Ogier Global Legal Services · firm to establish an office in Luxembourg 2007. First offshore law...

OgierGlobal Legal Services

1998 First Jersey firm to open an office in Guernsey and become a Channel Islands’ business

2003 First Channel Islands’ law firm to merge with a Cayman Islands’ firm to create a transatlantic law firm

1867 The two firms that merged to create Ogier, Le Masurier, Giffard & Poch and Ogier & Le Cornu, began life in 1867 and 1922

2014 Only offshore law firm to successfully complete an MBO for a trust company when Ogier delivered the MBO of its fiduciary division to Electra Partners

2012 First offshore law firm to establish an office in Luxembourg

2007 First offshore law firm to undertake a merger to gain a presence in BVI and Hong Kong

Key moments

Global Legal Services

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2008 First offshore law firm to open a representative office in Tokyo

2011 First offshore law firm to open an office in mainland China with a representative office in Shanghai

What do we do?We’re lawyers to the world’s leading financial institutions, professional advisers, regulatory bodies and high net worth individuals.

Ogier is based in eight international locations offering advice on five laws: BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg. Our network of offices also includes Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo.

We’re known for our strength in banking and finance, corporate and commercial, investment funds, dispute resolution and private wealth. Regulatory, restructuring and insolvency and tax are also key services.

Local businesses look for local knowledge. We bring together an international outlook and on-the-ground understanding to advise businesses on local matters, including property, employment, immigration, data protection and competition law.

Our approach is to keep it simple. Resource work at the right level. Don’t over-lawyer, don’t over-engineer.

In a rapidly evolving marketplace legal advice needs a flexible approach. Smooth, efficient, quiet service for the daily running of businesses, with serious power and finesse at times when activities deviate from the norm. Our business model is structured to meet individual needs.

Complex transactions need great insight. Working through this complexity to provide sound judgment on what really matters, we never lose sight of the need for effective project management and superb client service to bring each transaction to life.

We respond to client views – gained through personal interviews to measure levels of client service – acting on feedback and, where we need to, developing our services to maintain the high satisfaction levels our clients report.

We get straight to the point, managing complexity to get to the essentials.

Who we are

The team are professional and friendly – they translate complex legal material into sound advice that is conducive to our ethos and principles.Chambers UK, 2015

They are clear and concise with their communication. They are very approachable and very efficient, and they get the job done.Client feedback, 2014

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Delivering work in an accurate and timely fashion, we support banking and other financial clients transacting in or with counterparties or collateral in the BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg.

We’ve built our practice to advise all stakeholders across the full financial product lifecycle. From debt and other security instrument listings to restructuring and insolvency, drawing on the complementary disciplines of our banking, structured finance, investment funds, corporate and commercial and dispute resolution teams to provide a fast and efficient service.

Ogier’s specialist teams offer exceptional levels of expertise to issuers listing on the Channel Islands Securities Exchange and the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.

Specialised teams cover the following areas:• Asset finance• Data protection• Debt listing• Derivatives• Enforcement• Islamic finance• Lending and security• Real estate finance• Regulatory• Restructuring and insolvency• Structured finance

Banking and FinanceMatching the right level of experience and expertise to each transaction earns our banking and finance team the title of a ‘well-oiled machine’.

They’re so fast, so professional, so on top of it – we feel confident with them. Their work is first class. Chambers UK, Jersey, Corporate & Finance, 2015

A very smart, practical and responsive team. Chambers Global, Asia-Pacific, 2015


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Ogier works with 21 of the top 25 global banks

Christopher Byrne, partner and Global Head of Ogier’s Banking and Finance team

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We have experience of advising on a broad range of industry sectors, commercial opportunities and investment-related transactions, and bring that knowledge to bear on each instruction.

While we have been involved on some of the largest and most complicated deals taking place in our jurisdictions in recent years, we also have extensive experience in advising on the establishment of many forms of domestic and cross-border corporate vehicles, trusts and partnerships.

Ogier has an excellent transactional track record, particularly in relation to public company work. Renowned for our in-depth understanding and long-standing experience in the market, we are sought out for being at the forefront of financial industry regulatory changes and our insight on local regulations.

