Viberts

Zoe Blomfield

Zoe is the firm’s Managing Partner and she also heads up the Private Client department. She is a senior private client lawyer with a broad range of clients from individuals and families, to trust companies and family businesses. At the core of her practice is assisting clients and their families to put in place the most effective strategies to deal with their estate planning or other issues. She is particularly recognised for her expertise in capacity and delegation matters and has been involved in many of the more significant cases before the Royal Court of Jersey in this area. Zoe has extensive experience advising on all aspects of Jersey estate planning, including wills, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and inheritance issues. She is often called upon to help individuals and families resolve situations where crises have arisen as a result of deteriorating mental or physical health. Her practice includes strong elements of asset management (under delegations and Lasting Powers of Attorney) and philanthropic advice. Zoe also advises professionals including private bankers, investment managers and accountants. Clients appreciate Zoe’s empathetic approach, as well as her technical expertise, and rely on her natural ability to help simplify complex and challenging situations. She ensures that her clients receive the most pragmatic advice possible, blending knowledge from across the firm to resolve challenges requiring commercial, family, property, corporate or dispute resolution advice or by drawing upon her network of external trusted professional advisers. Zoe is also one of only 20 Notary Publics in Jersey. As a Notary Public, Zoe has the ability to authenticate and certify various documents including Powers of Attorney, immigration, business and education documents, and deal with the purchase and sale of land overseas. Zoe qualified as a Jersey Solicitor in 2003 and an Advocate in 2007. Outside of work, Zoe is a busy mum to two young boys and enjoys spending time with her family and her friends. Zoe is a trustee of the CTJ Housing Trust - a non-profit making organisation that exists to increase social rented housing in Jersey - currently owning more than 143 properties in five island locations.

Michelle Cabot

Michelle is an Advocate and Managing Associate in the Dispute Resolution team. She deals with a variety of areas including dispute resolution, regulatory work, trusts law, data protection and personal injury. Michelle is currently supporting a number of clients in relation to treatment they received at the Rheumatology Department of the Jersey General Hospital. Michelle’s key experience includes: Representing the Jersey Financial Services Commission in respect of Horizon Trust and its principles, its successful defence of the appeal against its decision to ban the appellant from the finance industry and issue a public statement. Francis v JFSC [2017]JRC203A. Representing the Government of Jersey departments on the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry. Advising on and managing the Historic Abuse Redress Scheme which provided compensation for individuals who suffered abuse at Haut de la Garenne and other residential children’s homes. Advising trust companies on regulatory and trust matters. Including undertaking an independent investigation for a large Trust Company arising from potential breaches of the JFSC Codes of Practice, advising on remedial actions and avoiding enforcement action. Representing beneficiaries in trust disputes. Representing both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury matters. Providing training to financial services businesses on AML, CFT and directors duties.

Alexandra Cohen

Alexandra studied law at Newcastle University before joining the family law team at Viberts in September 2015. She is qualified as an English Solicitor and was sworn in as a Jersey Advocate in April 2023. Since her swearing in, Alexandra has been appearing regularly in court. Alexandra is a Senior Associate and is now responsible for training the department’s junior lawyers. Alexandra works on all areas of family law. She specialises in complex and/or high net worth divorces given her ability with figures and her extraordinary care, guidance and compassion towards clients. She has attention to detail but also the ability to look at the bigger picture to avoid arguing over issues that do not have a significant impact on the outcome of a case. Alexandra also has experience in private children’s proceedings as well as other family matters for unmarried parties.

Rebecca De Freitas

Rebecca (Becca), is an Advocate and Senior Associate in the Corporate team, specialising in Employment Law. Becca advises on wide range of employment matters and her practice spans both contentious and non-contentious employment advice. This includes Tribunal work (representing both employees and employers) particularly in relation to constructive dismissal, unfair dismissal and discrimination claims; redundancy processes, contract terms (including restrictive covenants), internal employment processes, employment relations advice and compromise agreements. Previously, Becca also assisted the Corporate team with mergers and acquisitions and provided advice and opinions on a variety of corporate and trust matters. She has also spent many years in the Private Client department, where her work consisted of will drafting, administering local and foreign estates and advising on lasting powers of attorney. Becca was a bursary student with Viberts and has been part of the firm since 2015. She has an LLB (Hons) degree from the University of East Anglia and a Masters in Professional Legal Practice (LLM), (passed with Distinction). Becca has also been a member Management Committee for the charity Policy Centre Jersey since 2023 – Policy Centre Jersey is an independent organisation that is aiming to increase policy engagement in Jersey by undertaking research, publishing up to date briefings/papers on key issues and providing a forum for discussion. Rebecca qualified as an English Solicitor with Viberts in March 2023, as an Advocate in December 2025 and was promoted to Senior Associate in February 2026.

