Humphrey & Helfrich > Douglas, Isle Of Man > Firm Profile

Humphrey & Helfrich
THE OLD COURTHOUSE
ATHOL STREET
DOUGLAS
IM1 1LD
Isle Of Man

Isle of Man > Commercial property Tier 1

The ‘very good and responsive’ commercial property team at Humphrey & Helfrich is experienced in a range of areas across the sector. Practice head Mark Humphrey is particularly skilled in commercial property work in the office, retail and hospitality sectors, as well as in licensing and planning matters. Meanwhile, Shona Quayle is skilled in both rural and urban commercial property. Beth Greenhalgh is another key name.

Practice head(s):

Mark Humphrey

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘A very good & responsive team . The team is attentive to clients needs & handle legal problems very efficiently.’

‘Mark Humphrey leads the property team, and is well established as one of the leading property lawyers in Douglas. He is ably assisted by Beth Greenhalgh, and between them, they have the benefit of a wealth of knowledge and experience in terms of local properties and the market. Seldom do we see a major commercial property transaction where one of them doesn’t feature.’

‘The ‘Go To’ practice for property transactions The team knows its client. When main contact is unavailable another team member is there, with knowledge of your file.’

‘Mark Humphrey is the most highly respected legal expert for property on the Isle Of Man’

‘Great knowledge and responsiveness’

‘They care and want to do the best job possible’

‘An excellent, well managed company. Mark Humphrey has a great deal of experience, whether it is a simple conveyance or complex planning issues.’

‘Mark Humphrey is the best property lawyer practicing in the Isle of Man. He is approachable, pragmatic and knowledgeable.’

Isle of Man > Dispute resolution Tier 2

The ‘extremely friendly, welcoming and warm’ dispute resolution department ant Humphrey & Helfrich handles a wide variety of disputes, including commercial and contract litigation, insolvency, personal injury and trusts and estates. The firm has a particularly strong track record of representing public bodies in disputes concerning public law. Oliver Helfrich leads the team, specialising in commercial and chancery litigation, as well as plaintiff and defendant personal injury. Mark Humphrey handles disputes arising from commercial property work, while Helen Helfrich joined the team in 2022 to lead the company’s administrative and public law unit.

Practice head(s):

Oliver Helfrich

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘An extremely friendly, welcoming and warm group of advocates. Their levels of professionalism are so high and they treat their customers with a great level of respect.’

‘The advocates that have represented me do so with a genuine warmth and care. They never seem too busy to make sure that I am getting the best possible levels of advice and service.’

‘The practice offers a wide range of services but has retained a very personal touch with good connection to the requirements of client on a personal level demystifying often complex matters to understandable vocabulary’

‘The practice prioritises individual connection with client – that is apparent throughout, but the work of Mark Humphrey in ensuring he is visible and available to client remains exceptional’

Key clients

British Triathlon instructed through Leigh Day UK

British Cycling instructed through Leigh Day UK

Peel Town Commissioners

Castletown Town Commissioners

Garff Parish Commissioners

Isle of Man Enterprises (Shoprite brand)

Withers

Freeths

Hatford Homes

Affinity Group

Shimmin Wilson

CM Partners

Fortress Group

Work highlights

  • Acted for the Claimant and successfully defended the Defendants’ Counterclaims seeking legal title to a substantial trust asset. The Defendants’ argued on the basis of constructive/resulting trust and proprietary estoppel.
  • Acted for the Defendant and successfully defended the Claimant’s claim for unpaid rent and damages for breach of tenant’s covenants, both at first instance and on appeal.
  • Providing ongoing advice and assistance in relation to various contentious and non-contentious dispute resolution and public law matters as and when they arise.

Isle of Man > Employment Tier 2

Humphrey & Helfrich offers a full range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, acting for major local clients in proceedings before the High Court and tribunals, while also providing general advice. Oliver Helfrich advises clients on a broad range of matters, including redundancies and breach of contract claims. Helen Helfrich joined the firm in July 2022 to establish the firm’s administrative and public law unit, which works closely with the employment team.

Practice head(s):

Oliver Helfrich

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Both Oliver and Helen Helfrich are readily available, strong and sound in approach, supportive. Their strong and depth of advice eases sometimes difficult issues.’

‘Humphrey and Helfrich is a friendly and approachable firm of advocates who we would not hesitate to recommend to anyone.’