Services include:• Commercial property• Capital markets• Contracts and outsourcing• Corporate relocations• Financial services• General corporate• Mergers and acquisitions• Private equity• Restructuring and reorganisation

Regularly working on big ticket and complex cross border transactions, we are a ‘go to’ firm for this type of work.

Corporate and Commercial

They were very responsive, always stepped up to the plate and were able to give us technical advice in a short time. Chambers Global, BVI, Corporate & Finance, 2015


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They did everything they were asked to; they were proactive, timely and met deadlines. They seemed to be quite proactive in volunteering solutions to help get us through quite tricky situations. Client feedback, 2014

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Following international capital flows, our investment funds specialists draw on the experience of dedicated funds teams in our core Ogier offices: BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Jersey and Luxembourg.

The onshore funds and tax capability provided by our Luxembourg office sets us apart and we have a thriving office in Hong Kong and unmatched insights into Asia through our Shanghai and Tokyo offices.

Many of our specialists have played a leading role in developing market practice and drafting progressive funds legislation across a number of our jurisdictions.

We have particular strength advising private equity sponsors and investors on all aspects of closed-ended funds including portfolio company transactions.

We operate across a wide spectrum of fund structures and their particular regulatory and commercial approaches. With the additional support of our experienced fund finance and dispute resolution specialists we provide a one-stop-shop for the full funds lifecycle ranging from fund formation, structuring, regulation, corporate governance and investor disputes through to management of liquidity and business interruptions, strategic investor arrangements and wind-down and termination situations.

Investment FundsYou don’t pay for a learning curve when you instruct us. We have been focused on funds since the beginning of the industry.

Investment management Mezzanine

Structured productRegulatory Private equity Real estate

Hedge InfrastructureHybrid

Ogier works with investment funds of all types including:

I was unaware of exactly what was needed, and not only were the Hong Kong team fully aware of what was required, but they held my hand through the process in terms of what I needed to know and understand. Client feedback, 2014

Ogier is always practical, responsiveand accessible. They are able to assist myfirm with substantive legal issues under tightdeadlines. I value the relationship and wouldhighly recommend their services. Global Asset Managerwith US$5.36bn AuM, 2014

Ogier is one of the largest offshore teams advising on technical, strategic and procedural aspects across the spectrum of contentious commercial issues and disputes.

With a team whose experience spans cross-border, multi-million and multi-billion dollar disputes across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the US and Russia, we resolve disputes in negotiation, mediation, arbitration or in court.

We have a pedigree in local and cross-border trust dispute resolution. Ogier counts as its clients a large number of the leading institutional and independent fiduciary businesses offshore.

Ogier’s Restructuring and Insolvency team offers legal advice to banks, financial intermediaries and corporates, as well as onshore counsel and other professional services providers in connection with company structures. Ogier has excellent relationships with regulators in each of the British Virgin Islands, Cayman, Guernsey and Jersey.

Services include:• Commercial disputes• Contentious funds, banking

and insurance claims• Contentious trusts• Contentious regulatory advice• Corporate disputes• Employment advice• Finance services disputes• Insolvency and restructuring• Insurance related disputes• Planning and construction disputes

Dispute Resolution

They are very good – they respond very quickly, are very familiar with BVI laws, and understand the court system and cross-border matters very well.Chambers Global,BVI, Dispute Resolution, 2015

When disputes arise offshore, they are often complex, international and high value.

The service from Ogier is better than anybody else.Jersey Dispute Resolution client, 2014


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Rachael Reynolds, partner and Head of Ogier’s Caribbean Dispute Resolution team

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97.3% of clients say they are likely to recommend and reinstruct Ogier


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AQR With approximately US$131.6 billion AuM and a strong brand as being an intellectual thought leader for allocators, AQR requires innovative thinking from its legal advisors.

Ogier advises AQR on all matters of Cayman Islands law, including acting in connection with the launch of a large number of funds aimed at offering smarter, more efficient and better investment strategies for large wealth allocators.

In addition, in 2014 Ogier advised AQR on a major restructuring which required detailed legal analysis in connection with the creation of a number of intermediary entities and a revised approach as to the collection of performance allocation for certain AQR funds.

US$131.6bnassets under management.

ICGJersey continues to represent a competitive proposition for investment managers, particularly those with a focus on gaining access to European investment capital.

