Carey Olsen‘s corporate offering encompasses both transactional and structuring matters, and the firm is regularly instructed by private equity houses, other funds and their onshore advisors in relation to M&A deals with Guernsey elements, while also overseeing mergers between Guernsey-based clients. The team is led by Tom Carey, who assists private equity clients with their transactions, as well as overseeing fund structuring mandates, together with Tony Lane, whose wide-ranging practice covers public and private M&A and joint venture structuring. Andrew Boyce assists private equity clients with the structuring of new investment vehicles, also assisting them with financing and transactional activities.
Corporate and M&A in Guernsey
Carey Olsen
Praxisleiter:
Tom Carey; Tony Lane
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Andrew Boyce; Rachel de la Haye; Colin Calvert; Annette Alexander
Referenzen
‘Strong team and strong knowledge and insights on local legislation.’
‘Rachel de la Haye is the rising star of the firm, was made partner last year and is the go-to person if you want to get your documents drafted fast and well.’
‘The team is always available, ensures that they deliver on time and provides work which is well thought out and of a high quality.’
Kernmandanten
Phoenix Equity Partners
Gyrus Capital S.A.
Hipgnosis Songs Fund
Strategic Risk Solutions
JTC
Altum Trustees Limited
Centralis Group S.A.
Ravenscroft Holdings Limited
Shanta Gold Limited
Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited on its takeover by Blackstone Europe LLP by way of a scheme of arrangement.
- Advised Strategic Risk Solutions on its acquisition of Robus Group from The Ardonagh Group.
Mourant
‘Excellent Guernsey legal and regulatory knowledge’ characterises Mourant‘s corporate offering, allowing it to tackle challenges ranging from private equity investments to transactions involving listed companies and spanning the gamut of related regulatory matters. Heading the team is John Rochester, who is well versed in overseeing schemes of arrangement in addition to handling financing arrangements. Frances Watson maintains a broad practice, handling M&A and fund deals in addition to assisting with corporate restructurings, while John Lewis is noted for his expertise in private M&A and family office transactions. Alana Gillies Ridout is sought after for her combination of transactional and competition law expertise.
Praxisleiter:
John Rochester
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Frances Watson; John Lewis; Alana Gillies Ridout
Referenzen
‘Mourant is our go-to law firm in Guernsey for corporate work involving UK publicly listed companies.’
‘John Rochester is extremely responsive, pragmatic and always close to the detail. He is great at finding creative solutions for issues.’
‘The customer service was excellent.’
Kernmandanten
Titan Wealth Services Limited
The Travel Corporation
Vitruvian Partners LLP
GCP London Capital Unitholder Limited
Crossways Trustees Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Titan Wealth Services Limited on its acquisition of Ravenscroft’s wealth management business in the Channel Islands.
- Advised The Travel Corporation on its sale of 18 brands within its group of companies to funds advised by Apollo.
- We advised Vitruvian Partners LLP on its investment into Options Technology.
Ogier
Ogier's transactional capabilities range from private equity-led take-privates to schemes of arrangement, advising both local and international clients on their acquisitions and disposals and also providing assistance on restructuring matters. The practice leadership group consists of ‘standout partner’ Bryon Rees, who handles both corporate and private wealth transactions, funds specialist Tim Clipstone and Richard Sharp, who combines M&A expertise with in-depth knowledge of the insurance and reinsurance sector. 2024 also saw a number of arrivals, with Mourant's Andrew Grant, an insurance specialist, joining in December, following the funds and capital markets-focused Liam Murphy's arrival from A&L Goodbody LLP in May.
Praxisleiter:
Bryon Rees; Tim Clipstone; Richard Sharp
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Andrew Grant; James Walsh; Liam Murphy; Diana Collas
Referenzen
‘I have dealt with Diana Collas many times and she is always dependable, cheery and commercial. She is quick to get up to speed on matters and always willing to assist at a moment’s notice, even on very urgent things. Bryon Rees is always on hand at a partner level to provide assistance, and he is again very astute, very bright and always happy to assist.’
‘Their knowledge of the process was second to none, they expertly guided our mutual client from start to finish. Their responsiveness and quality of delivery of service was exceptional, I would not hesitate in recommending Bryon Rees and his team to my clients.’
‘Bryon Rees is extremely personable and responsive, he always provided the right answer and nothing was ever too much trouble. The Ogier team was always on hand to assist and guide us through a process that we were not familiar with. Liam Murphy was extremely helpful and was a safe pair of hands able to step into the breach whenever Bryon wasn’t available.’
