Mourant Ozannes recognised by Legal Business for significant growth in 2017

Legal Business has published 'The offshore elite in review', a report that compares the world's top 10 offshore law firms across jurisdictions. Mourant Ozannes was again recognised as one of the preeminent firms in the market, showing unmatched global growth with partner numbers rising from 55 to 60 and overall fee earner numbers increasing by more than 15%.

The research cites another robust 12 months in the offshore legal market, despite the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in the Caribbean. ‘It had a devastating impact on the lives of our BVI colleagues,’ commented Global Managing Partner, Jonathan Rigby. ‘None of us will ever fully understand what they have been through, but their strength of character and resilience has been truly humbling.’ You can read the most recent update on our BVI operations here.

The firm was noted for its work advising CVC Capital Partners on the launch of CVC Capital Partners VII, which closed with a hard cap of around €15.5bn – the largest-ever fundraising by a European private equity firm, and for leading for the Primeo Fund in the Privy Council’s July 2017 decision in Pearson v Primeo Fund, following the collapse of Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme in 2008.

The Hong Kong team advised in connection with a $1.39bn facility for the first infrastructure project to be announced under China’s One Belt One Road initiative. Jonathan commented: ‘Our finance, corporate and funds practices, especially in the Caribbean and Asia, have seen the greatest increases in revenue in 2017 with our Hong Kong, BVI and Jersey offices showing the strongest growth overall.’

Guernsey and Jersey private investment funds were developed as new products last year in response to increasing regulation. ‘Our Jersey investment funds practice advised on the first five private investment funds established in early 2017, as the new regime was quickly seized upon by existing and new clients as an effective, streamlined and proportionate product for privately-offered alternative investment funds’.

One of the most significant events for the firm was the appointment to the partnership of professionals from outside the law. Keith Pearse, who became partner and chief operating officer, was previously global trust HR director at RBC Royal Bank of Canada, while Ed Fletcher, who is managing director, corporate services, was previously a regional business head at Deutsche Bank.

‘This was an important and significant milestone for the firm,’ Jonathan added. ‘It reflects our strong one-firm ethos and our strategy for growth. As a multidisciplinary partnership, we will be even better placed to understand our clients’ needs and provide them with an exceptional client experience.’

This month the firm also appointed Carla Benest, Chinyin Johnston and Stephen Alexander to its global partnership.