Among recent new fund launches in Jersey on which Ogier has acted is Intermediate Capital Group plc’s launch of ICG Europe Fund VI, a mezzanine debt fund focusing on Europe, which raised €2.5 billion at its first close with further closes anticipated towards a €3 billion hard cap.

ICG Europe Fund VI is the tenth Jersey fund for ICG, a London based global provider of mezzanine finance, leverage credit and minority equity, with aggregate assets under management of €18 billion.

€18bnassets under management.

Case studies

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AIFMD With AIFMD high on the agenda Ogier works with a large number of clients on their compliance with the directive.

In one example, Ogier advised a central European major real estate asset manager with a Luxembourg specialised investment fund (SIF) investing in Central Europe with aggregate AuM of €1.6 billion.

Ogier acted to implement a review and restructuring of the SIF in the regulatory process to comply with AIFMD related regulations and is currently acting on the conversion of the manager’s SIF to a Luxembourg retail fund and separately on the structuring and launch of a new umbrella fund.

€1.6bnassets under management.

Friends Life Ogier advised Friends Life Group Limited, a London listed Guernsey company, on its acquisition by Aviva plc. The £5.6 billion takeover is the largest insurance deal in the UK since the merger of CGU and Norwich Union in 2000, which created Aviva and created the UK’s largest insurance, savings and asset management firm with some 16 million UK customers and around £340 billion AuM.

The acquisition of Friends Life, by way of a Guernsey scheme of arrangement, involved Guernsey corporate, competition and insurance regulatory aspects, as well as work required to obtain approval for the scheme of arrangement from the Royal Court of Guernsey.

‘Guernsey has seen a number of relatively high profile schemes of arrangement and this example demonstrates how the Guernsey courts are willing to take a flexible, yet (to English and Commonwealth lawyers) relatively familiar, approach, to provide a sensible and fair outcome.’ Mathew Newman, partner

£340bnassets under management.

Locations

Cayman IslandsBVI Law Cayman Law

British Virgin Islands (BVI)BVI Law

We have 50 partners and 300 lawyers and other staff working across major international finance centres in Europe, the Caribbean and Asia.

Ogier’s ability to ‘advise on the strengths and weaknesses of pursuing a particular transaction in one offshore jurisdiction over another’ earns it praise.Legal 500, 2014


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Hong KongBVI Law Cayman Law Guernsey LawJersey Law

LuxembourgJersey LawLuxembourg Law

GuernseyBVI Law Guernsey Law

JerseyBVI Law Jersey Law

Shanghai*BVI Law Cayman Law Guernsey LawJersey Law Luxembourg Law

Tokyo*BVI Law Cayman Law Guernsey LawJersey Law Luxembourg Law

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Operating in rigorous regulatory environments, we understand the need to keep pace with change. Multi-jurisdictional matters are our speciality; we offer fast access to a range of international structuring options and a large number of our matters focus on cross-border issues.

* Our Shanghai and Tokyo offices are representative offices of Ogier.

Our lawyers regularly receive plaudits and awards: ‘Fantastic lawyer’, ‘technically sharp’, the ‘trust guru when it gets tricky’.

From simple to more sophisticated structures established for succession purposes, asset protection, tax efficiency, family governance or confidentiality, the team is focused on providing the absolutely best and right advice for each client. Our client base includes trustees, fiduciaries, settlors, beneficiaries and family offices and their advisers.

High net worth clients in both mature and developing markets, looking for a trusted adviser to help them in securing their personal and professional future, benefit from our sensitive approach and innovative structuring.

With our contentious team we offer a seamless contentious and non-contentious advisory service which also includes relevant corporate support to structures underlying trusts. Our contentious trusts team can also help to resolve disputes concerning trusts and foundations, should the need arise.

In conjunction with our High Value Residency Team, we advise domestic and international clients on buying and selling residential property in Jersey and on the associated estate planning. Our wider services to individuals relocating their businesses and family include advising on residency applications in conjunction with trusted tax advisers, co-ordinating surveyors, architects, site and property finding professionals, as well as private banks to provide a seamless and personal service.