Kernmandanten
Brooks Macdonald Group PLC
Starwood Capital
The Ardonagh Group
Searchlight Capital
ETC Group
Sixth Street Partners
Blackstone Inc.
ComfortDelGro
Hillview Capital
Freestone Capital Management
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Blackstone on its £1.5bn acquisition and take-private of Hipgnosis Songs Fund.
- Advised Sixth Street on its $5.1bn take-private acquisition of Bermudian-based insurer Enstar Group.
- Advised Starwood Capital on its £673.5m acquisition of Balanced Commercial Property Trust via a scheme of arrangement.
Walkers
Walkers‘ ‘ability to manage high-stakes negotiations’ allows it to take on large scale private-equity led deals, overseeing cross-border M&A transactions and also assisting corporate clients with restructuring and redomiciliation matters. Leading the team are Guernsey managing partner Matt Sanders, who couples M&A experience with expertise in fund structuring, and Craig Cordle, who handles public and private mergers, as well as competition issues. The ‘outstanding’ Chris Hutley-Hurst combines a considerable M&A track record with knowledge of related tax and regulatory requirements. Jessica Robinson specialises in insurance sector matters alongside her financial services M&A work, while Charlotte Gonçalves advises financial services clients on Guernsey regulatory requirements.
Praxisleiter:
Matt Sanders; Craig Cordle
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Chris Hutley-Hurst; Jessica Robinson; Charlotte Gonçalves; Angela Proctor
Referenzen
‘The practice was involved in the development of regulatory policy through sitting on industry boards, so they understand the intent behind the regulation as well as the written substance. This gives them the ability to speak directly to the regulator and States of Guernsey, so advice is always in-context.’
‘Chris Hutley-Hurst has been our main contact and has been outstanding. He is involved in policy development with the regulator as part of local industry boards. Chris can speak to regulators, government officials, the civil service and other parts of the industry. He is therefore able to contextualise advice and make it commercial through actions as well as in the advice itself.’
‘Deep experience sets them apart, allowing them to navigate complexities with confidence and efficiency. They have keen attention to detail, strong deal-making skills, and the ability to manage high-stakes negotiations that make them a trusted partner.’
Kernmandanten
Equitix
One Rock Capital Partners LLC
Investec Limited
Willis Towers Watson
Fort Group
Oaktree
Aston CM Guernsey Limited
Tetragon
Universities Superannuation Scheme
Warburg Pincus
GoldenTree Asset Management
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Equitix on multiple high-value acquisitions of substantial infrastructure, telecoms and renewable energy assets.
- Advised One Rock Capital Partners LLC on the Guernsey elements of the acquisition by its affiliate of Snacks Développement SAS.
- Advised GoldenTree Asset Management on its £351m acquisition of a portfolio of real estate assets from abrdn Property Income Trust.
Appleby
Appleby‘s ‘responsive and comprehensive’ team considerably strengthened its partnership in 2024, with Bedell Cristin‘s Dylan Latimer and Babbé LLP‘s Tristan Ozanne arriving in October. Both new arrivals add considerable M&A experience to the practice, with Ozanne also offering expertise in financing matters, while Latimer is noted for his knowledge of insurance sector structures, including captives and reinsurance. Heading the team is Stuart Tyler, whose practice spans transactions, insolvency and Guernsey’s financial services regulatory regime. September 2025 saw Kate Ovenden and Tendai Gakanje join the team from Bedell Cristin.
Praxisleiter:
Stuart Tyler
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Tristan Ozanne; Dylan Latimer; Kate Ovenden; Tendai Gakanje
Referenzen
‘Breadth and depth of knowledge across numerous areas and jurisdictions.’
‘They are most professional, knowledgeable, dedicated and pragmatic to work with. Their ability to navigate complex legal matters with precision and a client-centred approach sets them apart.’
‘Dylan Latimer was the responsible partner and he is amazing. He constantly demonstrates his exceptional expertise and attention to detail without being too long-winded in his advice or losing his pragmatic approach. He is not only highly responsive but also takes the time to really understand the client’s need. He is the best!’
Kernmandanten
Aon Group PLC
Augmented Holdings
Barclays Bank PLC
Cherry Godfrey Finance Limited
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
HSBC Group
Imperium Group
JP Morgan Chase
Paratus Group
Pensioneer Trustee Company (Guernsey) Limited
Perwyn Group
Praxis Group
RL360 Life Insurance Company Limited
Saris Aanhangers B.V.
