Partners has unparalleled experience in bringing and defending major international fraud claims and asset recovery actions before the Jersey courts. The firm acts for foreign governments, NGOs, multinational corporations and private individuals in some of the most complex and high-value political corruption, forfeiture and judgment enforcement actions, including asset tracing claims; confiscation proceedings; freezing two injunctions; disclosure orders; search and seizure orders; civil fraud claims and fraudulent breach of trust claims. The firm has successfully acted in ground-breaking asset tracing litigation to secure US$23m for the Federal Republic of Brazil, and in separate litigation brought by the Republic of Mozambique to recover the proceeds of bribes.

Matrimonial: Baker & Partners is often involved in cases with cross-jurisdictional issues and advises families with complex financial portfolios and structures. The firm has extensive experience of advising clients with high-net-worth matrimonial assets and family trust structures. In the context of matrimonial disputes regarding family trusts, Baker & Partners has also advised trustees on contentious issues including allegations of sham trusts, disclosure, submission to the jurisdiction of the English High Court and enforceability of judgments from the English High Court and other foreign jurisdictions.

Regulatory and Investigatory: Baker & Partners’ compliance, risk and regulatory specialists now provide significant commercial experience of Jersey’s and other offshore financial services industries under one efficient offering alongside its legal capabilities. The firm is regularly instructed by regulators, financial institutions and private individuals to advise and act in an array of often highly complex and challenging situations.

Press Releases

Two Baker & Partners Team Members Promoted as Pupil Gains Recognition for Advocacy Excellence

Baker & Partners, a specialist litigation and dispute resolution practice based in Jersey Channel Islands, has promoted two members of its legal team to Associates of the firm following their successful completion of the Jersey Law Exams.  At the same time, one of their Pupil Barristers has gained the Middle Temple and a Master David Blunt QC prize while participating in the Middle Temple Advocacy Course 2018. 

Baker & Partners Win Mondaq Award for Influential Commentary

Baker & Partners are delighted to have received a Mondaq award for the ‘Contributor With Most Popular Articles in Jersey’. Mondaq is one of the largest and most comprehensive independent online resources for professional legal, financial and regulatory information. The award is allocated based on detailed analysis of which articles are read the most across 70 countries, taking data from the Mondaq global website, newsletters and wider distribution network.

Baker & Partners Recognised as Tier 1 Alongside Dispute Resolution Elite in Legal 500 UK 2017

 has been ranked as a Tier 1 legal firm for Dispute Resolution in the leading guide to law firms in the UK, The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2017.

The annual guide recommends law firms and lawyers across the UK based on location and strengths in practice areas. Baker & Partners was recommended as a Tier 1 firm for Dispute Resolution and a Tier 4 firm for Private Client, Trusts Tax. To achieve top tier status, the Baker & Partners team had to demonstrate a high level of expertise across the spectrum of Dispute Resolution, covering areas such as trust litigation, civil fraud and asset tracing.

Baker & Partners Provide Insights into Regulatory ‘Hot Topics’ for Local Industry

At a Breakfast Briefing Event this week, entitled ‘Walking The Tightrope’, Baker and Partners provided guidance on current regulatory ‘Hot Topics’ to Jersey’s compliance industry. The panel discussion facilitated by, Director of Regulatory and Compliance, Tim Smith, Advocate William Redgrave and Advocate Simon Thomas Baker & Partners, discussed several important areas of focus for finance industry professionals with particular emphasis on effective Suspicious Activity Reporting (SARs) and Sanctions issues.

Baker & Partners Welcomes the Newest Addition to its Growing Team of Legal Experts

Baker & Partners welcomes the newest addition to its growing team of law experts, Senior Associate, Lynne Gregory.

Baker & Partners Introduces the Criminal Finances Act 2017 to Local Industry at Briefing Event

Baker & Partners invited members of Jersey’s financial services industry to discover the implications of the newly passed Criminal Finances Act 2017 at a Breakfast Briefing Event - Prevention Better Than a Cure? with Advocate Simon Thomas on 11^th May 2017.

Baker & Partners’ Expert Recognised as Global Leader in Asset Recovery by IBA

Stephen Baker, Senior Partner of Baker & Partners, has been recognised by the International Bar Association (IBA), the world’s leading organisation of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies, having been appointed Senior Vice Chair of its Asset Recovery Subcommittee.

Baker & Partners Welcomes New Team Member as Existing Member is Called to the Jersey Bar

Baker & Partners has welcomed its newest team member, Director of Regulation Debbie Sebire.