Services include:• BVI VISTA trusts• Cayman STAR trusts• Charitable and non-charitable

purpose trusts• Employee benefit trusts• Estate planning• Family office• Guernsey and Jersey foundations• Offshore relocations• Philanthropic structures• Private trust companies• Property• Regulatory• Relocations• Reserved powers trusts• Trusts: drafting, set up and advice

Private Client and Trusts

As far as I am concerned, most of us see them as our go-to trust people in Jersey. In this field they are the clear leaders. Chambers UK, Jersey, Trusts, 2015

The strength of our private client team is the quality and experience of the lawyers we can boast in a wide range of offices.


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High-quality, responsive and cost effective. Legal 500, Cayman Islands, Trusts / Private Client, 2014

William Simpson, partner, Guernsey

Ogier combines a ‘wide depth of knowledge’ with a ‘quick turnaround time’.Legal 500, Guernsey, Private Client, Trusts and Tax, 2014

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Our top tier commercial property team is well known for executing some of the largest and most complex commercial property transactions with accuracy and speed. We provide a responsive, constructive and commercially aware client service for large and small businesses. We work for landlords, tenants, developers and financiers as well as institutional investors.

We also act for a number of institutional funders lending against real estate security backed assets including development finance and acquisition of investment property portfolios.

Ogier handles a wide range of local residential transactions ranging from the purchase and sale of the most valuable and prestigious properties to flats and starter homes. Our residential property team is highly recommended by local agents, banks and the people we have helped to buy, sell and finance their property.

Our High Value Residency team advises domestic and international clients on buying and selling residential property in Jersey. Our wider services to individuals relocating their business and family include advising high value residency applications in conjunction with trusted tax advisers, co-ordinating surveyors, architects, site and property finding professionals as well as private banks to provide a seamless and personal service.

Services include:• Commercial real estate• Construction• Corporate relocations• High Value Residency• Planning• Real estate finance• Residential property• Wills, probate and

estate administration

Real EstateWe make property deals happen. We are responsive, constructive and commercially aware.

As a team they don’t get caught up in the technical issues. The whole approach is to tell you the risks and legal position and then come up with a solution. Chambers, Jersey, Property, 2015

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They were diligent, responsive, hard-working and proactive. They sought to find a way through problems with a degree of pragmatism, whilst maintaining our interests. Jersey Real Estate client, 2014

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In our home jurisdictions we operate within sound regulatory frameworks and have long-standing and professional relationships with industry regulators in the BVI, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg.

Our multi-disciplinary team can help you navigate these increasingly regulated environments through each stage in the business lifecycle: start up and relocation, operation, expansion and change. Prevention of issues is preferable but where things have gone wrong, we provide effective solutions to clients including banks, major corporates, investment managers, fund administrators, trust companies and private clients.

Services include:• Anti-bribery and corruption • Anti-money laundering (AML)

and reporting obligations • Competition• Cross border investigations

and enforcement • Financial services regulation • Health and safety • M&A due diligence support • Regulatory training and audit• Risk management

and compliance • Sanctions• White collar crime

RegulatoryNearly a decade after the financial crisis the regulatory environment is increasingly complex and often challenging for regulated businesses.

They have a very commercially focused approach, and they are very responsive.Client feedback, 2015

They stand out for their subject matter expertise and ability to think outside the box.Chambers, 2015

Ogier works hand in hand with tax departments at onshore law and accountancy firms on cross-border advisory and transactional tax matters. We are the only offshore law firm with a Luxembourg capability, typically working with private equity and venture capital firms, investment funds, multinational corporate groups and high net worth individuals.

We provide cross jurisdictional analysis on which jurisdiction is most appropriate to businesses setting up in our locations and offer practical experience of the impact of tax residence.

Tax advice for:• Hybrid finance instruments, hybrid

structures and partnerships• Luxembourg fund-type vehicles

(AIFs)• Private equity, real estate and

hedge funds• Private wealth: trusts, companies,

foundations• Redomiciliation and migration

of companies and trusts• Securitisation• Structured finance• Tax claims and refunds

TaxOgier’s Tax team draws together partners with specific tax expertise, who are also recognised in the world of corporate law. First and foremost, they understand business.