Sedibelo Holdings
Suntera Group
Trireme Pension Services (Guernsey) Limited
UAP Holdings Limited
Unitrailer Holding
Warburg Pincus
WM Morrisons Supermarkets Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised WM Morrison on the Guernsey law aspects of its acquisition of Sandpiper Group.
- Advised Grant Thornton Advisors LLC on the agreement to combine with Grant Thornton Ireland’s advisory and tax business.
- Advised Saris Aanhangers B.V. on the Guernsey law aspects of its acquisition by Unitrailer Holding.
Collas Crill
Collas Crill‘s ‘incredibly knowledgeable, supportive and resourceful’ team is instructed for its expertise in a number of growth sectors, ranging from digital assets to cannabis, overseeing transactions spanning multiple jurisdictions. Overseeing the firm’s efforts is Wayne Atkinson, who advises both regulated clients and investment funds on their transactions, in addition to assisting clients looking to navigate Guernsey’s regulatory environment. Simon Heggs' practice focuses on cross-border M&A, but he is also noted for his expertise in both transactions and regulatory matters in the crypto-asset arena, where he works closely with Steve Moore.
Praxisleiter:
Wayne Atkinson
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Simon Heggs; Steve Moore
Referenzen
‘The team at Collas Crill is incredibly knowledgeable, supportive and resourceful. The work we do is very specialist and they have grown with us as we have built our expertise in this area together. They were instrumental in our work to carefully navigate our clients through the everchanging environment due to changes in regulation surrounding virtual assets.’
‘Simon Heggs has been phenomenally valuable to me and we have built a strong working relationship, which has enabled me to support my clients efficiently and confidently, knowing that the information provided by Simon is accurate and clear. Steve Moore has a very high level of knowledge regarding virtual assets and has been able to help me understand my clients needs and communicate with them confidently in the virtual asset world.’
‘It was great to have one point of contact across multiple jurisdictions rather than having to reach out to different contacts in different offices.’
Kernmandanten
Van Mossel
Zedra Trust Company
Amalgamated Facilities Management Limited
IDEA Management
Curaleaf
Softbank Bank Corp
Walter Properties
Darwin Alternative Investment Management (Guernsey) Limited
Close Brothers Group Plc
Tynion
Albecq Trust Company
Guernsey Post
Crescendo International Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Assisted Canaccord Genuity Group Inc’s wealth management business in relation to its acquisition of Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited from Brooks Macdonald Group plc.
- Advised a family office on a restructuring of global asset holdings exceeding £700m, held through Guernsey and BVI corporate structures.
- Acted as Guernsey counsel to the management of Integrated Environmental Solutions on its acquisition by Apax Partners.
Bedell Cristin
Bedell Cristin advises on a range of transactional and regulatory mandates, handling both Guernsey-based and international M&A deals, related financing arrangements and restructuring matters. John Scanlan brings a ‘can-do attitude’ to his work on private and public M&A and financing arrangements. Dylan Latimer left the firm in October 2024, with Kate Ovenden and Tendai Gakanje departing in September 2025.
Weitere Kernanwälte:
John Scanlan
Referenzen
‘Highly client-focused and responsive.’
‘John Scanlan stands out for his client care and responsiveness. John has a real can-do attitude.’
‚The team goes above and beyond some other firms and is proactive rather than reactive.‘
Kernmandanten
GXO Logistics Inc
Urban Logistics REIT plc
Ocorian Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised GXO Logistics Inc on the Guernsey legal and regulatory aspects of its acquisition of Wincanton plc.
- Advised Urban Logistics REIT plc in respect of its bid to acquire the logistics and warehouse assets of abrdn Property Income Trust Limited.
Ferbrache & Farrell LLP
Corporates, funds and HNWIs rely on Ferbrache & Farrell LLP for their acquisitions and divestments in Guernsey, the UK and Europe, in addition to assisting clients as they undergo restructuring measures. Practice head Gavin Farrell advises funds and other asset managers on their transactional matters and related financing structures. Helen McGeoch offers experience in financing arrangements, while Stuart Nash handles both corporate and property transactions.
Praxisleiter:
Gavin Farrell
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Helen McGeoch; Stuart Nash
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised the sellers in respect of the sale of Guernsey fund administration group to a global fund administrator.
- Advised a US REIT on multiple corporate matters.
- Provided ongoing legal advice, including on all corporate, funds and banking matters, to Lakestar.