Giles Emmanuel

Giles is the Head of the Dispute Resolution Department. He joined Viberts in January 2019. Giles is an Advocate, English Solicitor and Trust and Estate Practitioner. He has over 26 years of experience in the legal industry, during which he has worked for a number of other leading Jersey law firms. Giles has expertise in dealing with a wide variety of work for individuals and corporate entities including in corporate and trust disputes, probate disputes, property disputes, bankruptcy and insolvency, criminal and employment law. Giles’ recent work includes: An Article 51 blessing application under the Trusts (Jersey) Law 1984, concerning the distribution of trust assets between beneficiaries. Appearing at a liability trial on behalf of a defendant in a very high value personal injury claim. A high net worth rapport a la masse dispute at Royal Court and Court of Appeal level. Appeared in the Royal Court and Court of Appeal in a dispute concerning servitudes and ancillary rights between neighbours. Appearing at a trial to defend a matter concerning offences, including fraud, under the Goods and Services (Jersey) Law 2007.

Paul Harben

Paul has extensive knowledge and experience of Jersey commercial property transactions. Paul specialises in all aspects of property with an emphasis on the commercial market having advised on local commercial property acquisitions, retail and office leases, property development and lending during the past 25 years. He acts for investors, developers, landlords and tenants and has worked on the structuring of the legal documentation for some of the largest recent developments in Jersey including Westmount and Metropole. Previous clients have included Le Masurier, RBSI, Investec, Andium, Dandara, Dunelm and Boots.

Corinne Holmes

After finishing her degree and Legal Practice Course in Guildford, Corinne worked at a law firm in France, before returning to the UK to work for a niche personal injury firm in the South West. During her years in the UK, she gained extensive experience in a wide range of personal injury matters, including the highly publicised PIP breast implant litigation. Since moving to Jersey and joining Viberts in 2013, Corinne’s main area of practice has been civil litigation, with a focus on personal injury, fatal accident, industrial disease and clinical negligence matters. She currently manages a varied caseload of injury and illness claims as part of the dispute resolution team, representing both Plaintiffs and Defendants. Corinne settles cases worth hundreds of thousands of pounds every year and has become one of the ‘go to’ authorities for personal injury claims in Jersey.

Oliver Hughes

Oliver is a Managing Associate and joined the Corporate Law team in March 2020. Prior to joining Viberts, Oliver worked at Ogier and Pinel Advocates. Oliver has over 10 years’ experience dealing with a range of corporate, regulatory, funds and private client matters in Jersey. Oliver’s representative matters include advising: banks on the amendment and restatement of facilities involving Jersey property unit trusts, limited partnerships, companies and trustees; companies on all company law actions including buybacks, redemptions, share issuance, share allotments, shareholder agreement, migrations and reinstatements; blue chip UK real estate groups in connection with debt finance; ultra-high net worth clients on their regulatory application to the States of Jersey to commence production of high value agricultural crops; sellers and purchasers in mergers and acquisitions; investors establishing Jersey Private Funds, Expert Funds and private investment structures; regulated entities in connection with the application of Codes of Practice, the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998 and all Jersey regulatory matters; and trust companies and trustees in relation to trustee duties and trust instruments.

Beverley Lacey

With over 35 years’ experience, Beverley is a leading dispute resolution practitioner and regulatory law adviser. Beverley was Head of Commercial Litigation at Mourant until establishing Lacey Advocates in 2013. Beverley a well-seasoned litigator who has acted in many of the leading cases to come before the island's courts. She has conducted countless regulatory investigations and enforcement matters, acting both for the regulator and for leading members of Jersey’s finance industry. Recent examples of the services Beverley provides include: Francis v Jersey Financial Services Commission: acting for the JFSC in successfully opposing an appeal against banning Mr Francis from the Island’s financial services industry. On behalf of a major trust company, investigating and conducting disciplinary proceedings in relation to the unlawful use of “restricted information” under the Financial Services (Jersey) Law. Reporting to the JFSC throughout. Overseeing the team conducting fraud litigation against a major trust company and former principal persons. Overseeing major remediation projects on behalf of trust companies at risk of losing regulatory licences. Representing all Departments of the Government of Jersey before the Jersey Care Inquiry and on the Historic Abuse Redress Scheme. Representing beneficiaries in trust disputes. Drafting bespoke Terms of Reference and Statements of Responsibility for regulated boards of directors and their committees. Delivering training to trust companies, including on AML/CFT legislation and directors/principal persons’/key persons duties. Beverley has a proven track record of ensuring clients can successfully overcome the legal and regulatory challenges faced by financial services businesses and their principals.