They are clear and concise with their communication. They are very approachable and very efficient, and they get the job done.Client feedback, 2014

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From start to finish they have been extremely professional, competent, and they have communicated well.Client feedback, 2014

You’re our first choice in Luxembourg now.Award-winning city law firm, 2014

Caroline Bormans, partner and Global Head of Ogier’s Tax team

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Goldman Sachs Ogier advised Goldman Sachs International as arranger and lead manager on the issue of its first ever sukuk. The sukuk is based on a wakala structure with the underlying assets linked to commodities and raised US$500 million.

Ogier’s role was to form and organise the issuer, review and comment on the transaction documents from a Cayman Islands perspective and to advise on the complex Cayman Islands regulatory issues, including AML and FATCA, as well as issuing customary listing opinions.

‘We are delighted to have been able to assist the Goldman Sachs team with such a ground breaking deal. Given the strong demand for the Goldman Sachs sukuk, we expect further offerings as this exciting product gains increasing favour with investors.’ Angus Davison, lead partner

US$500mraised, linked to commodities.

Foxconn Wearable sports camera manufacturer GoPro’s IPO raised US$427 million in 2014, valuing the company at US$2.96 billion and setting the largest IPO record in the United States among consumer electronics firms over the past two decades.

Ogier’s team in Hong Kong advised Foxteq Holdings Inc., a Cayman Islands subsidiary of FoxConn (the iPod and Apple manufacturer), in connection with the listing of GoPro on Nasdaq.

‘We advised the Foxconn group as BVI and Cayman counsel on various matters including the spin-off and IPO of various subsidiaries, sale of a stake in GoPro pursuant to its US IPO and several convertible bond and GDR issues.’ Nathan Powell, partner

US$2.96bncompany value.

Case studies

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Sky Bet Ogier advised Sky on the sale of an 80% stake in its online betting and gaming business, Sky Betting & Gaming (Sky Bet), to funds advised by CVC Capital partners and members of the Sky Bet management team. The deal valued Sky Bet at £800 million.

Ogier’s highly skilled team are able to provide cutting edge advice and support to clients across the range of structuring, regulatory and commercial issues affecting these dynamic and fast moving digital and gaming industries.

‘We were delighted to assist Sky and their English counsel, Herbert Smith Freehills, in getting this over the line. This deal further demonstrates Ogier’s expertise in the digital and gaming sectors.’ Simon Dinning, group partner

£800mvalue of the deal.

Moorfield Real Estate In what is likely to be one of the largest real estate transactions of the year, Ogier acted for Moorfield Real Estate Funds I and II in relation to the sale of a diversified real estate investment portfolio to Lone Star Real Estate Fund III for approximately £1 billion.

The portfolio comprised both traditional real estate investments (retail and offices) as well as alternative real estate investments (hotels, residential and student accommodation).

‘We were delighted to once again assist Moorfield on such a significant transaction for the Moorfield Group.’ Katrina Edge, partner

£1bnvalue of the deal.

Contacts

British Virgin Islands Ritter House Wickhams Cay II PO Box 3170 Road Town, Tortola British Virgin Islands VG1110

T +1 284 852 7300 F +1 284 852 7450 E [email protected]

Cayman Islands89 Nexus Way Grand Cayman Cayman Islands KY1-9007


GuernseyRedwood House St Julian’s Avenue St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 1WA Channel Islands

T +44 1481 721672 F +44 1481 721575 E [email protected]

Hong Kong11th Floor Central Tower 28 Queen’s Road Central Central Hong Kong


Jersey44 Esplanade St Helier Jersey JE4 9WG Channel Islands


Luxembourg 2-4 rue Eugène Ruppert PO Box 2078 L-1020 Luxembourg


ShanghaiRoom 904B 21st Century Tower No.210 Century Avenue Pudong New Area Shanghai 200120 China


TokyoHolland Hills Mori Tower RoP Suite 803 5-11-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku Tokyo 105-0001 Japan



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The team is packed full of intelligent, proactive and gifted lawyers who bring a sensible, robust and commercial approach to their work. Chambers Global 2015

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Legal services inBritish Virgin IslandsCayman IslandsGuernseyHong KongJerseyLuxembourgShanghaiTokyo

Ogier provides practical advice on British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg law through our global network of offices. Ours is the only firm to advise on these five laws. We regularly win awards for the quality of our client service, our work and our people.

Regulatory information can be found at ogier.com

Ogier Global Legal Services · firm to establish an office in Luxembourg 2007. First offshore law...

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