Ogier‘s litigation team oversees a broad caseload, regularly being instructed by trustees, beneficiaries, fund partners and parties to commercial disputes across a range of issues, handling matters that touch on multiple on- and offshore jurisdictions. Practice co-head Mathew Newman adds restructuring and insolvency expertise to the firm’s offering, also overseeing financial services and shareholder disputes, while fellow co-head Sandie Lyne defends the interests of both trustees and beneficiaries in, inter alia, breach of trust claims and blessing applications. Simon Davies’ caseload spans trust matters and insurance disputes, as part of a broad litigation practice. Bryan De Verneuil-Smith maintains a broad practice that spans trust, shareholder and property disputes, among others.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Sandie Lyne is experienced and effective. She is a good leader and very straightforward to deal with. Katy Longan is brilliant to work with - extremely personable and has a really good sense of how matters will play out in court.
- My experience of Ogier's DR resolution is that it has a solid contentious trusts team. They have good experience and are adept at advising promptly and pragmatically on Guernsey areas.
- Simon Davies - one of the big three on the island and a seriously respected advocate. Your go-to for large and complex, high-value matters. Careful and prepared, judges listen to him. Alex Horsborough-Porter - extremely commercial. Clients love him. Heidi Sandy - the newest litigation partner, but she is already one of the best. Her advocacy is excellent, with submissions that are extremely well thought out and measured but delivered with confidence. Clients love her.
- I consider that Ogier has the best litigation team in Guernsey. They have real strength and depth throughout their partnership, and I would be happy to work with any of them.
- Pragmatic advice that is sensitive to cost drivers.
- Katy Longan is brilliant - straight to the point, sharp-minded, and a terrier in litigation.
Key clients
- HSBC
- Grant Thornton
- Disruptive Capital
- Former directors of GBG Insurance
- CRGF GP
- Begbies Traynor
- Alvarez & Marsal
- Deloitte
- Leonard Curtis
- Teneo
Work highlights
Advised Long Term Assets Limited on its application for administration amid liquidity challenges, acting for LTA in a contentious Part XXI administration application following the acceleration of a £49m facility by a senior creditor.
Acted for 26 retired airline pilots in a £20m breach of trust claim against a local trust company which mishandled their pension fund.
Acted for the applicant in a trust dispute before the Guernsey Court of Appeal concerning the ability for the objects of powers of addition to access information about a Guernsey trust.
Lawyers
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Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Mathew Newman; Sandie Lyne
Other key lawyers
Simon Davies; Bryan De Verneuil-Smith