James Lawrence

Often described as one of the Island’s most talented property lawyers, James has specialised in property law since 2004 and heads the property law team. James’ primary focus is the purchase and financing of development property. Respected for his knowledge of all aspects of Jersey’s property law, James’ expertise ranges from high-value, individual property conveyances and housing developments and planning matters through to commercial developments and lettings. His work also includes securitisation for a major high street lender, commercial and residential leases and business sales and acquisitions. James’ team also deals with all aspects of property and high value asset finance and security. James is highly skilled in Jersey’s complex licensing laws and regularly appears before the Jersey Licensing Assembly representing a variety of organisations across the leisure, tourism and retail sectors. As an ancillary to his principal practice area, James has also applied his skills to litigation work. He has made appearances before the Planning Appeal Tribunal; the Licensing Assembly; Petty Debts Court; Royal Court; and Magistrate’s Court.

Christopher Scholefield

Christopher is a partner and heads the corporate and trust team at Viberts. Christopher has an in depth knowledge of the legislation and practice that apply to Jersey companies, Jersey trusts (whether set up in life or in a will) Jersey partnerships and Jersey foundations. He advises people planning to establish such arrangements, the regulated financial services providers who administer them, third parties dealing with them and those shareholder, partners or beneficiaries who question whether their interests are being well looked after. Currently his clients include commercial organisations, charities and beneficiaries of contested cross border estates. Recent work has included assisting the charity that works to help other charities and securing wasted costs for a trustee from the law firms who advised beneficiaries to bring ill-founded litigation against them. When advising his clients Christopher typically brings the following skills to the table: As a lawyer who handles contentious work and is accustomed to court proceedings he takes care that the evidence of his clients’ conduct would earn the understanding and respect of a court were it ever to be considered there; With his expose to civil law systems and civil law practitioners he bridges both the language and the cultural gaps that have sometimes opened between his clients and those responsible for their affairs; With his rigorous approach to the use of language he is adept at flushing out ambiguities before they can cause mischief; He uses his experience to make sure that he not only answers his clients’ questions, but also volunteers other information material to how their objectives might best be achieved.

Karla Summers-Shaw

Karla is a Partner, Advocate and English Solicitor in the private client department. She specialises in wills, probate and capacity matters. Karla has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in Jersey private client matters. Her work includes providing estate planning advice, will drafting, arranging the registration of wills of immovable estate, obtaining Jersey probate for both local and foreign estates, preparing powers of attorney and dealing with capacity and delegate matters. Karla is well known for her approachable and dependable manner.

Charles Thacker

Charles is a Senior Partner and Advocate in the personal law department. He is principally engaged in drafting wills, assisting clients with applications to court for grants of probate and in administering estates. Charles also assists with delegation matters, in applications to the court for the appointment of delegates and in the administration of the delegation, preparation of accounts for filing with the court, and applications to the court for actions of the delegate requiring consent, such as the sale of property or making certain types of investment. Charles also assists in the drafting of Powers of Attorney and obtaining their registration in court. Charles is one of only 29 Notary Publics in Jersey. This gives him the authority to administer and witness documents for use in other jurisdictions; an appointment granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Charles is also Viberts’ AMLRO.

Paul Wilson

Paul is a Partner and has 25 years of experience in corporate and commercial law including mergers and acquisitions, insolvency, banking, employment law, funds and financial services regulatory matters. Prior to his move to Jersey in 2001, Paul worked at one of the principal nationwide law firms in the UK. Most recently, he spent 17 years working for one of Jersey’s leading international law firms where he headed up the corporate and commercial team and focussed largely on the local Jersey market.

Clare Woodhouse

Clare is a Managing Associate and English Solicitor in the Family Law team at Viberts. She is an experienced family and divorce lawyer with over 22 years of experience. She specialises in matrimonial cases, financial matters, separations and children matters. She has experience in public law and cross jurisdiction children’s matters including Hague Convention proceedings. Clare handles a variety of family matters and is well known for her logical and analytical way of resolving matters for her clients. She regularly acts for clients who are very vulnerable with learning difficulties or mental health issues and provides an empathetic and sensitive approach to all her clients.