‘Oliver Helfrich is extremely efficient, quick to identify the heart of a problem and deal with it comprehensively. exactly what you require with the provision of a legal service.’

Key clients

Isle of Man Enterprises plc (including, Shoprite brand)

Burroughs Stewart Associates

Peel Town Commissioners

Funfair Holdings (IOM) Limited

Affinity Group

Manx Financial Group plc / Conister Bank / Edgewater Associates (IFA) Manx FX (foreign exchange).

Will Corrin (Former MD of Ravenscroft)

Work highlights

  • Advised Isle of Man Enterprises on various employment issues.
  • Advising Burroughs Stewart Associates in relation to employment law differences between England and Wales and the Isle of Man and reviewing and redrafting the client’s employment contracts and numerous policies accordingly.
  • Advising Manx Financial Group PLC in relation to a broad range of employment issues (both contentious and non-contentious).

Isle of Man > Corporate and commercial Tier 3

The corporate and commercial department at Humphrey & Helfrich acts for some of the market’s leading corporate service providers, as well as clients active in the emerging fields of fintech and blockchain technology. The team is led by the ‘brilliant, kind, professional at all times’ Matthew Kinrade, who is particularly experienced in cross-border M&A matters and matters relating to the establishment of technology businesses.

Practice head(s):

Matthew Kinrade

Other key lawyers:

Mark Humphrey

Testimonials

‘Matt Kinrade was very helpful throughout the whole process and it was obvious from the start that he was very knowledgeable in his field. He was very easy to communicate with and provided constant updates. If ever I was unsure of something or needed help, I was confident that he could help and would answer quickly.’

‘A commercially focused practice with fast turnaround and approachable people.’

‘On commercial transactions, Matt Kinrade and Mark Humphrey provide timely, clear and pragmatic advice.’

‘Matt Kinrade was brilliant, kind, professional at all times.’

‘Each department is extremely helpful The management structure is very good The staff are trained well and hopefully they can then some day take over the practice’

‘Very responsive team with a keen interest in serving their clients best interests.

‘Matt Kinrade has a calm and assured approach to his commercial work’

Key clients

Aedifica UK Limited

Affinity (Isle of Man) Limited

Cavendish Trust Company Limited

Celtic Associates Limited

Conister Bank Limited

eSim Go Limited

Funfair Technologies

Handlesbanken PLC

Horizonte Minerals PLC

Manx Financial Group PLC

Proximity Data Centres Limited

Sterling Trust Limited

Work highlights

  • Acted for the sellers in the £20M sale of an Isle of Man based, UK care home operator to a leading UK care group
  • Advised AIM-listed Horizonte Minerals plc in connection with $346M syndicated project financing and corporate governance
  • Advising leading software and ventures business Funfair Technologies in relation to its portfolio of start-up and early-stage investments, including in stable-coin providers, games studios and metaverse builders.

Isle of Man > Private client, trusts and tax Tier 3

The private client department at Humphrey & Helfrich offers domestic and international advice to individuals and trust service providers. Stacey Meakin became team leader in 2022, regularly advising international clients with their assets on the Isle of Man, as well as on estate planning and succession requirements. Mark Humphrey advises on trust and family office matters, while Rebecca Bannister handles the full spectrum of private client work.

Practice head(s):

Stacey Meakin

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Humphrey & Helfrich have assisted with a number of our files in an efficient and pragmatic manner. They respond quickly to queries and provide detailed and fluent communications so that we understand the processes.’

‘Rebecca Bannister communicates effectively and where we have had a difficult case, works out a solution so all parties are appeased.’

‘I have limited experience in dealing with Advocates save that in the area of conveyancing, but my experience with this Company has been refreshing in that they have attended to a somewhat complex issue involving the Estate of a former relative that was made complex by the foreign status of that individual. They completely understood what was required and achieved more in one e-mail than I had achieved in 2 years.’

‘This a firm that have acted with competence and are polite, friendly and a pleasure to deal with.’

‘Rebecca Bannister is an excellent advocate/solicitor. Not only is she good at her job, she has treated my 93 year old father with respect and she has gone the extra mile to make things easier for him.’

‘Shona Quayle was so helpful and supportive.’

Isle of Man > Banking, finance and capital markets

Led by Matthew Kinrade, The banking and finance team at Humphrey & Helfrich is particularly skilled at handling the financing and refinancing of commercial property assets and regularly represents clients on both the lender and borrower side.